A seasoned casino veteran with more than 25 years’ experience was recently quizzed on his time on both sides of the table. In particular, he focused on the most important pointers every casino newcomer should know.
Given the fact that he’s still employed by a major casino brand, he was reluctant for his true identity to be shared. Not that he gave away any major trade secrets or strategies for beating the house, but still – easy to understand his concerns.
For the most part, he advised every casino newcomer to approach their gambling experiences with confidence. It’s often said you should instinctively expect to lose when you gamble, but this often turns out to be a recipe for disaster.
After all, if you walk into a casino convinced you’re going to lose, you probably will. By contrast, walk in with complete confidence you’ll take the place for a ride and there’s a (very small) chance you might.
In any case, the casino veteran in question took the opportunity to shed light on a few important facts every casino newcomer should know. Some of which focus on the profitability of the experience, others on simple enjoyment.
For those planning on heading out to a traditional casino for the first time in the near future, here are several important things every casino newcomer needs to now:
- Save the big bets for later
First up, everything about the contemporary casino is designed to fire you up with a burst of adrenaline. When this happens, it becomes all the more difficult to make safe, informed and logical decisions. It’s also why most big mistakes in casino gaming are made shortly after players enter the premises. Even if you’re planning on making some pretty hefty bets, save them for a little later during your visit. Get acclimatised and grounded before taking things to the next level.
- Always practice online beforehand
With online slots, it’s a case of hitting a button and seeing what happens. With classic casino table games, the decisions you make and the strategy you adopt will always influence the outcome. This is why it is advisable to practice online, before heading out to a traditional casino. Playing online with virtual currency can be tricky, given how there are no stakes involved and therefore no risk. It’s therefore better to play online with relatively small stakes you’re comfortable with. This will ensure a more authentic experience akin to the real thing, preparing you for your visit.
- Most casino games are slots for a reason
Slot machines can be hugely enjoyable and occasionally make punters rich. However, there’s a reason why the overwhelming majority of casino games are slots. That being, they’re the biggest money spinners of all for the house. Therefore, the best advice when it comes to slots is to choose machines that look like fun. With slots, it’s all about entertainment and enjoyment – not turning a profit. It’s worth remembering that even if a slot has a return to player percentage (RTP) of 96%, this still means you’re statistically in for 4% long-term losses. There isn’t a slot in existence with an RTP beyond 100%, for obvious reasons. If you’re lucky enough to pocket a prize – which you might – don’t make the mistake of throwing it back into the same machine.
- It’s not as formal as you think
Unless you plan on hitting one of the most prestigious gaming halls in Monte Carlo, formality isn’t an issue. Good presentation and agreeable conduct are important, but you really don’t have to get dressed up to the nines. In fact, take things too far with your attire and you run the risk of standing out like a sore thumb for the whole evening. If a casino does have a dress code, it will clearly be specified on their website. The vast majority of which simply state ‘smart casual’, meaning you can wear just about anything you like that’s clean and in one piece.
- You will lose track of time
An absolute inevitability every casino newcomer should know about. But at the same time, this can also be one of the most joyful aspects of casino gaming. Pop into a real-life casino when you’ve a strict deadline of an hour or so and you’re in for a hurried and stressful experience. By contrast, head out with an entire evening ahead of you and you can forget the concept of time exists for a while. Even if you don’t intend to, you probably will. There are no clocks, windows or connections with the outside world at classic casinos for a good reason. They want you to lose track of time and stay for as long as possible, which is exactly what you’ll do.
- It’s well worth opening an account
Signing up for a membership card may be optional, but it’s almost always worth doing. You’ll usually access a couple of perks simply by signing up – often a free drink or a discounted meal in the on-site restaurant. Over time, you’ll find that the more money you spend at the casino, the more generous these perks and privileges become. Casinos throw all manner of goodies at regular players and big spenders, in order to keep them coming back for more. Even if you’re more of a casual gamer, it’s still worth signing up.
- Not everyone knows what they’re doing
Last but not least, it’s perfectly normal for casino newcomers to mimic the actions and decisions of those around them. Particularly when playing table games for the first time, you can’t help but follow the example set by others. This counts double when surrounded by loud, lively and confident individuals who seem to know exactly what they’re doing. Unfortunately, confidence and heavy wagering doesn’t necessarily mean they’re any more experienced than you. Hence, it can be dangerous to naturally assume that those around you know what they’re doing. This is also another reason why every casino newcomer should consider practicing online, before paying their first visit to a traditional casino.