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There are many poker topics I have to cover in which I am not an expert and involve a lot of research on my part, but for this particular subject I am fortunate because it was only last year that I made my casino ’debut’ so all the thoughts and worries I had are still relatively fresh in my mind!
If you’ve never been to a casino before, you’ll at least have seen them in movies and on TV, perhaps watching poker events or simply from James Bond’s Casino Royale! The thought of venturing into such a place can be a bit scary: how should I dress? Where do I find the poker room? Are people going to laugh at me if I don’t know the correct terms and language? Do I HAVE to play blackjack if I pass the table!?
Well, this last one not so much – in fact you don’t have to play anything at all; you can simply go to most casinos nowadays to have a meal or a drink, watch others win and (mostly to be honest) lose and have a great time doing so.
But let’s start at the beginning: you plan on going to a casino to play poker. What can you expect and what do you absolutely need to do?
ID
Just as if you’re taking a flight, you need ID. Almost all casinos insist on you registering or joining – and this is usually free, they want you in their ‘house of cards’! – so take along your driver’s licence or passport or some other recognized form of photo ID.
In many parts of the world, especially where gambling winnings are taxed, you may also need a proof of address – so take along a recent gas bill or whatever as well as your ID.
When you arrive at the casino reception you’ll see just how simple it all is – just like booking into a hotel really. You’ll generally be given a casino card and this will generally work like a rewards card – the more you visit, the more little bonuses you accrue on your card. Food, drinks, poker tournament buy-ins – generally whatever you spend will gain you points.
Dress code
OK, now this was a huge issue for me as, although not quite homeless-looking, I’m an old punk rocker who still goes around the world in a pair of shorts, a Dead Kennedy’s t-shirt and skate shoes – with a band hoodie for cold climates. I simply don’t DO nice clothes – if I try it looks like I’ve just been released from prison.
If you’ve seen big poker events on TV, you’d be tempted to think that dressing like I do is perfectly acceptable. Well, in some places they don’t give a shit – even the World Series has had people like Justin Schwartz making huge TV time while dressed like he’d been kicked out of a crack-house for not dressing nicely enough!
Conversely, the Casino Royale tuxedo-style affair really isn’t needed in all but the most exclusive of clubs – most of which you won’t be getting invited to anyway!
Making some kind of an effort is worth the trouble, and for many casinos smart casual is a reasonable enough rule. A cotton long-sleeved shirt and smart non-denim jeans is absolutely fine in my part of the world – but if you’re unsure simply check out the casino website or give them a call.
They’ll be only too happy to help – again, they do not want to turn people away, especially not for something as minor as not knowing the dress code.
The Casino floor
It depends on how big your casino is, but it can be quite daunting to walk into the main area and see hundreds or even thousands of people who all seem to know what they’re doing and where they are going. Think back to your first day of school!
Anyway, no need to worry. I was fortunate that my brother was a regular and was with me, but simply asking the nearest bartender/waitress/floorperson for directions (if it’s not obvious) is easy enough.
Pretty much every casino will have a separate space for their poker tables. My casino, the Genting in Edinburgh’s Fountainpark, has about 15 tables at the back of the casino – split between tournament and cash tables depending on the number of players or what’s going on.
The poker area will usually have a table at the side for registration – simply walk up, tell them why you’re there (a tournament – in my case a £35+5 weekly rebuy – or to play cash games, and they’ll sort you out. You may have to wait for a cash table to begin, but you’ll usually be told when to expect it, they’ll take your name and call you.
For cash games you simply buy chips from the dealer, and reload if you lose it all from the dealer, so you don’t have to wander about aimlessly and miss out on hands. For tournaments you pay your entry at the registration table (they’ll need your casino registration card) and you’ll be given a table and seat number where your chips will be waiting for you.
Again, casinos and the people who regularly go there will almost always be happy to help – new blood equals new money for everyone in their eyes!
Know the basics
Although many people turn up at a casino as part of a work’s night out or for a friendly drink and small wager to add a fun edge to the evening, we will be going there for poker. If you’ve never played before, you’re going to struggle!
Knowing all the rules is not necessary, but knowing the basics of the game is a must! Not knowing how it works at a cash table when you need to go to the toilet or for a cigarette isn’t a big deal, but not knowing what a raise is certainly would be!
If you want to ‘gamble’ rather than play poker that’s fine – head to the slots or roulette tables.
If you’ve only ever played online before – where everything is done for you – it can be very strange to actually have to count the pot (don’t touch the chips in the middle! Just look and count as best you can, or ask the dealer if you really need to know a big pot’s size).
The dealer will almost always prompt you if you forget it’s your turn, or have made a mistake with, say, the size of your minimum raise or your call. Try to pay attention, but don’t be surprised if you get distracted by all the things happening around you – it’s bound to happen.
One thing I found out pretty quickly was that if you bet a single chip – even if it’s a £100 chip into a £20 pot as a big raise – it will only count as a call! It’s best to announce every bet (call or raise) until you get used to this rule, after which you’ll remember to make your raises with more than one chip.
Most casino poker tournament have a clock, in the case of mine it’s several TV screens which show the payouts, level running times (the time remaining until the blinds increase and various other useful things to know). As with everything else in the casino, if you don’t know simply ask!
Avoid the gaming tables
If I could give a poker player heading into a casino for the first time any advice it would be… don’t spend your money at the roulette wheel, slots, blackjack or any of the hundreds of other games available unless you a) know what you’re doing and/or b) it was part of your plan to play anyway.
Watch your money
There is a lot of money floating around in casinos, cash and chips, and although most places are generally free of thefts and low-lifes, it pays to keep an eye on your belongings at all times.
If you need to go to the toilet or for a smoke, take your phone/wallet etc with you. I always count my chipstack in cash games before I go, and generally make sure everyone sees me doing it. It’s not being paranoid, it just avoids any unpleasant situations. Chips=cash when you’re on cash tables!
Do’s and Don’ts
Once you’re settled in and the nerves start to fade, it helps to know the basic etiquette. Here are a few key things to keep in mind:
Don’ts
- Don’t play out of turn. It’s a major no-no, and you can get warned or penalized if it happens repeatedly.
- Don’t discuss hands you’re not in. Commenting on other people’s play or pointing out mistakes is bad form, unless it directly affects you or the whole table.
- Don’t tank every decision. Playing too slowly—whether from distraction or nerves—slows the game and frustrates others. You don’t need to rush, but try to act at a reasonable pace. Save the long think for genuinely big spots.
- Don’t tolerate abusive behavior. If another player is aggressive or threatening, tell the dealer and ask for the floor. Casinos can be emotional environments, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept disrespect.
- Don’t get too drunk. It hurts your game, and you don’t want to become the person other players avoid.
Do’s
- Stay alert to the action. Keep track of who’s doing what. If you’re unsure whether it’s your turn, what the bet is, or where the blinds are, just ask the dealer.
- Tip the staff. It’s good etiquette to tip the dealer at the end of a game or if you cash big in a tournament—the same goes for waiters and waitresses. It’s a small gesture that shows respect and helps you build goodwill.
- Put your phone away. Even if some players scroll between hands, it’s still rude, distracting, and can cost you money. It also slows the game when you miss an action.
- Respect the dealers. Bad cards aren’t their fault. Coolers and river suck-outs happen—don’t take it out on the person dealing the game.
- Be cautious when cashing out and leaving. Casinos vary, and some attract opportunistic thieves. If you’ve had a big win and feel uneasy, speak to security or ask staff to call you a cab.
Hopefully, this guide helps you feel prepared for your first casino visit. Nerves are normal, but you’ll quickly see that most casinos are relaxed and welcoming. And if luck goes your way, enjoy it, and don’t forget to tip.
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