Casino etiquette for newcomers: a gentle introduction to the table

You need not be a familiar face to join a private gaming table. You do need to understand five modest details about how the room operates.

Wait until the dealer invites you in

A dealer mid-shoe will not pause to seat a newcomer. Stand a respectful metre back, catch their eye, and wait for the nod. It will arrive.

Buy chips with cash on the table, never in hand

Lay the bills on the felt; the dealer will count them before the camera and slide chips across. Money is never exchanged hand to hand. This is not discourtesy; it is procedure.

Handle your cards with one hand only

At baccarat and blackjack, when cards are dealt face down, lift them with a single hand and keep them above the felt. It is the oldest rule in the room and the simplest to overlook.

Tip when you win, never when you lose

A small chip pushed to the dealer after a winning hand is customary; tipping after a loss appears theatrical. When uncertain, observe the table for a few minutes — the regulars will teach you everything.

Leave when you are ready, not when you are losing

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

Prepared by the editorial team at Lodgetropicalrest. Last updated 2026-07-13.