Toke

A toke is casino slang for a tip given to a dealer, derived from 'token of appreciation'. Tipping dealers is customary at the table games, particularly after a sizeable win, and it is given either by handing chips directly or, more commonly, by placing a 'toke bet' — a wager made on the dealer's behalf that pays them if it wins. In some venues dealers pool all tokes and split them across the shift; in others each dealer keeps what they personally receive, which subtly shapes how attentive service is rewarded. Worked example: you are playing blackjack and place a £5 toke bet for the dealer alongside your own £25 hand. If the hand wins, the dealer collects £5 (or £10 with the original stake returned, depending on house practice) and you keep your own winnings; if it loses, the £5 toke is lost just like any other bet. Many players make a small toke bet after a good run as a goodwill gesture rather than a fixed obligation. Why it matters: tokes are a significant part of dealer income in many jurisdictions, and seasoned players treat reasonable tipping as part of the etiquette of live table play. The common caveat is to keep tokes within your bankroll, not your emotions. Tipping heavily during a winning streak can quietly erode the session result, and a toke bet is still a negative-expectation wager carrying the full house edge. Tip for service, not as a superstition to keep luck running. In online and live-dealer settings the convention is far looser. Compare with comps, the casino cage and house-edge.