Land Based Poker
May 7 2008
We all live in an electronic age where going without a cell phone can be difficult for people to do. We can’t take them to the movies or the hospital, and in most casinos they don’t want to see them at the poker table. Casino policies will vary, but all will have some rule in place to stop you from using your phone at the table. If you do take a call, you normally must leave the table and fold your hand when it gets to your turn, or right away in some casinos. They have to regulate the phones because players could cheat with the technology, and it would be annoying and disruptive to have everyone at the table chatting to someone.
IPods and headphones are another issue. You won’t face the opposition for these devices that you’ll encounter for the cell phones, but some houses will have issues if the other players can hear your music. The IPods are common at the limit games, and are becoming more popular in tournaments because of media showing players like Phil Ivey and Daniel Negreanu using them. Just remember that these players are very experienced, and that wearing headphones may not be the best practice for a novice/intermediate player. You need all the information you can get, and cutting off one of your senses won’t help you in that pursuit.
Find other helpful etiquette tips in the
Bodog Poker Guide.
