How to Tip your Craps Dealer – Not the ‘Hard Way’

Casino Dealer Tipping Etiquette: Tipping a Craps Dealer

There’s a certain level of etiquette that goes into everything we do in a casino. From taking a seat at the blackjack table, to ordering a cocktail from the slots bank waitress, cordiality and generosity goes a long way in the gambling industry.

Today, we’ll be talking specifically about how to tip your craps dealer. There’s an old tradition that’s been passed on through the decades—most likely by wealthy high rollers who aim to impress more than they do to win. It’s time this tipping method comes to a stop, in place of something that actually benefits the dealers.

Tipping a Craps Dealer – The Hard Way

For some strange reason, the most common way—and the wrong way, in my opinion—to tip your craps dealer is to place a wager for them on a bet that pays out in a large multiple. Yo bets and Horn bets are particularly popular. It amazes me how many people still do this today.

A Yo bet is a wager that the next roll of the dice will produce an 11—an outcome that will statistically roll in just 2 out of 36 attempts, necessitating a 5+6, or 6+5, on the pair of dice. The true odds of this happening are 1 in 18 (5.55%), while the payout for success is 15 to 1, resulting in a house edge of 11.11%. Ouch!

A Horn bet is similar, and although it looks easier to win, the house edge is even further out of the player’s—in this case, the dealer’s—favor. A Horn bet is won if the dice roll 2, 3, 11 or 12. The true odds any eligible number rolling are 1 in 6 (16.67%), with payouts of 27 to 4 on 2 or 12, and 3 to 1 on 3 or 11. This results in a house edge of 12.5%. Ouch, again!

If you think players would be ill-advised to make such a bet, just imagine how the craps dealer feels when his tip is placed on one of these positions? As much as they’d love to turn around and say, ‘Couldn’t you put that bet on something that might actually win?‘, they cannot. They, unlike the clientele, must be graciously appreciative of what comes their way.

How to Tip your Craps Dealer – The Easy Way

If you really want to let your craps dealer know that you appreciate them, don’t place a bet in their name that is only going to benefit their employer (the casino) most of the time. Instead, consider one of two positive options.

One way is to tip them by giving them the casino chip outright. Don’t place it on any bet. Just give them the money, as you would a tip in any other profession. The other option is to place the tip-chip on a bet with the highest odds of winnings (i.e. lowest house edge). Options here include the Pass Line and Come (1.41%), or Don’t Pass and Don’t Come (1.36%). If the shooter is well into their turn, try betting on the Place 6 or 8 (1.52%).

Tipping a craps dealer with bets that have a decent chance of winning is going to be much more appreciated than a long-shot wager. That is hardly better than teasing a thirsty man by pouring a glass of water in the dirt.

Related posts:

Highest Paying Slot Machines at PlayOLG Highest Paying Table Games at PlayOLG Casino Craps Strategies – Three Point Molly Craps Strategies – The Iron Cross Shoot to Win Mechanical Craps by Azure Gaming More Craps Betting Strategies – Place 6 & 8