Everything a first-time visitor needs to know about tipping, dress codes and how to carry yourself in Las Vegas — so you can relax and enjoy the trip.
Tipping is woven into how Las Vegas works. Many service staff are paid at or near minimum wage and rely on gratuities to make up the difference, so tips here aren't just a reward for great service — they're an expected part of the cost. Here's what's customary in 2026. Carry a stack of $1 bills, some $5s and a few $20s, and you'll be ready for almost anything.
| Who | Customary tip (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cocktail server (while gambling) | $1–$2 per drink | Even though the drink is "free." Tip $5 on the first round and you'll be served faster all night. |
| Table-games dealer | $5–$10 per hour | Or place a small bet for them. Tip when you're winning; most don't tip when losing and dealers don't expect it. |
| Bartender | $1–$2 per drink | Or 15–20% of the tab. Good tippers tend to get served faster. |
| Housekeeping | $3–$5 per night | Leave it daily, not at the end — staff rotate, so the daily tip reaches whoever actually cleaned. |
| Bellhop / porter | $2–$3 per bag | $5 minimum if you only have one bag. |
| Valet | $3–$5 on pickup | Tip when they return the car, not at drop-off. More in extreme summer heat. |
| Taxi / rideshare | 15–20% | Round up for short rides; add a little for luggage help. |
| Restaurant server | 18–20% | Check for auto-gratuity on parties of 6+ so you don't tip twice. |
| Buffet server | $5–$10 per person | At high-end buffets. Someone still clears plates and refills drinks. |
| Slot attendant (hand-pay jackpot) | ~1–2% of jackpot | e.g. roughly $20 on a $1,200 hand-pay is a common benchmark. |
Nevada's minimum wage is modest, and tipped service jobs are built around the assumption that gratuities will fill the gap. In casino slang a generous tipper is a "George" and a non-tipper is a "stiff" — the culture takes it seriously enough to have nicknames for both. None of this means you should tip for poor service, but skipping tips entirely is considered bad form. When in doubt, a dollar or two in the right hand goes a long way toward smoother, friendlier service for the rest of your trip.
The casino floor has an easy rhythm once you know it. A few basics keep you from being "that" visitor:
Watch a few hands first to get the flow. Wait for a break in play, then tell the dealer you'd like to buy in. Place your cash flat on the table — never hand it directly to the dealer — and they'll exchange it for chips. Avoid buying in in the middle of a hand or a craps roll.
Stack chips neatly with higher denominations on the bottom. Place bets gently inside your betting circle rather than tossing them ("splashing the pot"). And once the hand begins, don't touch your bet until it's over — this is a strict anti-cheating rule enforced everywhere.
Phones, drinks and bags don't belong on the felt. Many tables now ban phone use entirely during play — if you need to take a call or check something, step away from the table.
Casinos serve complimentary drinks to anyone actively gambling. The etiquette: sit down, start playing, and keep an eye out for the cocktail server who circulates asking "Drinks? Cocktails?" — don't sit down and immediately start waving across the floor.
Keep your order simple. A beer, coffee, or a common two- or three-ingredient drink (vodka tonic, screwdriver, rum and coke) will come quickly and well-made. In standard casinos, expect well-brand liquor unless you name a brand. In high-limit rooms and upscale properties the drinks get noticeably better. And remember to tip the server $1–$2 per drink even though it's "free" — it's the single best way to keep them coming back to you.
By day, Las Vegas is extremely casual — shorts, t-shirts and trainers are fine almost everywhere on the casino floor and at most casual restaurants. The dress code ramps up at night and in specific venues:
Upscale restaurants often expect "smart casual" or "business casual" — collared shirts for men, no athletic wear, no flip-flops. A few of the very top rooms prefer a jacket. Check the restaurant's stated dress code when you book.
Nightclubs enforce dress codes at the door and can turn you away: typically no athletic wear, no baggy shorts, no flip-flops, and often no hats for men. Dressier is safer. Pool parties (dayclubs) are swimwear-friendly but still ban things like thong-style swimwear for some venues — check ahead.
On the gaming floor itself there's no real dress code — you can play blackjack in a t-shirt and shorts at almost any casino.
As a courtesy and often a rule, casinos discourage photography on the gaming floor — partly for other guests' privacy and partly for security. Taking photos at a table mid-game is generally not allowed; if you want a picture of a big win, ask the dealer or pit boss first and they'll often allow it. Paper basic-strategy cards are allowed at blackjack, but strategy apps on your phone are not, since phones aren't permitted during table play.
Sign up for a casino's free player's card (loyalty card) before you start playing — it's free, and it tracks your play to earn "comps" (complimentary perks) like free play, meals, or discounted rooms. Insert it into slot machines or hand it to the table dealer so your play is rated.
One etiquette note that trips people up: you don't tip a pit boss or casino host in cash for a comp. A polite thank-you and giving them your player-card number does far more, and many hosts can't accept cash anyway.