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I do not know if anyone knows the answer to this one, other than common sense and manners but just for the record I shall list some of the “Don’ts” that are commonly done that I find rather irritating, rude and just should not be done.
Please do not leave an ashtray on a chair to save your spot. Ewww, in so many ways…
1) it’s just plain dirty
2) many a time I’ve seen this and the person never returns
3) you should only leave a machine for one of two reasons
a) to go to the restroom
b) to get cash
As you find the need to leave a seat, look for an attendant, they will hold your machine for restroom purposes or the need for cash. All other reasons for leaving a seat and trying to hold it are selfish and wrong. Other people are in the casino to play too and they have every right to use that machine once you leave it. If need be, ask the person on your right or left to hold it for you as you rush off for one of those two emergencies.
As you are walking around, try not to knock into every chair you pass. I understand the casino has tried to make the chairs big and comfortable so people will stay and play, but that is no excuse for being a bulldozer and hitting every chair you pass, it is rude. Would you knock into people’s chair in any other social situation with such abandon?
I do not see anything wrong sitting in a chair next to your friend or partner, not gambling on that machine, but you should keep a sharp eye out to see if anyone wants to use the machine you are sitting at and get ready to vacate that seat, a paying gambler has rights over a person resting not spending money. To make believe you are using a machine when you clearly are not when the casino in busy is not right either, use it or lose it, the seat that is.
Also, there is no reason to congregate in the aisles to watch people spend their money. Go spend your own. Have none left, go home. So many people seem to just hang out watching, clogging the aisles as if someone is going to hit it big and hand them money so they can keep playing that you can not walk through the aisles to another machine. Unbelievable!
Talking to the person next to you. If you have had a few too many cocktails and have decided that everyone is your friend, you give off the wrong vibe. Watching the other person as they are doing well and you are only putting in crumpled $1 bills trying to buddy up to them gives off the wrong vibe. I do not go to the casino to “make friends”. I don’t know, maybe it’s me, but I feel as if they are hoping my good luck will rub off on them or perhaps I will give them some of my winnings. It seems to have the adverse affect, I want to run away screaming, they have changed my luck, changed the “chi” and I now need to move on.
As for smokers, I dabble here so I can’t throw stones too hard, but maybe you can be aware of where your smoke is going. If it’s going directly into your neighbor’s face, perhaps you could move the offending butt a little? Just common courtesy…and perhaps you do not have to leave burning butts in the ashtray so others have to breathe the toxic filter burning after you’re done.
I do not know the etiquette on the gaming tables as that is another whole ball of wax and I never wanted to go there. I feel a little intimidated by the rules and regulations and let alone the foibles of other players. The stakes are also too high. Give me my 2, 5 & 25 cent Slot machines and I do alright. I enjoy myself, sometimes I lose, sometimes I win but I always go in able to lose what I brought.
I think I’ve covered many of my pet peeves and I hope they are similar to what bothers you when gambling. If we can all band together, make people aware of these faux pas perhaps we can make giving our money away even more pleasurable! Go Indian Nations!
(C) Written by Evelyn Garone 1/2011
The Oracle Of Ahwatukee . . . 