Casino Poker Table Etiquette

So, you are new to gambling, and you are excited to hit your local casino or
make your way to Las Vegas and play under the bright lights of the big city.
Well, that’s all very exciting! However, you need to know some basics about how
to act when you are gambling so that you don’t find yourself in an embarrassing
situation, or even worse, removed from a property. We are here to help you –
we’ve all been there before, and drawing from the experience of our team, we
have compiled a list of etiquette rules that you should read before you set foot
in a casino.

1. Bad Poker Etiquette
2. Casino Poker Table Etiquette Table
3. Casino Poker Table Felt
4. Casino Poker Table Etiquette Rules

Oh…and even if you are a seasoned gambler, we think you may also want to read
this page. We have seen too much bad behavior to believe it is all coming from
newbies.

In the biggest tournaments and among the world's most successful poker players, the biggest winners almost always have two things in common - good sportsmanship and perfect poker etiquette. Good manners at the table make the game more pleasant for everybody, help you get more hands per hour and in many cases can actually help add to your winnings. Fashion Etiquette at Poker Tables by Nitya Jain Posted on 27 Aug, 2020 Each poker enthusiast visiting a casino during a poker festival must have noticed that certain players standout. This is a matter of simple respect and good poker etiquette. So instead of showing bad manners and slow rolling when you have a chance, show some grace and act like a winner. Don’t Be A Time.

General Casino Rules

We’ll be focusing this page on how to act when you are playing at a live
casino. Obviously, if you are playing online, you don’t have to worry about most
of this, but you will need to adhere to some self-control basics which we cover
on another page.

Now. Let’s have a look at some of the things you should be considering when
you are trying to be a respectful gambler.

Electronics

These days, everything we do seems to involve our phones. Well, in a casino,
they want you to be carefree and phone-free while enjoying your favorite games.
When you are seated at a table, you aren’t allowed to use a phone for the most
part. In fact, just go ahead and put it in your pocket, as you also aren’t
typically allowed to place it on the table itself.

Worried you are going to miss a call or a text? Turn the volume up. The good
news is that when no one is on their phones, everyone is focused on playing the
game, which means fewer distractions and waiting time between hands. Also, if
you do have to step away to take or make a call, actually step away. We have
seen players try to stay on calls while playing hands, and trust us…no one likes
that.

Finally, casinos are loud. If you are on the phone, go find a quiet place to
have a conversation. Don’t worry; the dealer will watch your chips for you, and
the rest of the players at the table will be pleased to not hear all about what
you are picking up for dinner.

Know the Rules of the Game

We understand that not all of you know all the rules of the games you will
find in the casino, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take a few minutes before
you sit down to read some of the basics. Heck, if you are reading this page,
then you may already know that we have a full section on strategy for casino
games. Here is a link to that section so you can brush up on some of the basics:

There is nothing wrong with asking the dealer a question or two, but they are
not your teachers. Other players are trying to gamble, and the friendly ones are
going to offer some assistance. However, your best bet is to wait and watch a
few hands of any table game before you sit down to play. That way, you can pick
up on the basic rules as we have outlined in our strategy guides, and you can
ask questions between the hands. This will lead to a much better atmosphere when
you are finally ready to sit down and play.

Sitting Mid-Shoe in Blackjack

When you are playing blackjack in a live casino, you will likely be playing
at a table which uses 6 or 8 decks of cards in each shoe before shuffling. Many
players are superstitious about these decks, having cut the cards or taken the
time to potentially try to card count (we do not recommend this). These folks
can be very frustrated when someone sits at the table during the play. We think
you should always look for an empty table or one where the cards are being
shuffled when you sit down. Otherwise, you should ask the players at the table
if they mind you sitting down. Being polite in that situation will likely get
you a positive response, or at the very least a polite request to wait the few
minutes until the shoe is complete.

Talking About Someone Else’s Strategy

Casino gambling, despite the tables being open to multiple players, is not a
team game. Each player is using an individual strategy to try to beat the house.
Now, while we want everyone to learn at least the basics of a game (we can’t
stand rogue gamblers), one thing you simply must not do is speak about other
players’ hands during the play. Commentary on how people should or should not be
playing is not cool, and if a player is losing, it could result in some strong
words heading your way.

If you don’t like the way someone is playing a game at your table, then your
best bet is to stay cool and go find another table. Ultimately, if the player is
playing with horrible strategy, then they will lose their chips soon enough.

Reaching Over People in Roulette

Roulette is a fun, social game with everyone sitting around the wheel and
watching to see if their number hits. However, there can be many more bettors
than there are seats at the table, and this can cause some commotion when trying
to get down bets between spins. Chaos typically ensues right around the time
that the dealer is ready to spin, so we always suggest that you err on the side
of patience and courtesy. The dealer is watching everyone and will see if you
are waiting to place your bets. There is no set time for each spin, so if you
have to wait a few extra seconds, then you should be fine. Also, you can ask the
dealer to wait a couple extra seconds so that you can let your tablemates get
their bets in – the dealers will be appreciative of your patience.

Tipping Dealers

Yes, the games are probability-based, and there is nothing a dealer can do to
influence the outcome of a hand. However, there are some unwritten rules about
tipping dealers at a casino table. These people don’t get paid a lot, and they
stand on their feet for hours and have to deal with drunk, disorderly gamblers.
The least you can do is throw them something when you win a big hand or when you
leave the table. While the dealers cannot impact your hands, they can make your
time at the table more enjoyable by getting you a waitress faster, chatting with
you, and keeping idiots out of your path. A few bucks here and there won’t hurt
your bottom line and will have a positive impact.

Tipping Waitresses

Many casinos offer their players free drinks when at the tables, but that
doesn’t mean you shouldn’t tip the waitress bringing them to you. They are
having to go back and forth from the bar, making sure your cocktail is topped
up. At the very least, a buck or two a drink will keep them coming back more
frequently, and these staff member really rely on those tips to make a living.
Oh, also, don’t just assume every waitress in a casino is looking to go home
with a patron – this isn’t Swingers, and you aren’t Vince Vaughn.

Consider tipping part of the cost of being at the table, and really…how much
money could you spend on tips?

Oh…Don’t Be “That” Person at the Table

This leads us right into the next bit of etiquette – don’t be that drunk
person at the table. Yes, you may be having a blast, but your drunkenness will
be annoying others playing the game and working at the table. We have all seen
it – a drunk person who can barely see the cards spills their drink on the
table, causing commotion and delay. Trust us on this one – your night will end
early and badly if you are drunk and belligerent at the tables. That isn’t to
say that you shouldn’t have a drink – just act like an adult, please.

Don’t Touch the Cards Unless Told You Can

This is a common mistake made by players at the tables. We think it comes
from watching players playing single-deck blackjack or Texas hold’em. For the
most part, you can follow this simple rule:

If the cards are face-up on the table, DO NOT TOUCH THEM.

Now, depending on how nice you have been to dealers (see the above rules of
etiquette), you may just get a simple request not to touch the cards. However,
when you touch the cards, the general rules of the casino dictate that the hand
has been fouled and can be removed by the house. We obviously don’t want to see
you lose a winning bet just because you decided to touch the cards. Steer clear,
or at the very least, ask the dealer when you are playing if you are allowed to
handle the cards.

Do Not Touch Your Chips in Play

Very similar to the previous rule, once you have made a bet, and the play is
ongoing, you are not allowed to touch your chips. Cheating players have in the
past tried to remove bets when they were losing a hand (ask Charles Oakley how
that worked out for him). There are cameras everywhere in the casino, and the
house is always going to be right in this case. Even when the hand is over and
is being paid out, wait until the dealer gives the signal that it is okay to
remove your bets. What’s the big rush, anyway?

Poker Etiquette

When you are playing in a poker room, there is an entirely different set of
rules of etiquette. Now, that doesn’t mean you can be a drunken fool, so at the
very least, you should be using your head when thinking about how to act.
However, we have a full page dedicated to the way you should behave at a poker
table.

We think that being in a casino can provide a lot of entertainment,
regardless of if you are winning or losing (but we hope you are all winners). If
everyone followed some simple rules of conduct, the overall atmosphere in a
casino would be much happier. Stick to the points we outlined on this page, and
you will find yourself making a lot of friends at the tables!

POKER ETIQUETTE

Wait your turn: Never bet, fold or raise before it’s your turn. This seems like a simple rule, but many players fold prematurely, most often because they’re disgusted with their cards. And sometimes players raise before their turn because they have a strong hand. Remember, every time you act early it gives the players behind you information they would otherwise not have.

Don’t show your cards early; when you fold, don’t accidentally flash or flip over your cards. You’re giving information to other players still in the hand and revealing those cards may determine the outcome of the hand. The only reason to flip over cards before a showdown is in heads-up situations when one player is all in.

Don’t talk about your cards while a hand is still in play: How many times have you heard a player say “I would have had a full house” when rag cards hit the board? Too many. Letting other players know what you folded again gives them information that will affect a hand’s outcome.

Don’t make string bets; never say, “I call your 50 and raise you 100” like they did in cowboy and western movies. That’s known as a string bet, and won’t be allowed a table. Say “I raise 100” instead. Make sure you don’t put your chips in a pot in more than one motion; it won’t be allowed.

Bad Poker Etiquette

Pay attention; don’t be that guy/gal who keeps checking their fantasy team’s stats or stock prices on their cell phone and has to be constantly reminded it’s their turn to act. Keep the pace of play flowing by not making other players wait. As a bonus, if you pay attention to the game instead of your cell phone or any other distraction, you might learn something about your fellow players.

Don’t splash the pot; it might look good in Rounders or other movies, but splashing the pot is bad form and makes it hard to tell how much you’ve bet. Just move your chips into the pot in neat stacks. The dealer and other players will thank you.

Speaking of dealers, don’t blame the dealer for the river card that gives your opponent a flush or inside straight. Yes, the dealer shuffled the cards, but the randomness of poker (and shuffling) ensures that he or she was not personally opposed to your winning the hand. Don’t yell, scream, or berate the dealer because of a bad beat.

Casino Poker Table Etiquette Table

Speaking of bad beats, this might sound counter-intuitive, but embrace them. In Annie Duke’s book, Decide to Play Great Poker, she writes about accepting and even liking the occasional bad beat because it indicates an opportunity: If a player is willing to go to the river to draw out on you, more often than not, he or she is going to lose. Yes, it’s hard to lose a huge pot when someone hits trip deuces on the river. But the odds ensure you’ll win against this type of player in the long run.

GENERAL CONDUCT

Be sociable — One of the best things about playing poker is that you can sit down at a table of strangers and walk away a few hours later with friends for life. Poker can be the most sociable of games, a great way to relieve boredom or loneliness if you have the right mindset. Be open to conversation. Smile. You don’t have to gab like Dr. Phil, but a pleasant, upbeat attitude will go a long way to making your experience at a poker table more enjoyable.

However, do watch what you talk about. Poker tables can be great incubators for discussion, but it’s not the best idea to stridently advocate for one political candidate and demean another. Be aware that your fellow players might have varying viewpoints on social issues, religion, politics, and even sports. If you talk about these subjects, be respectful of others. And never use profanity, racial slurs, or sexist language, which will justifiably get you ejected from any decent poker room.

With regard to cell phones — not so long ago, most casinos banned cell-phone conversation at poker tables. But now that everyone has a cell phone — and with casinos cognizant they can‘t make money with players away from tables — cellular conversations are usually permitted as long as they don’t interrupt play. But here’s the rub. Cell phone conversations are still annoying during the course of a poker game. No one wants to hear about your plans for dinner, complaints about a spouse or boss, or incessant chattering about, well, anything. If you’re going to be on your phone for more than 30 seconds, do the right thing and walk away from the table and converse in private.

Don’t play drunk. This should be obvious and most poker players adhere to sobriety for the simple reason playing drunk leads to bad decisions. But if you are new to playing at an event or casino, be advised that a few drinks are okay; being plastered is not.

Casino Poker Table Felt

New to poker? Please check out my blog for beginning poker players.

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