Imagine this: you’re finally about to make that big trip to a land-based casino, but you’re a newbie. Before you can even begin to think about sitting down at a table and putting in your chips, there are some gambling things you must learn first. The most important part of how you conduct yourself while at brick-and-mortar casinos is hands down the casino etiquette you choose to follow.
This can be for specific games, like poker and blackjack, or it can be for more general settings, like for people who are simply roaming around the casino floor, looking to enjoy the highs and lows of someone else’s gambling experience. If you’re hoping to make your casino trip run as smoothly as possible, then live and breathe by these casino etiquette rules. After reading this guide, you’ll look like a natural in any gambling establishment!
1. Know the rules
It may seem like common sense, but we can’t emphasize enough just how important it is to know the rules before so much as even entering a casino. Storming in totally clueless about how to play or where to go can hold up games and frustrate your fellow gamblers. Learn the rules of your favorite games beforehand to ensure that you get the most out of your time, and to help other players have more fun around you. If you happen to be a newbie, there are a few resources at your disposal. Often, casinos will lend a helping hand, either offering gambling floor tours where they explain each game to you, or sometimes designating a newbie table that uses practice chips.
If you’re hoping to get some practice in a low-pressure environment, check out Planet 7 online casino. With instant play mode, you can play your favorite casino games with “big money bets” for no risk. It’s a great way to learn the ropes without putting your bankroll in the red. And after a few rounds, you’ll feel ready to take on the real thing!
2. Leave the phone at home
It may feel like your life is ending if your mobile phone isn’t cradled in your palm. But when you’re going through the trouble of dragging yourself out of your house and all the way to a land-based casino, put the mobile device down. There are a couple of good reasons for this. First and foremost, if you’re a little trigger-happy with your phone’s camera shutter then there’s a good chance you’ll get in trouble with the casino. It’s common knowledge that casinos don’t like guests to take pictures on the gambling floor. A breach of this rule could result in the confiscation of your precious phone or possibly getting ejected from the casino altogether.
Another reason you should leave your phone in your pocket or purse is out of consideration for your fellow gamblers at the casino. As much as they would love to hear the crazy things Aunt Margie said yesterday, your loud gab can be quite distracting to players who are trying to concentrate on winning the big bucks. And hey, maybe if you put down your mobile, you can start winning too!
3. Keep your head on straight
This tip is super important when trying to maintain the light and fun social ambiance of any gambling floor. Don’t let your anger get the best of you. If you feel like you’re getting fired up for a fight, step away from the table or take a breather outside. It may seem like fate or like the croupier is out to get you, but try to remember that the games you choose to play are usually based on a mixture of luck and house edge. The only person responsible for your losing streak is you, so if you feel the tables turning against you, take a break. Take a short walk around the gambling floor or enjoy a drink. When you return, you will feel refreshed and luckier than before!
That said, watch the liquor. Getting too drunk during a night out will not only ruin your own fun (and potentially drain your bankroll), it can also put a damper on the moods of people around you. If you’re acting crazy in a game of poker and betting all over the place when your opponent is trying to work his strategy skills, he will feel like the game is a waste of time. Repeat this mantra to keep yourself in check: “Everything in moderation!”
4. Chips & money
It’s true, you’ll eventually learn how to exchange cash for chips without reading this, but not without a blunder or two. The first rule of casino etiquette when exchanging your money for casino chips is to lay your cash down on the table. Don’t hand it directly to the dealer because they won’t accept it. To make sure there are no shady dealings, casinos will often have security cameras pointed towards every nook and cranny of the building, so you can bet that security is watching money exchanges. If you want to look like a casino regular, wait until the table is between hands and put your money down on the table.
Another common-sense tip applies to exchanging money to or from cash: don’t count your big bills in the public eye, like at tables or anywhere on the floor. The first reason for this is because it gives off the impression of you being a little too cocky, as well as rubbing it in the faces of people who have lost money throughout the night. It also may catch the eye of unsavory characters who would be willing to do unpleasant things to get their hands on your cash. Leave your billfold with your phone: safe and sound in your pocket.
5. Tipping is classy
If you have ever worked in the world of customer service, then you know that a server’s hourly pay doesn’t feel like much. Dealing is no different; they’re on their feet all day and they work hard to make sure that you’re enjoying your casino experience. You don’t have to give them all your money, of course. If you don’t have much to spare, a simple $1 will do. If you’ve had a great winning streak, show them a little love and amp the tip up to $5. A little goes a long way when it comes to tipping your dealers.
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Pay attention to what’s going on
It’s easy to get distracted during a game of poker. Especially when you’re playing at a full table and it seems like an eternity passes between each of your turns. Despite this, do your best to be aware of what’s happening around you. It’s disruptive to the game and can ruin your fellow poker players’ moods if you hold things up because you’re scrolling through your mobile’s newsfeed or being extra chatty with the cocktail waitress. So, try and be patient with the game, and pay attention. Another tip that goes hand in hand with knowing whose turn it is: never play before your own turn. If you do it more than once, you will be met with some serious animosity from other players. And, since poker is a very social game, you should make sure to placate your fellow aspiring poker champs.
Splash the pot, you shall not
When you’re playing a high stakes poker game and the pot, or collection of chips in the middle, starts to pile high, it may seem like good fun to toss your chips in. This is known as “splashing the pot.” While you may see cool dudes with cooler attitudes do this in the movies, don’t do it in real life. Logistically speaking, throwing your chips into the pot with a flourish is problematic. That’s because it’s hard to tell exactly how much you’re putting in. In the world of gambling, if you aren’t upfront about your bet, accusations of cheating and unfair play will ensue. So, put your chips out clearly, count them if you must, and you’ll be just dandy.
A slow roll for a bad sport
A slow roll is another one of those made-for-movie motions, but they are just that, and should stay in the movies. It’s the lowest of the low for a player to show off and rub their victory in other players’ faces. If you’re new to the game or haven’t heard the term before, a “slow roll” is when a player is sure they’re going to win, and they reveal their hand extremely slowly. It doesn’t really matter whether or not you’ve got the nuts (the highest ranked hand). It shows bad sportsmanship and will make your friends and opponents alike regard you with disdain. Just turn your cards with a speedy hand and everyone will stay happy.
Casino Etiquette: Blackjack
Always signal with your hands
Blackjack is, by nature, less socially competitive than poker. But, knowing the proper blackjack etiquette and practicing good table manners is important for the smooth operation and enjoyment of the game. The first rule of blackjack etiquette is to make sure you know and perform the proper hand signals.
These denote how you choose to act. For the same reason that you have to lay cash out on the table when exchanging money, you should always clearly signal with your hands what you choose to do with your hand. If the game doesn’t go your way and you cause trouble with the dealer, casino security will pull out the security footage. They can’t read your lips, but they can read your hand signals. The rule of thumb is that whatever your hand shows is the law. Dealers are trained to respond to your hand gestures, not what you say out loud.
A quick and dirty guide to blackjack signals only requires three different hand motions. To hit, you tap the table, but make sure you don’t touch the cards. If you choose to stand, you simply wave an open hand over the table. To split or double, you place the second bet next to your original bet. Never stack your new bet’s chips on top of the old one. This makes your choice of bet less clear to the blackjack dealer. With these signals in your repertoire, you’ll look like a boss at the blackjack table.
Can’t touch this (card)
A huge no-no in the world of blackjack is getting handsy with your cards. This rule is really simple. If your cards are dealt out of a shoe and they are placed face up on the table, then don’t touch your cards. Ever. On the other hand, if they are dealt face down, you can touch them, but with one hand only. If you do plan on touching your cards though, never drag them to the edge of the table. The dealer will think you’re cheating, which can ruin your hand, the game, and your entire casino experience. When in doubt, ask. You can never be too sure when your money is at risk!
No ask, don’t tell
It’s fine to ask for help every now and then. After all, blackjack gambling and gambling in general are a learning process. But, how would you feel if someone came around and started telling you that everything you did was wrong? Not so great, right? If someone doesn’t specifically ask you for advice, casino etiquette says to keep your opinions to yourself. Similarly, never chastise or cut down another player who got a losing hand because of a bad bet. Gambling is all about ups and downs. In order to properly respect the game you must first respect the decisions of other players.
Casino Etiquette: Roulette
Rainbow roulette chips
Everyone knows that roulette is a hodge-podge of different people placing different bets all over the board. So, how do dealers know who to make payouts to? The answer lies in the chips that are color-coded for each table. It may seem pretty obvious, but because each player has their own chips, you will need to change your cash or general casino chips for each specific roulette table. Similarly, when you are done with any given roulette table, you must exchange your chips before leaving. The colorful chips are useless outside of the roulette table from which they were given.
Keep your hands to yourself
Roulette can seem like a complicated game when you are making bets and receiving payouts. But, something to remember when trying to act like you know what you’re doing is to make sure you know where you’re placing your chips on the grid. When placing your bet, make sure to never move or even touch another player’s chips. Any tampering with chips on the table may look like someone trying to cheat the game. Also, make sure you are placing your chips in the right place for the bet you want to make. If you aren’t sure, always ask the dealer. You can bet that they know the rules better than you!
The dealer knows all
Aside from knowing the rules of the game, a big rule in roulette etiquette is taking the dealer’s word as law. After the roulette wheel starts spinning, the dealer will tell the gamblers that no more betting is allowed. For an impressive show of casino etiquette, don’t touch the grid after this. It may look like an attempt to cheat and you could get disqualified from the round, potentially losing your wager. Never ever argue with the dealer, even if you feel like you got your chips on the table right before they called. You are at their mercy, and if you want to play it safe, just listen to the dealer.
Now that you know the ins and outs of casino etiquette, you’ll look like a born natural strolling across the gambling floor to your table game of choice. If you’re still saving up to make the trip to a land-based casino, spend your downtime practicing your favorite games and make some money in the process. Planet 7 Casino has over 220 of the most popular online casino games, which you can play without ever leaving your house! After a few rounds of blackjack or poker, you’ll master the game in no time!
