A trip to the casino can be a highly-anticipated, exciting experience, but with the bright lights and loud sounds – it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. If you’re planning your first trip to a casino, whether it be land-based or online, here are some of our top tips to keep you safe, while having fun, so your experience fulfills all your expectations.
Read on to find out more.
Set aside a bankroll
Creating a budget for your trip is essential. You’ll want to dedicate a certain amount of money, that you can afford to lose, when playing the games. Any winnings can either be added to this and used to bet again, or you can pocket any winnings when you’ve finished your gaming session.
Choose the casino you want to visit
Choosing the casino that you want to visit can be a big deal. If it’s the more authentic brick-and-mortar experience you’re hoping for, then you may want to travel to one of the biggest and best. The Hippodrome in London, for example, will allow you to visit one of its bars, see a show, and even dine at one of the award-winning restaurants.
Similarly, if you’re coinciding your casino visit with a holiday. For example, visiting the Las Vegas Strip will not only throw you right in at the deep-end and give you the full-blown Vegas Casino experience, but it could be overwhelming.
However, if playing at an online casino, check out the reviews or promotional offers when knowing which to sign up to. Also, choose games that you feel most comfortable with and understand. If you can practice or have a free or demo game – even better!
Research the rules and etiquette of the casino
When visiting a brick-and-mortar casino, it’s important to do your research before you set foot through the casino doors. You’ll want to check the dress code, as a lot of land-based casinos will not let you on the floor in casual items such as flipflops, shorts, and sometimes trainers– especially at night.
Always be polite to the dealer, and check if the casino allows tips. If they do, perhaps set aside some of your bankroll to allow for this, as like most hospitality workers, dealers will rely on tips as part of their income. Of course, tipping is not a requirement, but it is polite.
Generally, the croupier will ask you to turn off your phone when playing games, so perhaps make sure to switch it to silent when playing at a table, so as not to annoy other players.
Research the games you want to play
Blackjack is the casino game with the best odds, so is generally a good game to start with, especially for beginners. Make sure you’re aware of the games’ minimum and maximum bets before you play (this varies from table to table). Researching the games you want to play is essential, and perhaps playing at an online casino to practice, and boost your confidence beforehand is a good idea.
Join the casino’s membership programme before you play
Joining the casino’s membership programme is usually free, and a good idea if you think you’re going to be a frequent or regular customer. At a land-based casino, rather than spending more money on food or drink, if you’ve asked for a membership card before you start playing, then you might have racked up enough points to fund this. While playing online, you may rack up loyalty points and other bonuses.
Take breaks
Casinos have a habit of helping you lose track of time by removing clocks from the walls. Take breaks, have a breather, and don’t get caught up in hours of gameplay. Stepping away is just as important, so you can regain your composure, check the time, and decide if you want to carry on playing.
Remember the staff are there to help
Remember the dealer is always there to help answer questions, and will be happy to help if you’re unsure about anything at all. After all – it’s their job to make sure you have a good time. When playing online, you’ll find a super-helpful support team on-hand many hours of the day, should you have any concerns, queries or issues.
