Online gaming has really taken off in popularity over the last two years, but with travel booming again, going to one of the many lavish casinos or resorts in the U.S. is great for a weekend trip or even a vacation. If you are planning to go to a casino for the first time, or it has been a few years since your last trip, there are a few tips on etiquette you want to pay attention to. Just like any on-line versus in-person encounter, do’s and don’ts are going to be different, and ignoring the unspoken rules of behavior can get you reprimanded by the management, or even asked to leave. Here’s a few of our best things to keep in mind.
Know the Game
If you have only played online or are new to poker, don’t expect the other players at the table to train you. This slows the game down and is disrespectful to the other players. Before sitting down, know if there are limits at the table and what they are, the betting order, and verbally state what you are doing. Asking the dealer questions isn’t forbidden, but you run the risk of disrupting the game if you are asking about rules or how much is in the pot. That’s why not speaking out of turn is also a rule in poker etiquette.
Pay Attention to the Game
Do not play with your cell phone during a game. Not paying attention to the action can cost you, especially when visual cues can give you information. If you are distracted, you run the risk of missing what the dealer is saying, changes in the pot, or even forgetting to put in your ante. Not focusing on the current game is disrespectful to the other players, and while not against the rules, slows the game unnecessarily. In most casinos, making or taking a call is the same as folding.
Be Quiet
Talking to players and even observers during a round can be distracting, if not prohibited. If you are still new, you could even give away clues to players. This is considered disrespectful, and the dealer may speak to you about it. It’s just bad form.
Chip Arrangement
Experienced players can tell a lot about another player by how they stack their chips. Messy, disorganized chips indicate an inexperienced player or someone trying to hide how much they have to bet. Your chips should be stacked neatly and evenly by denomination. Arranging your chips so that other players can’t see the higher value chips is not only rude, but also, it’s considered the same as lying and unethical. Put the stacks of higher value chips in front of your lower value chip stacks. Do your best not to ‘splash the pot,’ or throw your bet into it. It can confuse the dealer and make your bet unclear. Keep your bet in front of you in neat stacks, with all chip denominations clearly visible.
Don’t Win and Run
Winning a big pot at the beginning of your session at a table and not giving the rest of the players at the table a chance to win it back is considered impolite. Since circumstances might occur when you don’t have a choice, it’s best to not do it unless it’s unavoidable.
We have more articles you can read on the do’s and don’ts of in-person poker games under our casino category, but the biggest tip is to have fun. Keeping these simple rules in mind will increase those chances.
