Preparing for Your First Ever Casino Visit

Preparing for Your First Ever Casino Visit

If you’re looking for ideas for a sophisticated night out, it’s hard to beat an evening at the casino. An opportunity to get dressed up, visit a classy environment, enjoy a few drinks and play some games – what could be better? On top of that, there’s even the outside chance of hitting the jackpot, or at least enjoying a couple of wins to help pay for the drinks!

It all sounds idyllic, but if you’ve never been to a casino before and your only experience of what goes on is what you’ve seen in 007 movies, you might feel a certain amount of trepidation that you will come across as Mr Bean, not Mr Bond. Don’t worry, the following tips will help ensure all goes smoothly and you enjoy your experience.

Get a Little Practice Online

Popular casino games include slots, roulette and blackjack. Everyone has a rough idea of how they work, they are not complicated. Still, you will feel more relaxed facing the dealer across the blackjack table if you’ve played a few practice games at an online casino. The best online casinos have all the games you are ever likely to encounter in a land based casino, so take time to try out a few and see which ones you like best.

Follow Casino Etiquette

People get worried about casino etiquette, but it is almost entirely common sense. Don’t take photographs inside the casino, keep your phone on silent and out of the way and don’t place your drink on the gaming table – use the drink holder provided. If you are joining a blackjack table mid-shoe, check there are no signs saying no mid-shoe entry. Even then, it is conventional to ask the other players first. They will usually say yes, but occasionally you run up against a superstitious player who is concerned about disturbing the “flow of the cards”.

Set Yourself a Limit

The golden rule of casino gaming is only to bet what you can afford to lose. Don’t let others pressure you, if they want to blow their life savings, it is up to them. Take your time, keep wagers low and that helps to make your bankroll last longer. If you gamble it all away, don’t feel compelled to gamble more. A casino is a great place to just hang out, drink in the atmosphere and do a little people-watching!

Go Easy on the Comps

Yes, the legends are true, casinos often hand out free drinks, or “comps” as they are known. Enjoy the hospitality, but be a little savvy, too. It doesn’t take a genius of psychology, or of business strategy, to understand why the casino is being so generous. People get more reckless with their betting after a few drinks, and the extra revenue it generates more than makes up for what they give away in comps. Really, it is no different to any other night out – have a great time, but stay in control and keep your wits about you!