The reference card
- Cocktail server: $2-5 per round, free drinks included
- Table dealer: $5-10 per session, or a slice of any win
- Valet: $2-5 at pickup
- Housekeeping: $3-5 per night, left as cash on the pillow
- Restaurants: 18-20% standard, 15% for buffet runners
- Baristas and slot attendants: small change is fine
The cash-light problem
Most floor staff still prefer cash; restaurants quietly add card tips, but everything at floor level runs on small bills. Pull out $60-100 in ones and fives at the start of the trip — it covers a surprising share of a visit's friction.
Three common mistakes
- Tipping the front desk for a paid upgrade — comps come from the casino, tips do not move prices
- Skipping the housekeeping tip because "we barely used the room" — the standard rate still applies
- Assuming auto-gratuity: some group bills add 20%, most do not