The Importance of Dealer Tokes

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Let’s face it. Casino dealers are some of the most overworked and under appreciated people you will ever meet. They put in long hours bent over a table servicing people who are generally at their worst - drunk and losing. Sure, you’ll run across the occasional rude or inept dealer, but for the most part they are decent family men and women working for modest salaries in organizations that - for lack of a better term - uses them. Like many in service-related businesses, they depend on “tokes” for the majority of their income. Toke, short for token, as in “a token of my appreciation,” is just another word for tip.

A good craps dealer can be your best friend in the casino. Once he gets an idea of your betting pattern he will remind you about bets that may have slipped your mind. If the bet is late getting in and your number rolls he will intercede with the box on your behalf and see to it that the bet gets paid. If the seven shows he may push your late wager back to you explaining that he did not book it. It’s all about customer service - and it is all part of the game.

Back in October of 2017 I stepped up to the tables at one of my local favorites for an early bird session. The dice came to me immediately and I tossed a come-out twelve. I muttered something about forgetting to bet my usual world/high-low action and the stick man promptly said “drop it.” I dropped $7 on the table and he explained to the box that I always bet a world/high-low on the come out. The boxman said, “Pay him.” Mind you, this was my first toss after buy-in. But it was in a casino where I am a “known” player - and I had the boys piggybacked on my line bet.

I picked up my $55 payout, replaced the $1 I had on the line for the boys with the $5 chip out of that pay out and tossed one of the green chips I'd been paid over to the box as a dealer hand in. Message sent - message received. A good dealer should always be rewarded for his efforts if he is helpful and pleasant to work with. And you may find that he becomes even MORE helpful and pleasant when you toss out a toke. Of course, there’s a fine line between taking care of the boys and collusion - which is cheating and can result in a trip to the grey-bar motel. So be generous - but don’t be stupid.

Although most dealers will tell you they would rather have a “hand in,” dealer tokes usually take the form of bets made “for the boys.” These are usually high-vig prop bets that offer a low chance of return for the dealers. Dealer opinions on these bets vary - depending on their understanding of the game. Ask the dealers where they’d like you to play their bets and they’ll likely tell you “We’ll ride with you, sir.” It is the politically correct thing to say. Don't believe me? Bet the Don't Pass then hold up a $5 chip as a toke for the dealers and ask where they'd like you to bet it. You'll never see a more torn expression on a person's face in your life. He wants to be politically correct and ride with you - but he also wants that shot at multiple wins.

If it’s the come-out roll then go ahead and put them on the line. If the point is already established, then placing an extra few bucks for them on your free-odds bet is a great way to go. Other dealers like their action spread out on the board. For these dealers, “six dollars across for the crew” brings the game to life. Every time a box number rolls they get paid, and if the player controls the bets and keeps them up and working and maybe presses every other hit so the dealers get to stay in the game and their winnings increase on a hot hand - others at the table will see what's happening and press their bets up as well. One of my favorite memories is of a session where I played $34 across for myself and $6 across for the dealers with player control of the bets. Every other hit we played “same bet.” But on the opposite hits I pressed my bets up a unit and took the left-over white chips and pressed the dealer’s bet. Soon the dealers had $12 and $18 sixes and eights working in addition to their outside action, and the toke box was filling fast.

Of course, many dealers are fond of the hardways - particularly when the hardways are hopping and the parlays are hitting. My play is to piggyback the boys on my hard six and eight for a buck each. On the first hit I parlay my bet all the way. The dealers get to drop $5 and press to $5. On the second hardway hit I collect $100 and press to $25. The dealers collect $50 and press to $10. Everybody is happy. Fact is, nothing will bring a table to life quicker than payoffs on dealer bets. When the dealers are winning - typically everybody is winning. That, in itself, is a good reason to use them.
If you are a player who likes to be rated for comps you may find that your average bet gets rated up a bit when you toke the dealers. The reason behind this is simple. Most of the floor supervisors who rate players came up through the ranks, and at one time depended on player tokes for a substantial portion of THEIR income. They look at you as one of the good guys, and good guys should be rewarded.

When do you toke? I like to begin each session with some sort of dealer bet. It lets the dealers know that you’re on their side and that you will look out for them if they’ll look out for you. Once the game is in gear, my preference is to place a small wager for the boys immediately after each stick change. I do this for a couple of reasons. First, I want the new stick coming on duty to know that I’m a George. Secondly, I want to exert a positive influence on what is seen by most players as a negative indicator - the stick change. I want the stick person to “feel the love” right off the bat.

Of course, it’s human nature to tip more when you’re winning and less when you lose, and that is to be expected. But remember, the dealers work just as hard - if not harder - on a losing table as on a winning table. So when you end your session - win or lose, color up and then toss any surplus dollar chips you have left in as a dealer hand-in. Maybe even toss in a few red chips. If the dealers treated you right - it’s the right thing to do.

[Wisco330inside]

Great read Heavy, thanks for posting.

[Big O]

I almost always play GWAG on my roll so i start out with a 4&1 horn(usually wait until just before they pass the dice to set up). After setting the point i put the dealers on the line with odds (usually just a dollar to start). If i am on a $15 game i usually kickback a dollar of the $21 payout to put the dealers up on whatever hit. Play it by ear from there

[Crapsjunkie]

I tip $1 every 10 or so pass or don’t pass bets and then any dollars left after I color up. Just not a big priority for me.

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It's more important to tip while you are playing than at the end of your session, because you want to encourage the best service from the dealers. If you tip during the game and there's an error in a payoff or you forget to make a bet the dealer is much more likely to make sure the error is corrected in your favor if you have been toking. It's just common sense. Tips left at the end of the session are fine - just like tips left at the end of a meal for the wait staff, thanking them for good service. But this is different. We're playing for cash, not pork chops.

[Crapsjunkie]

That’s why I do both during and after but I’m not going to go out of my way to make it a huge priority. If they’re treating me fairly and working hard, they get tipped during and after. If they don’t and act like it’s a burden that I’m at the table, then probably just after.

[Blackcloud]

UNHH!! Medcineman got it right with nine pound hammer on this tack ! UNHH!!

[grinder2017]

I absolutely believe in tipping the crew especially if you frequent the same casino often. The benefits I receive far out way what I spend on tips. I can walk by a craps table at my favorite casino and make eye contact with the box and they will wave me off if the table is bad or will make a spot for me if its worth playing. Last year I saw a regular player at this casino win 20k and walk away and stiff the dealers no bets during play and no hand in when he colored up. The crew might not be able to spit in his food but the box can put anything he wants in the computer for a player. I've talked with some dealers when they were dealing 21 and they sure have their opinions about players. If I'm opening up a table I often seed the toke box with a $5 hand in when I buy in. I like to bet the hardways for the dealers. On my first press on the 4 or 10 I put them on the hard 4 and 10 and keep putting them up if it comes easy or hits. After my 2nd hit on any number or if the point is even they get all the hardways and I will keep putting them up if it hits or comes easy. I will take all the good Karma and luck I can get in the casino and who knows just maybe it might help your rating. One other thing thinking about it I'm pretty sure I can make any call bet I want and they will book it for me. By the way I also tip the slot attendant on handpays, cocktail waitress, my bartender, bellman, mens room attendant and even the front desk. I seem to get great service and really nice rooms maybe it is just a coincidence ?
Cheers
Grinder