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Table commandments

In many casino games, what you can do with your hands (the ones on the end of your arms, not the ones made of playing cards) is strictly defined, and the reason is simple: The casino wants to minimize your opportunity to disrupt the game or, worse, cheat. You can discover the protocol of specific games in the respective chapters of this book, but for now, be aware that casinos are very sensitive about how you handle all gaming material, such as chips, cards, or dice.
- In craps, don’t touch the dice unless you’re the shooter.
- In table games, if the cards are dealt face-up, don’t touch them after they hit the felt.
- After you place a bet and play has begun, you aren’t allowed to touch your bet again, even to tidy up a toppled stack of chips. (There are a few exceptions to this rule in craps.)
Use only one hand to touch your cards. This is primarily because cheaters use two hands to switch cards.
- Understand and use all hand signals or gestures that are part of the
game. (Although the dealer or the other players may help you, you need to know the rules before you sit down to play.)
- Don’t do anything to mark or damage the cards in any way, such as bending, warping, or scraping with your fingernail.
- Don’t give unsolicited advice to other players. Even if you’re offering good strategy, players aren’t likely to accept it in the generous spirit in which you gave it. And if they do take your advice and lose, guess who they’ll blame?
- If you bring a friend to cheer you on, remember that the chairs are only for players. However, if the casino isn’t crowded, nonplayers usually can sit in a chair as long as they’re prepared to vacate when the table begins to fill up.
- At the end of the hand, place your cards in front of you; don’t hand them to the dealer.
- Some slots and video poker fanatics play more than one machine at a time. Before you sit down at a machine, make sure someone isn’t playing the machine; arm pullers can be very territorial.
- Casinos are sensitive to any kind of electronic devices around the gaming areas. In some places, you aren’t allowed to snap pictures, talk on a cell phone, or tap away at a two-way pager.

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