A Beginner's Guide to Visiting Land-Based Casinos

First time visiting a real life casino? You may have dabbled online with casino games and possibly already have your favourites, but no matter how often you have clicked the ‘deal’ button in a virtual gaming world, it won’t prepare you for everything you will encounter when you first visit a bricks and mortar establishment.

Our guide looks at the things you should know in advance, in order to make your first trip a more enjoyable experience. Whether you’re a seasoned online player stepping into a real life casino for the first time, or you’re a completely new casino player, we have you covered!

Dispelling the Myths

You might be under the impression that a casino is a scary place - a confusing world that is not very inviting for beginners. That certainly should never be the case, but you might well see and hear many things that you will be unfamiliar with.

Most of the unfamiliar language is related to the games themselves, so it is not unusual to have never heard such words before. Blackjack, roulette, craps and even slot games all have their own sets of terminology.

Simply passing by a live craps table could confuse any novice, as it sounds like they are talking another language when the croupier shouts something like “Yo, eleven!” and then declares the pass line bets to be winners. 

Once you learn how to play these games, the unfamiliar words begin to make sense. You will find yourself casually using terms that you never knew existed before.

The best casinos offer information sheets that help explain how to play the games they offer. If you don’t see one, ask a member of staff as there will usually be someone who can explain how games are played. Some casinos even run training sessions to teach new players the basics.

When to Visit a Casino

Most casinos in the USA are open 24 hours a day, so it’s up to the individual as to when they prefer to visit. In other countries, they may not be open continuously, but usually stay open very late. 

If you like crowds and a party atmosphere, weekends might suit well, as Friday and Saturday evenings tend to be the busiest and noisiest times on the casino floor. Public holidays and mid-term breaks are also busy times at many land-based casinos.

If crowds, queues and inflated hotel rates are not your thing, it may be best to avoid the busier days of the week for your first visit. Off-season in mid-week is when you will find the cheapest hotel rates at many casino resorts. Perhaps not all the facilities will be available off-season, but you won’t have to queue for long when you decide to visit the buffet.

What to Take With You

There’s not much you really need to take with you when you visit a casino, but there are two items that are pretty essential: ID and money.

Even though you generally don’t need to show ID to gain admittance to casinos in the United States, you are legally required to carry it and it may be needed when cashing out winnings. In many countries, casinos do not have open door policies and ID is required to be shown upon entry.

Money is also a given, as it is the tool of the trade of any gambler. You cannot place a bet without some money, so unless you are visiting purely to observe others gambling, you’re going to need to take some with you. Even if you don’t plan to gamble or don’t feel like doing it, you might get thirsty or hungry, so taking a bit of cash is always a good idea.

However, it’s not always a good idea to take too much money with you, only take what you can afford to lose. Casinos almost always have ATMs, so there are opportunities to access additional funds if required, but it might be more responsible to just take what you need and leave the bank card at home or in the hotel room.

How to Dress When Visiting a Land-Based Casino

If you’ve never been to a casino before, but you’ve seen them in the movies, you might be under the impression that you have to dress up smartly to enter one. That certainly used to be the case in days gone by, but in most cases, it’s far more relaxed when it comes to choosing what to wear.

Some people do dress up well when visiting a casino, but most simply wear relaxed, casual clothing and are not always dressed to impress. It’s generally best to avoid sportswear and team colours, although some venues do allow it. Each casino sets its own rules, with these likely to vary from one casino to another.

Reward Cards

Most casinos have what they call ‘reward cards’ that regular players can sign up for. Typically, such cards will enable players to receive rewards for their play, usually via a points-based system, which accumulates as players gamble. The longer you play, the more points you receive. You also tend to receive more points when you play with higher stakes.

Points can be redeemed for gifts, vouchers and other items, depending on each casino’s particular scheme. Large casino chains often link their cards, enabling players to rack up points on their card in any of the properties within the same group.

Reward cards are sometimes required for other purposes too, such as passing through turnstiles to gain access to the casino, or for entering UK slots competitions or poker tournaments.

Which Casino Games to Play?

The games on offer will differ from one casino to the next, but most will offer the best slot games and table games as their main product lines. The most popular table games you will find are blackjack, roulette, baccarat and Three Card Poker.

Some casinos also have craps tables, while other table games like Blackjack Switch, Let it Ride and Pai Gow Poker may also be available.

The popularity of land-based casino games will differ depending on the venue you visit. For example, throughout Asia, baccarat is the most popular table game, whereas in the USA, blackjack holds the top spot. Meanwhile, in European casinos, roulette is always the game that grabs the most attention.

You might also find bingo, keno or a sportsbook within the casino, but this depends on the location, as even within the US, these are not always permitted in every state.

Eating and Drinking at the Casino

All that gambling is bound to make you hungry at some point during your casino visit. The variety and availability of food varies according to the establishment, as does the quality of the fare on offer.

In Las Vegas, all-you-can-eat buffets are all the rage, with some very famous ones having long waits in-line just to get a table. However, during the COVID-19 outbreak, many casinos closed their buffets and all but a few have remained closed ever since.

Large casinos usually offer a wide range of restaurants, catering to those seeking fine dining experiences and those for whom fast food options are preferable. 

Most casinos do at least have a bar, so you are never far away from sinking a pint in either celebration, commiseration or simply to relax after an eventful casino gaming session. 

Using the Facilities While Playing

You might be wondering what you should do if you need to use the facilities while gambling at a land-based casino. That really depends on the type of game you are playing.

If you’re playing a slot machine and you desperately need to go, you can withdraw your remaining credit and then reinsert it when you wish to resume play. It’s not advised to leave unused credits unattended, but if you wish to return to the same machine, you could turn the chair round and tilt it against the machine to indicate that it is still in-play.

In some instances, you might find that someone else has started to use this machine, in which case it is best not to be a Karen about it and simply find another one to play on, or call it a night.

If you are playing a table game like blackjack, which is being run by a live dealer, then it is usually okay to leave your chips on the table for a short while when you need to use the restroom. It’s best to let the dealer know that you will soon be returning, as if you intend to go on an extended break, you may be preventing someone else from using the table.

For some games, such as roulette or craps, where players tend to stand rather than sit and for which there can be a lot of movement around the table, it may be best to cash out your stack when you are heading for a break.

Tipping

Tipping is something that is not universal, but is dictated by cultural norms of the country you are in. It’s almost an unwritten rule that you have to tip all service staff in the United States. In Europe, however, the practice varies, with restaurant staff being the main recipients of tips in many countries. In some countries, such as France, tipping is not required at all.

Tipping in the casino is also voluntary and not compulsory. Some players see it as paying for a service and tip regularly, regardless of whether they are winning or losing. Others tip only when they are winning, maybe a little more for a big win.

When a dealer receives a tip at a casino table game, it is customary for them to knock the chip sideways against a hard edge of the table, to make a noise that indicates to the pit boss and other colleagues that a player has just given a tip.

In some casinos, tips are personal, in which case the dealer carries a small receptacle to store their tips in. In other casinos, tips are pooled and shared amongst all dealers on duty, in which case there is usually a drop box built into the table for tips to be collected.

In some casino games, instead of simply giving a tip to the dealer, the player can place a bet for the dealer on the next hand to be played. This is common in blackjack and when you wish to do it simply place the amount that you wish to bet on behalf of the dealer in front of and to the side of the box in which you place your own bet. If it wins, the dealer keeps the stake and the winnings of this token bet, but if it loses, you just tipped the house instead.

Take a Break From Playing

Visiting a casino can be an exciting and fun thing to do. It is also easy to forget about time in a casino and suddenly realise that you have been playing for hours without a break. It is best to moderate your time at the casino by taking regular breaks in play. Have a drink at the bar or lounge area or take a wander to see what else is on offer.

While casinos in Europe tend to be small with not much else to do except the gaming itself, casinos in the USA and other parts of the world are more focused on all-round entertainment. There are often many other things to pass the time that don’t actually involve gambling.