7 Things You Should Never Do at A Canadian Casino
There are so many things that make casinos really fun and exciting: the flashing lights, the sounds of slot machines, the excitement of gamers at different tables, the music, the drinks, etc. However, even with all this fun and excitement, there are certain behaviours that are unacceptable in a casino space, and doing them can ruin the mood for yourself and others.
And it’s not just for physical spaces. In recent years, casino gaming has moved online. Canada’s gambling industry has grown quickly, with millions of people now playing from home as well as visiting casinos in person. Many of the best online Canadian casinos ranked for 2025 have raised the bar for safety, fairness, and overall enjoyment, especially during multiplayer sessions. Players all have to conduct themselves in a professional and respectful manner for everyone to enjoy the game. In a way, it is proof that good conduct matters both online and on the gaming floor.
To have a good time at a Canadian casino, there are certain things one should never do.
1. Taking Photos at Gaming Tables
Because casinos have strict policies against photography and recording near tables, your phones should always stay in your pocket when you’re at a gaming table. The need to protect their operations and other players’ privacy is the casino’s responsibility, and with over 19.3 million people who regularly gamble across Canada, these privacy measures help everyone feel secure.
If staff members notice that you’re trying to take photos or videos around the gaming table, you’ll be asked to stop, and failure to do so will have you escorted out of the casino. The lobby or other corners where gaming isn’t happening are some of the places where you can take pictures or videos at the casino.
2. Touching Your Cards With Both Hands at Blackjack
Every game at the casino has a playbook directing how you should play it. For blackjack, there are specific rules about how you should handle the cards, and you might find it odd if you haven’t played at a casino before. If you’re given your cards and they’re face down, you should use one hand to lift them. Using both hands raises suspicions because it feels like you’re switching cards or marking them somehow. Casinos are suspicious about this behaviour because, in the past, card cheats have used techniques similar to this. You might be left with just a warning if you do it the first time, but repeating it can cause problems for you.
3. Drinking Too Much
Complimentary drinks are usually offered in Casinos to players and guests. So there’s nothing wrong with a little drinking here and there. But everything changes if (or when) you get drunk. Survey data shows that 75% of first-time visitors make etiquette mistakes, and excessive drinking is often one of the causes of those slip-ups.
If you get drunk, you can make poor betting decisions, become loud or disruptive, and that can suck the fun out of the game for others. If this happens, you’ll be asked to leave the casino immediately.
4. Blaming Other Players for Your Losses
Losing is part of gambling, and it happens to everyone sooner or later. Still, some players take it personally and start blaming others at the table. Maybe someone made a move in blackjack you wouldn’t have made, or bet differently in craps. That’s no reason to get upset. Arguing with others only makes the game tense and can even get you kicked out of the casino.
5. Sitting at a Table Without Knowing the Game
You wouldn’t jump into a pool without learning how to swim first, so in the same way, you shouldn’t sit at gaming tables where you don’t know the basics of the game. You can learn how to play some of these games at online casino platforms, where they offer free sessions, and you can practice without losing money. There are also other ways to develop individual skills you can apply to casino games. For example, you can put your observation skills to the test at the Montreal Museum of Fine Art before sitting at a card table. Art has a way of slowing things down and allowing you to see tiny details about what’s right in front of you, like your opponent’s expressions.
6. Handling Chips Improperly After Betting
When you want to make a bet and place your chips on the table, leave the chips alone. Don’t touch them again until that round is over. Reaching for your chips after the game has started can look like you want to cheat by changing your bet. Dealers always look out for such suspicious moves because actual cheaters do this trick, and it could cause trouble. Always wait until the end of the round for the dealer to push your winnings to you.
7. Being Rude to Dealers and Staff
Before you think of yelling at a dealer for asking you to follow certain rules, remember that they are just doing their job, which involves making sure everyone follows casino rules they didn’t create. Being unnecessarily rude to them for doing their jobs isn’t right. Being polite costs nothing and makes your experience better. Say thank you when a dealer pays your winnings, apologize if you make a mistake, and remember that tips are expected when you’re winning.
To Wrap Up
Canadian casinos want you to have fun, win or lose. They’ve built their businesses around providing entertainment. Collectively, they are on track to generate over $6.7 billion in revenue by the end of 2025 from this service. Overall, most guests visit without any issues, but stepping into a casino means entering a space with its own culture and expectations. Respecting those guidelines helps everyone enjoy their time.