Online Mines Games Arguments in Favor of Blackjack Dealer Tipping
1. To Avoid Detection
As we previously hinted, savvy blackjack players who have mastered card counting sometimes resort to tipping as a means of avoiding detection and extending their longevity at the live tables. It is no secret to casino operators that advantage players are averse to tipping, so some card counters use the practice as a camouflage to protect themselves against undesired scrutiny on behalf of the casino personnel.
2. Tip in Line with Your Hourly Expected Value
If you tip for the purpose of avoiding detection, you should do so frugally and at random intervals. Overdoing it will have a negative impact on your expected value and can dramatically decrease your hourly win rates.
It is recommended to calculate your hourly expected profits for the card counting system you prefer to use and earmark a nominal percentage of the amount for dealer tipping. Suppose, for example, your hourly profits are estimated at $100. Handing out massive tips (like $10 or $20) solely for camouflage purposes makes no sense in this case since you will give away too much of your expected value.
You must determine whether the cost of tipping is worth the benefits but this is not a decision you make on the fly. It would be best to run a software simulation to see exactly how much value you are generating per hour under given playing conditions and how much of it you can afford to give up in the form of dealer tips.
3. Tipping Advice for Basic Strategy Players
We already explained tip bets always yield negative expectation for basic strategy players. If you rely on basic strategy alone but still insist on treating your dealer to gratuities, we suggest you do so sparingly and in proportion to your bankroll. By rule of thumb, casual players should never set aside more than 10% of their bankroll for a given live blackjack session.
So if you join your favorite live blackjack table with a starting budget of $200, you should spend no more than $20 on tips for the duration of your entire session. Anything over this amount will clean you out very quickly. You can break down this sum into smaller increments and tip your live dealer after you receive blackjacks or during a hot run.
Another viable approach would be to size your tips based on your average wagers. So, for example, if you join a lower-limit live table where you risk approximately $5 per hand, we suggest you tip no more than a dollar or two at a time. Conversely, if you are accustomed to wagering $50 per hand, you should spend $5 to $10 on a single tip.
Provided that you are new to live dealer blackjack, you can break the ice by tipping earlier in your gaming session, preferably shortly after you join a table. This would certainly attract the live dealer’s attention and gain their favor, causing them to be friendlier and more helpful.
Closing Thoughts
Whether to tip or not all comes down to personal choice and preferences. 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 else you could quickly part with your entire live blackjack bankroll.
