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 new player. Stand about a polite 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 before the camera and slides chips toward you. Cash is never exchanged hand to hand. That is procedure, not coldness.

Touch your cards only with one hand

At baccarat and blackjack, when cards arrive face down, raise them with one hand alone and keep them above the felt. It is the oldest custom in the room and the one most often overlooked.

Tip when you win, never when you lose

A modest chip passed to the dealer after a winning hand is expected; tipping after a loss can seem theatrical. If unsure, watch the table for a few minutes — the regulars show you everything.

Leave when you are ready, not when you are losing

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

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