Good manners do not change the odds
Casino games are games of chance with a built-in house edge. No strategy, system or timing changes the odds in the player’s favor over time, and most players lose money over time. Knowing the etiquette helps you feel at ease, but it is about courtesy and procedure, not about results. Nobody should gamble money they cannot afford to lose, and anyone struggling with gambling can contact a local support service.
Customs vary between venues, regions and games, so treat what follows as general guidance. Where something is unclear, the dealer or a floor supervisor is the right person to ask, and most are used to questions from newcomers.
Before you sit down
- Check the limits. Tables post a minimum and maximum bet. These table limits tell you whether the table fits your budget. A table whose minimum is too high for your plan is simply not the right one.
- Watch first. Observing a few rounds shows the pace, the signals and the flow.
- Wait for a seat. If a table is full, stand back until a spot opens. Some games let you place a bet from behind seated players, but ask first.
- Read the rules. Rules differ between tables, such as the number of decks or payout details, and a sign at the table usually lists them.
Buying in
At most table games you do not put cash on the layout as a bet. Instead you hand cash to the dealer to exchange for chips. Typically you place the money on the table, not into the dealer’s hand, so that cameras and the supervisor can see the transaction. The dealer will count it out and give you chips. In some games, such as roulette, chips may be a special color assigned to you so your bets can be told apart from others at the table.
Chips are cashed in at a cashier when you finish, or sometimes at the table. It is usually best to keep chips visible and stacked neatly in front of you.
Placing bets
- Bet within the time allowed. Dealers announce when betting opens and closes, and a common phrase is “no more bets”.
- Do not touch your bet once the round has started, and do not add to it after the dealer has closed betting.
- Place chips in the right spot on the layout. If you are unsure, ask the dealer to place them.
- Keep your hands away from the betting area while the dealer is handling chips or cards.
Handling cards
How cards are dealt varies, and this affects what you may touch.
- In many blackjack games dealt face up from a shoe, players are not allowed to touch the cards at all. Hand signals are used instead.
- In games where cards are dealt face down and handled, use one hand only, and keep the cards above the table where they can be seen.
- Do not bend, mark or remove cards from view.
For blackjack decisions, the usual signals are a tap or scratch for another card, and a wave of the hand over the cards to stand. Splitting and doubling are often shown by placing a matching bet next to the original and holding up fingers. Verbal calls are often accepted too, but the hand signal is what the cameras record. How the specific choices work, such as soft hands and pair splitting, are explained separately.
Dealers, staff and other players
- Be polite. Dealers do not set the rules or the odds, and they cannot change the outcome.
- Tipping customs vary. In some places it is common to tip dealers, and in others it is not expected. It is optional, and it should fit your budget like any other spending.
- Avoid criticizing other players’ decisions. Because most games are played against the house, another player’s choice generally does not affect your outcome, and unsolicited advice is usually unwelcome.
- Keep phones, drinks and personal items off the layout. Phone use is often restricted at tables, and photography may be prohibited.
- Do not touch other players’ chips.
Pace and conversation
Keep the game moving. Taking a long time over a simple decision slows the table for others. If you need help understanding a rule, ask briefly, or step away from the table. Table talk is generally welcome, but commenting on other players’ luck, or blaming someone for a bad outcome, is considered poor form. Remember that a streak at the table, good or bad, does not tell anything about the next round.
Craps and roulette specifics
Craps has its own customs. At many tables it is considered bad form to say the word “seven” during a roll, and players are typically asked to keep their hands off the dice when they are not the shooter. The shooter generally uses one hand and must throw the dice to the far wall. Roulette players should wait until the dealer has cleared the previous round before placing new bets and not reach across the layout.
Leaving the table
You can stand up and leave whenever you like, and you do not owe the table or the dealer an explanation. If you are leaving with chips, take them with you, or ask the dealer to “color up” by exchanging small chips for larger ones. If you are stepping away briefly, the dealer can usually hold your seat for a short time if you ask.
Staying within your limits is part of good conduct too. A table that feels uncomfortable, because of pressure or a pace that is too fast, is a good reason to take a break or leave.