Tipping your slot attendant....

Jeannie

Dormant Account
Joined
Mar 11, 2010
Location
Calgary
do you?
why or why not?

the only time I ever had a win at a land based casino (2600.00 off a freaking quarter!) i was so damn excited I didn't even think to tip my SA.... In fact I did the smartest thing anyone could do, I took my money and left lol.... Now that I'm a SA myself I often wonder if I cam across as a jerk in that situation... I don't expect tips when I work but they are nice....

Does knowing if the tips are pooled affect your decision?
 
I expect tips to be pooled if I tip, I know other people that work in the field.

At a Slots and Trots I used to play at before they went to paper, the nickle slots would pop a hand-pay for a $50 win! This would be even if you were betting 45 nickles. I rarely tipped there.

The casinos that are operated by SLQ in Quebec do not permit their slot attendants to accept tips.

I do tip sometimes, but with the new paper technology, I've only had a couple of handpays. And now, we never have anything small for tipping at all!

Plus, you are not a waitress that is allowed to be paid less than minimum wage for your job, so it is on the employer to pay a competitive wage rather than rely on customers.

That "winner" might be several thousand down.

I've never tipped any online support either, and I've never played any live blackjack.

Oh, and I only tip blackjack dealers when leaving the table. And it is not always because I won a lot that I tip, but I played more than a few hands and had a dealer that kept it an enjoyable playing experience.

I also do not tip fast food cashiers. I've even seen tip jars on retail counters!

Maybe that makes me a jerk too.
 
Whenever we are lucky enough to trigger a handpay (at most of the casinos now it's over $1099) I will tip depending upon the length of time I have to sit and wait. I know there are the forms to be filled out but the casinos also like the lights flashing and the noise and buzz it creates. There are still some places that have the older quarter slots that trigger a handpay for a much smaller amount and in that case no.
 
Never had a handpay, but I will tip the drink attendant as I want her to come back around. Playing is thirsty work, so I need that occasional water or soda.
 
I don't think the online people are allowed to accept tips are they? I remember asking one chat person - don't remember which casino it was now, but he said he wasn't allowed.
 
I had a hand pay of 3600 and they were quick with paying me. I tipped the guy 20 bucks and left. I always tip.

Jasmine, I used to be a waitress and when we got canadians in no one wanted to wait on them bc they didn't tip. We didn't realize they paid minimum wage in Canada for waitreses. We would have made a killing bc Americans are going to tip even if you do get a fair wage...whoohoo!
 
I tip...mostly everyone that waits on me in a casino/hairdresser/car wash etc etc..you get the idea.

For casinos, the handpays that I win and the tip I give is about1-5% of the win. When I won the $6000, I gave the attendant $60 bucks...she was quick!

The few over a few thousand I give about $10-$20 dollars depending on what amount it is. Especially when they are quick.

My last one was when I hit a $750 jackpot on nickles , I gave the guy $20 bucks because he was very attentive and fast (and cute, great eye candy!).

The way I see it is this:

If I do not share my good fortune in wins with others that are working hard, pleasant and probably need the money as much if not more than me, then I am remiss in my sharing with others my good fortune, especially knowing I will probably blow most of it anyway..why not let them enjoy the few bucks I won't blow? They will rpobably use it a lot wiser than I do when on a gambling junket.. ;)

I also believe and follow the paths of karma very very much, what you give is what you will get back double fold..good or bad, so..I share even if it is not a lot...it makes them smile really big and make their aching feet not hurt so much, is what I am thinking and I love happy people!

My husband hit for over $12,000 on the RED,White and Blue sevens and he asked what he should give the attendant and I told him $100 bucks..and he asked if I was ok with it..and I said..yup..all is good.. he then went on a super winning streak that night..it was amazing..I have pics and everything of that night and boy did we have a lot of attendants following us around (well, my husband anyway, he couldn't lose that night).

So, you have to go with what you feel and believe in...and what makes YOU happy..tipping/no tipping...I believe is up to the individual..

.
 
sometimes your wait has nothing to do with the attendant.... we are certainly not allowed to let a jackpot sit to gather attention.... there are times i'm right there as a jp is about to go off (during bonus rounds it is obvious lol) and i'll call it, key it, and head to the bank.... heaven help its during shift change or one of the moments it seems they are going off everywhere.... sometimes it seems to take forever to get the money from the bank....

in that scenario i usually apologize to the patron and explain the wait.... also if i'm paying an over (2500.01 and up) i explain off the bat that it takes at least 10 min.... (call the bank to confirm, call surveillance, call a supervisor, etc etc etc)

all our machines are TITO (no coin) and a lot of the 1cent/2cent handpay at 250.00
 
Jas where do you live? My sister was a server for the longest time in AB and yeah min wage + tips.....

here in SK our servers (at least at the casino) are paid way above min wage (all the employees are for that matter)
 
I had a hand pay of 3600 and they were quick with paying me. I tipped the guy 20 bucks and left. I always tip.

Jasmine, I used to be a waitress and when we got canadians in no one wanted to wait on them bc they didn't tip. We didn't realize they paid minimum wage in Canada for waitreses. We would have made a killing bc Americans are going to tip even if you do get a fair wage...whoohoo!


When I was living in the states they used to tell this joke:
What's the difference between a Canadian and a canoe?
Canoes TIP....

[slight derail]
When I lived in Phoenix, the waitresses there don't get minimum wage, you're expected to make UP TO minimum wage INCLUDING tips. When I was going to school (this was about 15 years ago) I went to get a part time job as a waitress, the guy said because I had experience he'd start me at $2.15 an HOUR! I laughed...I wouldn't even get out of bed for that...sheesh. But they say it's a 'right to work' state. So basically you take the job or someone else will. I didn't.
[/derail]

But I think that part of that was before when the exchange rate sucked so bad for Canadians - when everything costs 50% more in your currency you have to be a bit less free with the $$

I personally always tip for decent service - at the casino, at the hairdresser, at restaurants and bars. If the service is lousy or the hairdresser sets me on fire, no tip, but otherwise yeah.
 
I live in Ontario Jeannie, and the casino slot attendants are paid above minimum wage, have benefits and full-time hours if they want them. Shift work, sure, that's part of it, and if you won't take the night shift, then you might not get the hours. These are considered good jobs.

I always tip cabbies...most of the drivers either work 6-12 hours shifts a week to make a living, or they are retired people with a pension and drive part-time to supplement their income, as well as more and more husband and wife owner teams.

I tip my hairdresser. I usually get cut at a discount chain, and these are recent graduates that do make minimum wage. Tipping hairdressers has been customary for a very long time. These hairdressers do not get many tips, and always act a little surprised to get one.

I tip bell hops and valet parkers, albeit not lavishly.

But it galls me to purchase a book and find a tip jar at the cashier! I realize they make minimum wage and probably have no benefits, but chances are you didn't even serve me.

But I say thank you a lot to those who deal with the public. The cashier who is not snarky with me about my coupons gets complimented for a job well done. I always make sure that I tip for the free meals on the buy-one get one deals.

If I have terrible i.e. rude, not just slow or sloppy service in a restaurant, I make sure I inform management, just so you know why you did not get a tip. If my meal was terrible, that is not necessarily the server's fault. I inform management of that too.

If I know a restaurant's policy is to pocket all the tips and pay their servers more than minimum wage with a signed contract saying that all tips belong to the restaurant, I do not tip. I do not tip the bar owner on their shift.

And really, if someone thinks I'm a jerk because I don't tip lavishly, and I don't tip in clothing stores where no one helped me find a size, or got off their personal call to ring me up with that damn cup with TIPS pasted on it.

And I don't get lap dances. I understand that tipping is appreciated by workers in that industry as well.

If I have change in my pocket, I usually contribute to street musicians. That's not a tip, since they are offering a free service that brightens my day and enhances my city. You require a licence for our city, and I might not hit everyone on any given day, but they are regulars, and I am a regular contributor. And when I have no money, I stop a moment to listen and show they are appreciated, or give a smile or a bit of applause.
 
/derail/

Just something to think about...
In my little corner of the world, waitresses are paid an hourly wage of $4.65/hr ( when I started waitressing the minimum wage for waitresses was .75/hr). According to the IRS we have to claim a minimum of 9% of our gross sales (the IRS has been trying to get this percentage raised to 16% for years). What this means is this...
You come in my restaurant, eat, drink, have some dessert...
Bill comes to $15.00 ( and this is actually a high dollar amount for the restaurant I work in). I am required to pay tax of $1.35 whether or not I receive a tip. So, technically speaking, if a lot of customers feel they don't need to tip I'm screwed. We don't pool tips, the owner feels ( and I can vouch for this from years of experience) you will get a few who will work their butts off and then a few who will standby doing as little as possible, knowing they will receive a portion of YOUR tip.
Okay, rant over....
And sorry for the derail!
 
the servers thing amazes me.... 2 bucks an hour? and then praying you get tips?


i could get full-time as a slot attendant here with full benefits etc but i'm not keen on the shift work....due mainly to the fact our casino rotates the shifts and i have 2 small kids so it really messes with childcare. my husband is a cook in the casino kitchen so his benefits cover me and the kids and his shifts are easier to work around.... I make 13.71/hr plus tips pooled and pd bi-weekly avg 2.50/hr in tips (min wage is 10.00/hr i think). the casino i worked at in AB I made just above min wage (which was 8.00/hr at the time, i made 8.25/hr) and pooled tips daily

my other job is a video store and i'm surprised at the number of times i have been tipped (we do not have a tip jar, they are not expected, not even sure if they are really allowed)
 
Jeannie: the servers thing amazes me.... 2 bucks an hour? and then praying you get tips?
Yep, I can vouch for that...I waited tables and mad about $1.64 an hour plus tips then moved upt to bartending at $5 an hour plus tips...here in the USA this is the norm so if you visit, remember these waitresses/waiters/bartenders depend on tips a lot. I also got tokeep my tips or split them with the backup bartender if the worked with me..

Now I work for free pretty much doing computer repairs...all my friends drive me crazy with needing help on their computers but I never charge...one week I had over 8 computers and 3 laptops sitting in my office waiting to be worked on..

Shees, maybe I will go back to bartending.. (just kidding) :rolleyes:

.
 
Jeannie: the servers thing amazes me.... 2 bucks an hour? and then praying you get tips?
Yep, I can vouch for that...I waited tables many years ago and made about $1.64 an hour plus tips then moved up to bartending at $5 an hour plus tips...here in the USA this is the norm so if you visit, remember these waitresses/waiters/bartenders depend on tips a lot. I also got to keep my tips or split them with the backup bartender if they worked with me..

Now I work for free pretty much doing computer repairs...all my friends drive me crazy with needing help on their computers but I never charge...one week I had over 8 computers and 3 laptops sitting in my office waiting to be worked on..

Sheesh, maybe I will go back to bartending.. at least I got tipped for my work.. :D (just kidding about going back to bartending not the friends/computers) :rolleyes:

.
 
Hi, I always tip. If the service is very good then I will tip over 15-20% (for restaurants). If the service is really bad I tip just the 15% and if the same establishment gives me bad service on another visit then I will still give the 15% but I will never go back.

I really understand the people in the service industry rely on tips however if a server/bartender etc gives really bad service and ruins a patrons outing then they really should not expect much of a tip. I tip based on the service I recieve and nothing else so if the food is terrible and the service is good then I will give a good tip. I think that system is fair and works for me.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Meister Ratings

Back
Top