Casino manners for first-timers: 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 modest points about how the room operates.

Pause until the dealer invites 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.

Purchase chips with cash on the felt, never handed

Lay the bills on the felt; the dealer will count them before the camera and slide chips toward you. Cash is never passed hand to hand. That is not coldness; it is procedure.

Handle your cards with one hand only

At baccarat and blackjack, when cards arrive 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 overlook.

Tip after a win, never after a loss

A small chip edged to the dealer after a winning hand is customary; tipping after a loss can look theatrical. If unsure, watch the table for a few minutes — the regulars will show you everything.

Step away when you are ready, not when you are down

The discipline of stopping outweighs any system. We have watched guests double a bankroll on a Tuesday and then 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 Mountainmajesticlodge. Last updated 2026-07-20.