Las Vegas Tipping Guide 2026: Dealers, Cocktail Servers, Valet & More

Casino Dealers

The Vegas way to tip a blackjack or craps dealer is to place a bet for them, usually $1–5, next to your own bet. If it wins, the dealer gets the winnings; if it loses, they get nothing. Dealers usually pool tips across the shift, so the gesture benefits the whole crew. You can also tip in chips when you color up and leave the table.

There is no fixed amount. Common practice is to tip after a big win, when a dealer is helpful to a new player, or every so often during a long session. Poker players usually tip the dealer a small amount from each pot they win.

Dealers can’t remind you to tip, and many players simply don’t. A small, occasional bet for the dealer is noticed — and the mood at the table is often better for it.

“Free” Drinks, Slot Attendants, and Hand Pays

Drinks are complimentary while you gamble, but the cocktail server is not. Tip $1–5 per drink, scaling up for premium spirits or a big round. Tipping well on the first drink is the surest way to see your server come back.

When a slot jackpot is large enough to require a hand pay — an attendant comes to verify the win and pay you, with tax paperwork for larger amounts — many players tip the attendant. There is no set rule; a small share of the win, often $20–100 depending on the size, is common. It is optional, especially since the full jackpot may be taxable.

Hotel Staff: Valet, Bellhops, Housekeeping

Many Strip resorts now charge for parking, but the valet attendant still works for tips: $5 at pickup is the Vegas norm, more for a quick retrieval on a busy Saturday night. Bellhops get $2–5 per bag. See the valet tipping guide for the general rules.

Housekeeping at these huge resorts is hard, fast work. Leave $3–5 per night daily with a note, and more for a suite or a room after a big night out. Tipping the front desk agent for a room upgrade is a long-standing Vegas trick; results are not guaranteed, so treat it as a polite ask, not a purchase. More in the hotel tipping guide.

Restaurants, Buffets, and Bars

Sit-down restaurants follow the US standard of 18–20%. Large groups often see an automatic gratuity, so check the check. At buffets, someone still clears plates and refills drinks: $2–5 per person is typical, and the buffet tipping guide goes deeper. Bars outside the casino floor get the usual $1–2 per drink.

Nevada pays tipped workers the full state minimum wage, but tips remain a large share of income on the Strip. Check local numbers on the Nevada tip calculator.

Nightclubs, Bottle Service, and Shows

• Bottle service: most clubs add a gratuity, typically 18–20%, plus tax and sometimes a service fee. That gratuity covers your server. Extra cash for the bottle host or the person who seated you is optional.
• Door hosts and table hosts: a tip can help get a group in or improve a table, but there is no fixed price — and no guarantee.
• Shows: with assigned seating, ushers generally aren’t tipped. Bartenders at the venue get $1–2 per drink.
• Pool parties and daybeds: cabana and daybed rentals usually include a gratuity; read the minimum-spend contract.