Live Slot Etiquette – What Not To Do On A Casino Floor
The arrival of online slots has expanded the appeal of real-life slot machine gaming, making it more social, intricate, and exciting. And some visitors to land-based casinos may not be aware of good slot machine etiquette.
The offline casino environment has certain rules and traditions that keep things ordered and friendly. By obeying sensible casino etiquette, every player can have a more enjoyable experience.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned pro, follow the etiquette of slots play.
Avoid Distractions & Concentrate on the Slots Play
Casinos can be loud and distracting, making it easy to lose concentration.
New slots players in a land-based casino might be forgiven for thinking that they're easy to play. However, most video slots require careful thought, and slot tournaments are among the most fiercely contested casino competitions.
Therefore, interrupting play is generally frowned upon.
- Avoid asking questions or giving unwanted advice when playing slot machines.
- Keep your celebrations quiet. There are other gamblers at the machines other than your friends, so be respectful.
- Gaming pauses may offer opportunities to chat, but choose your moments carefully.
- Leave the cellphone in your pocket. Not all your fellow players want you to film their big wins and post them on social media.
Be Courteous When Reserving Slot Machines
Many casinos let you reserve a slot game if you want to take a quick bathroom break. Ask a slots manager or attendant for a "Reserve" sign, then rest it on the machine as you leave the floor.
Use signs responsibly. Understandably, if you’ve sunk a lot of coins into one machine, you have the right to take a short break and return to the same game. That’s particularly true if the video slot is rewarding you with a lot of bonuses or jackpots.
Look out for a sign that a machine has been reserved by another player. Look for a dedicated “Reserve” sign, or a player’s card still in the machine. Some players leave coats or stools resting on the slot to indicate they’re still playing.
You can ask a player in the seat next to you to mind the machine while you leave. They may not always help out, but it’s worth asking.
Always be courteous to fellow players when you take a break. Only reserve your seat for 10 minutes at a time. If someone takes your seat while you’re gone, use good manners and avoid arguments on the casino floor.
Don’t Lurk Around Your Favorite Slots
Hovering around other players in the slot machine area is one of the worst pieces of casino etiquette.
Lurking is frowned upon. It is generally considered rude to wait right next to a player or in their peripheral vision. If you want to wait until a machine is free, respect the player's personal space and play another slot game until they finish.
Alternatively, at a convenient break in play, ask if they'd kindly let you know when they're finished.
Some lurkers like to wait around machines that haven’t paid out in a while. The gambler’s fallacy is that a machine is “due” to pay a large jackpot if it has gone unclaimed for a long time.
In modern slots, every spin is totally independent from the last. Theoretically, a slot machine jackpot could fall five spins in a row.
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If You Sit, You Play
It’s frustrating to wait for a slot machine to become free. However, it's even worse to wait for somebody to vacate the seat at a machine they're not even playing.
The stools are placed beside slots for player use only. If you're in a casino and looking for somewhere to rest, you'll have to find somewhere else.
Don’t be afraid to take issue with a gambler who is trying to play more than one slot at once, or who’s waiting for a jackpot to drop.
Playing Multiple Slot Machines
A hotly debated area of live slot machine etiquette is the right to play multiple machines at once.
The rule of thumb is that if a casino is quiet, it's OK to play several neighboring machines at the same time. However, if a player is waiting, or the floor becomes more crowded, it's good manners to restrict yourself to a single machine.
Some US casinos are now introducing multiplayer slot terminals that allow more than one player to play a slot at once. When one player wins, everyone wins. This makes the overall slot machine experience more inclusive.
Don’t Hog Slot Machines
The final sin of live casino slot machine etiquette is hogging a machine. Since there are so many no-nos about interrupting a game, there's a good chance that you haven't noticed somebody else aching for a chance at that jackpot. Don't deny fellow gamblers the opportunity for too long.
And if you visit a casino in a large group, you may find yourself fighting for chairs. It’s poor casino etiquette at slots to sit at one machine while a friend plays on another. By all means, cheer on your friends, but make space for other players.
And discourage anyone who attempts to reserve a machine for lengthy bar or meal breaks.
For long stints getting to know games, try playing legal free slots sites at home:
Watch Your Drinking & Smoking Around Slots
Alcohol and casinos go together like James Bond and baccarat. Most large casinos offer free drinks to slot players, but there are some important things to keep in mind:
- Don’t take advantage of the comps and get drunk. You may lose control of your gambling session or take out your losses on other players.
- Stay in control, and know when to walk away and leave that free cocktail alone.
- Don't abuse the free drinks policy. Servers can easily spot gamblers who are sitting at machines without playing just to get a comped drink or two.
- If you smoke, remember to use some common slot machine etiquette. Chain-smoking around non-smokers will put players off, so always gamble in the smoking area if one is available.
Tipping & Respecting Casino Staff
Many casino staff members rely on tips from gamblers to supplement their income. Therefore, it’s great casino slot machine etiquette to tip the waitresses when they bring you free drinks. Even though slots players earn comped drinks a lot of the time, it’s always good to drop a dollar chip onto the waitress’s tray.
And if you win a large slots jackpot, remember to leave a tip at the casino cage. All tips will be fairly distributed among the floor staff.
Good slot machine etiquette also involves treating staff with respect. Whether you’re talking to a casino manager, slot attendant, waitress, or cloakroom attendant, always be courteous. Never take your losing streak out on a member of staff or other players.
Be Tidy & Mind the Casino Dress Code
Casinos are public places. It’s important to practice good casino slot machine etiquette by dressing appropriately.
Even in Las Vegas, where the temperature may be 100 degrees outside, dress properly before you enter the casino. You don’t need to wear a jacket or dress, but you should wear appropriate clothes when playing slot machines, including footwear.
Many casinos won’t advertise a dress code, so assume it’s OK to turn up in casual clothes. But high roller rooms and some more upmarket casinos will require a shirt and pants.
Also, remember to be tidy when you play in the casino. Take your beverages away with you when you’re finished playing. If the casino allows food, don’t leave empty takeout boxes strewn around the slot. Leave the slot machine how you would like to find it.
Be Mindful of Rubbernecking
Rubbernecking is a term for a casino cheat who has manipulated a slot machine. How do cheaters manipulate the machines? Over the years, cheats have used everything from shaved coins and rigged source codes to fake coins and magnets.
The perpetrator will sit at a machine, frantically looking from side to side, searching for security staff. Hence, the phrase “rubberneck.”
Rubberneckers will be paying little attention to the video slot, which is highly unusual for a regular gambler. Honest slots players are always totally fixed on the game and won’t be distracted by anything else.
Security staff will always be on the lookout for suspicious behavior at the slots. Even completely honest players who are looking shifty may attract the attention of casino staff.
