When I was in Germany, though, it was made clear through signs, etc., that the dealers are paid only through tips (no salaries) and that it was customary to tip a percentage of the winnings. As the dealers paid out the wins, they often stated (in the form of a question, but it was really a statement) that they were putting one of the chips aside for the dealers. There was a slot on the table where the tips were inserted. As in Miss Manners' example, though, this was done with winnings, and not with a losing players' last shred of liquidity.