What is George?

In casino slang a George is a player known for tipping dealers and staff generously — the opposite of a stiff, who tips nothing. Tipping a dealer is called toking, and it can be done by handing over a chip or, more sociably, by placing a small bet for the dealer alongside your own. Worked example: after a good run at the blackjack table, a player slides the dealer a £5 chip, or puts a £5 bet up for the dealer on the next hand. That player is a George. Over an evening, friendly toking tends to be remembered, and a George often enjoys warmer, more patient service — though never anything dishonest or rule-bending. Being a George matters within the social culture of live table play, where toking is customary and helps build rapport with staff who work largely for tips. It is a courtesy of the brick-and-mortar floor; online tables have no equivalent. The important caveat is that tipping changes the atmosphere, not the arithmetic. No amount of toking alters the House Edge, the order of the cards or the outcome of a hand. A George tips because it is gracious and sociable, not because it improves the odds. See also the Comp, the Floor Person and casino Action.