Tipping the Dealer

Tipping the dealer in a game of blackjack is not something many players think about, but that is something that should be corrected. Tipping the dealer when you receive good service should be as commonplace as tipping a taxi driver or a hairdresser who has served you well.

It has been said that, if casino owners could get away with it, they would employ monkeys to deal at the blackjack tables. All dealers at one time or another have heard management say, “Shut up and shuffle. I could get a monkey to do this job.” To date, no casino has successfully trained a chimpanzee to replace a dealer (probably because the chimps don’t quite have the splitting rules down just yet) but the threat is always there regardless.

Joking aside, tipping the dealer makes good economic sense. There are few dealers who are willing to work for the minimum wage, and the vast majority rely on gratuities to make a decent wage. If a casino had to pay a true living wage to dealers instead of dealers accepting tips, the house would have to figure out a way of making up for lost revenue. They would probably change the rules of the game, increase table minimums and maybe even alter paybacks.

Since no serious blackjack player would like any of those things to happen, it makes sense to avoid such changes by tipping the dealer. Consider it a contribution to Lady Luck, or a seed to attract more good karma. At the very least, you’ll bring a smile to the face of a hard working dealer who is often very unappreciated.

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