online blackjack

Online Blackjack Etiquette

When playing Blackjack online, you don’t have to worry about most of the etiquette from a land-based casino. You don’t have waitresses to tip, nor worry about the dress code. However, remember that your co-players are actual people, even though they are sitting behind their computer screens, and there are certain common-sense rules you should follow to make the experience pleasant for everybody, including yourself.

Speed

No one likes slow players. No one wants to be held up because you can’t decide how much to wager or, worse, can’t find the “Deal” button. The online blackjack software allots you a certain time frame for each move (usually of 60 seconds) only to provide a safety margin for people with slow Internet connections or emergency issues—like a phone call you really have to take. A turn shouldn’t take more than, say, 15 to 20 seconds. If you have to get a cold soda from the fridge mark yourself as sitting out.

Chatting

Online Blackjack casinos offer a chat feature where people at the same table can engage in conversation. Needless to say, it shouldn’t be abused and common chat room practices are to be applied. Harassing of other players, cursing, writing in caps or needlessly repeating yourself are offenses that can get you banned and sometimes resulting in all your earnings forfeited. If you are being harassed or simply disturbed by a player, hit the Ignore button rather than start an argument.

Offering advice

To put it straight: keep it to yourself. Your co-players really don’t want to hear your opinions on how poorly they played a certain hand or what they should do next. They might have different strategies, experiment new tactics or simply feel lucky enough to hit on a 18 hand. It’s not your call, not your money in the middle. Stay out.

Expressing emotions

Keep your emotions to yourself. It’s okay to shout or sob in front of the computer, in the privacy of your living room, just don’t type it in the online blackjack chat box. This is not Poker, you are not competing against each other and no one cares whether you have won or lost. At the very best, you will sound childish and be made fun of; otherwise people will simply ignore you.

Use common sense

Last, but not least, act like a normal and reasonable person. Put yourself in the shoes of the other online blackjack players, see if they’d care about what you have to say and act accordingly.