Blackjack Online & Land Based Etiquette
Entertainment, Gambling
Canadian Blackjack online players are used to gambling at home, which means that there aren’t really any protocols or other etiquettes to be concerned with. Unless of course they’re playing Live Dealer games, in which case, courtesy is key.
But what happens when a Canadian Blackjack online enthusiast, comfortable playing in the comfort of their own home, decides to head to a land-based venue? The real-world card game equivalent involves croupiers, physical cards, gambling chips, and so much more. The venues are also notoriously strict, with tight security having to deal with cheaters. What about sharing a table with other players? Are there courtesies that should be extended to others at the table?
Yes, it can all be a bit confusing at first, but it doesn’t have to be. Let’s take a look at some of the etiquette that should be acknowledged at land-based casinos when taking a seat at the Blackjack table.
Money On The Table
Upon walking into a Canadian casino, assuming it is the first time, a Blackjack online enthusiast may feel a little overwhelmed. There is a cacophony of noises, crowds of players, and an incredible number of games to choose from. There is no need to panic, the desired Blackjack tables will likely be easy to spot.
But with that being said, where to even begin?
A newcomer will likely first want to turn some cash onto chips, which is quickly handled at a cashier cage. Some venues also allow chip exchanges at tables. Either way, a newbie will want to find a table that suits their betting preferences and get busy playing. However, at this moment something might be noticed; in the real world there is no bet button.
Instead, physical chips are used, and must be given to the dealer. But stop right there. Bets are never handed to the dealer; they are placed on the table.
Casinos, naturally, have to deal with enormous amounts of cash on a daily basis, and it can be a challenge to keep track of it all. For this reason, it is bad etiquette to ever exchange money directly with a croupier.
After all, who knows how much is being handed over? Hence, money should be placed on the table, in clear view of the cameras watching from above.
Mind Your Hands
When a Canadian Blackjack online player engages the game, they may do so however they wish. Heck, they can play naked and push the buttons with their toes – no one will know! But a land-based venue may frown on such an approach… and rightly so.
More to the point, players at a table should be careful about what they do with their hands. It is not good etiquette to cover chips with hands, cover cards with your hands, or otherwise obstruct the game.
Additionally, there is no need to ever actually touch playing cards. Since cards are dealt face up in clear view, there is no need to pick them up for any reason. Casinos fears are that cards could be subtly marked, bent, or otherwise tampered with. Since some use this as a means to cheat, if cards are ever touched it is seen as a red flag.
Chip Stacking
There is always the matter of correct chip etiquette to take into consideration. Gambling chips are all a uniform size, which allows them stack on top of one another perfectly. The only differentiation between each denomination is whether the chips are pink, red, blue, or whatever the case may be.
Hence, if chips are stacked on top of one another, and are of a different denomination, it can get very confusing very quickly. It is therefore a good idea to keep different denominations in different stacks, and if mixing different values when placing a bet, not stack them atop one another. This is simply courtesy, and will help, once again, in keeping things clear.
Respect The Flow
A Canadian Blackjack online enthusiast probably already has a sense of this, but croupiers handle the flow of the game in a very particular way, by a very strict set of rules.
Each round starts with betting, which is the right time to touch chips, and put the betting amount forward. The cards are then dealt, to the house, and to the players. Decisions are then made to hit or stand, after which the dealer will attempt to beat the total.
Once bets have been made, and that stage of the process is over, no attempt should be made to again change the bet. A bet is final, and even touching chips once the cards are being dealt is a big no-no. This is another obvious protocol to avoid cheaters attempting to take advantage of an unobservant dealer.
Signalling Is A Good Idea
This doesn’t apply to all casinos, and isn’t set in stone, but it is better to signal a decision with hands, rather than just saying it. Again, cameras are watching and keeping track of the action, which means that hand signals are much clearer than just spoken words.
Blackjack online players will be used to just touching buttons, but in the physical world of gambling hands can do so much more. As those that have watched just about any movie that involves gambling know, asking for a hit is indicated by tapping a finger on the table. Standing is indicated by sweeping an open hand, palm down, over the cards. Again, it isn’t necessarily required that these gestures be done, but it does keep things nice and clear, should any disputes arise.
Ask For Advice
This is a big one and may just take many Blackjack online players by surprise. It is, in fact, perfectly fine to ask a croupier for advice.
Yes, if you are unsure about whether to hit, stand, split, or anything else, you can ask the dealer, and they will tell you. Most dealers are excellent at the game and understand the rules very well. Many will even be well aware of the mathematically right way to play in any given situation and can be of great help.
It may be surprising to hear, but croupiers are never tasked with taking as much money from players as possible. They are, in fact, trained to simply be as professional as possible, stick to the rules, and be helpful.
So should you ever be unsure about what move to make, it is legal and within the rules to ask for help. Though, doing so with every single hand, and stopping to have a conversation about it, may start to get annoying if there are others at your table. Conversations will, after all, break the flow of the game and force others to wait.
Tipping Is Welcome
The previous point brings us directly into this one. It is okay to tip. In fact, it’s more than okay, it’s welcomed! Tipping at the table even has a nickname – toking!
A Blackjack online player will never have had to tip, but in a land-based establishment this is an option. Assuming that help has been asked for, and given, there would be absolutely no harm in giving a tip.
Once again, croupiers are not tasked with taking as much money as possible, and in all likelihood are rooting for the player to win. Hence, if getting good advice, feeling generous, or otherwise wanting to share a win, it is acceptable to put chips on the table and slide them to the dealer. As to how much should be tipped is a matter of preference. But the minimum bet for the table is generally considered to be fair.
Additionally, it is even allowed to place a secondary bet exclusively for the croupier. It again may be surprising, but this is absolutely fine at most casinos. Simply stating the purpose of the second bet when putting it down, and clearly stating what it is for, should be enough.
Don’t Give Advice
As much as it is okay to ask the croupier for help, don’t give advice to other players.
Blackjack online players may have had more experience with the game, or even be better at it in general, but it is not polite to tell others at a table how they should be playing. There are no specific rules that say this is not allowed, and doing so will not upset the house, but chances are the other players will simply get annoyed.
In regard to making conversation with other players, it should be kept in mind that most are there to play, and not to make friends. Though, it is technically fine to chat, if it seems that others are comfortable with it. In more general terms, it is also okay to congratulate others if they win a hand or sympathise should they suffer a loss.
With all of the above being said, remember to always play responsibly, keep a close eye on your bankroll, and never play with money that you aren’t comfortable losing. Beyond that, always be polite, and always have fun!
