Casino Manners
Any one who encounters an unknown social situation might be intimidated by it since he is unfamiliar with the suitable behavior code; more is true when one enters, for the first time to the world of casinos. As there's a way of conduct in movie theaters, official dinners and in luxuries restaurants there's also a code in casinos. If you're new to the world of casinos then you need to learn the basics, without them you might be considered as an unsocial person, get snobbish stares, or even get tossed out of the casino without fully understanding what you did wrong.
A place of much commotion between gamblers can be found in the slot machines hall. There are few unspoken rules which are wildly accepted by players, one of which is when a chair is leant over a slot or video machine. This means that the player who played there, is on a bathroom break. Do not take his place, this would be extremely rude and will most likely start an unpleasant quarrel. Also, if you are on such a break try not to prolong your arrival back to the machine you played at. A five minutes break is adequate.
When you're winning remember that you are not alone and some lose while you win. Be a little generous with your winnings since maybe the next time you might lose and then someone will share a small amount of money with you, and who knows, you might win with this amount. Also bear in mind that it is appropriate to the dealers which a large portion of their income comes from tips. $20-$40 isn't too much and not too little as a tip.
Don't hang too closely to players; privacy is highly appreciated in casinos. Using a vacant chair as a foot hold is impolite to fellow players. Remember that you are not alone and the casinos halls are not to be taken as lounges.
Avoid strolling between slots machines while putting money in every one of them. If you see someone else doing so don't comment about his actions. Live and let live. If you feel that a certain machine is luckier than others and a player uses it already, be patient and wait to your turn. If the casino is crowded give others the opportunity to play, don’t get too emotional. keep that in mind and you're on the right course.
Alan Watts, Editorial staff, 17.11.05
