Page 12 - April 2015 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Casino Golden Rule
Treat Your Casino Neighbors the Way You Want To Be Treated
by Maya Winkler
The Golden Rule, the famous maxim of reciprocity, “Do unto others as you would have them do to you,” is known all over the world. So why wouldn’t it a ect our behavior everywhere we go? We all want to treat
and be treated well, especially by our neighbors, whether they live next to us, or sit next to us at the casino. ere’s nothing worse than sitting next to someone who is completely oblivious of common courtesies, especially at the casino, where players often sit for half an hour or longer, playing a favorite slot, or in front of a lucky dealer.
At the risk of sounding like a casino grump, I have to admit there are a few items on this brief list that I’m sure I need reminding of from time to time to remain a good casino neighbor.
Nosey Neighbors
e nosey neighbor wants to talk
to you as you play. She may want to tell you her life story or ask about yours, or more often, complain about her latest losing streak or recount her fantastic jackpot history. I’m a friendly person, but many times when I play slots I just want to enjoy my game in some solitude. I welcome occasional light banter, but save me the complaining and serious
personal history.
The Watchful Bystander
e watchful bystander is a person that stands right behind you and watches as you play. It can be very distracting. When I encounter someone hovering behind me I usually ask them nicely to move back, and they usually do. If someone doesn’t move and makes you nervous, I nd stopping my play while I remain seated seems to give them the cue to move on.
Tipping
I include tipping here, as many casino players ask me about how much and when to tip at the casino. Tipping, of course, is a personal decision determined by the service you receive. When you have a jackpot that requires a hand pay by an attendant, it is customary to tip them when they bring your cash.
If the jackpot is paid quickly, I tip the change person who pays me. One percent of the jackpot is considered a good tip, so you might give ten dollars on a thousand dollar jackpot. is is not mandatory. Sometimes I have received $1,000 hand pay and I am given nine hundred dollar bills and ve twenty-dollar bills. e attendant may be hoping I will just give them one of the twenties. I carry a few ve and ten dollar bills with me to cover this situation.
Be a good neighbor at the casino, and hopefully, you’ll nd nothing but good casino neighbors around you.
Maya Winkler is a bicoastal cultural observer who plays in and writes about Southern California casinos.
Playing Multiple Machines
Some players like to play two machines at a time. During crowded times, refrain from playing more than one machine and allow other players the opportunity to play. Some casinos have a sign stating “One machine per player during busy times.” If you happen to be playing two machines, relinquish one if another player asks. ink about how you would feel if the situation were reversed and you were looking for a machine to play.
A similar situation can occur when a player has a friend who is not playing but sitting at a machine. Sometimes the friend will not get up to let someone else play, or will just put a dollar bill in from time to time to justify sitting there. Players can socialize later. Slot machines should be free for the players who want to play.
Seat Saving
Need a break from your play for a few minutes? At casinos if you see a bottle of water or some item on a seat in front of a slot machine, it means that the machine is being saved by another player. e player could have gone to the restroom or to get change. In some casinos, if you need a bathroom break you can ask a slot or change person to stand by your machine. If you are the one holding the machine, then make your absence brief and get back as quickly as possible. And if your neighbor asks you to save his seat for a few minutes, leaving no credits nor his players club card in the machine, above all, don’t play the machine while he’s gone. It is understood when you’re asked to save a seat that you will not play the machine you’re saving.
Smoking
If you are a smoker, and in
the section of the casino that allows smoking, whenever possible, position your cigarette or ashtray so the smoke is not annoying another player at an adjacent machine. I am always grateful when other players do this, so I then don’t have to wave the o ending smoke away from my face. On occasion when I’ve had to do this, a smoker will remind me that she has the right to smoke there, and I should move if it’s bothering me! Talk about a good neighbor.
Know-It-Alls
Resist the urge to give unsolicited advice, for any game, particularly at the Blackjack table. Some players get angry over plays that wind up costing them money. Video Poker players can be ruthless about commenting on what you shoulda, coulda held. Play your own game. Everyone has the right to make her own decisions and mistakes and play her own way.
Noisy Neighbors
On many occasions I have been seated beside a player who has two or three friends who watch and play along with them, standing beside and in back of them. One person actually plays the machine while the others cheer them on. e group is loud and noisy and they jump up and down and scream at the smallest win. is can be a lot of fun for them, but it can also be distracting and annoying if they are really boisterous and bump into you in their enthusiasm.
PAGE 12
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
APRIL 2015