“I'm going to be buying Christmas gifts soon,” Peterson said.

The toke, or tip, rate at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino is about $13 an hour. Mohegan dealers are trying to get to the $18 to $20 rate enjoyed by those who work at Caesar's Atlantic City. Like many casino workers, dealers earn a low hourly wage — beginning pay is $4 an hour here — and rely on customer gratuities to pay the bills.

From the valet who parks cars to the coat check attendant and the beverage server who brings free drinks, many casino employees are working for tips.

The casinos forbid employees from asking for cash rewards, and good customer service is expected, even to the so-called “stiffs” who fail to reward them for their efforts.

Dealers pool their tips and divide them based on hours worked, so if someone is slacking off, colleagues are as likely as supervisors to say something. “Toke thief” and “dead game” are bad words in their world. A toke thief is a dealer who takes extra breaks while on the clock; a dead game is a table that is not open, representing a lost opportunity to make money.

Table-game players can tip dealers directly or place a bet for them so that the dealers are playing, too. Some gamblers think “dealer action” brings them good luck or, at the least, more enthusiastic service.

Many gamblers tip only when they are winning, even though the dealers are providing the same level of service to losers.

Having a high roller in the house can increase the day's tokes by as much as $20,000, according to the Mohegan Sun dealers. Blackjack tends to be one of the better tipping games.

Mohegan Sun beverage servers Deb Sullivan of Norwich and Marla Parker of Groton can make hundreds of dollars in tips on a good night. Drink servers keep their own tips after giving 15 percent to the bartender and 5 percent to the bar back, who cleans glasses and stocks the bar. Sullivan and Parker have served thousands of drinks over the years and received the rare, coveted whopper tips — somebody gave Parker a black chip ($100) just a couple of weeks ago — as well as the occasional stiff.

Casinos provide players with free coffee, soft drinks and cocktails.

The waitresses understand some of their casino customers are elderly and on fixed incomes and cannot afford to tip them big. From time to time they take a little verbal abuse along with drink orders. They have learned to smile through the pain. “Sometimes when they're winning they're very gracious,” said Parker. “When they're losing, they're angry.”

It's all part of the job, and so is the occasional encounter with the glamorous types casinos love to have in the house. Sports players in general are generous — with the exception of Michael Jordan — and actors are not, the servers said.

Tips on Tipping

Here are some suggestions from www.tipping.org that apply to tipping at casinos:

Parking attendant:$1; more if the attendant helps with luggage or packages.

Hotel housekeeping:$5 per night.

Buffet waitress: 5-10% of the bill.

Beverage server: $1 or more per drink.

Casino dealers:$5 or more per session. In some games, such as blackjack and craps, it is common to place a bet besides yours for the dealer.

Slot attendants:$1-$2 when they repair your machine or refill it; if you win a jackpot, 1-2 %