Many players who are new to the world of online casino games may not know the etiquette that’s expected in cyberspace. Join us as we unpack how you should (and shouldn’t) behave when playing your favourite games – whether that’s online blackjack, casino slots or even online roulette – with our casino etiquette tips.
1. Always remember to be polite
When you play games online, it’s easy to forget that you’re dealing with real people, particularly if you are communicating with them via text rather than voice or video. If you start playing an online casino game with others, or even if you’re engaging with people at a virtual casino, they aren’t likely to forget if you’re rude to them.
Whether you’re using bad language or just making jokes that might be misinterpreted, these can all sour your reputation among a group of people that you could be connecting with whenever you play online. This is why it’s better to play it safe and be polite: when in doubt, ask yourself if you’d say what you’re about to say to a stranger, face-to-face. If you wouldn’t, it’s probably an equally bad idea to say it online. Finally, try to avoid sensitive topics such as religion or politics when communicating in game chat rooms.
2. Set a budget
You may be wondering why a budget is important when it comes to etiquette, but it can affect the way you play and interact with others. Remember, gambling is about having fun, but things can go south if you lose every time you play. To make up for your losses, you may find you’re dipping into money that you need for other things, which only results in unnecessary stress and anxiety. These negative emotions can affect your interactions with others online, ruining what should be a fun experience for everyone.
However, you can easily avoid this scenario by setting a budget and sticking to it. If you’re on a losing streak and you finish your budget for the session, it’s better to call it quits so you can avoid any unnecessary negative feelings (or holes in your pocket!).
3. Lose gracefully
It’s important to remember that sometimes you’re just going to lose, no matter how well you play. This mindset is particularly important in games such as poker, where you can play perfectly with the hand you are dealt, and still lose to someone who got just a bit luckier than you. It’s one thing to lose your temper and maybe even vent a little when you don’t get lucky with online scratch cards, but it’s a different situation when you’re playing with other people. It’s important to know how to accept your losses and walk away, without upsetting any of the other players or staff you may be interacting with.
4. Respect the dealer and other online casino staff
If you’re having a problem with the casino’s online service, it’s important to treat the support staff respectfully. It’s easy to fly off the handle if you were on a winning streak playing online slots and the site crashed, or some other technical issue arose, but it’s rarely the service staff’s fault. Always be polite and communicate with them respectfully, or you could risk being banned from the casino.
5. Tip, if you can
If you’ve received exceptional service and the website allows for it, remember to tip. If you can’t, be sure to email the company and let them know that their employees were helpful in resolving your issue, as this could benefit them in the future.
6. Expect there to be a rotten apple here and there
Treating others as you want to be treated is the golden rule – but there will undoubtedly be games where others are rude to you, particularly if you’re on a winning streak. While you may want to stand up for yourself, it’s almost never a good idea to retaliate, as you’ll most likely end up in a pointless shouting match with a stranger. And if things go too far, the operators of the virtual casino may end up giving you a warning, or worse, issue an outright ban.
If you want to avoid finding yourself in a situation like this, it’s best to avoid engaging with people who are rude to you online.
7. Report abusive players
If someone has been persistently rude to you or offended you, you should report them to the casino operators. Most online chat tools have the option to report people for abusive language. Whether someone is swearing at you, using racial slurs, or sexually harassing you, or making you uncomfortable for any other reason, it’s the casino staff’s responsibility to address and resolve it, so always bring these issues to their attention.
Thankfully, some platforms have the option to mute or ignore users, so after you’ve reported them for their rude behaviour, you can select the option to hide their messages so you don’t have to listen to negative or abusive comments. Whatever you do, don’t let anyone spoil your enjoyment – gaming in cyberspace is meant to be a fun experience!
8. Be careful who you share personal information with
You may form a connection with someone online and decide to share personal information with them, but be careful – many online platforms take steps to verify the identity of their users, but it’s possible that someone may not be who they say they are. It’s important that you keep your personal details private and only share them with those who you trust – even if it’s just your real name or phone number.
Here are a few examples of information you’ll want to keep private:
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Passwords to any of your accounts
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Personal information, such as your name, phone number, or your physical or email address
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Sensitive details that may be used to compromise other services, including your mother’s maiden name, your date of birth, or your pet’s name.
9. Don’t drink more alcohol than you can handle
While the odd drink during a gaming session isn’t a problem, make sure you’re staying within your limits. Overdoing the alcohol while playing may lead to rude behaviour or “over-sharing” with others online – which can be a problem if you end up sharing information like the above. To avoid this potentially awkward, anxiety-inducing, or even just fun-ruining experience, be sure to keep your alcohol intake in check.
10. Have fun!
Everybody wants to have fun when gambling online. Remember this whenever you think you’re about to lose your cool, or if someone is being rude to you. If you follow our advice above, you’re bound to have a great time when you play online!
Have a fantastic experience with The Phone Casino
Now that you’ve got a better understanding of some online casino rules, you can settle down to having some fun at your favourite mobile casino: The Phone Casino! At our virtual casino, you can enjoy a broad variety of games, including online roulette, slots, blackjack, and much more.
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