Your casino host is the single most important relationship in the VIP world — and the most misunderstood. The host is not your friend, though a good host feels like one. The host is your advocate inside the casino, the person who authorises your comps, negotiates your rebate, and fixes problems before they reach you. Whether you tip your host, and how, is a question every serious player asks — and the answer is more nuanced than most people think.

The honest answer is that you are not expected to tip your host in cash, and in many casinos, hosts are not allowed to accept cash tips at all. Hosts are salaried employees, often with bonuses tied to the players they manage, and their compensation comes from the casino, not from you. A cash tip can create an awkward situation: it can look like a bribe, it can violate the casino's policy, and it can put the host in a difficult position with their employer. The industry norm is that you do not tip your host — you show appreciation in other ways.

Gifts, on the other hand, are a normal part of the relationship — if they are modest, thoughtful, and clearly personal rather than transactional. A bottle of wine, a box of cigars, a gift from your home town, or a handwritten thank-you note after a great trip are all appropriate. The key is that the gift says thank you, not please do more for me. Lavish gifts — watches, electronics, large sums — cross the line and make the host uncomfortable, because they create an obligation the host cannot repay without compromising their job. Keep it personal, keep it modest, and give it after the trip, not before.

What hosts remember is not the gift but the behaviour. They remember the player who is polite to the staff, who treats the dealers well, who tips the dealers generously, and who is honest about their play. They remember the player who introduces their friends to the casino, who gives feedback instead of complaints, and who returns regularly. They also remember the player who abuses the staff, who demands comps they have not earned, and who disappears after a big win. Your reputation with your host is built over years and can be damaged in a single trip.

Build the relationship the same way you would any professional one: be consistent, be honest, and be easy to work with. Tell your host your plans before you arrive, let them know your budget and your preferences, and give them feedback after the trip. If a comp was wrong, say so politely; if a host went out of their way for you, say thank you and mean it. And remember the golden rule: your host's job is to keep you playing at their casino, and your job is to make that a good decision for both of you. A strong host relationship is worth more than any single comp — it is the difference between a good trip and a great one.

While tipping your host is optional, tipping your dealers is expected — and it matters more than most players realise. Dealers are paid a base wage plus tips, and a player who never tips is noticed by the whole table. The standard is a small bet for the dealer on a win, or a chip placed on the table for the dealer when you leave. At high-limit tables, a $25 or $100 chip for the dealer after a good session is normal and appreciated. Tipping does not change the cards, and no dealer can influence the outcome, but it changes the atmosphere: dealers remember generous players, the table is friendlier, and the service is better. It also signals to your host that you are a player who treats people well, which is worth more than any gift. Budget your dealer tips into the session cost — a few hundred dollars over a weekend is part of playing at this level, not an extra.