Table manners for first-timers: a calm introduction to the casino floor

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 across. 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, if 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 easiest to overlook.

Tip when you win, never when you lose

A small chip slid to the dealer after a winning hand is standard; tipping after a loss reads as showy. 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 is worth 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 Sunsetmarinagetaway. Last updated 2026-07-20.