Is Tipping the Dealer in Live Blackjack a Good Idea?

Ian Mac
Ian Mac is a dedicated content writer and editor with consistent five-star feedback for high-quality gambling content. He covers casino bonuses and destinations, plus games such as slots, roulette, and blackjack.
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Dealer tipping is now possible at both land-based and online casinos that offer live-streamed table games such as roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. Some casino patrons resort to this practice to show they are satisfied with the level of service they have received. You may find this surprising, but tipping is one of the most controversial and hotly debated topics among blackjack players.

Some argue that you should never tip from your hard-earned bankroll, while others insist it is players’ civic duty to reward dealers for their excellent service. At the end of the day, tipping is optional, and it is entirely up to you to decide whether to hand out gratuities when playing at the live blackjack tables.

If you do wish to indulge in the practice, however, it is important to know when to tip and, more importantly, how much is appropriate. But before we delve into the answers to these questions, let’s examine the differences between tipping blackjack dealers in brick-and-mortar and online casinos.

Tipping in Live Dealer Blackjack vs. Tipping in Landbased Casinos

How you tip depends on whether you are playing at a brick-and-mortar casino or joining live dealers remotely from home. Either way, follow proper etiquette or you risk spoiling the entire experience.

Tipping at Landbased Blackjack Tables
Tipping at Online Live Blackjack Tables

Arguments against Live Blackjack Dealer Tipping

1Overview

Some blackjack players vehemently argue against tipping and rarely, if ever, give their dealers any gratuities. This aversion to tipping is more common among players who employ advantage play, the most popular method being card counting.

2Reduction of Hourly Expected Value

Consistently using this technique gives counters a small edge over the house that seldom exceeds 1% or 2%. Many card counters avoid tipping because it can reduce or even eliminate that advantage. Regularly tipping dealers may cause a significant decline in a player’s theoretical hourly profits and can completely negate their positive expected value (EV).

From this viewpoint, tipping is not a great idea, although doing it occasionally has some practical applications for advantage players. Some counters tip from time to time for cover and to extend their longevity at the blackjack tables, which we will examine in more detail in the next section. Now, let’s look at how tipping affects regular basic strategy players.

3Tipping Increases the Negative EV of Basic Strategy Players

Most blackjack players who visit live casinos online are unfamiliar with advanced techniques like card counting. The best they can do is follow basic blackjack strategy, which lowers the house edge to about 0.50% on average and maximizes returns.

Even so, basic strategy alone cannot entirely overcome the house edge, so players who rely on it still face negative expected value over time. No matter how perfectly they play, basic strategists will eventually incur losses, and consistently tipping dealers only deepens that negative expectation.

Put differently, they will lose more money than they otherwise would. Dealer tipping makes no sense from a basic strategy standpoint. It does nothing to improve their odds of winning, and placing a tip bet has a -100% expectation. Any money they tip is immediately and irretrievably lost.


Arguments in Favor of Blackjack Dealer Tipping

1To Avoid Detection

As noted earlier, savvy blackjack players who have mastered card counting sometimes tip to avoid detection and stay longer at live tables. Casino operators know that advantage players rarely tip, so some card counters use tipping as camouflage to shield themselves from unwanted scrutiny by casino personnel.

2Tip in Line with Your Hourly Expected Value

If you tip to avoid detection, do so sparingly and at random intervals. Excessive tipping will hurt your expected value and can drastically lower your hourly win rate.

Calculate your hourly expected profits for the card counting system you use and allocate a small percentage of that amount for dealer tips. For instance, if your hourly profit is estimated at $100, handing out large tips (such as $10 or $20) solely for camouflage makes little sense because you give away too much of your edge.

You must determine whether the cost of tipping is worth the benefits, but this decision should not be made on the fly. Ideally, run a software simulation to see how much value you generate per hour under specific conditions and how much you can afford to spend on dealer tips.

3Tipping Advice for Basic Strategy Players

We have already explained that tip bets always carry negative expectation for basic strategy players. If you depend on basic strategy but still want to reward the dealer, tip sparingly and in proportion to your bankroll. As a rule of thumb, casual players should never allocate more than 10% of their bankroll for an entire live blackjack session.

For example, if you join a table with a $200 budget, you should spend no more than $20 on tips during the whole session. Anything above that will drain your funds quickly. You can divide this amount into smaller increments and tip after receiving blackjacks or during a hot streak.

Another approach is to size your tips according to your average wagers. If you play at a lower-limit table where you risk about $5 per hand, tip no more than a dollar or two at a time. If you usually wager $50 per hand, spend $5 to $10 on a single tip.

If you are new to live dealer blackjack, you can break the ice by tipping early in your session, preferably shortly after you join the table. Doing so will attract the dealer’s attention and earn their favor, making them friendlier and more helpful.

Closing Thoughts

Closing ThoughtsWhether to tip or not comes down to personal choice and preference. If you are willing to extend this gesture of gratitude to your blackjack dealer, you can do so at some of the live tables powered by Ezugi, Evolution Gaming, LuckyStreak, and Visionary iGaming. Just remember not to overtip, or you could quickly part with your entire live blackjack bankroll.