7 Breaches of Las Vegas Casino Etiquette and Their Consequences

Many visitors to Las Vegas, Nevada, come to enjoy the possibilities of what they can do and the idea of what they could potentially do under the right circumstances. However, many visitors fail to consider the appropriateness or even legality of certain actions while on the casino floors along the Las Vegas Strip.

These casinos have strictly enforced codes of conduct and, while you won’t be kicked out for a faux pas, certain breaches in accepted etiquette could have serious consequences, including being arrested and charged with a crime. In this blog, we list seven common breaches of casino etiquette and how these decisions could affect your vacation and even your criminal record.

Nevada has more relaxed public drinking laws than virtually any other state. However, drinking to excess is always subject to business or law enforcement recourse. Casinos have rules that prohibit the staff members from allowing patrons who seem overly intoxicated to continue playing.

If you resist a staff member’s attempts to curtail your drinking or gambling, you could be removed from the casino completely or even arrested, depending on how you behave. You are liable for any criminally bad behavior you have while drinking in excess and could face jail time or charges for property damage, lewd behavior, or other common issues.

Drinking While Restricted

The relaxed atmosphere of Las Vegas unfortunately misleads some visitors to believe that they can get away with objectively illegal behavior while in town. One of the most common examples is when casino patrons order drinks despite restrictions against their alcohol consumption.

If you are underage or have a court-ordered alcohol consumption restriction due to a DUI, and you drink in a casino, you are subject to legal repercussions. In fact, because casino floors are highly monitored, you are more likely to come face-to-face with security team or local law enforcement officials when drinking in a casino than almost anywhere else. Don’t assume that you won’t get arrested just because you’re in Las Vegas.

Failing to Show ID

Identification laws can be complex and there are situations where you can refuse to show ID. However, when you enter a casino floor, you agree to show ID if gaming staff, waitstaff, or security request it.

You may be confined to the hotel area of the building until law enforcement can determine if you have an underlying reason for refusing to show ID, such as being a minor or having a warrant out for your arrest.

Fighting

Emotions can run high anywhere that large amounts of money are exchanged, and casinos are no different. However, you are expected to conduct yourself well regardless of your lucky streak at the tables.

You may come to Las Vegas to attend prize fight, but if you become involved in one yourself, you could face serious consequences. Yelling matches on the casino floor may cause you to be ejected or even banned — or arrested, depending on the context. Physical altercations of any kind, especially those resulting in injuries, subject you to arrest and potential criminal charges.

Filming and Messaging

Selfies, personal videos, and mobile messages are an integral part of everyday life for many individuals. However, on a casino floor, you must adhere to the house rules.

In most cases, you can only film computerized games and only if your video is restricted solely to the screen of the game. No casino allows its patrons to film other players or patrons.

If you choose to bet on sports events, you must comply with restrictions on messaging. No casino allows messaging between a patron and any other person about active odds or bets while on the floor.

Many casinos consider violations of these policies attempts to cheat or steal and will respond accordingly, often with the support of the police.

Loitering

When you look at a casino floor as an out-of-town visitor, the entire setup may look a lot like many people loitering at once. However, casino floors are designed so that hotel patrons and individuals walking through the building to concert venues, restaurants, shopping locations, and connected casinos can get through.

If you loiter on the casino floor, elsewhere in the lobby, or directly in front of a casino, you will be asked to leave. You may be escorted off the premises by law enforcement if the staff suspect that you were loitering to plan a theft or assault.

Writing Bad Markers

In many casinos, you have the option to write a marker as a representation of funds when you play. Unfortunately, many visitors assume that these markers function like IOUs. In reality, a marker is more like a check that you agree can be cashed if you lose the money and do not pay it back within a specified timeframe, usually 30 days.

If you write a marker that you cannot cover and that will bounce if the casino attempts to cash it, a judge will issue a warrant for your arrest.

Avoid these common breaches of good conduct while inside any casino on or off the Strip.

If you do encounter get arrested while visiting Las Vegas, whether on a casino floor or while navigating the surrounding roadways, rely on qualified legal professionals, including lawyers and bail bondsmen.

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