Casino etiquette 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 five small 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 a polite metre back, catch their eye, and wait for the nod. It will arrive.

Buy chips with cash on the table, never handed

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

Touch your cards only with one hand

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

Tip when you win, never when you lose

A small chip slid to the dealer after a winning hand is expected; tipping after a loss can seem ostentatious. If unsure, watch the table for a few minutes — the regulars will show 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 Tropicaloceanregency. Last updated 2026-07-20.