Las Vegas Tipping Guide
Vegas runs on tips. Here's exactly who to tip, when, and how much — from the bartender pouring your first drink to the dealer at your last hand.
Quick Answer
Standard US tipping applies and is heavily expected: 18–20% on restaurant bills, $1–2 per drink at any bar (including free casino cocktails), $3–5 per bag for the bellhop, $3–5 per night for housekeeping (daily, not at checkout), $2–5 for valet pickup, 15–20% on taxi fares, and a few chips to the dealer when you cash out a winning session.
Bring cash. Plan for $100–300 in small bills ($1, $5, $10) for tips over a 3-night trip. Casino ATMs charge steep convenience fees — hit your bank or a non-casino ATM before arriving.
Restaurants & Bars
Sit-down restaurant server
When: On the bill
For exceptional service or large groups, 20–25%. Some Vegas restaurants auto-add gratuity for parties of 6+.
How Much
18–20%
Bartender (per drink)
When: When the drink is delivered
Tip on the first round and you'll get noticeably better service the rest of the night.
How Much
$1–2 per drink, or 20% of the tab
Cocktail server in casino (free drinks)
When: Each time they bring you a drink
The drinks are "free" from the casino but the cocktail server lives on tips. Not tipping is a Vegas faux pas.
How Much
$1–2 per drink
Buffet server (refills, plate clearing)
When: On the bill
Less than a full restaurant because you serve yourself, but the staff still works hard.
How Much
10–15%
Coffee / quick-service counter
When: In the tip jar
How Much
$1 or rounding up
Hotel Staff
Bellhop (luggage to room)
When: When they drop off your bags
How Much
$3–5 per bag, $10 minimum
Housekeeping
When: Daily, left on the pillow or with a thank-you note
Tip daily, not at the end of your stay — different staff may clean your room each day.
How Much
$3–5 per night for standard rooms, $5–10 for suites
Concierge (basic info, restaurant recs)
When: Not required for simple questions
How Much
$0
Concierge (hard-to-get reservations, show tickets)
When: When they come through with the booking
How Much
$10–20 for a tough restaurant, $20+ for hot show seats
Doorman (hailing a cab or rideshare)
When: When they hand you off to the car
How Much
$1–2
Transportation
Taxi driver
When: When you pay (the meter does NOT include tip)
How Much
15–20% of the metered fare
Uber / Lyft driver
When: In the app after the ride
How Much
15–20% via the in-app tip option
Valet (drop-off)
When: When you hand over the keys
How Much
$0 — tip on pickup, not drop-off
Valet (pickup)
When: When they bring your car
For long stays where they've held your car repeatedly, $5+ is appropriate.
How Much
$2–5
Airport shuttle / shared shuttle driver
When: When they unload your bags
How Much
$2–3 per person, more for large groups
Nightlife & Pool
Club bottle service host (VIP table)
When: When the bottle is delivered
A $1,000 bottle service tab carries a $180–200 minimum tip. Many clubs add 20% gratuity automatically.
How Much
18–20% (often auto-added — check the bill)
Club door staff / bouncer
When: If you want to skip the line or get a courtesy upgrade
Not required, but sometimes effective. Be discreet, not flashy.
How Much
Optional — $20–100 depending on the club and your group
Pool dayclub server (cabana / table service)
When: On the bill
How Much
18–20% (often auto-added)
Coat check
When: When you pick up your stuff
How Much
$1–2 per item
Casino & Gaming
Table game dealer (winning session)
When: When you cash out with a profit
Either pass the dealer chips directly or place a bet for them. No tip required when you lose.
How Much
A few chips — typically 1–5% of your winnings
Table game dealer (single big hand)
When: After the hand pays out
How Much
A chip or two on big wins
Slot attendant (jackpot hand-pay)
When: When they pay out a hand-paid jackpot
How Much
$20+ on a $1,000 hand-pay; scale up from there
Poker dealer
When: After winning a pot
How Much
$1 per pot is standard at low-stakes tables
Casino host (comped meals/rooms)
When: After your stay
How Much
10–20% of the value of the comp, minimum $20
Other Services
Spa therapist
When: After the service
How Much
18–20% (often auto-added — check)
Salon (hair, nails)
When: After the service
How Much
15–20%
Tour guide (Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, etc.)
When: End of the tour
How Much
$10–20 per person for a half-day, $20+ for a full day
Wedding chapel staff
When: After the ceremony
How Much
$20–50 each for officiant, witness, photographer if not included in package
The Tips People Forget
These are the ones first-time Vegas visitors miss most often. Don't.
The casino cocktail server
The drinks are free from the casino but she lives on tips. $1–2 every time.
Housekeeping daily, not at checkout
A single tip at the end only reaches whoever happened to clean that day.
The dealer when you win
A few chips at the end of a winning session is standard etiquette.
Valet on pickup, not drop-off
Hand over the keys without tipping; tip when they bring the car back.
Frequently Asked Questions
What people search when they don't want to look like a tourist.
How much should I tip in Las Vegas?
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Standard US tipping applies and is heavily expected: 18–20% on restaurant bills, $1–2 per drink at any bar (including the "free" cocktails brought to you while gambling), $3–5 per bag for the bellhop, $3–5 per night for housekeeping (left daily), $2–5 for valet on pickup, 15–20% on taxi metered fare, and a few chips to the dealer when you cash out a winning session at a table game.
Do I have to tip the cocktail waitress at the casino?
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Yes — and this is the most commonly missed Vegas tip. The drinks are free from the casino but the cocktail server lives on tips. Tip $1–2 per drink in cash when she brings it. If you don't tip, you'll wait much longer for the next round (or never see her again).
How much cash should I bring to Vegas for tips?
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Plan for $100–300 in cash specifically for tipping over a 3-night trip, depending on how much you go out. Bring small bills — $1, $5, and $10 — because you'll be tipping in $1–5 increments most of the time. Hit a non-casino ATM or your bank before arriving; in-casino ATMs charge steep convenience fees.
Do I tip when I valet drop-off or pickup?
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Pickup, not drop-off. Hand over the keys without tipping when you arrive — they hand you a ticket and your car goes to the lot. When they bring the car back, tip $2–5 (more for long stays where they've repeatedly held the car).
Do I tip table game dealers?
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Yes, when you're winning. Tip a few chips when you cash out a winning session, and some players tip a chip on individual big hands. You can either pass the dealer chips directly or place a bet for them ("for the dealer"). No tip is required when you lose, but consistent tipping builds rapport with dealers you'll see again.
Is bottle service tip included in the bill?
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Usually yes — most Vegas nightclubs auto-add an 18–20% gratuity to bottle service tabs. Check your bill carefully before adding more. If gratuity is included, an additional cash tip to the host or VIP server is appreciated for great service but not required.
How much should I tip housekeeping in Vegas?
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$3–5 per night for a standard room, $5–10 per night for a suite. Leave it daily on the pillow or with a 'Thank you, housekeeping' note — different staff may clean your room each day, so a single tip at the end of your stay only goes to whoever cleans the day you check out.
What happens if I don't tip in Vegas?
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Service degrades fast. Cocktail servers stop coming back. Bartenders pour the cheap stuff and take longer to acknowledge you. Dealers become less friendly and informative. Bellhops give you the slow service. You won't get arrested or kicked out — tipping is technically discretionary — but the entire Strip economy runs on tips and the staff knows immediately when someone isn't playing the game.