Walking into a physical casino can be intimidating, even if you’ve been in one plenty of times before! This is especially true if you’re visiting one in a new city, or if you’re planning on playing a new game for the first time. Don’t worry though, you’re in good hands here. Just read through the guide below to find out what to expect.

The staff are there to help

We get it, talking to strangers is scary - especially in a professional setting. However, in places like casinos, the staff will be more than willing to help you. If you’re unsure of the rules, ask; if you want to know where a particular game is, ask; even if you want to know where the bathroom is; just ask!

Any croupier will tell you that it’s so much easier to fix problems at the table before they happen. That being said, you must also be aware that croupiers are also responsible for keeping the games progressing in a timely manner.

If you’re not sure of the rules, many casinos will run Learn-to-Play sessions, where you’ll be taken to a quiet table and one of the dealers can talk you through how to play the games. Whether it’s roulette, blackjack or poker, they’ll be more than happy to show you what to expect on the tables. The key part here is to ask for this kind of service, and not to interrupt an already busy game if you’re going to need this level of support.

Learn, and pay attention to, game rules

Many people fall in love with casino games at home, whether it’s playing with friends or family, or maybe through online casinos. However, what most of these people don’t realise is that things will be slightly different if you then go to play with a live dealer.

One of the best examples of this, even though it’s not related directly to gambling, is chess. Many people will learn using an app or some form of online chess - where each possible move is displayed to you on-screen. It’s impossible to move somewhere you shouldn’t, as the software won’t physically let you. However, these safety nets aren’t there with a real-life chess board, the same as in casinos.

When you’re playing in a casino, there aren’t any restrictions in place to stop you from doing something you shouldn’t… other than the dealers, of course. They won’t mind correcting you once, but anything more than that and you’ll come across as rude.

If you know you’re going to play a new game, make sure you read up on the rules first, just so that you have a basic understanding of them.

Tip the dealers

It doesn’t have to be much, but there is a massive tipping culture in casinos. It’s less to do with boosting the dealer’s pay at the end of the month, and more a sign of respect. The dealers often work long, unsociable hours to make sure that the casino can stay open for you, sometimes working double shifts if it’s busy.

It doesn’t have to be much, and it doesn’t have to be after every win - but as you leave the table, make sure to chuck the dealer at least a few chips as a ‘thank you’.

Watch your language

This one feels like it should be obvious, but there’s something else to it. When you’re at home, you might roll your eyes or sigh if you don’t get the outcome you expect. This might become a routine behavior if you usually play at home, with no-one else around.

However, one thing many people seem to forget is that casinos are quite stressful places. If you play a hand badly, the last thing you want to see is someone judging you for it. Too many fights have broken out because one player thinks that someone else has disrespected them. It’s easily done and difficult to de-escalate once in motion.

This kind of problem can stem from lots of different reactions too, from being a sore loser, to judging someone else’s play and even being an ungracious winner. Just remember to stay humble and you’ll be fine!

Don’t put your drinks on the tables!

There’s no quicker way to get on a dealer’s bad side than putting your drink on the gaming tables! We all know that you’re going to be careful, but if somebody else bumps into the table and spills your drink on the felt, then that whole table has to close immediately. Not only does that reduce how many people can play that night, the whole table will then have to be re-felted - which can easily cost at least $700 per table! This is because the felt will soak up the liquid and then become stick, which can affect the cards being dealt as well as mark them with dirt and grime.

There will always be little side tables available to you, just ask one of the staff and they’ll be more than happy to get you one to put your drink on.