Going to the casino to play blackjack for the first time can be an exciting but also slightly daunting experience. It’s not until you get into the casino that you realise just how foreign this setting is, and how everyone else seems to know exactly what to do.

To be able to make your first trip to the casino with confidence, it can pay to do a little research before hand. There are a number of unwritten rules that govern the way you should behave at a casino that you will not be told at the door.

To make sure you’re the very picture of culture and refinement, we have a few tips on blackjack etiquette to help your first casino visit go without a hitch…

1. TAKING A SEAT

Once you have found a table that you’d like to join, firstly make sure there is an available spot. Some players play multiple hands, so although there may be a seat free it does not necessarily mean there’s room to play at the table. If there is a space free, take a seat and wait until the current hand finishes before you buy in.

2. BUYING IN

When it comes to swapping your money for chips, you should place your cash in the middle of the table and tell the dealer what denomination you would like. For example, if you want each chip to be worth £5, ask for “fives, please”.

3. PLACING A BET

You can place a bet once the dealer has settled the bets ad taken the cards from the previous hand. You should not touch your chips once the dealer has dealt the cards as you could be accused or adding to, or lowering your bet. If you are placing a bet with multiple denominations, make sure the smallest denomination is at the top and the largest at the bottom. If you put a larger denomination on top, the dealer will rearrange the chips to guard against someone attempting to add a large-denomination chip to their bet after the outcome is known.

4. TOUCHING YOUR CARDS

If you are playing a London Deal game, which is by far the most common, your cards will be dealt face up and you will not be allowed to touch your cards at any time during the game. If you are playing a Vegas Deal, the cards will be dealt face down. In this case you are allowed to touch the cards but only with one hand. You should also keep your cards above the table at all times.

5. PLAYING YOUR HAND

When it comes to making decisions at the table, state your intention clearly using the terms “hit” or “stand”. Alternatively, you can tap the table to indicate you want another card, or wave your hand over your cards to indicate you want to stand.
To double or split you can simply place the required number of chips next to your initial stake. The dealer will usually know whether you want to double or stick based on your hand.

6. COLLECTING YOUR WINNINGS

It is perfectly acceptable to talk to other players at a blackjack table but the normal rules of social interaction apply. Not everyone wants to talk, so if you join a quiet table then you should respect that. The same applies to the dealers - some will be chatty and others less so. You should also not feel under any obligation to tip the dealers, although if you are on a hot streak then it might be courteous to do so.

7. COMMUNICATING WITH PLAYERS AND DEALERS

It is perfectly acceptable to talk to other players at a blackjack table but the normal rules of social interaction apply. Not everyone wants to talk, so if you join a quiet table then you should respect that. The same applies to the dealers - some will be chatty and others less so. You should also not feel under any obligation to tip the dealers, although if you are on a hot streak then it might be courteous to do so.

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