What cultural etiquette should I know for Las Vegas?

Vegas might be the most tip-dependent city in North America. Cocktail servers on the casino floor at MGM Grand or Bellagio bring free drinks while you gamble, and the unspoken exchange is $1-2 per drink, slid onto the tray when they return. Valet parking at Caesars Palace or Wynn typically runs $5-10 on pickup. Bellhops expect $2-3 per bag. Housekeeping gets $3-5 per night, left on the pillow with a note so the cleaner knows it's intended and not forgotten change. At restaurants along the Strip, 18-20% is standard. Some prix fixe spots at Caesars Palace and Wynn already add a 20% service charge, so check the total before doubling up. Dealers at blackjack or craps tables appreciate a chip bet placed "for the dealer" rather than a cash handoff. A $5 bet on a hot streak is remembered.

Casino floor rules on the Strip catch first-timers off guard. At blackjack tables from Aria to Treasure Island, you never hand cash to the dealer. Place bills flat on the green felt, and the dealer exchanges them for chips while the pit boss watches. Don't touch your cards in a shoe game, where 6-8 decks are dealt face up. In a hand-held game, use one hand only. Phone calls at the table will get you asked to step away at most properties. The Bellagio and Cosmopolitan tend to be relaxed about quick selfies near the slot machines, but pointing a camera at table games draws security fast. Mind you, the smoking situation surprises many visitors. Nevada law still permits smoking on casino floors, and the air at older downtown properties like Binion's on Fremont Street can get thick with cigarette smoke by midnight. Newer Strip resorts like Aria have better ventilation, but no major Strip casino is fully smoke-free.

Dress codes on the Strip operate on two levels. During the day, anything goes on the sidewalk. You'll see swimsuits, flip-flops, and Elvis costumes outside Flamingo by 10am, and nobody blinks. After dark, clubs like XS at Encore, Omnia at Caesars Palace, and Marquee at the Cosmopolitan enforce strict dress codes at the door. XS requires collared shirts and closed-toe shoes for men at minimum, with no athletic wear, no shorts, and no sandals. Women have more latitude, but swimwear alone won't pass after 9pm. Fine dining at Wynn and Bellagio properties requires smart casual at minimum. Gym shorts and flip-flops redirect you to the food court. Pool parties at Encore Beach Club or Wet Republic at MGM are a separate category entirely, with general admission running $30-75 and cabanas reaching $500-5,000 depending on the day and DJ.

Street performers and costumed characters between Harmon Avenue and Spring Mountain Road on the Strip expect $5-10 for photos. Take a picture and walk away, and you'll hear about it loudly. The promoters handing out cards for escort services on the pedestrian bridges near Planet Hollywood are aggressive but legal. Walk past without eye contact. Worth noting that open containers are legal on the Strip sidewalk itself, so you can carry a frozen daiquiri from Fat Tuesday right down Las Vegas Boulevard South. Step one block east into the residential streets off Flamingo Road and that permissiveness ends. The temperature shift from 40°C desert heat into a 20°C casino lobby is jarring enough to raise goosebumps on bare arms, and the constant rush of cold air conditioning against sun-warmed skin is the defining sensory contrast of a Vegas visit. Pack a light layer for indoors, even in June.