Las Vegas Casino Server Reveals A Hidden Part Of The Job. There’s No Excuse Not To Tip Well After This: ‘Guests Don’t Realize’

Have you ever gone to a Las Vegas casino and tried to order a drink, only to have your server vanish into thin air?

It’s not always easy to get a server’s attention. There are some methods that work better than others. Even so, you can pretty quickly find yourself flailing your arms and yelling to anyone who will listen.

But where are these servers even going? As it turns out, the answer can be complicated.

Where Do Cocktail Servers Go?

If you’ve ever been at a casino and wondered where the server went, TikTok user Jules (@vegasbornjules) has an explanation. In her video, Jules explains that “your cocktail server isn’t ignoring you.” Instead, there’s just “a whole lot happening between ‘What can I get you?’ and your drink making its way back to you.”

“I can’t speak for every property, but I know at the property I work at and several of the properties on the strip, we are now making our own drinks, which comes with its own set of challenges,” she says. “A lot of times, the machines are acting up. Um, maybe the alcohol is not pouring correctly. We may have gotten a request for an alcohol that’s not in the bar that we’re in. So, we have to go to another bar.”

Jules shared with BroBible that the location where she works shifted from bartenders making guest drinks to servers having to prepare them.

“It definitely changed the pace of service because we’re not just taking orders and delivering anymore – we’re producing those orders. It added another step to the process so especially if it’s busy, it can slow down the turnaround time quite a bit,” she shared.

In her video, she adds that cigarette requests can also cause delays, as they require servers to “go to either a floor person or a slot person to give us the comp.” In some cases, cigarettes may not be available, putting servers in a situation where they need to run and find them elsewhere.

Another issue that can cause delays is when guests lose an item. This requires servers to either go to lost and found or find a member of the security team to ensure the item can be promptly returned.

“I try to think, like, if I lost my phone, I would be freaking out. So, I want to immediately turn that into security,” she explains.

She shared with BroBible that the servers are “all responding to the guests’ needs, whether that means giving directions, helping someone locate Lost and Found, explaining something about a slot machine, recommending a restaurant, or simply helping them figure out where they need to go. In a lot of ways, we’re like walking concierges.”

While she notes that these are “not excuses,” Jules says that, if you feel like your server has disappeared, you should “consider that she might be buried doing something else.”

Jules told BroBible that guests’ expectations around speed or tipping have “definitely changed” during her time working in Las Vegas.

“That’s actually part of why I started creating content – to help manage those expectations. Service isn’t always as fast as people remember because the job itself has changed. And while I understand the frustration with tipping culture today, complimentary drinks have been a part of Las Vegas for decades, and tipping your cocktail server has always been a part of that experience,” she said.

She added, “I think the more the guest understands what’s happening behind the scenes, the better the experience is for everyone. I encourage people to tip based on service and their servers attitude, not simply how long it takes to get the drink because there are many factors affecting timing outside of the server’s control. I’m not saying tip just because; good service still matters.”

What Else Does A Las Vegas Server Do?

Jules is understating just how many tasks a server may be asked to take on during their shift.

Job listings for servers in the Las Vegas area note that the job can involve a lot more than making drinks and retrieving customer goods. In addition to what Jules described, servers are tasked with monitoring guests to make sure that they aren’t overserved. They are also tasked with providing a good, welcoming environment for customers. This can involve getting caught up in conversation or assisting a guest with other aspects of their resort experience.

The job can also be physically demanding. Servers are expected to stay on their feet for much of their shift. In a Reddit thread, several servers discussed how many steps they walk on average during a shift. Many responses said they took between 10,000 and 20,000 steps, with some claiming they took more. For context, the average American takes under 4,000 steps per day. While servers are navigating their location, they may also be asked to lift heavy objects, like boxes of bottles or kegs.

All of these tasks are in addition to the expected jobs of taking orders, making drinks, and managing customers’ bills.

“You’d think we were technologically there, but we’re still taking orders with pen and paper, ringing in the order, then preparing the order,” Jules writes in a comment. “I don’t know about all properties, but I know this is the case at many properties on the strip.”

Viewers Have Opinions

In response to this video, some users claimed that there must be another reason for why they were ignored.

“I’ve spent hours on machines with no free drinks, and i tip well. There is no explanation for the nonsense,” wrote a user.

Most, however, said that Jules’ explanation makes sense.

“I feel bad now for moaning to my partner about the drinks service last month in Vegas…I didn’t know the servers were making the drinks too. [I] apologise for moaning now,” shared a commenter. “Certainly explains a lot.”

“Any of you guys that are in here upset that it takes so long to get a cocktail from a waitress please come see me at the bar. I will take care of you right away,” noted a second.