Tipping in Las Vegas - A British Guide

US federal minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13 an hour in most states. In Nevada it's $12 an hour as of 2026 - better than most of the country, but still a fraction of what a UK hospitality worker earns as base pay. The rest of the wage comes from tips, and workers are taxed on the assumption that they earn them.

If you don't tip in Vegas, you're not being stingy - you're actively costing the person money. That's the mental model. Once you have it, the amounts stop feeling excessive.

Bottle service: 15-20% required depending on the venue (most add it automatically as "service charge" or "gratuity"), with an additional 5% optional based on the venue and how the night ran. Always read the printed receipt before adding on top so you're not double-tipping. If you had a great host and want to look after them personally, an extra $50-100 cash to the host directly is normal on top of the pooled tip.

Club security (the walk-through tip): if you want a hassle-free walk to and from the bathroom, to the exit, or through a packed dance floor, tipping the security nearest your table $100 at the start of the night and $100 at the end buys a genuinely seamless night. Not mandatory - regulars use it as a shortcut, and it's the difference between "grinding through a crowd every trip to the loo" and "the floor parts for you every time."

Drivers (rideshare / taxi): $5-10 per ride for a standard sedan. Bump to $15-20 for a party bus / stretch. Uber and Lyft prompt you in-app - 20% default is fine.

Housekeeping: $5 per night per room, left on the pillow with a note ("Thank you"). Doing this on day 1 usually gets you better service the rest of the stay - same housekeeper reads it and remembers.

Bartenders: $2 per drink at a normal pace, $5 for the first drink to build rapport. On a group crawl, one person can put down a $20 for the whole round.

Bathroom attendants: $1-5 each visit depending on what you use (a paper towel is $1; the full spray/mint/gum situation is $3-5). Cash only. Every A-tier nightclub has them.

Bellhop / porter: $2-5 per bag, $5 if they're wheeling a suitcase up the lift for you.

Concierge (hotel): $10-20 for a hard-to-get reservation, $5 for a routine ask. If they've done something exceptional (last-minute Sphere ticket, restaurant with a 3-week waitlist), $50-100 is not out of line.

Casino dealers: If you're on a hot streak, tip a $5-10 chip periodically or 10% of a big win. On a losing table, no tip is required but a courtesy $5 at end of session is nice.

Adult entertainment (dancers, hosts): cash economy, always. Never card. Rates vary wildly and are negotiated in the room, not on the internet.

• Fast food counter (McDonald's, Shake Shack, In-N-Out) - no tip expected
• Coffee counter with just a shout for you to grab - the jar is optional
• Complimentary casino drinks - you're not paying, but tip the cocktail waitress $1-2 per round anyway; that's how you keep them coming
• The convenience-store worker at a hotel gift shop - no tip expected

Take your on-ground spend estimate, add roughly 15-20% on top for tipping. On a proper 4-night group trip that's usually £130-180 per head across the week for tipping alone. Most groups underestimate this and end up with a shorter Sunday.

Practical rules: - Bring cash. $200-300 in $5s and $20s covers most of what you'll hand out directly. ATMs on the Strip charge extortionate fees ($8-12 per withdrawal). Withdraw once in the airport arrivals hall. - Keep singles for bathroom attendants and drink orders - Twenties for housekeeping, bellhops, and cocktail waitresses - Card auto-tips at restaurants and rideshare handle the rest

If you have a good time somewhere and the person made it feel effortless, tip more than you were going to. A £20 extra to a cocktail waitress on Friday night is how you get a great one on Saturday too - she will find you. That is the whole game. Vegas hospitality workers talk to each other constantly, more than anywhere else we operate. Being remembered by name is the shortcut to a better week, and it costs about the same as one round.

The full list of what you actually hand out, at what amount, and to whom. Keep cash in $1s, $5s and $20s for the ones marked cash.

Drinks + bars: - Bartender at a bar (paid drink): $1-2 per drink cash, or 15-20% if running a tab on a card - Cocktail waitress at a casino (comped drink): $1-2 per round cash - keeps them coming back - Cocktail waitress at a table service venue: 20% built into the bill - check the printed receipt first - Bottle service (nightclub table): 18-20% auto-added as "service" or "gratuity", optional extra 5% based on how the night ran - Host at a nightclub table (if a specific host looked after you): $50-100 cash direct to the host on top of the pooled tip

Dining: - Sit-down restaurant server: 20% standard, 22-25% for excellent service, 15% if service was actively bad - Buffet server (just refills, doesn't take orders): $2-3 per person or 10% of total - Room service: check the bill - a delivery fee AND a gratuity are often both auto-added; do not double-tip - Bartender at a restaurant while you wait for a table: $2-3 per round cash

Hotel: - Bell staff (bags to room): $2-3 per bag, minimum $5 total even for a solo carry-on - Housekeeping: $3-5 per night in cash, left on the pillow each morning (not at checkout - different housekeepers on different days) - Concierge: $5-20 if they did something for you (reservation, ticket, referral), nothing for standard info - Room service delivery: $2-3 extra if delivery fee wasn't auto-added - Doorman (hailing a taxi): $1-2 cash - Valet (retrieving your car): $2-5 cash on retrieval - not on drop-off

Transport: - Uber/Lyft: 15-20% through the app, no cash needed (drivers see the app tip) - Airport taxi (Harry Reid to Strip): 15-20% on the meter, $2-5 minimum for a short ride - Sprinter or party bus (LTV-arranged): already included in the LTV invoice, no separate driver tip needed - Limo (special occasion): 15-20% on the total, cash to the driver - Hotel shuttle to airport: $2-5 per person, cash

Casino: - Table game dealer (blackjack, roulette, craps): $5-20 on a big win, or a $5-10 bet placed FOR the dealer between hands. Do not tip after a loss; do tip after a comp meal - Poker room dealer: $1-3 per hand you win, $5 on a big pot - Change person (slots): $1-5 if they cash you out - Cage cashier: no tip expected

Spa + wellness: - Massage therapist: 20% on the treatment price - Nail salon: 20% cash - Personal trainer / session: $10-20 cash

Other: - Bathroom attendant (some clubs still have them): $1-2 for towel or mints - Photographer at a photo spot (welcome sign, Sphere, etc.): $5-10 for the digital send-through - Tour guide (Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam day trips): 10-20% of the tour cost

What to have in cash on arrival: $200-300 in a mix of $1s ($30-50 worth), $5s ($60-100 worth), $20s (the rest). This covers the first 2-3 days. Refill at any ATM in a hotel (not on the street - convenience-store ATMs charge $8-12 fees).