tipping
 

When I cash a big ticket (i.e., when the payout is at least several hundred dollars), I usually tip the teller from whom I bought the ticket. I was wondering what other people do, and what's the proper etiquette.

Does anyone tip when they buy their tickets? Or just when they cash a winner? And how much, or what percentage?

Also, just as they used to say that there's no atheists in foxholes, I don't think there's any punters at racetracks who don't believe in karma. But maybe I'm wrong. Does anyone risk the wrath of the racing gods by refusing to tip at all?

it seems like you should find a teller you like cash and buy from them, and yes by all means tip when you hit a nice one

i used too..but they get payed and the take out hurts..and if you have had them screw up a ticket..with a nice payout..it stings..but i do understand ..

it's a spur of the moment thing
I used to hit and I used to tip $20-$50 on signers
then this chick shorts me $100

it was caught but not by me

I do almost all of my betting via Autotote so there is only myslef to blame for a messed up ticket.

and for those of you going to toga opening weekend ..check your tickets...they bring in a mostly new crew..brutal

I never take the change when I am cashing a ticket (small - I dont play or hit big tickets). Its bad luck!

i don't win big, but I almost tip a little everytime, even if it is very small. If my voucher is for 52.60, she gets 2.60. I don't know why, but it's how I always do it.

I used to be a mutuel clerk so I tip. When I was working though I saw it all. There was a man who tipped $100 on all signers over $2,000 and $50 on anything up to $1,000. One night on a Sunday night a woman comes up to the supervisor and says, "Oh I have to cash my ticket...my horse won the 8th race and I had the superfecta!" The supervisor put it in the machine and it paid $2,800. She didn't give him a penny.

It really all depends on the people. You can never expect one on a voucher because you don't know what the person started with. However, if you know you sold a guy a ticket that came in because he's coming back to the window smiling and he goes to somebody else to cash it and tips them...it sucks.

NT

They were AWFUL on Belmont Day. . .

Don't eat yellow snow, and don't get into the ticket writing game for the tips.

Ticket writers are writing tickets for a track who is taking out 18-25% of our winnings every race.

I usually bet online. When I hit the 2003 Mandella BC, I tipped the waitress/bartender $40, but I didnt tip the teller. I never really thought about that. I mean, its not like they gave me the tip or anything like that.

I usually tip whatever small bills (ones and fives) I get.

At the simulcast center I frequent, there are only a handful of tellers, if you cash enough you get to know them. I toss a $20 every time I get a signer. It doesn't hurt having a good relationship with a teller, who might be able to cancel a ticket late for you, or something like that.

I'll tip if I hit something really nice...don't have a set system, just whatever feels right. On a side note, I know in Vegas if I'm going to tip at Blackjack or Craps, I'll lay it down as a bet for the dealer. Some like it & some don't, but it makes it more exciting & I swear it changes the odds in my favor!

I've never tipped, and I don't understand the concept. Its a simple function to cash the ticket, its not like one teller can do it better than another, thereby making a tip for good service appropriate.

I tip like crazy when I play blackjack and I'll throw the teller a few bucks if I have a decent hit and get some smaller bills. . .

That is kinda why I never thought about tipping them. Its not like they gave me the tip or anything like that. Now if they take me right at the last minute, or do something special, thats a different story.

It's completely spur of the moment for me too. Obviously the larger the hit the bigger the tip. It also doesn't hurt if the pari-mutual clerk is nice.
The problem I have is when I have to take a leak at the Spa. I never know what to tip the guys who give you the towels. I always feel guilty when I don't throw something in the basket. One of these years on Opening Day, I'm just going to throw a $20 in the basket and just ask the guy if I'm good for the meet.

I try to use strictly the self service Amtotes.

i use the computers at the OTB but i still like going to the tellers.:o

Does anyone know what the general rules regarding tipping the tellers are (whether you follow it or not)? Do you do it for small wins too, or if not, at what point do you start tipping? And how much? Not knowing the tipping rules makes me anxious, no matter where it is. :(

So, does this mean I have to leave a tip when wizzing behind Charlie's garage on "Estreet" ??? :p

me too. I've had too many tickets with mistakes on them when I go to a teller. I'd rather punch it in myself, and only have myself to blame if there's an error.

I tip wait staff at least 20%.

I've tipped cows.

If I've spent the day at Kee, and they haven't goofed up multiple tickets (If I find a good, helpful, efficient teller) I'll tip on anything over $200.

I always use the self service tellers but I do tip specific people at the track - I tip the old woman who pours the perfect beer, you know the one, she leaves very little head on the beer, it's always poured to the top of the cup... I also tip the person who sells me my program and DRF, they always wish me good luck and ask how I did last week... I also ALWAYS tip the old guy that works down by the paddock that I'm friends with who leaves me clubhouse passes when I go to the track and tells me the latest news about the backside that most people don't know about about, and I can't forget the lady that gives me the clubhouse box seat on the finish line who loves regulars (despite the fact that you might not attend as regularly as you used to) - those are the people I ALWAYS tip, they're the folks that make the track experience what it is, and the folks that keep me coming back every time - Really Good People! Those are the people I ALWAYS tip.

Yep, I tried that too... and I have the scars to prove it... ok, the scars are from when I thought (in my drunken state) that the cows were charging me so I tried to hop over a barbed wire fence (and that cut my arm), but in reality the cows just looked at me and I was paranoid (cause I was drunk)... yep, been there, done that! :eek: :o

Amen to that. I have been going to the track since 1973 and have never tipped the teller and they never let me know when they have a tip on a live horse.

I tip 20% to servers and 5 bucks to the Valet, but I have never considered tipping the tellers at the track.

Tipping comes down to A) My overall standing for the day $+/- and B) How much beer I have consumed. If I hit a big one late on a good day, good for the person who sold it to me.

If I hit a signer, I'll usually flip them the cutoff to the next bill, so if it's $807.50 they get the $7.50, unless they try to take it without asking (as someone who worked in tipping-industries for 8 years this is a pet peeve of mine.)

Exception: Back in Queens, there was a couple tellers at the restaurant OTB who were very nice to me & everyone I knew there but took a TON of abuse from the azzhole clientele there. Every time I hit big (i.e., $3k or more) they got a NICE tip.

Actually quite a bit has changed.

1) They no longer allow people to have fun, I mean bring beer, on Belmont Day. You are still allowed to drink beer, but only if you pay $7.50 for it at the track. (A shot at NYRA)

2) They now charge $65.00 for my Clubhouse seat. I think tickets were $20 back in 1998. (A shot at NYRA)

3) Clubhouse admission is $20 and Grandstand is $10.00. In 1998 it was $5 and $2. (A shot at NYRA)

4) In 1998 they had over 80,000 people attending. This year there were less than 47,000. (Hmmm, I wonder if the 3 previous reasons have anything to do with this?)

5) In 1998 we got to see Chief Bearhart, Richter Scale, Coronado's Quest and Victory Gallop. This year we got to see Better Talk Now, Will He Shine, Teuflesberg and Rags to Riches. (A shot at the game itself)

So, I'd say quite a bit has changed, and you are probably the wiser for no longer going. I on the other hand continue to torture myself and attend with the same people I've been going with since 1997. Overall, it is still a nice day, though it should be so much more than that. It's kinda sad that even those that enjoy horseracing enough to participate on DT can't muster the energy to show up at BEL on the biggest racing day in NY?

Tips
 

The sign at my local car wash says " Tips are appreciated but never expected". Not a bad way to look at it as a customer.

If a teller puts up with 10 of my part wheel and key tri's, I think it worth $5 or $10 when they hit . Tax ticket $20 if I used the same teller all day

"It's not tipping I believe in. It's overtipping" -- Vincent Antonelli

Eric

For whatever reason, I can be fairly generous when I'm at the track and having a real good day.

When I go out to eat, which isn't very often, I have to fight off my urges to just tip them like a $1 for bringing me food.

I'm not exactly sure why this is.

Actually I respectfully disagree here Jim. A teller that is willing to look for you and wave you in when time is short or a teller who takes the extra interest in your play can be very important to a good day.

I have learned to isolate a couple of tellers who I have a relationship with that take care of me so I take care of them. It really helps you and them especially when you are in a crowded venue....

well the big difference is that you use tellers for wagering and have developed relationships with them. In that case if you feel you get some special service from your teller, that is something different and I guess i can understand the tipping.

just to let you know where i'm coming from, I never place any wagers with a teller, I only use the autotote machines. I use the teller for only one transaction and that is to cash out my voucher or to cash an irs ticket. its my money and I don't know why they should get a tip for simply handing it over to me. I also don't tip the teller at the bank when I make a cash withdrawal.

Yo AJ, I agree, and I think alot of your experience has to do with the bs tellers at Arlington and Trackside, That said, if you get this old dude Roger, he is FLY as hell. Dude is awesome. he is happy when I win, pissed when I lose, and always tells me "Get it done Tommy" There is also another dude in the gold room that is the bomb also, gets it done.....

I don't tip because society says I have to. All right, if someone deserves a tip, if they really put forth an effort, I'll give them something a little something extra. But this tipping automatically, it's for the birds. As far as I'm concerned, they're just doing their job. ......lol A pretty easy one, name that character...

not many people here use the machine to place bets?? it's so much less complicated than risking human error