Page 12 - Jackpot Magazine Tunica ~ October, 2026

PLAY TO WIN
Play To Win Again
The Best of… Series
Skip the wicked ways when playing ‘21’
“Know how to win by following the
cards are dealt face up.
either wins or loses.
rules.”
The major reason is to
~ Legendary golfer Arnold Palmer
eliminate the potential
• Never take your
for a cheating player
bad luck out on the
There are Halloween rules that
to mark or switch the
dealer or accuse them
everyone knows even if they are not
cards, and it also speeds the game up since
of cheating. They are not the cause of your
written down anywhere. For example,
the dealer can announce the player’s hand
losing. Most likely it’s just a bad run of the
never trick-or-treat at a house with a
total.
cards, which happens when you gamble.
completely dark porch. Never ring the
doorbell more than three times. Never
• Never hold the cards with two
• Never stiff a cocktail waitress. If
wear a white costume while eating
hands. In games where the cards are
your server was courteous and prompt in
chocolate. And never say, “What could
dealt face down, pick the cards up with
delivering the drink to you, it’s common
possibly go wrong?” on Halloween night.
one hand, not two.
courtesy to give her a tip.
When it comes to playing blackjack,
gaming expert and enthusiast Henry
• Never remove the cards from the
• Never offer your fellow players
Tamburin said there were rules when
table. If you are holding your cards with
unsolicited advice on how to play their
playing blackjack, things that should
one hand, the cards must always be on
hands. It’s their money and they have the
never be said or done. In a past column
top of the layout in full view of security
right to play their hand any way they want
in Jackpot!, Tamburin, author of many
cameras. Don’t pick up the cards and hold
to. However, if a fellow player asks you for
best-selling books including, Blackjack:
them in your lap.
advice, then it’s OK to offer it.
Take the Money and Run, explained that
blackjack has rules and procedures for
• Never place any objects on the
• Never place a higher denomination
a variety of reasons. Some are for the
table. Purses, wallets and bags should
chip on top of a lower denomination
integrity of the game, while others have
be placed on your person or next to you
chip in the betting spot. If you are
to do with the etiquette of playing the
on the floor (except ladies’ purses which
wagering two or more different
game. And then there are the simple tips
should be held in the lap). It’s OK to
denominations of chips, always place the
to improve chances of winning.
have a drink on the table but use the
higher denomination on the bottom of
Tamburin summarized these rules,
drink holders provided by the casino so
the stack.
which are shared below.
it can’t be accidentally spilled.
Please note, they are not
• Never insert the cut card a few cards
necessarily in order of
• Always use hand signals to
from each end of the shuffled deck(s) of
importance.
signify to the dealer how
cards. Most casinos require that players
you want to play your
place the cut card at least 15 cards (some
• Never hand money
hand. Saying, “Hit me”
more) from either end.
directly to the dealer.
might be OK playing
All cash transactions
with friends at the kitchen
must be visible to
table, but in casinos it
the security cameras s o
won’t work. The only
always place your cash on the layout
verbal playing action is
outside of your betting spot (so it’s not
“surrender.” However, many casinos now
• Never just jump in and make a bet
in the middle of a shoe. It’s common
courtesy to ask your fellow players if
they mind you joining the game in the
middle of a shoe.
misunderstood that you want to bet it),
require players to use a hand signal when
tell the dealer you’d like chips, and in
they want to surrender (the signal is to
what denomination.
draw an imaginary line with your finger
• Never play without knowing the game
and knowing simple strategy.
on the layout from left to right).
• Never touch the cards if they are dealt
• Never increase your bet thinking
face up. Most of the time, games dealt
• Never touch your chips once you’ve
you are due to win the next hand, and
with four or more decks of cards are dealt
made your bet. Once a bet is made it
never use a progressive betting system.
from a dealing shoe where all the players’
stays on the layout untouched until it
They don’t work.12 JACKPOT! MAGAZINE • October 2026 THE SOUTH’S LARGEST GUIDE TO GAMING & FUN • www.jackpotmagazine.com