Casino Etiquette 101: Dos and Don’ts, Unspoken Rules, and More

Whether you’re playing blackjack at one of the many casinos in the Keystone State, enjoying a spin at a roulette wheel in Atlantic City, or placing a bet at one of the 30+ land-based casinos on The Strip of downtown Las Vegas, most operators expect casino goers to adhere to proper casino etiquette.

Good manners and following the rules will protect casino staff and other players while providing an entertaining, top-notch casino experience.

Here’s a look at the dos and don’ts of common casino etiquette.

Gambling might be fun, but it requires a little homework before you go to the casino. Take a look at how you can suit up for an enjoyable experience.

If you want to learn about casino etiquette before you start playing, review your favorite casino’s website. Look at the site’s vibe and browse the available options to learn about the casino and hotel along with promotions, dining, and entertainment.

With online casino platforms growing in popularity nationwide, new players can use free demo play options online before a land-based casino visit.

Free online casino games often include a virtual slot machine or blackjack table for first-time players to learn casino rules associated with chip denominations, betting limits, how to bet, and more, all while avoiding a casino dress code for a less formal gambling experience.

It’s often standard for a casino to offer free drinks to players on the gaming floor to encourage them to engage in casino play for an extended period.

Since players must be at least 21 to enter a casino, drinking is permitted. However, too much drinking lowers inhibitions for inferior betting habits, disrupts other players, and represents “bad manners” at the casino table—so drink responsibly.

Whether you’re in Philadelphia, Atlantic City, or Las Vegas, casino etiquette at most casinos strictly prohibits electronic devices, including cell phones, when gambling at a table.

Since it may disturb other casino goers or be a sign of cheating, the rules require players to step away from the game if they need to answer a call or use their phones.

Giving a tip at a casino depends on the country’s tipping culture. In the U.S., it’s part of a customary code to tip valet, dealers, and waitstaff.

When you arrive at a casino, there’s usually a designated parking garage or lot, and some VIP players arrange their parking beforehand.

While there aren’t any established rules for tipping a valet, it’s considered decent and well-mannered casino etiquette to tip a valet at least a few dollars for their services.

As of March 2024, a casino dealer in Las Vegas made about $18 per hour on average (above the state’s minimum wage), while most casino dealers in PA earned at least double the state’s minimum of $7.25. Knowing these average earnings, the question begs—should you tip?

Some players may only tip after a winning streak in blackjack. In contrast, savvy players with exceptional casino etiquette may tip anywhere from 10% to 20% of their winnings. Showing the dealer your appreciation in monetary form helps create a more respectful gambling experience whether you’re at the roulette table or playing poker.

Average hourly wages for a casino waitress in the U.S. range from $6.01 to $28.61, with a majority earning between $11.54 and $16.83. Tipping is essential for the livelihoods of casino waitstaff, so a $1 tip per drink is customary for beers and $2 per cocktail.

Most casino tips for new players start with setting a daily, weekly, or monthly budget before buying chips or placing a bet. Protecting your “bankroll” is essential for players of any skill level, and it’s often the difference between leaving Las Vegas a winner or being defeated by a blackjack table.

Whether playing blackjack or sports betting, you should establish a minimum and maximum bet for your bankroll.

Bettors generally aim to win around 55% of their wagers to remain profitable. To prevent or avoid significant losses, they usually stick to bet increments of 1% to 5% of their bankroll.

Pro tip: Only bet between $1 to $5 per hand in blackjack or other casino games with a bankroll of $100.

Here’s an overview of general casino etiquette that applies to everyone from first-time players, high-rollers, and even though who are just visiting casinos but not placing bets.

Whether you want to smoke while gambling or desire a smoke-free gambling experience, you’ll be at the mercy of the casino you visit. Check with the casino you visit for its indoor smoking policy as some may have designated smoking areas or ban the practice altogether.

Dress codes at casinos usually depend on the location and timing of your visit.

For example, formal dress like blouses for women or button-down collared shirts for men at night at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa might be expected. This casino etiquette sharply contrasts with the casual dress of shorts and flip-flops around the roulette or blackjack tables at a boardwalk casino during the day.

For storing personal belongings when playing games, you might find a hook or shelf underneath your table since keeping items like phones, sunglasses, or purses on the table is generally not allowed.

You can also ask the casino for a safety deposit box at the cashier window or luggage storage through your hotel.

Most casinos have dos and don’ts for every game. Consider the following rules for appropriate casino etiquette to respect other players when gambling.

Players should pay attention to minimum bet amounts (often indicated by a sign on the table) while sticking to one game they’re most familiar with to keep games flowing smoothly—which means more hands, spins, or dice rolls per hour for the casino.

If you’re constantly asking for clarification on basic rules, or worse, looking them up on your phone, it’ll be a bad look.

Card etiquette and the rules for touching cards depend on the game. In blackjack and carnival games like Three Card Poker and Ultimate Texas Hold ‘em, cards are dealt face up, which means players cannot touch them.

The rules change for regular poker games, where cards are dealt face-down to players. Touching the cards is permitted—so long as they remain on or above the table and you only use one hand.

You’ll often need to use hand signals at casino games to communicate with dealers.

If you’ve ever seen the World Series of Poker (WSOP) or enjoyed poker games at casinos, you’ve probably noticed players taking their time to consider their decisions.

But, it’s common courtesy to keep the game rolling and decide relatively quickly since in-game conversations or delaying the flow might annoy other gamblers.

There aren’t any definitive rules associated with giving advice aloud, but unsolicited advice from players at the table is generally disrespectful of the game. Essentially, mind your business unless someone asks for your two cents.

If you’re new to in-person gambling, you should familiarize yourself with casino chips and their values (white $1, red $5, green $25, black $100). Before you place bets at any casino game, you must buy chips from a dealer.

Pro tip: Never touch anybody else’s chips when they’re gambling. Whether it’s baccarat, blackjack, craps, roulette, or poker, remember to keep your hands to yourself.

Whether it’s a low-limit blackjack game or a high-roller baccarat table, wait for the hand to end before placing your money on the table so that it’s visible to the overhead security cameras and pit bosses. Never directly hand your money to the dealer as that’s against the rules.

Roulette chips differ from any other game because dealers must keep track of numerous bets on the numbered layout. For that reason, you’ll receive colored chips with no denomination other than their designated value at the table—usually $1 per chip.

To cash out at roulette, let the dealer know you’d like to cash out. Wait for the wheel to stop and the dealer to resolve the bets on the table. Then, you can exchange your roulette chips for regular ones. (You can exchange smaller denominations between hands at any other game.)

To exchange your regular casino chips for cash, take them to the cashier window, and they’ll sort you out.

Casinos adhere to a strict code of conduct to help maintain safety and security for an entertaining gambling experience. They reserve the right to refuse entry to players who fail to comply.

Through the National Council on Problem Gambling, casinos also participate in Responsible Gambling (RG) initiatives. Casinos promote gambling responsibly by offering public resources to educate staff and players on how to prevent and identify the signs of problem gambling.

Learn how to get help via the following resources:

Like online casinos, land-based casinos offer Responsible Gambling sections on their websites. Contact customer support to learn about setting limits or use a problem gambling questionnaire to identify compulsive gambling habits.

Players can apply for self-exclusion from in-state legal gaming activities for one year to five years or longer.

Here’s our brief FAQ section on casino etiquette:

Tipping valets, dealers, and waitstaff at casinos generally depends on the tipping culture of the casino’s location. For casinos in the U.S., tip valet drivers a few dollars, dealers a small percentage of your winnings, and $1 per drink or $2 per cocktail.

Cashing out at a table game like blackjack depends on the casino’s rules. You may only need to visit the cashier with your chips to cash out, while roulette games might require an exchange of colored chips for regular chips. If cashing out at the table is available, wait for the hand or spin to end.

The rules regarding a casino’s dress code depend on timing and location. For example, you might be allowed to wear jeans to a blackjack table during the day or at a less formal location. However, casinos often require formal dress for nighttime entry.

The Inquirer is not an online gambling operator, or a gambling site. We provide this information about casino gambling and sports betting for entertainment purposes only.