Casino manners for newcomers: a soft introduction to the table

You need not be a known player to take a seat at a private gaming table. You do need five modest facts about how the room operates.

Wait until the dealer waves you in

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

Buy chips with cash on the table, never handed

Set the bills on the felt; the dealer counts them in view of the camera and slides chips across. Cash never moves hand to hand. That is procedure, not coldness.

Touch your cards only with one hand

At baccarat and blackjack, when cards arrive face down, lift them with one hand and keep them above the felt. It is the oldest rule in the room and the one most often forgotten.

Tip when you win, never when you lose

A modest chip to the dealer after a winning hand is customary; tipping after a loss looks forced. If unsure, watch the table for a few minutes — regulars will show you the rhythm.

Leave when you are ready, not when you are losing

Knowing when to stop matters more than any system. Guests have doubled a bankroll on a Tuesday and then spent three months of careful play chasing the same result on a Friday. Choose a number, and honour it.

Prepared by the editorial desk at Ivoryevergreengetaway. Last updated 2026-07-20.