Going to a casino for the first time

[Speedywurzel]

After nearly 20 years playing poker online and with some minor success,I’ve decided to treat myself to a night out at the local casino.
I want to try my hand at a real live tournament which is what I play online. Is it as lively as you see ion the tv tournaments at times ?
Do you take sunglasses!? I’m a naturally shy person so won’t be staring anyone out but does that happen? Tips greatly appreciated!

[smifffymoto]

I used to go to casinos after the pubs had shut,all I saw was chinese take away owners blowing the week’s taking.

[iphonedyou]

Speedywurzel said:

After nearly 20 years playing poker online and with some minor success,I’ve decided to treat myself to a night out at the local casino.
I want to try my hand at a real live tournament which is what I play online. Is it as lively as you see ion the tv tournaments at times ?
Do you take sunglasses!? I’m a naturally shy person so won’t be staring anyone out but does that happen? Tips greatly appreciated!

It's much slower. Don't take sunglasses. Know that if you order food then sod's law says you'll crash out before it arrives.

Ditto the takeaway owners.

[stuthemong]

The reads in live games are obviously different to online.

If you’re in a hand just say nothing. Don’t try and speech play or be cute, is a big skill in itself. Aim to be neutral with your actions. Try to commit your cards to memory so you’re not always looking at them during a hand, it’s often quite a tell when people do.

Have fun! I much prefer live games, but they are different.

[seabod91]

There was a poster on here a while ago that I think managed a casino floor. Was very insightful. Not sure if he is still around.

EDIT; it was of course 105.4.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Edited by seabod91 on Saturday 20th April 08:03

[Semmelweiss]

...never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table...

[timbob]

I went to a casino once, thought we’d make a night of it with a few friends. Had £50 to spend which was the approximate cost of a general big night out at the time. Didn’t mind if it all went and we won nothing, we’d just put it down to the cost of the experience.

It was gone with twenty mins and we got an early takeaway and went home…!

[pocketspring]

I've only been to a casino once. When you walked in, there was a virtual roulette wheel just after the foyer. I ended up with £2M. I walked back out after that.

[Spare tyre]

I’d say if you’ve managed to avoid it so far, keep avoiding it

99% of people I know who goto casinos are not life’s winners

Always exceptions to my view point I’m sure

[Downward]

smifffymoto said:

I used to go to casinos after the pubs had shut,all I saw was chinese take away owners blowing the week’s taking.

The Lazarus Group.

[Lo-Fi]

pocketspring said:

I've only been to a casino once. When you walked in, there was a virtual roulette wheel just after the foyer. I ended up with £2M. I walked back out after that.

Umm, what?

[pocketspring]

Lo-Fi said:

pocketspring said:

I've only been to a casino once. When you walked in, there was a virtual roulette wheel just after the foyer. I ended up with £2M. I walked back out after that.

Umm, what?

It was a screen you tapped to place your virtual bet. You couldn't lose hence why they put it in the area where you just walked in.

[Petrus1983]

smifffymoto said:

I used to go to casinos after the pubs had shut,all I saw was chinese take away owners blowing the week’s taking.

That's very much my experience of casinos having mainly gone out in Southampton in my 20's with limited late night options. Tbh we always enjoyed it - the food was good, beer reasonable and the girls in the group liked playing the games and the drinking the drinks that the manager kept providing them.

[rodericb]

pocketspring said:

Lo-Fi said:

pocketspring said:

I've only been to a casino once. When you walked in, there was a virtual roulette wheel just after the foyer. I ended up with £2M. I walked back out after that.

Umm, what?

It was a screen you tapped to place your virtual bet. You couldn't lose hence why they put it in the area where you just walked in.

Mmmm yes and then????

[cheesejunkie]

Yup, even my non gambling wife enjoys them. I've never been to casinos in this country but have enjoyed Vegas, Atlantic City, cruise ships, dodgy Scandinavian bars etc from time to time.

Treat the money you're prepared to gamble as money you might never see back and the price of a night's entertainment. Never top it up because you're losing. Just have a good time. If you're not having a good time leave.

I used to play poker online. I've tried it in casinos. Be aware that it can take a long time. If you're used to online only you might or might not struggle to keep a neutral face. I know I did at first. But it gets easier. Ignore all the TV crap.

These days I prefer blackjack. Quick, can have a bit of fun with the other players as you're not playing against them, you'll usually lose but slowly, I'm not there to make money.

ETA, although I did have an ex US marine permanent seat position wanting to fight me because he thought I made the wrong call in a blackjack game and fked up his hand. He was card counting but was so familiar to the casino they let him away with it. He can't have been very good at it. These are the things that happen when you play with real people rather than online.

Edited by cheesejunkie on Saturday 20th April 12:37

[Drawweight]

My only experience is on cruise ships where I usually lay aside a couple of hundred quid or so and after inevitably losing it all give up.

The only time I've come out with money was a Virgin Cruise where I had onboard spend. It was extremely freeing as it didn't seem like I was spending 'real' money. Put in $250 credit that I wasn't going to use anywhere else and came home with $220 cash.

I'm just too tight to throw a fortune on the tables.

[Lotusgone]

Last week in London, I had to walk through a casino (the Hippodrome) to get to the room where an event was being held.

I didn't think anyone at the tables or machines looked particularly happy. It was the same at Caesar's Palace.

[cheesejunkie]

Lotusgone said:

Last week in London, I had to walk through a casino (the Hippodrome) to get to the room where an event was being held.

I didn't think anyone at the tables or machines looked particularly happy. It was the same at Caesar's Palace.

Indeed. Slot machines are a different story. The only time I've ever played them was as a poor student playing for pennies and looking for a free drink lol. Big tip on the first order and free drinks all night.

That was a long time ago.

Agree, slots are not good for your health. I haven't played them in at least 20 years. But watching people feed the machine, I do wonder if they're really having a good time.

[QuartzDad]

Speedywurzel said:

After nearly 20 years playing poker online and with some minor success,I’ve decided to treat myself to a night out at the local casino.
I want to try my hand at a real live tournament which is what I play online. Is it as lively as you see ion the tv tournaments at times ?
Do you take sunglasses!? I’m a naturally shy person so won’t be staring anyone out but does that happen? Tips greatly appreciated!

Live local low buyin MTTs are a million miles from what you’re used to. You will be amazed at the amount of limping, 6 way to a flop in the first few levels is not uncommon. 3 limps, a raise and all the limpers calling is standard. Bet sizing is usually much larger than online. Don’t string bet, announce your bet size before moving chips is safer. Assuming a 7.30pm ish start you’re probably looking at the final table starting 12.30ish, it can be a long night - obviously depends if your local is popular or not.

I gave up on online years ago, much prefer the social aspect and much lower standard of play in casinos.

[pocketspring]

rodericb said:

pocketspring said:

Lo-Fi said:

pocketspring said:

I've only been to a casino once. When you walked in, there was a virtual roulette wheel just after the foyer. I ended up with £2M. I walked back out after that.

Umm, what?

It was a screen you tapped to place your virtual bet. You couldn't lose hence why they put it in the area where you just walked in.

Mmmm yes and then????

Errr what I said in my first post.