What to wear (and what stays in the room)
Adelaide's main floor runs smart casual — tailored jeans are fine, singlets and work boots are not after 9 pm. The private salons lean dressier: think cocktail bar, not nightclub. Comfortable shoes matter more than you expect; a gaming floor is a surprisingly large room, and the best nights involve wandering it. Leave the backpack in the suite — small bags pass everywhere, luggage does not.
Joining a table mid-shoe
At blackjack and baccarat you can take a seat whenever one is free — just wait for the current hand to finish before sliding in. Place cash on the felt (never hand it to the dealer); they'll convert it to chips in view of the cameras. Roulette has its own rhythm: wait for the dealer to clear the layout after each spin. If you're unsure, watch a round first — dealers are genuinely happy to have an observer, and a quiet 'first time at the tables' earns you guidance, not judgement.
Chips, cards and the unwritten rules
A few things keep a table pleasant: don't touch your cards in games where they're dealt face up; don't handle your chips once the dealer calls 'no more bets'; keep phones off the felt. Tipping is appreciated but never obligatory in Australia — a chip placed beside your bet 'for the dealer' is the elegant way to do it. And the golden rule: set your limit before you sit down, and treat it as spent the moment you buy in.
Learn first, play better
If you want the craft before the pressure, the casino masterclass runs ninety-minute sessions on a closed training table with a senior dealer — zero stakes, real felt, all the etiquette covered. It's the fastest way to look like you've done this before.
