What to Expect on Your First Casino Visit

Visiting a casino can be a lot of fun, even if it’s your first time. One of the great parts of visiting a casino is that they are typically welcoming of everyone—even if you don’t plan to play.

That being said, you should expect to gamble, interact with others, and spend some money during your visit. Read on to learn more about what to expect on your first casino visit.

1. Lots of Parking

In general, casinos expect people to drive to their establishments, especially in the US. As such, most casinos have large parking areas, and if you park in the first spot you see, you might find yourself with a longer walk than intended. As such, many casinos offer valet services for a fee, allowing you to drop your car at the door and pay for someone to park it for you.

That being said, the same doesn’t always hold true for European casinos, so ensure you look up in advance if you can park at the casino and be prepared to walk or pay to use the valet services.

2. More Than Just Gambling

While there are a few countries in the world where the word casino means you will just be able to game, in most places, a casino is far more than just a gaming establishment. Rather, it’s an entertainment space, complete with restaurants, bars, and event spaces that offer meetups, shows, and more.

This means that even if you don’t gamble, you can find something to keep you occupied at the casino. It is definitely worth looking up the casino in advance to see if there is a show or other event that you need to show up at a certain time to enjoy. Even if there is no show venue, you can likely enjoy a nice meal or cocktail while your friends try their luck.

3. You Should Already Know How to Gamble

While some casinos do offer gaming lessons to teach you how to play their games, this isn’t universal, and you shouldn’t expect them to help you learn without advance arrangements. We recommend reading about the game you want online, then playing at online casinos until you perfect your gameplay and know all the rules.

For some games, you may want to consider online teaching or a coach to help you, especially in skill games like poker or baccarat. But if you are just heading to play blackjack or slots, a quick read through of the rules and a few hours of practice gambling online should have you ready to go!

4. Bring Cash

Casinos, like many businesses, are constantly evolving. Regardless, they are still mostly a cash-based business, though some casinos have ATMs for you to withdraw from your debit card. We find these ATMs to be extremely expensive and recommend visiting your bank instead.

Some casinos do accept credit cards for certain aspects (like food and beverage), but you will need cash for gaming. We have heard rumors of larger casinos accepting cryptocurrency, but if you really want to gamble your Bitcoin, it’s probably easier to do so from the comfort of your own home with an online cryptocurrency casino.

5. Bring Your ID

Even if you look well over 18 or 21 (whatever the gaming age is in your country) you always have to bring an ID to the casino. This is because large wins may have tax implications, and the casino will need to have your ID on file before they pay out over a certain amount.

Additionally, in many countries, gambling activity must be registered with the government in order for you to play. While in the US, almost any ID will do, in many European casinos, you will need a passport in order to play, especially if you are playing outside of your home country.

6. Look Up if There is an Entry Fee

In the United States, 90% of casinos we come across are free to play at, but there are 10% that do charge for entry. Generally, these are the “clubs” that require membership, though a one-time entry can be purchased.

In Europe, there is almost always an entry fee for casinos, but it is typically quite low, around 5 euros. This is just to cover the administrative process the casino goes through for admitting patrons—in case you don’t gamble. Personally, we find these casinos well worth a visit for the 5 euros because even if you don’t win big, drinks and other forms of entertainment tend to be cheaper inside the casino than in other nearby gambling establishments.

If you’re really against paying an entry fee, check out online casinos that are legal in your area instead. Often, these are free, and some even offer free play and other bonuses just for signing up. But as always, some still do charge a fee even to create an account online (though these tend to be lower than brick-and-mortar casinos)

7. Chips Are Never Abandoned

One of the things that confuses people the most when they visit a casino is seeing “abandoned” stacks of chips on tables. These are not abandoned. Casinos are one of the most well-monitored and highest security places in the world (after airports), and it is common for people to leave their chips to step away from the table to take a phone call or use the bathroom.

Many rookies make the mistake of thinking these chips are available, lost, or abandoned. This is never the case. If you need chips to play poker or craps, see the cashier or wait until the end of the game and ask the dealer if you can buy in.

8. Be Polite

Above all else, remember that everyone is at the casino to have a good time. Be polite, cheer on, and applaud others, and they will do the same to you. If someone is rude to you, don’t be afraid to report it to security—because they, too, want to ensure everyone is having the best experience possible.