Question: I understand it is traditional to tip cocktail servers at least $1 for the "free" drinks on the casino floors. But I don't drink. I can see tipping for $5 or $6 drinks, but what about the 75-cent to $1.25 drinks such as sodas or water?

Kevin in Cookeville, Tenn.

Answer: You have to remember that the cocktail servers expend the same amount of effort to bring you a $1 soda as they do for a mixed drink, so basing it on the presumed price is not quite the same as it would be if you were dealing with a bartender who probably deserves more for making a mixed drink than he does for opening a bottle of beer.

Having worked in the service industry before, I'm a little biased about this kind of thing. I know what it's like to depend on tips for a living. I can imagine how tough it must be for someone to get a 25-cent tip from someone who is dumping 10 times that into a slot machine every 30 seconds.

You also have to remember that the soda or bottle of water you are getting for free will cost you a lot more than $1 if you go to the sundry shop and pick one up yourself. Even small bottles of water go for at least $2, and a can of soda is often the same. You'll wind up saving money with that $1 tip.

I never tip less than $1, but I also always base my tips on how well I'm doing at the casino. If I'm on a streak, I'll tip more. Perhaps you can do the same. Maybe 50 cents normally, and more if you're doing well?

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