Casino manners for newcomers: a calm introduction to the table

You need not be a regular to take a seat at a private gaming table. You do need to understand five modest points about how the room operates.

Wait for the dealer to invite you

A dealer mid-shoe will not pause to seat a new player. Stand a polite metre back, meet their eye, and wait for the nod. It will arrive.

Buy chips with cash on the felt, never handed over

Lay the bills on the felt; the dealer will count them before the camera and slide chips toward you. Money is never passed hand to hand. This is not coldness; it is procedure.

Handle your cards with one hand only

At baccarat and blackjack, when cards arrive face down, lift them with one hand alone and keep them above the felt. It is the oldest rule in the room and the simplest to overlook.

Tip after a win, never after a loss

A small chip edged to the dealer after a winning hand is customary; tipping after a loss comes across as showy. If unsure, watch the table for a few minutes — the regulars will show you everything.

Step away when you choose, not when you are losing

The discipline of stopping outweighs any system. We have watched guests double a bankroll on a Tuesday and forfeit three months of careful play trying to repeat it on a Friday. Choose a number, and honour it.

Prepared by the editorial team at Evergreenoceanestate. Last updated 2026-07-27.