Toke

Detailed Explanation

A toke (tip) is a gratuity given to a casino dealer by a player as an expression of appreciation or goodwill. Tipping culture varies significantly by geography: in the United States, tipping dealers is common and expected; in Macau and many Asian casinos, tipping dealers is less common due to different compensation structures and cultural norms; in some European casinos, tips are accepted but less expected.

The mechanics of dealer tipping vary by game and casino policy. In blackjack, a common method is placing a bet 'for the dealer' — a chip set beside (not on top of) the player's main bet. If the hand wins, both the player's bet and the dealer's bet pay at standard odds. Some casinos pool dealer tips across a shift; others allow dealers to keep individual tips.

For players, strategic tipping can create a warmer table atmosphere, but should never be motivated by the expectation of favoured treatment such as slow shuffles — both are against casino rules and potentially criminal. Tokes are taxable income for dealers in the US.