Understanding Online Casino Etiquette – A Brief Guide

Posted by Harry Kane on Friday, February 4, 2022

If you’ve ever wagered at a brick-and-mortar casino venue, you’ll be well aware that there are various examples of etiquette that you’ll need to observe as a gambler. From not talking during the placement of bets when playing roulette to waiting for other players to finish their interactions with dealers before taking your turn, these unofficial and often unspoken rules have been prevalent for years now.

Such rules will vary from one location to another, of course, but you’ll generally have to adhere to a specific dress code and pay attention to important in-game rules around calling and displaying hands if you’re to avoid being thrown out of establishments (or allowed entry in the first place!).

The landscape is considerably different when it comes to iGaming, of course, but there are still some examples of etiquette that you’ll need to keep in mind. We’ve outlined a few of these below, so let’s get into it!

1. Respecting Other Players Online

If you’ve ever played at a live casino or participated in a competitive poker tournament, you’ll see that there are some fairly unusual usernames displayed by individuals. Many user accounts aren’t defined by a corporeal photograph either, affording players a degree of anonymity that in some cases can impact negatively on their behaviour and how they engage with other players.

More specifically, anonymous players may be more inclined to insult and abuse their rivals, particularly during the heat of competitive gameplay, while also attempting to distract them during the course of real-time hands and calling.

While there are not always consequences for such actions, this is an example of really bad etiquette and something you should avoid as a player. Instead, you should respect your rivals and treat them fairly, in the same way that you would when playing at a brick-and-mortar casino.

This is based on the age-old notion of treating others as you would like to be treated yourself, while it’s generally a positive and rewarding principle that can be applied to all walks of life in addition to wagering online!

2. Understanding the Role of the Dealer

Most live table games now feature interactive dealers, who interact with players in real-time and replicate the type of experience that you can expect in a land-based casino. In the best live casinos, corporeal dealers provide a truly authentic experience when wagering online, which along with the use of new and innovative camera angles, has revolutionised the virtual table game experience in the UK.

However, many new players misunderstand the role of interactive dealers online, primarily by believing that these individuals exist to offer advice and help you to make the right in-game decision. This is a significant oversight, for sure, but you’d be surprised how many players make this error online.

In fact, most dealers are actively working against you, in the same way that they are when you play at a physical casino. In games such as blackjack, you’ll often compete directly with dealers when building and presenting your hand, so in no way should consider them as a friend who can help you to bank your money. Instead, it’s important to focus on managing your own hand and deploying your betting strategy successfully, while constantly recognising dealers or croupiers and a potential obstacle to winning a particular hand or pot.

You’ll need to factor this when playing live games in real-time and interacting with dealers, as you respect the level of competition that exists and the fact that you alone are responsible for your decisions. This creates a much stronger mentality and introduces the concept of accountability, which may actually improve your gameplay and level of success over time.

3. Patience isn’t Always a Virtue – Either on or Offline

Whether you’re playing offline blackjack or online poker, one of the first things you’ll notice is that players have differing approaches when planning their moves and implementing their various betting strategies. This is part of the rich tapestry that contributes to corporeal table and card games, while introducing concepts such as reading body language and using physical tells to inform your real-time decisions.

For example, let’s say that you’re a new or inexperienced blackjack player who likes to take your time before deciding how to manage your hands in real-time. This makes perfect sense on some level; as you’ll need to ensure that you’re implementing your betting strategy correctly and that your bankroll is being managed as effectively as possible.

However, most online blackjack games are governed by some form of time limits when executing moves, so you’ll have to avoid constantly running down the clock even as a novice player. This can certainly be frustrating for players, while it arguably shows a level of disrespect when undertaken as a way of undermining your competitors. You may not intend it this way of course; but it’s something to be mindful of when playing competitively and testing your skills against experienced players.

Not only this, but players who constantly exceed their time limits may be removed from a particular game or tournament, so it’s far better to focus on being as decisive as possible and sit out the next round where relevant. After all, being kicked out of games or tournaments on a regular basis looks bad and can prove highly damaging over time, so it’s wise to avoid this scenario wherever possible.

The Last Word

So, there you have it; a brief insight into online gambling etiquette and some of its most common iterations at virtual casinos. Understanding and adhering to these unwritten rules can prove crucial when wagering online, especially in instances where you bet at live tournaments and in competitive periods of gameplay!