When a new year rolls around, it often brings the desire to implement new behaviors, resolutions and a chance for a fresh start. For gamers, knowing the basic knowledge of the games you are playing, and the courtesy that comes along with it, might be the factor in coming out ahead or not. Being knowledgeable about the rules of the games in casinos doesn’t always mean a player is familiar with proper protocol. Courtesy can be just as important as good strategy when it comes to making a gambling outing an enjoyable experience. Here is a quick rundown of proper play for you to use on your next casino.
Courtesy Protocol for Slot & Video Poker Players:
1. Before you sit down to play a machine, always make certain it’s not in use by looking at the credit meter and checking to see if a player’s card is inserted.
2. If you hit a hand pay jackpot, always consider tipping an especially courteous, efficient and prompt slot attendant. They count on tips as much as dealers do. One percent of your jackpot is a good rule of thumb for average players.
3. Don’t be a “Machine Hog.” Certainly when the casino is crowded it is common courtesy to restrict your play to one machine. Nothing’s more irritating than seeing a player reaching to the left and to the right, dropping coins into neighboring machines while there are patrons walking around shopping around for just one machine to play.
4. Use caution when you go “machine hopping.” Sometimes in less crowded situations when there are lots of open machines, you see players walking around dropping in a coin here and a coin there. Before you play a machine, always check to see if there are any coins in the tray, credits on the meter or a player’s card inserted. The machine could very well be in use and, by intruding with a play, the scene could be set for a lot of commotion.
5. Don’t use the vacant chair next to you as a footrest. The slot and video poker areas in casinos are for people to play not lounge. Show courtesy to your fellow players by getting up from a machine that you are not playing, have no intention of playing or are finished playing when an interested slot or video poker player walks by.
6. It is accepted protocol that a slot or video poker player may “save” his or her machine for bathroom breaks by leaning a chair against the machine. But keep the break to no longer than five minutes. Players will respect your territory, and it’s just plain rude and inconsiderate to leave a machine reserved for any length of time when there are other people who’d like to play.
Courtesy Protocol for Blackjack Players:
1. Convey your playing decisions to the dealer clearly and decisively. If you wish to stand pat, make one pass of your hand, palm down, over the cards. If you want to “hit” (take a card), scratch the felt toward you with your index finger.
2. Wait until you’re ready to leave the table before you “color up” your chips, and always make the request during the shuffle. Interrupting the flow of the game with transaction and change requests is rude.
3. Avoid criticizing or ridiculing the strategy of your tablemates. It’s always best to play the game according to basic strategy, but as the man said, “It’s your money.” If you don’t agree with the decisions another player is making, simply remain silent or just move to another table.
4. Don’t hog the table by “guarding” your space with elbows and arms or using the vacant chair next to you as a footrest. There should be room for everyone to play comfortably.
5. Remember to tip a courteous, friendly dealer. You may place a chip outside of your betting circle. When you win, the dealer wins. You may also opt to place the chip on top of your own bet and start a parlay for the dealer, a method called “riding the train.”
Courtesy Protocol for Craps Players:
1. Craps, more than any other casino game, is filled with superstition. Never, EVER, talk about the number “seven” or even cheer for it on the come out roll. It is a word that quite simply is not said or talked about. If craps players could read minds, it’s also something that is never even thought about. That’s why it is referred to as “big red” or “red” by anyone who wishes to play it as a proposition bet.
2. Keep your hands out of the pit when the stickman is ready to push the dice to the shooter. Dealers are often heard to admonish players with the warning “hands high.” If the dice happen to hit your hand and seven out, you’ll probably wish you were never born.
3. Don’t toss in chips and call instructions to the dealer haphazardly. The dealers take instructions from players in order. They have plenty to do, calculate and think about. You’ll get your timing down once you become familiar with things. The dealers will let you know if you speak out of turn. Many experienced dealers will even anticipate your moves once they pick up on your playing method.
4. Learn the proper method for tossing in chips. If you throw them wrong, they’ll roll all over the layout and create havoc for the stickman and dealers. Hold the chip(s) between your thumb and index finger and “spin” them onto the layout. They won’t roll and in many cases the stickman will catch them in midair and set your wager.
5. Don’t be a table hog. There should be room for seven or eight players on each half of the table. If you’re spread out all over the place with elbows resting in the rails on either side of you, you are being inconsiderate to others who may want to join the game.
6. Learn to throw the dice correctly. Hold the cubes in ONE hand and toss them underhanded to the back wall where they will bounce against the padded textured surface. If the dice fly off the table, the roll is invalid, and many superstitious players will take their bets down on the next roll fearing the dice hitting the floor is an omen of an impending seven out.
7. Don’t be afraid to tip courteous and helpful dealers, especially when things are going well. There are many ways to tip craps dealers: Proposition bets, place bets, pass bets with odds, etc. If you want to make a dollar bet on the hard eight for both you and the dealers, just toss in the chips and announce to the stickman a “2-way on the hard eight.” He’ll know to position your chip in the appropriate place and place the dollar dealer chip in the center. You can make a line bet for the dealers yourself (if you lay odds for them they gleefully announce “dealers have shoes”), or even a place bet by announcing your intentions to the dealer. Dealers always love to be “in the game.”
Courtesy Protocol for Roulette Players:
1. The most important and the most abused rule: DON’T pick up winning chips from the layout or start to make bets on the next spin until the dealer has settled all winning bets AND has picked up the marker off the winning number. Even players who know this sometimes have a memory lapse, but the dealer is quick with a stern admonition.
2. Don’t take roulette chips away from the table when you are finished playing and don’t tip cocktail waitresses with them (they’ll let you know if you do!). Roulette chips only have value at the roulette wheel you are playing. They are not negotiable casino checks that you can bring to the cashier.
3. Don’t hog your space at the roulette wheel. Keep your chips in front of you and don’t spread yourself all over the table. There should be room for six or seven people to play comfortably.
4. Show courtesy to your fellow players when placing your wagers. Sometimes when the table is crowded there can be a lot of hands and arms moving in the layout when it’s open for betting. Just make your moves at the right time and in turn and everything will be fine. The dealer has a good sense of the tempo of the game and will know when it’s time to drop the ball.
5. It’s customary to tip the dealer a chip or two after you’ve won a 35-to-1 bet straight up on a number or you’ve done particularly well. You can toss in roulette chips and the dealer will convert them to casino checks and drop them in the “toke” box. You may also make a bet for the dealer and announce your intentions. Some players will ask the dealer what his or her lucky number is. Nothing makes a roulette dealer happier than to win a 35-to-1 tip bet!
By John G. Brokopp
