How to Avoid Embarrassing Yourself on a Trip to the Casino

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With the way things stand right now, it could be a while before you find the time to head out to a real life casino. Nevertheless, having something to look forward to the world falling to pieces around us has never been more important.

Plus, what better way to reward yourself for such a turbulent few months than with an outing to casino for a few high-energy wagers?

Seriously…you deserve it!

But let’s assume this will be your first ever trip to a casino in the real-world sense. It can be an intimidating experience for newcomers – particularly those who don’t want to make fools of themselves.

The good news is that contrary to popular belief, the typical casino floor isn’t a particularly stuffy, sophisticated or formal place. Just as long as you conduct yourself with a moderate amount of dignity, you’re unlikely to embarrass yourself in front of your fellow gamers.

To ensure this is the case, here’s a brief rundown of just a few things to know before heading out to a real life casino for the first time:

1. Get to Know the Rules of Your Chosen Games

First up, this doesn’t mean practicing relentlessly online until you’re a master of all the games you intend to play. Instead, it simply means familiarising yourself with the basics, in order to ensure you know what to do when you sit down at the table.

Though not completely embarrassing, it can be quite frustrating for more experienced players when a newcomer sits down with a blank face and says “OK, now what do I do?” It’s not as if you’ll be laughed out of the place or told to find another game to play, but you’ll find the whole thing much more enjoyable if you know at least another basics of the games you intend to play.

2. Learn Casino Etiquette

The rules of casino etiquette differ slightly from one establishment to the next, in accordance with the published (or unwritten) house rules. It’s therefore a good idea to familiarise yourself with these rules before you head out – things like dress code, ID required to sign up, restrictions on bringing your own refreshments and so on.

Across the board, however, there are a few important things to be aware of.  For example, anyone who’s clearly intoxicated while playing will most likely be thrown out and told not to return. There’s also a limit to how much noise you can get away with making, when in the presence of other gamers. Celebrating wins in a smug and arrogant way is also inadvisable, as is presenting yourself as a sore loser after blowing your bankroll.

3. Never Buy Chips from Other Players

There’s no realistic scenario wherein buying chips from other players is advisable or logical. If you’re holding £100 worth of chips and you want to cash some or all of them in, you head over to the cashier.  In which case, why is the shady-looking gentleman to your left offering you his last £100 worth of chips for £80? It could be that he doesn’t want to queue at the cash desk as he’s in a hurry, or it could be that his chips are counterfeit.

Buying and selling chips goes against house rules in all casinos and will in all instances be interpreted as a form of financial fraud. Beg and plead your case all you like, but get busted ‘dealing’ chips in any quantities and you’ll be thrown out without the option of cashing in your remaining chips. Don’t be tempted to buy or sell chips under any circumstances, even if your intentions are 100% honest.

4. Practice Online for Free

One of the best ways of getting to grips with how casino games work is to practice online for free. The more practice you get online, the easier it becomes to keep the game play smooth, fluid and enjoyable for everyone at the table.

Still, it’s worth remembering that playing online for free isn’t quite the same as playing for real money. You’ll need to have your wits about you to ensure you make objective and informed decisions, which can get tricky in the heat of the moment. In any case, there’s no better way of learning the rules and gaining practical experience of how all types of casino games work. 

5. Accept Your Mistakes

Learning to accept your mistakes and move on is also essential for anyone looking to get into casino gaming. It’s inevitable that at some point along the line, you’ll make a mistake that leaves you out of pocket and red in the face. At which point, the worst thing you can do is ask for the dealer to give you something of a due-over – i.e. give you back your chips and have another go.

Asking the dealer to do something they’re not allowed to do is just about the biggest mistake you can make at a casino table. You’ll embarrass yourself, put the dealer in a difficult position and fall out of favour with everyone else around you at the time.

6. Don’t Attempt to Copy the Movies

The way the average casino is portrayed in the movies isn’t a remotely accurate representation of how things work in the real-world. In which case, it’s inadvisable to conduct yourself in the sort of way you’d see players doing so on TV.

Most real-world casinos tend to be surprisingly calm, controlled and even quiet environments – not the non-stop, mega-decibel party environments as seen in the movies.

7.  If You Don’t Know, Just Ask

Last up, it’s far better to ask for advice and information, rather than make things up as you go along. If there’s something you don’t understand about the casino’s policies or even how any particular game works, never be afraid to ask.

There’s nothing wrong with outing yourself as a well-intentioned newcomer – pretending you know more than you actually do is a recipe for embarrassment.

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