Opinions on tipping the hand pay slot attendants

[tonyfsu21]

So you get lucky and “win” a hand pay. What do you tip based off (if anything at all)? I have a hard time with letting go of more than $20 for this specific service. My logic:

1. More often than not, I am losing and not winning so a $1200-$2000 hand pay isn’t always a win. 
 

2. I know “when in Vegas” things are different but $20 seems more than fair for someone to fill out a 1/2 page digital form and count some cash out for me. 
 

3. The attendants are slower than the sloth in Zootopia! I don’t enjoy standing at a locked out machine waiting for my money for up to 45 minutes during peak casino hours. $20 still feels generous. 
 

I am hopeful we get raised hand pay standards at some point in the near future! Maybe the company will upgrade the systems to accept the auto machine hand pays where it loads up to account and we just cash out at the end of the night? 

[DoomSlayer]

Interesting question.  I do not tip on hand pays because I don't really feel any service has been provided to me.  At the end of the day, hand pays are a product of IRS regulations, and I am sure casinos would rather just have the machine credit the player so they can keep spinning.  I am never grateful that someone gives me a potential tax liability and the headache of having to deal with win/loss statements in April, even though I probably have cycled much more through the system than the hand pay.

Hopefully, this does not label me a cheap scape.  I usually am a big tipper for anyone that provides me a service while on board.  I will even tip dealers if they keep me entertained while playing.  Bartenders, wait staff, room attendants, spa personnel, and anyone that gives great service will get tips well beyond the 18% gratuities I already pay. I just don't feel the same for hand pay attendants as I feel it is a burden (imposed upon by the IRS and not the cruise line) more than a service.

Edit -- So I did have to come back to add that there was one time I received a great win and I did end up tipping the slot attendant.  I was on Adventure on St. Patrick's day playing Buffalo Tower.  I had just started a bonus round and they called my name to play in a slot tournament give away.   I started shouting and jumping up and down because they kept calling my name, but I did not want to leave the machine.  A slot attendant came over with the casino host and asked if I wanted him to watch my machine while I went to the tournament.  I said yes and went to the tournament.  I won a $200 free play voucher in the tournament.  I turned around, and the slot attendant was behind me with his boss and a stack of cash.  I had won $1600 on the Buffalo free spins.  I tipped that attendant $100 that night because I felt he truly provided me a wonderful service.  To date, that was the only hand pay I have ever tipped on.

[WAAAYTOOO]

Interesting that you ask this question today….as we had 2 hand pays yesterday on Piggy Burst (Indy).  In both cases, I gave the “extra” (everything less than a $20 bill) money to the attendant that paid us out.

I think the first one was ~$17 and the second one was just a couple of bucks.  I do the same kind of thing when I cash out a machine voucher.  I always leave the change whether it’s 1 cent or 99 cents.  I hate change so I always leave it behind.

Now, if I ever get a really BIG hand pay (which has, so far, not materialized), I would probably tip more than just the “extra” bills.  It would be nice to get to try that one out !

[tonyfsu21]

32 minutes ago, DoomSlayer said:

Interesting question.  I do not tip on hand pays because I don't really feel any service has been provided to me.  At the end of the day, hand pays are a product of IRS regulations, and I am sure casinos would rather just have the machine credit the player so they can keep spinning.  I am never grateful that someone gives me a potential tax liability and the headache of having to deal with win/loss statements in April, even though I probably have cycled much more through the system than the hand pay.

Hopefully, this does not label me a cheap scape.  I usually am a big tipper for anyone that provides me a service while on board.  I will even tip dealers if they keep me entertained while playing.  Bartenders, wait staff, room attendants, spa personnel, and anyone that gives great service will get tips well beyond the 18% gratuities I already pay. I just don't feel the same for hand pay attendants as I feel it is a burden (imposed upon by the IRS and not the cruise line) more than a service.

Edit -- So I did have to come back to add that there was one time I received a great win and I did end up tipping the slot attendant.  I was on Adventure on St. Patrick's day playing Buffalo Tower.  I had just started a bonus round and they called my name to play in a slot tournament give away.   I started shouting and jumping up and down because they kept calling my name, but I did not want to leave the machine.  A slot attendant came over with the casino host and asked if I wanted him to watch my machine while I went to the tournament.  I said yes and went to the tournament.  I won a $200 free play voucher in the tournament.  I turned around, and the slot attendant was behind me with his boss and a stack of cash.  I had won $1600 on the Buffalo free spins.  I tipped that attendant $100 that night because I felt he truly provided me a wonderful service.  To date, that was the only hand pay I have ever tipped on.

I think you nailed it, no real service is provided at all and these casino employees probably get annoyed at the constant back and forth as a result of the hand pay threshold. 

[twangster]

It’s never occurred to me that a hand pay at a slot machine warranted a tip to fill out a government form.  

If I was at a table playing with a dealer for a period of time I can see giving a tip.  

Something about playing a slot machine doesn't cross the threshold of tip worthy in my mind.  

[tonyfsu21]

5 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Interesting that you ask this question today….as we had 2 hand pays yesterday on Piggy Burst (Indy).  In both cases, I gave the “extra” (everything less than a $20 bill) money to the attendant that paid us out.

I think the first one was ~$17 and the second one was just a couple of bucks.  I do the same kind of thing when I cash out a machine voucher.  I always leave the change whether it’s 1 cent or 99 cents.  I hate change so I always leave it behind.

Now, if I ever get a really BIG hand pay (which has, so far, not materialized), I would probably tip more than just the “extra” bills.  It would be nice to get to try that one out !

I completely forgot about the cage, I have never tipped the attendant in there. I share your hatred for change and I normally just put the coins on the nearest ledge next to a machine. Good luck on Indy, sounds like you are doing well!

[WAAAYTOOO]

15 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I completely forgot about the cage, I have never tipped the attendant in there. I share your hatred for change and I normally just put the coins on the nearest ledge next to a machine. Good luck on Indy, sounds like you are doing well!

Thanks.  We decided not to press our luck so we have retired from the casino for this cruise.  It’s just a shorty 4 day and Dan has already won an instant reward cert (although I cannot imagine how we’re going to use it as we are just about completely booked solid !) so we’re staying OUT of the casino for the rest of the cruise . He’s way ahead and I am up slightly so we’re calling it quits.  If I had stayed away from the Ultimate table last night I would also be waaay ahead but alas, I did not.  

[tonyfsu21]

29 minutes ago, WAAAYTOOO said:

Thanks.  We decided not to press our luck so we have retired from the casino for this cruise.  It’s just a shorty 4 day and Dan has already won an instant reward cert (although I cannot imagine how we’re going to use it as we are just about completely booked solid !) so we’re staying OUT of the casino for the rest of the cruise . He’s way ahead and I am up slightly so we’re calling it quits.  If I had stayed away from the Ultimate table last night I would also be waaay ahead but alas, I did not.  

Haha, stay away from that ultimate table! The Kizmut Kat machine temporarily retired me from the Indy casino a couple months ago.

[Ampurp85]

So, I am also a tipper, as a person who has worked in the service industry off and on for like 20+ years. I know how much a little goes a long way. I have gotten a handful of handpays, so far not on a Royal cruise (I seem to always be just shy of paying taxes on my big wins), and I usually will tip $20 or so. But at the same time, I always feel like "why am I tipping for you to give me money? I wouldn't tip my banker." 

[SplashOfWater]

We also tip, but ask ourselves "why?" afterwards. Usually $10 or $20.

[Yesiamthere6]

I believe in tipping, but you lost me at tipping someone to give me “my money”. Pretty soon we are going to feel obligated to tip an employee who goes that extra mile by saying, ‘Have a nice day’. 

[WAYNO]

Everybody has their own ideas.  if ya don't want to tip, or are looking for rationalization to not tip, then by all means, don't tip.

My idea is different, and there's no reason for anybody to tell me I am wrong with what I do with my money any more than I could tell others what to do with theirs.

With the pre-paid tip, which I do participate, nobody gets any more or less for a job well done.  So, I take it upon myself to tip over and above pre-paid or automatic tips.  And how much?  On a hand pay, I often give both attendees 20-bucks each.  Think what you want, none of these employees are making bank off of wages alone.  If I can share my happiness and appreciation, I'm gonna do it. 

[tonyfsu21]

14 minutes ago, WAYNO said:

Everybody has their own ideas.  if ya don't want to tip, or are looking for rationalization to not tip, then by all means, don't tip.

My idea is different, and there's no reason for anybody to tell me I am wrong with what I do with my money any more than I could tell others what to do with theirs.

With the pre-paid tip, which I do participate, nobody gets any more or less for a job well done.  So, I take it upon myself to tip over and above pre-paid or automatic tips.  And how much?  On a hand pay, I often give both attendees 20-bucks each.  Think what you want, none of these employees are making bank off of wages alone.  If I can share my happiness and appreciation, I'm gonna do it. 

I don’t think anyone here is arguing against tipping. I spend a significant amount of money tipping over the Auto Gratuities but the slot attendant is taking things too far. There’s no service going on there. Maybe if they brought me a drink from the bar with my money? In any case, I reluctantly tip them $20 but it’s against my better judgement. The slot attendants will soon be absorbed into other jobs on the ship when the federal hand pay minimums are raised and automatic payments are updated on the machines. 

[WAYNO]

33 minutes ago, tonyfsu21 said:

I don’t think anyone here is arguing against tipping.

Nor was I, pro or con...

But this subject comes up often.  As I said, tip if you want, and don't if you don't want.

This was not an argument. The subject did ask for OPINIONS, didn't it?  

[12thman]

Does anyone know if the actual slot attendant gets to keep the tip or is it split between the entire slot attendants working that shift? I had to 2 hand pays and gave $100 for each. The pot was small but it's a superstition for me to do that.