Tipping in Las Vegas: Who, When, and How Much for Every Service

Almost everyone you interact with in a casino or resort is working partly for tips. The base service is fine if you stiff people, but the upgrades, the speed, and the extra attention come from tipping well and tipping early.

Carry cash, specifically singles and fives. ATMs on the casino floor charge ugly fees, so hit your bank before the trip or use the cheaper ATMs in CVS and Walgreens off the Strip. A pocket of small bills is the single best Vegas hack there is.

Drinks on the casino floor are free while you gamble, but the server is not. Tip a dollar or two per drink, and tip on the first round. Do that and your server finds you faster, comes back more often, and remembers your order. Stiff them and you will wait forever.

At a bar, tip a dollar or two per drink or around 20 percent on a tab. If you are running a tab, settle 18 to 20 percent like any restaurant. Buying a round for the table? Tip on the whole thing.

This is the highest-leverage tipping in Vegas. Free drinks plus a couple bucks gets you treated like a regular for the cost of a few dollars an hour.

You tip dealers by either handing them a chip or placing a bet for them. There is no rule that says you must, but it is customary when you are winning or when a dealer has been friendly and helpful. A few dollars here and there, or letting a side bet ride for the dealer, is the normal move.

Slots have no one to tip unless an attendant pays out a hand-pay jackpot, in which case 1 to 3 percent on a big win is gracious. Poker dealers get a small tip from the pot when you win a hand.

Do not feel pressured to tip on every losing hand. Tip when you win, tip when service is good, and nobody will think twice.

Valet: a few dollars when they bring your car back, more if they were fast or it is pouring rain. Bellhop or luggage: a couple dollars per bag. These folks move fast and remember generosity.

Housekeeping is the one people skip and shouldn't. Leave a few dollars per night, in cash, with a note or on the pillow so they know it is for them. They clean up after a lot of rough nights and rarely get acknowledged. Tip daily, not at the end, since cleaners can rotate.

Concierge gets tipped based on the favor. A restaurant reservation pointer is a thank-you, but scoring you a tough show ticket or a hard dinner booking is worth 10 to 20 dollars or more.

Sit-down restaurants: 18 to 20 percent, same as anywhere. Check the bill though, because many Vegas spots now auto-add gratuity, especially for larger groups. Do not double-tip by accident.

Buffets still get a few dollars per person even though it is self-serve, because someone is clearing your plates and refilling drinks. Counter service and quick spots are optional but a buck or two is appreciated.

Room service usually already includes a delivery charge and a service fee. Read the slip. If gratuity is built in, you do not need to add much, maybe a couple dollars to the person at the door.

Spa treatments: 18 to 20 percent on the service price, and check whether the resort already added it. Many do.

Uber and Lyft drivers appreciate a tip in the app, a couple dollars or 15 to 20 percent on the ride. Taxi drivers get the same, in cash. Show ushers who seat you at premium spots may expect a few dollars at certain venues.

At clubs, tipping is how you get treated well. Bartenders get a few dollars per drink, and if you have a host or a bottle service setup, tip 18 to 20 percent on the total, which is often already added to the bill. Read the check before you add more.