Casino Table Etiquette & Tips

Hitting casino table games for the first time? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there.

At Gentleman Zone we learned the hard way why one should avoid at all cost being the AWKWARD newbie at casino table games. And while general casino etiquette is the fundament here, sitting down, having chips laid out and placing your bets on the board does come with specifics on its own. TRUE STORY!

Thus, we put together the following pile of tips to help you playi like a true gent!

But, What Casino Table Games Can You Play?

Just to make things clear! Casino table games refers to a more narrow set:

Blackjack Games – Original, Switch, Bonus Blackjack, European Blackjack, Spanish 21, Double Exposure Blackjack, Vegas Strip Blackjack, Pontoon. Super Fun 21, Progressive Blackjack, Atlantic City Blackjack. Perfect Pairs, Perfect Pairs Blackjack, Blackjack Frenzy, California Blackjack, Change 21, Duel, to name a few.
Baccarat & Alike – Mini Baccarat, Chemin de fer, Punto Banco, No Commission Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, Dragon Tiger, Live Baccarat, Midi Baccarat, Super 6, and more.
Roulette Variations – American Roulette, European roulette, Pinball Roulette, Slingshot Roulette, Lightning Roulette, Key Bet Roulette, Age of Gods Roulettem Auto Roulette, Traditional Roulette Variations
Poker Types – Hold ’em, Razz, Badugi, Omaha, Irish Poker, Chinese poker, Draw poker, Pineapple Poker, Omaha poker, Triple Draw, Short Deck, Pineapple, Follow the Queen, High Low Chicago, Community card, Pot, Blind, Deuce to Seven, Triple Draw, to name just a few.
Baccarat Games – Mini Baccarat, Chemin de fer, Punto Banco, No Commission Baccarat, Baccarat Squeeze, Dragon Tiger, Super 6 are some of the popular sub-genres.
Craps Variations – Crapless Craps, High Point Craps, Simplified Craps, Die Rich Craps, New York Craps, Diceless Craps, Craps with Both Cards and Dice, Open Craps, Fading Craps, Money Craps, Scarney Craps, Low Limit Craps, and High Limit Craps, Bubbles Craps Machines

Of course, there are quite a few more casino table games on could add to the list, but the point here is the general outline of this guide.

Listed: Casino Table Etiquette & Best Practices

Table manners are pretty straightforward:

Enter At The Right Time!
Avoid / Hand NOT Cash To Dealers!
Keep Cards On The Table!
Touch NOT Chips Once Cards Are Dealt!
Announce NOT Your Decision & Signal Instead!
Stay Away From Other Players’ Affairs!
Get To Know The Game!
Handle Your Cards Right!
Place & Bets The Right Way!
Not Stalling On Bets!
Proclaim & Announce Clearly!
Don’t Rush to Grab Freshly-won Chips!
Stay Alert On: “No More Bets Please”!
Keep Your Stuff Away From The Table!
Make Clear & Quick Choices!
Stay Out Of Other Players’ Hands!
Don’t Angle Shoot: It’s Unethical & Hurts The Table!
“Hit & Run” is No-No!
Keep Cards To Yourself!

While landland casinos and, here’s just one source with live casino games, ethics adhere to all!

Now , let’s bring a bit more detail to each of the rules:

Enter Games At The Right Time

Don’t disrupt the game in the middle of dealing as that’s simply rude to players already in!
Wait for a new shoe (deck) to start, especially for high stakes!
If unsure, ask the dealer to join.

Avoid / Hand NOT Cash To Dealers!

Casinos enforce strict tracking procedures for money on the floor, and slipping dealers cash is all the suspicious you can get. That might trigger a security check and thus delay everybody’s game with unnecessary hassle.

Be transparent and board-above!
Place your cash on the betting surface (the felt part of the table) and the dealer will gladly count out in full view and exchange you for chips.

Note: Also, cash on the table keeps you organized, too! Know and see how much you have in front of you, thus go for a better budget of bets throughout the night.

Keep Cards On The Table

Be firm and fair!

Prevent hidden card switches and ensure no cards go missing. If you accidentally drop one, calmly inform the dealer for it to be handled properly.

Touch NOT Chips Once Cards Are Dealt

Avoid confusion and accusations of altering bets.

Remember: Even innocent fiddling with chips can be misconstrued. If you need to raise your bet, wait for the right moment, like after you peek at cards but before the dealer starts to draw more.

Announce NOT Your Decision & Signal Instead

Ditch announcing your moves and switch to hand signals

Speed: Hand signals keep the game moving briskly. No time wasted saying “hit” or “stand.”
Clarity: Hand signals eliminate confusion. You can’t accidentally say “stand” and then bust by claiming you said “hit.”
Evidence: Casinos use CCTV. If there’s ever a dispute, hand signals provide a clear record of your actions.

Here’s a quick guide:

Hit: Tap the table with your finger.
Stand: Wave your hand over your cards.

Stay Away From Other Players’ Affairs

It gets annoying while distracting other players, especially those involved in a big pot.

Focus on your own hand.
“Offer” zero unsolicited advice.
Never criticize other players’ choices, style or strategy,
Nor should you interrupt the game’s flow.
Respect everyone’s playing style and decisions.

It can take your focus away from your own game, leading to mistakes or bad bets. You should be focusing on your own cards and strategy, not what everyone else does!

Get To Know The Game

Master the basics of card values, winning hands, turn and betting options. Practice, practice, practice! Many online casinos offer free baccarat to help you learn the ropes without risking actual money. Informed decisions are how you improve your gameplay!

Handle Your Cards Right

Dealers deal and each player handles cards on their own.

Keep: cards exposed for all to see and thus prevent suspicion.
Avoid: Nending, creasing or marking accidental damage to cards or tables.

In case of an unintentional accident, just tell your dealer.

Place & Bets The Right Way

It’s important to bet in the right way.

Know your limits: Before playing, understand the table’s minimum and maximum wagers.
Clear bets: Use chips or cash, ensuring the dealer sees your bet amount.
Timing is key: No more bets after the dealer’s call. No changing bets after cards are dealt.

Not Stalling On Bets

The dealer will always inform you when you can bet and when you can’t. In addition, they will vocally announce “place your bets” once the betting has opened and “no more bets, please” once the betting round has closed.

Make sure to place your bet before the dealer says “no more bets” to avoid being discounted. I also recommend being mindful of other players. You will often need to reach across other players to cover specific segments of the wheel, so try to do so in a respectable manner.

Stick to betting timeframes: Each casino table game has its specifics to placing bets. The dealer will clearly announce when to begin and end.
Act promptly: Once you’ve decided on your bet, place it quickly and clearly to avoid missing the betting window.
Be mindful of others: While placing your bet, be courteous to fellow players by reaching across them in a respectful manner, and avoid bumping into their chips.

Proclaim & Announce Clearly

Master casino gameplay and lingo!

Skip: Announcing simple bets, like red/black, odd/even, or straight-up number bets.
Don’t: be shy – ask if anything’s unclear!

However, for trickier ones, like “neighbors,” clearly tell the dealer the number you want covered and your wager.

Don’t Rush to Grab Freshly-won Chips

Grace is the body language of etiquette.

Wait: For the dealer to finish payouts and signal it’s okay.
Briefly check: Winnings for accuracy.

If anything seems off, alert the dealer immediately as you can take advantage of CCTV footage.

Stay Alert On: “No More Bets Please”

“No More Bets” means STOP betting.

This is universal, so focus on the game, not last-minute chip placement. Casinos have varying roulette betting rules, but table announcements are meant to guide you.

Some prohibit you placement of bets before the ball is dropped into the Roulette wheel. Others will drop the ball into the wheel and give you a few seconds to still place a bet.

Keep Your Stuff Away From The Table

Keep both game and table clear!

Phones, drinks, and personal belongings clutter the table and disrupt. Always check with the dealer for specific rules, but generally – keep your game space neat.

Make Clear & Quick Choices

Act: Fast on easy decisions (folds with weak hands).
Take time: For complex choices (big bets).
Avoid: Unnecessary delays.
Don’t: Slow down the table for everyone.

Stay Out Of Other Players’ Hands

Focus on your OWN hand!

Avoid unsolicited advice or commentary, especially at large pots or with intoxicated players. It disrupts the game and can get you thrown out. That’s a bannable offense and you could simply lose your spot and have security take you out.

Don’t Angle Shoot: It’s Unethical & Hurts The Table

While it’s not technically cheating (by definition), angle shooting will lead other players at the table to simply dislike you and nobody needs bad vibes at play.

What is angle shooting?

Attempting to look at another player’s cards.
Intentionally behaving out of turn.
Hide high-value chips to deceive players into thinking you have less money on the table than you actually do.
Counting your chips or bringing them closer to the line to deceive your opponent into thinking you’ll raise or call their bet. This is used to elicit a reaction from the player and provides angle shooters with an unfair edge.
Announcing “raise” verbally, only to place calling chips in the center of the table. The dealer will compel you to make the raise. This maneuver is used by players with strong hands to trick their opponents.
Announcing that you have a winning hand at showdown when you don’t, in order to induce your opponent to discard their hand.

What to do?

Be clear and honest: Act in turn, reveal cards properly, and verbally match your chip actions (raise = raise chips, call = call chips).
Keep your chips visible: Don’t stack high-value chips behind low-value ones.
Avoid manipulative tactics: Don’t fake actions, announce wrong bets, or misrepresent your hand strength.
Remember: Fairness and respect are key to a healthy game.

“Hit & Run” is No-No

Winning big is great, but leaving right after in a cash game is simply bad casino table etiquette.

Others might feel you’re dodging the chance to lose back what you won. Play another 10-15 minutes, even folding, to avoid upsetting players and ensure a warm welcome back.

Keep Cards To Yourself

Never reveal folded cards! It leaks information about your playing style and disrupts the game for everyone. Keep your cards and decisions private for a stronger poker advantage.