Casino etiquette · Direct tips · Bets for the crew
Tipping a craps crew is optional where permitted. You can give chips directly by saying “for the crew,” or make a clearly identified wager for the dealers. A tip recognizes service; it does not change the dice, payout rules, or house edge.
Sam’s tipping approach
I tip for patient explanations, accurate handling, and a crew that makes the game enjoyable—not because I am winning. I decide the tipping amount as part of the session budget before play so generosity does not turn into untracked gambling exposure.
First check the local policy
Tipping rules differ by jurisdiction, casino, and employment policy. Some crews pool tips; some properties restrict the types of dealer bets; some countries do not share the same tipping custom. If uncertain, ask the base dealer or floor supervisor, “Are crew tips or dealer bets allowed here?”
Method 1: a direct tip
- Wait until the dice are in the center.
- Place the chip where the dealer instructs rather than tossing it into active bets.
- Say clearly, “For the crew—thank you.”
- Let the crew announce, verify, and move the tip under house procedure.
A direct tip has a known cost and transfers the full amount immediately. It is the clearest choice if your purpose is to thank the crew rather than add another wager.
Method 2: make a bet for the crew
You can ask to put the dealers on a permitted wager. State both the bet and that it belongs to the crew. Do not merely place a second chip beside yours and assume everyone understands.
| Instruction | What it normally means | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| “$1 Pass Line for the crew” | A separate dealer-owned flat Pass wager | Low 1.41% edge, but can become a contract bet after a point |
| “$6 Place 6 for the crew” | A dealer-owned Place 6 if allowed and booked | 1.52% edge; usually removable between rolls |
| “Two-way hard 10 for $2” | Typically $1 for you and $1 for the crew | High-edge proposition; confirm the split and working status |
| “$1 Any Craps for the crew” | A one-roll dealer wager on 2, 3, or 12 | High 11.11% edge; settled on the next roll |
A bet for the crew can lose. That does not mean the tip was refused; the chip was transferred into a wager with a stated outcome. Ask whether a winning dealer bet comes down, stays up, or is handled under another property rule.
Low-edge is usually better than flashy. If the property allows it, many dealers would rather have a line or Place bet with a reasonable chance of winning than a high-edge long shot. A direct tip avoids the house edge entirely.
When and how much should you tip?
There is no universal schedule or percentage. Common moments include after helpful instruction, during a pleasant session, after coloring up, or when leaving. Tipping throughout a session lets you acknowledge service as it happens; tipping once at the end makes the total easier to control.
Choose an amount that fits your entertainment budget and local custom. Do not borrow, chase a loss, or increase tips simply because the table is on a hot roll. A win does not create an obligation, and a loss does not excuse abusive behavior.
What tipping should never buy
- A favorable ruling or relaxed enforcement;
- an intentional overpayment;
- a false player rating or unauthorized comp;
- priority over another player’s legitimate wager;
- a change to posted payouts or game rules.
The old CrapsPit articles suggested that tipping might produce mistakes in a player’s favor. That is not a legitimate benefit and is not part of this guide. If you receive an obvious overpayment, tell the dealer so the transaction can be corrected.
Tipping FAQ
Is a casino tip called a toke?
Yes. Toke is common casino-industry slang for a gratuity.
Should I tip when I lose?
Tip according to service and your predetermined budget, not the dice result. It is also acceptable not to tip when it would exceed your limit.
Can I tip one specific dealer?
Many casinos pool tokes among eligible staff, so a tip may not remain with one person. Ask about local policy if that distinction matters.
For timing and table behavior, see craps etiquette and the crew-role guide.
Being a Craps dealer, only making bets for the crew on the hard ways can be very frustrating. The odds for the hard ways are very much in favor of the house. Casino dealers live off tips, so making a losing bet for them really isn’t helping them out. Hard way bets are nice, but putting the crew on the pass line is where they make their bread and butter. In addition it’s always nice to give the dealers a $3 six and eight. Since the six and eight roll the most, a dealer starting with a $3 bet could eventually press it up to a $12 or $18 bet. If it’s a hot roll the dealers could easily put away a nice amount of money off of your $3 gift. Hard way bets are nice but only when they hit, and the odds of that happening are rather slim. Too slim to live off of.
Jewels, thank you for taking time to post. It is nice to have a craps dealer here sharing their views. Your post makes perfect sense!
How would you place a dealer bet on the pass line? Let them know you’re splitting your winnings or can you have two chips (or stacks if you’re hot)?
Thanks for your post. To make a dealer bet on the Pass Line, position the chip(s) for your dealer bet on the Pass Line directly adjacent to your Pass Line bet and then, to ensure the dealer knows your intent, tell the dealer, “That extra Pass bet is for the crew.” The dealer will most likely know your extra chip(s) are for the crew, but it’s always best to announce your intention so you know for sure that there’s no misunderstanding. The dealers appreciate any bet you make for them, including Hardway bets. The main intent of our article on tipping the dealers is merely to suggest that players tip dealers while playing, and the story about the Hardways is just one example of how we at the Crapspit do our tipping. The article is not intended to suggest that the Hardways are the only way to tip, or that one type of dealer bet is preferred over another. Be aware that most casinos do not allow dealers to press or leave up a winning dealer bet. Instead, most casinos require the bet and its winnings be taken down after a win and dropped into the dealers’ tip box (i.e., neither the player nor the dealer can decide to press or leave up a winning dealer bet). Yes, some casinos do allow a dealer bet to remain up after a win, but our experience is that most casinos do not allow it. So, don’t be surprised if a winning $3 dealer Place bet is taken down immediately after a win (i.e., neither you nor the dealer can press it—in most casinos). Once a dealer bet wins and is taken down, most players then toss another chip to the stickman and say, “Put the dealers back up, please.” Also note that for a dealer Pass Line bet, it usually does not have to be the table minimum. For example, we were recently at our favorite Biloxi casino that has $10 minimums. Like clockwork, after every third shooter, the shooter beside us made the $10 minimum Pass Line bet for himself and a $1 Pass Line bet for the crew (so, don’t think you’re obligated to meet the table minimum with a dealer bet). And by the way, believe us…when a table is hot, the crew absolutely LOVES when most, if not all, players at the table make all those Hardway dealer bets. On a hot table, the shooter may not roll the point to win the Pass Line for 20 rolls, but during those 20 rolls, the Hardways can hit several times, making way more money for the crew than a Pass Line bet would make. Just think, after every roll, the table goes crazy over the winnings so they press their Hardways along with the dealers’ Hardways. If an Easyway hits, the players making dealer Hardway bets generally immediately put the dealers back up, oftentimes for the same amount as before the Easyway hit. Dealer Hardway bets on a hot table can produce $100s if not $1000s for the dealers compared to, say, a mere $20 from dealer Pass Line bets. It’s your choice. Tip the way you want. Our intent with our article about tipping is simply to encourage you to tip the dealers during your time at the tables.
Attoffy, thanks for your question. Generally, yes, other players can add an Odds bet to your crew Flat Come bet. Also, other players can make a crew Come bet, even if the same Come point as yours has been established. For example, suppose the Come point for your $5 crew Flat Come bet is 9. Then, another player makes a $5 crew Flat Come bet, and the shooter rolls a 9. The other player’s crew Flat Come bet is basically added to your crew Flat Come bet (i.e., the crew essentially now has a $10 Flat Come bet on the 9). Generally, players can add to or duplicate any bet for the crew. For example, suppose you make a $1 Hard 4 bet for the crew. As soon as the stickman places your chip in the proper position in the center section of the layout, a player at the other end of table tosses a $1 chip on the table and says, “Hard 4 for the crew!” The stickman places the chip on top of your chip, which increases the crew’s Hard 4 bet to $2. Regarding your question about adding Odds to your crew Flat Come bet, keep in mind the max Odds allowed (i.e., 2x, 3x, 4x, 10x, 100x Odds, etc.). Once the max Odds are reached, you and other players can’t add anymore Odds. Good luck and have fun at the craps tables!