Play By The Rules: Vegas Etiquette

You may be new to the bright lights of the City of Las Vegas, but this hardly means that you are excused from not knowing certain things. After all, not everyone knows if you’re new to the town, which means that a major mistake on your part may culminate with you being banned from some of the major casinos in the area. Of course, if you came to Vegas in order to play the tables or the slots, then this will be a very bad thing indeed. As such, it is very important to remember these basic rules when strolling around Vegas.

1. Be Gracious When Refused Entry – Even though it may seem horribly unfair, casinos have the right to refuse anyone entry because they are, in effect, private property. That’s not to say that you’ll just have to take it with no fuss; ask them the reason for their refusal (it could be anything from your perceived age – you can only come in when you’re 21 – or having a particular reputation), and take note of it for the next time that you happen to be in the area.
2. When In Doubt, Stay With The Basics – It may very well be that you are new to playing most if not all of the card games being offered by the casino, and this would mean that your inexperience would likely bring grief to most of the other players and even the dealer at the table; the game is expected to move at a particular pace and mistakes can hinder progress. If this is the case, then it is suggested that you peruse some of the pamphlets offered at the casino lobby or inquire about any game lessons (lots of Vegas casinos offer this). If all else fails, watch the tables and observe not only how the game is played, but also how the players behave. That way, you may have a better feel of how things are supposed to go. Do not sit at a table knowing nothing or worse, attempting more advanced levels of the games when you’re a novice player.
3. Do Not Count Your Cards – You’ve probably heard of counting cards, which is a method that some people use to win the game of Blackjack. While this is not considered illegal and a person caught doing this suffers no legal problems when caught doing this, there are nevertheless some repercussions. In Nevada, counting cards is considered bad form. More polite casinos would simply forbid you (should you be caught trying it) from ever sitting on their Blackjack tables, but you are warned that you may develop a reputation for it, which may cause other casinos to turn you away. The moral of this? NEVER COUNT CARDS IN LAS VEGAS.
4. Do Not Use Your Mobile Phone Inside the Casino – This is a major faux pas that few people keep in mind. Electronic equipment does not work well inside casinos in the first place, but using them while sitting at a game table or while playing at a slot machine is more than frowned upon, it may end up with you being escorted out of the premises. You have to remember that the use of mobile phones and beepers at a table or at the slots is strictly forbidden at a casino table.
5. Remember to Tip – Last, but not the least, tipping is very, very important. You will be considered extremely impolite if you don’t tip the dealers and waitresses, who pretty much work for minimum wage. Of course, there are certain expectations with regards to the amount that you are expected to give them. For example, you are expected to share up to ten percent of your winnings with the dealer, and tip the waitresses one dollar for each drink.

Have fun!