Live Casino Etiquette: The Unwritten Rules of the Floor

By Marco Rossi

I have spent thousands of hours in a tuxedo, standing under hot studio lights, dealing cards to a camera lens. I have dealt to high rollers who tipped me €500 after losing a hand, and I have dealt to grinders who screamed insults in the chat because I pulled a face card on a 16. The transition from land-based casinos to Live Dealer studios has been incredible for accessibility, but it has been a disaster for manners.

There seems to be a disconnect. When players sit behind a screen, they forget that the person dealing the cards is a human being. We are not Random Number Generators. We are not CGI. We are people doing a job, often for minimum wage plus tips. If you want to be respected as a “sharp” (a professional player), you need to act like one. And that starts with how you conduct yourself at the table.

This guide isn’t about strategy. It isn’t about math. It is about class. It is about the unwritten code of the casino floor—translated for the digital age. If you follow these rules, not only will you enjoy your sessions more, but you might actually find that the “luck” (or at least the karma) starts to swing your way.

The Golden Rule: The Chat Box is Not Your Therapy Session

The chat feature is designed for interaction. It is there to ask about the rules, to congratulate other winners, or to engage in light banter with the presenter. It is not there for you to vent your frustrations about your mortgage, your losing streak, or your conspiracy theories.

The “Rigged” Accusation

Let me tell you what happens when you type “RIGGED” or “FAKE” in the chat.
1. The dealer ignores you (we are trained to).
2. The Pit Boss (who monitors all chat logs) flags your account.
3. The other players instantly tag you as a loser.

Listen to me: Licensed live casinos—Evolution, Playtech, Pragmatic—do not rig the games. They don’t have to. The house edge guarantees they win in the long run. Risking a multimillion-dollar license to cheat you out of €50 is nonsensical. When you lose ten hands in a row, that isn’t a conspiracy. That is variance. Screaming at the dealer about it just makes you look desperate.

Abuse Will Get You Banned

I have seen it happen live. A player starts hurling insults at a female dealer because she turned over a Blackjack for the house.
“You are useless.”
“Worst dealer ever.”
“Change the dealer.”
Within sixty seconds, that player’s chat privileges are revoked. In severe cases, the casino will ban the account entirely. The dealers are protected staff. Treat them with the same respect you would treat a cashier or a waiter. If you wouldn’t say it to their face in a physical room, don’t type it.

Tipping: The Controversial Question

In a land-based casino, tipping is standard. If you win a big pot, you toss a chip to the dealer. “For the boys,” as they say. In online live casinos, the “Tip” button is often hidden in the UI, and many players ignore it. Should you tip?

The Reality of Dealer Pay
Live dealers are generally paid a base wage that is quite low. In hubs like Malta, Latvia, or Romania, the base salary is livable but modest. Tips make up a significant portion of a dealer’s income.
Does tipping change the cards? No. The dealer cannot help you win.
Does it change the atmosphere? Absolutely. If you are a regular who tips, the dealer will welcome you by name. They will engage with you. The game becomes more social and less transactional.

My Tipping Rule of Thumb:
– Small Wins: Don’t bother. If you win €10, keep it.
– Session Profit: If you cash out €200 or more, leave a €5 or €10 tip. It’s 2-5% of your win. It’s good karma.
– The “Lucky” Dealer: If a specific dealer seems to be on a rotation where you are winning, tip them during the streak, not just at the end. It keeps the positive energy flowing.

Don’t Be the “Slow Play” Guy

In Blackjack, you have a timer—usually 15 seconds.
If you are playing “Basic Strategy,” your decisions should be automatic.
– You see 16 vs 10? You Hit. Instant click.
– You see 20 vs 6? You Stand. Instant click.

There is nothing more infuriating for the other 6 players at the table than waiting for “User1234” to run down the clock on every single hand because they are watching Netflix in another tab. It kills the rhythm of the shoe. It frustrates the dealer. And frankly, it is rude. If you are distracted, sit out. Use the “Bet Behind” feature if you don’t want to make decisions. But if you are in the seat, be ready to play.

Respecting the Strategy of Others

This is specific to Blackjack. You will often be at a table with 6 other people. Eventually, someone at “Third Base” (the last seat) will make a “bad” play.
Maybe they hit on 14 against a dealer 6.
Maybe they stand on 16 against a dealer 10.
And then the dealer draws a 5 to make 21 and beats the whole table.

The chat will explode. “YOU IDIOT!” “WHY DID YOU TAKE THE BUST CARD?”

Stop it.
Mathematically, the actions of other players have zero effect on your long-term odds. For every time a “bad” player takes the dealer’s bust card, there will be a time they take the dealer’s 21 card and save the table. It balances out. Berating a novice player for making a mistake is low-class behavior. We were all beginners once. Instead of insulting them, offer a polite suggestion: “Hey friend, usually the book says to stand on 12 vs 6.” If they listen, great. If not, worry about your own hand.

The “Flirting” Dynamic

This is a delicate one. Live Casino studios hire attractive people. It is part of the business model. The dealers are dressed in evening gowns and tuxedos. They are trained to smile and make eye contact with the camera.

However, there is a line between “charming banter” and “creepy.”
Acceptable: “You look great tonight, Sarah.” “Love the red dress.”
Unacceptable: Asking for their phone number. Asking what time their shift ends. Making suggestive comments about their body.

Remember, the dealer cannot leave. They are trapped in that chair. Making them uncomfortable is a power play, and it’s a weak one. The Game Presenters are professionals. Treat them like TV hosts, not like dates.

Handling Losses with Dignity

The true measure of a gambler is not how they handle a win; it is how they handle a loss.
We all tilt. We all get angry when the dealer pulls a 5-card 21 to beat our 20. But taking that anger out on the staff or the other players is a sign of a gambling problem, not a bad beat.

If you feel the rage building:
1. Close the Chat: Don’t let yourself type.
2. Sit Out a Hand: Take a breath.
3. Walk Away: If you are no longer having fun, you are no longer playing a game. You are working a job you pay to do.

The “Lobby Lurkers”

Some players join tables just to watch. This is fine in games like Roulette or Baccarat where betting is unlimited. But in Blackjack, seats are limited (usually 7 per table).
If you sit in a seat and don’t bet, you are blocking a paying customer. Most software will kick you out after 2 or 3 hands of inactivity, but don’t be that person who keeps re-joining just to “reserve” a spot. If you aren’t betting, get up. Go to the “Infinite Blackjack” or “One Blackjack” tables where seats are unlimited.

Superstitions: Keep Them to Yourself

Gamblers are a superstitious bunch. Red underwear, lucky charms, tapping the screen. That is all part of the fun.
But don’t impose your superstitions on the lobby.
– Don’t yell at players to “un-bet” because you think the shoe is cursed.
– Don’t demand the dealer change the cards (they can’t).
– Don’t blame the “new player” for “changing the flow.”

The cards are physics and math. Your lucky rabbit’s foot has no influence on the shuffle machine. Keep your rituals private.

Conclusion: Class is Permanent

At the end of the day, a Live Casino is a shared space. It is a digital community. The players who are respected—the ones the dealers smile at genuinely, the ones the other regulars greet—are the ones who play fast, tip when they win, and stay silent when they lose. Be a professional. The house might have the edge on the felt, but you can have the edge in character.

Frequently Asked Questions