Originally Posted by
Dan Druff
Cocktail waitresses at major casinos do very well. They end up far overpaid for the job they're doing.
I always hated the "b-b-b-b-but they're paid minimum wage!" justification to tip them big, because their wage doesn't matter. Their actual take home pay is what matters, and they're doing very well for an unskilled job.
I still tip them $1 per drink. Usually that's fine. Do not feel pressured to tip more than that. If you want to tip more, that's fine, but keep in mind that these girls are already making good money. If you really want to tip a person in need, hand a few bucks to the person cleaning the floor or the bathroom.
The worst examples of tip lack-of-appreciation in casinos are slot attendants when you hit a machine handpay. This is especially true if you hit 5 figures or more. Pretty much anything reasonable you give them will be often met with a sour face and storming off, as if you just insulted their mother.
You don't owe anyone a tip on a handpay. It is a federal requirement. You are not asking for a service. I tipped them anyway because it was considered customary, but I've never given more than $20, and never will.
If an attendant doing a handpay acts like a jerk regarding the tip I give them, then I will give zero point zero next time. I'd rather be resented for a zero tip than resented for a tip I think is fair. Nobody deserves my Jew $ as a tip if they're going to act like assholes about it.