Casino manners for newcomers: a calm introduction to the table

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

Wait until the dealer waves you in

A dealer mid-shoe will not pause to seat a newcomer. Stand roughly a metre back, meet their glance, 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 before the camera and slides chips across. Cash never moves hand to hand. That is procedure, not chilliness.

Touch your cards only with one hand

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

Tip when you win, never when you lose

A modest chip toward the dealer after a winning hand is customary; tipping after a loss looks theatrical. Unsure? Watch the table a few minutes — regulars reveal everything.

Leave when you are ready, not when you are losing

Knowing when to stop outweighs any system. We have watched guests double a bankroll on a Tuesday and forfeit three months of careful play chasing a repeat on Friday. Choose a number, and honour it.

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