A Guide to Roulette Etiquette

Join the Right Table

The first rule of roulette etiquette is to join the right table at the best possible time. Check the betting minimum at a table beforehand to ensure the minimum is one you are comfortable supporting. Some tables offer a minimum of $10, but others may require $15 or $20. You will likely have to spend all that money on either one outside bet or multiple inside wagers.

Be sure the table also has an open spot where you can reach the numbers. While some people at a table might help you reach certain spots if you struggle to get to them yourself, the dealer will not be able to help. In cases where other players at the table can help you reach some areas, be clear about where you want to place your chips.

Slide Your Money Towards the Dealer

Do not hand your money to the dealer for your chips. Instead, place the money flat on the table to ensure the casino cameras can see what you are placing. The dealer will also know for certain how many chips you want.

Do Not Put Your Drinks on the Felt

Avoid putting your drink on the felt, as it takes up space that could be used for your chips and other things. You don't want to risk spilling something that might possibly stain the table felt. A roulette table should have holders on the side where you can place your glass.

Place Your Bet at the Right Time

You will have a limited time to place your bets on the wheel before it spins, but that timeframe will vary. Some of the busier tables with more players might give an extra bit of time to complete bets, as the players all need to get in there.

You will have about 20 to 60 seconds to place your bets before the dealer stops all bets. The dealer will cut off all bets a few seconds after the roll starts. Do not attempt to place any bets after the dealer cuts them off, as the dealer will push the chips back at you.

Do Not Throw Your Chips at the Dealer

You are responsible for figuring out where you are going to place your chips and how much you will spend on each bet. Do not throw your chips to the dealer and say you want them on a specific spot, as the dealer will not respond to your dramatics.

The same also goes for when you give the dealer your money. Do not throw your money at the dealer and say you want to put all that money on something. The dealer will politely take your money and give you the necessary chips you can place yourself.

Do Not Touch Anyone Else's Chips

Avoid touching another player's chips, as you don't want to risk shifting them to where a player could lose one's desired bets. You can place your chips for a bet on top of the chips other players have placed beforehand if you want to bet on something others have already chosen. The dealer will spend time after the spin reviewing the winning chips and will dole out new chips to all people who were on the correct spot.

Stack Your Chips Well

Make sure you stack your chips properly to ensure you can access them and plan what you will use when placing bets. A good rule of thumb is to stack them in piles based on the table minimum. If the minimum is $15, take fifteen $1 chips and put them in a stack, for example. You can create as many of these 15-chip stacks as possible based on how many chips you have.

Be Observant of the Marker

The dealer will place a marker on the winning number after a spin. The marker shows which number is the winner, and it lets people on the table know the dealer is busy calculating the payouts to all the players who picked that number.

Do not disturb the dealer when the marker is in place. You can give the dealer your money or cash out your chips after the dealer removes the marker, as the dealer will be ready to do other things after that.

Cash Out Your Chips Before Leaving

While every table game at a casino will have chips, those chips are all specific to certain tables. The chips you are using at your roulette table are specific to that one. Casinos use this standard for security purposes and to keep things organized.

Be sure when leaving the table that you cash out your chips, as the dealer will exchange your table chips for regular ones you can bring to the cashier to exchange for actual cash. You could also use those regular chips to purchase table chips at another table game if you want to keep playing somewhere else.

What About Smoking At the Table?

The last part of roulette etiquette to follow involves smoking at the table. It is generally best to avoid smoking while at the table, as you don't want to bother anyone who might not want to smoke.

However, if you do plan on smoking while at the table, be sure you blow your smoke away from the dealer and other players. Try blowing the smoke directly upward to keep it from getting in anyone's way. Be sure to also use any ashtrays available at the table. Do not spread any ashes on the table, as doing so is discourteous and could stain the felt.

A Final Note

Be sure when playing at a roulette table that you follow the necessary rules of etiquette when playing. You will have more fun at the table, and everyone there will appreciate that you are not bothering anyone.