When Las Vegas reopened for business at the beginning of June, there was a collective sigh of relief around the world. The TV footage of any major city deserted during lockdown was shocking, but to see Sin City with the lights off and not a soul around had the eerie air of a post-apocalyptic disaster movie. Many of us decided then and there that this was the moment to stop talking about it and actually get out there and visit Vegas.
It’s well-known that gaming in general and casino gaming in particular is one sector that has thrived in recent months. If you spent April and May on sites like Mobilebet for example, honing your blackjack strategy, you might think you are ready for the Golden Nugget and the Bellagio. But even in Vegas, there are a few conventions you need to be aware of to make sure you look and act the part.
Learn Your Hand Signals
OK so nobody in Vegas will think any worse of you if you simply say “I’ll stand.” But signals are so easy to learn and when you use them, you’ll look like someone who knows his way around a casino as opposed to yet another mark from out of town.
- Hit – tap the table with your fingers then draw them back towards you.
- Stand – move your hand from left to right a couple of inches above the cards.
- Split – place the extra betting chips beside the original stake but an inch or two away and hold up two fingers, palm outward. Here, it is conventional to also say “split.”
- Double down – again, you place additional chips next to the stake, but this time close to it. Hold up one finger and say “double down.”
Respect The Table
Another reason it makes sense to learn those hand signals is that it stops you from making the novice error of letting them wander. The cards are dealt face up and there is no reason for you to touch them. The same applies to bet chips; once you have placed them, keep your hands away as the table is really the dealer’s domain.
For this reason, you should also avoid putting anything else on the table that doesn’t belong there. This includes your phone, wallet, lucky rabbit’s foot, keys, and most important of all, your drink. And that, in turn, brings us on to the next tip.
Go Easy On The Martinis
It’s a well-known fact that free drinks flow in Las Vegas casinos, as long as you keep playing and remember to tip the server. Here’s a secret worth remembering, though. Casinos don’t give away alcohol because they love you and want you to be happy. They give it away because it makes financial sense to do so.
After a couple of drinks, we feel more relaxed and get into the game. That’s great. After a couple more, we start making decisions we would not make when sober. That’s when the casino starts making serious money.
Sin City is like no place on earth, and blackjack is the most popular game in town. Keep the above tips in mind, and you’ll have a trip you remember for all the right reasons.
