The flashing lights and ringing bells of a casino can be incredibly distracting, making it easy to forget the human element of the floor.

Understanding the unwritten rules of the 'toke' (casino slang for a tip) will ensure you are treated like a VIP by the staff.

Tipping the Dealers: The Most Important Rule

Casino dealers are highly skilled professionals who often rely on tips to make up more than 70% of their total annual income.

To hand them a chip, simply slide it toward them and clearly say, 'This is for the dealer,' ensuring the security cameras see it.

• Never hand cash directly to a dealer's hand; the strict security rules require you to place the money flat on the table first
• In most modern casinos, all dealer tips are 'pooled' and split evenly among everyone on the shift, ensuring fair pay for dealers stuck on slow tables
• If you hit a massive slot machine hand-pay jackpot, it is customary to tip the slot attendant who brings you the cash roughly 1% to 2% of the total

Navigating Tipping Beyond the Tables

Beyond the dealers, cocktail waitresses (often called beverage servers) are the hardest-working individuals on the entire casino floor.

When you arrive at the resort, tipping the valet $2 to $5 when they return your car is standard practice.

Tipping is the invisible grease that keeps the massive gears of the casino hospitality machine turning smoothly.