Question of the Day - 08 October 2020

This is easy. I havent tipped on a jackpot. I've never hit one

When I have hit for a hand pay. I usually tip $20 to the person giving me the cash. I consider the tip goes into a employee pool who split it at the end of the shift....My only question is do you separately tip the security guy/gal who has been standing by your machine since the bells went off??? 

I have a hard-fast rule: If the payout doesn't require a tax form for me to sign, then I don't tip. For example, if I hit a royal playing quarters ($1000), then I don't tip. There is no reason whatsoever for this to be a hand pay. Otherwise, I will pay $40 for a $4000 win, $200for a $20,000 win (fat chance!). I take the pay amount, drop the last 2 digits and that's what I pay.

The tipping culture in Vegas is as bad and the fee culture. 

...I get 30% witholding tax removed from my winnings on any machine jackpot over $1200 which in my view is ridiculous seeing that the amount has not changed in over thirty years! With inflation the minimum amount on which tax should be witheld is about $5000.00. So when it's a hand pay of $1500.00 minus the tax or less I usually tip $10.00 total. Anything above that I tip $20+ depending on the amount. Years ago in Atlantic City I hit a $21,000.00 jackpot and thought I'd hit $2100.00 because I didn't have my glasses on and the writing on the screen was small. When the attendant came to pay me with bundles of $5000.00 I nearly passed out and gave her $500.00 all the while laughing near hysterically.  

I understand the reasons for tipping good service at a restaurant, bar, valet parking, cocktail server and other situations where someone does something beneficial for you. But for a slot machine/video poker win where you select the machine to play and no one except a cocktail server visits you I don't see what someone else has done for you to deserve a tip when they bring over your winnings. I guess it's just that they hand you what you've won, and for that you are expected to give them part of it. But what effort on your behalf did they really go to? Perhaps there's more behind the scenes to the paperwork and getting your winnings than I realize. Or perhaps it's just a chance for an employee to hold out their hand and put you in the awkward position to not refuse. Tipping for a handpay doesn't seem to be the same tipping situation as tipping for a haircut, shoeshine or other personal service. If you buy a lottery ticket and win do you tip the store clerk or lottery person?  

I can't believe that in 2020, when Las Vegas has become a shell of what it used to be (and this is pre-COVID) and hand-pays are so rare (I haven't seen anyone get a hand-pay on any of my last six trips and I've only received one once in approximately 40 trips), that we are still talking about tipping someone who gives you YOUR money. There is no reason why the pay can't be done with TITO. Sure, some suit needs to come get your Social Security number (taxing gambling winnings need to be banned, by the way) but nobody needs to pay you. In fact, the last thing I want is for the casino to see someone slapping a large number of $100 bills in my palm. Enough with the tipping.

$1000 = $20
$4000 = $40
$5000 = $60
Never hit more than $5000 but I hope to soon. 

I almost never play anything that requires a hand pay--because I never play anything that generates a W2-G. Losing a chunk of your jackpot to "the man" makes ANY VP machine unplayable.

That said, $1000 jackpots (for a .25 royal) used to always be hand pays. I remember one time at the Palms, I was stuck $960 (!) when I hit a royal. I tipped $10 (putting all the $20 "hints" in my wallet). The slotling looked at me like I'd given him a glass of warm spit. Which is what I resolved to give him next time.

I tip $20 for any/every handpay regardless of amount won.  No thinking, no worries "is it enough?"  It is fair; all get the same.

IMO the "percentage" system for handpay tipping is a hustle. But everybody should tip as their heart and bankroll dictate.

Now, should I ever hit 'the big one' I will dig deeper!  LOL

Tip a cashier $1 and you will get the biggest expression of surprise and appreciation anywhere.  I guess they don't get so many tips.

Any jackpot $400 and over is a hand pay at the Odawa Casino in northern Michigan, probably a way to put a little extra money in the pockets of the underpaid slot attendants. 

If I am in a VP bar or casino where I know the bartender or manager etc it can be a generous tip but I will base it on how much won or lost that day previous to the jackpot. If I am not a frequent visitor, don't know anybody etc. and don't foresee coming back often it will be relatively miserly based on the session w/l.

I've been told I tip too high, and maybe I do, but I believe it pays in the end.  Casino's remember good tippers.  I also haven't paid for a room or a meal since 2010, so I feel this is a way to pay it forward. 

I had an $11K handpay where I tipped each of them $100.  Because I was carrying cash and so many people saw it, they offered me a security escort to my car.  My next trip to that casino, a slot machine I was playing froze up.  They found me on the floor later and gave me $20 I would have won on a bonus.  I'm not saying they wouldn't have done that anyway, but I was impressed. 

At another casino where I staying, I got a $4800 handpay.  The two ladies were just to fun and seemed as excited as I was.  After a lot of laughed, I tipped them each $100 as well.  Later,  I emailed the casino to see if I could get my parents room comped (it was a $600 bill) and they reversed the charges with no question.  

My last handpay of $1200 I only tipped $20 so the amount does matter.

I interpreted the question as whom you should/should not tip, and the procedure for doing so, but you addressed how much you should tip. Maybe tomorrow do a Part 2 to answer the actual question. Or did I misread it?

In Nevada, you can legally ask for auto gratuity to be removed and add your own tip

I wouldn't tip. They did nothing, but the most base of their job. Tip for services if you like, but I won't tip for a service I don't want or need. Still trying to understand those that open doors and want a tip even when I push the handicap auto door opener.

At an early visit to Las Vegas I got together with my niece who lived out there and after dinner she wanted to go somewhere and play penny machines. We went to the Plaza and she played one machine while I moved over and put a dollar in a machine to play while she did. I hit a big win and got my first hand pay jackpot - five bucks! I don't recall if I tipped, but that suggested 2% you mentioned would have been a dime. Would the attendent have agreed it was fair?

I've written tons on this subject, being very logical.  Now that I am retired I am becoming less "logical."  Think on this:  Brad always wants to tip at the high end; I at the lower end.  He always got more royals than I did.  A connection?  Hummmmmmm....!! 

Just call me George, I tip about $40 per $1k in winnings for a handpay jackpot. I also believe in Karma and it's never a bad thing being generous to others, especially when they aren't making big bucks being on their feet 8 hours a day.

No way have I ever tipped on a handpay, and never will do so. The ridiculous level of expectation from slot attendants DOING THEIR JOB and wanting a tip . . .   did they perform some extra service, such as sanitizing the money?  This reminds me of the time I saw a tip jar at a casino cage.  Like, what are you doing that is above and beyond YOUR JOB?   It's the same thing . . . you are handing me MY money.  This tipping nonsense has nothing to do with Karma, it's all about guilt, or wanting to look important.  No thanks. 

Under $4k, it's $5 $4-8K, $10 over $8k, $20
I always ask for all large bills. If they give the last $100 with 5 Jacksons instead of a Big Ben, it's zero.
But if a slot attendant comes in a reasonable amount of time to fix a problem with a machine, they also get a tip.

While in Vegas, I like to feel like a big-shot; a George.  It is so cool to tip 5 bucks to a guy holding the door, or to a bathroom attendant.  Talk about getting a smile!  But I am doing it for myself.  I act cool, but am getting an ego-boost inside.  I'll pay $5 just to feel like a big-shot.  That what MY Vegas is about!

I like your style!  Any relation to an AF General Kwiatkowski?  

“TO INSURE PROMPT SERVICE “ I tip because I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE!! I read Dale Carnegie ‘s book “HOW YO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE when I was 21 years old, (I am now 66), and it’s amazing the affect it has on people.  So sad to read some of the above comments... I’ve always been a big tipper, but didn’t realize how big.... I hit a Progressive Jackpot at Sam’s Town last August for $1,199.75, which the machine rounded to $1200, causing a hand pay.  I requested the manager, who paid me my $1,199.75. I tipped HER $20, the original slot attendant $20, and the secondary slot attendant $20....Lots of smiles!!😁Thanks Michael K, I’m with you!!

Those who helped me "bake my bread" or enjoy myself will eat well when I hit, e.g., the attentive bartender, waitress, or slot attendant. The "slotling" (thank you, KL) doesn't ($10 max) and neither will the suits if they emerge (0), like they do in Louisiana to take their state tax off the top.