If you go to a sports game, a concert or even a movie, there’s a chance you’ll be surrounded by the glow of mobile phone screens.
But at the casino? You probably won’t see a single mobile phone screen anywhere you look… for a variety of reasons.
Players clearly need a smartphone, tablet or computer to enjoy online casino gaming. Most of the top sites listed at https://legalcasino.uk/, an expert service studying and rating online casinos, provide a platform that has been designed and re-sized purposely for smaller screen devices. These mobile casinos offer a wide range of games and access to promotions and bonuses, so they present a unique opportunity for stay-at-home players.
But if you do want to venture to a land-based casino, you might be better off leaving your mobile phone at home – or at least stowing it away in your pocket or bag.
Here’s some of the key reasons why casinos prohibit mobile phone use at their tables.
#1 – It Prevents Cheating
Some of the most sophisticated ‘cheating’ scams in casinos have emerged due to the development of mobile technologies.
Players with smartphones could, in theory, communicate with other people in the casino, creating small edges by noticing roulette wheels that seem to be very mildly defective – creating a pattern of results.
In other cases, a croupier may spin the wheel at the exact same speed every time – the player can communicate the starting position of the ball as it spins and relay this information to another player, who can use an algorithm or even AI to predict where the ball will land.
Feeding back to the player at the wheel, they can quickly place live bets on groups of numbers before the croupier calls ‘no more bets’.
A similar scenario could unfold in blackjack. The sharpest of players are able to spot even the tiniest of defects or blemishes on the back of a playing card; once established, they could message other players they know on the casino floor to join them in a card counting ploy.
And if you had a mobile phone or tablet on the table in front of you, it’s not impossible that you could hide a card or cards underneath it – that is cheating, pure and simple, and would even constitute a criminal offence.
#2 – It Minimises the Ability of ‘Advantage’ Players
Even players that are fair minded can still gain an advantage in the casino with a mobile phone in hand.
You may have heard of basic blackjack strategy, which reveals the correct percentage plays in any given situation at the table. This is certainly one way to lower the house edge, but requires the individual to memorise an extensive sequence of different card combinations – not always the easiest thing for the average player to do.
But with access to a mobile phone? In theory, they could open up a web page dedicated to basic blackjack strategy and follow the charts for each hand at the table, knowing that they were making the right play in each different scenario.
Card counting is not illegal, but if a casino suspects you are using the technique then they can ban you from the gaming floor.
But basic blackjack strategy is neither illegal nor likely to get you kicked out of the casino… unless, that is, your decision-making is enhanced by the presence of a mobile phone.
#3 – It Protects Privacy
Some patrons of a casino don’t want to be filmed or photographed at the tables. They don’t want their big wins broadcast – that could become a potential security risk, and of course it’s human nature not to want to be filmed when on a losing streak, too.
That is their individual right, but it’s one that could be impacted should a casino allow players to walk around filming or taking photos to post on their social media platforms.
Many casinos treat their most loyal players – especially those that can be described as ‘high roller’ regulars – with the utmost courtesy.
So, they will do everything in their power to prevent these customers from becoming upset or angry… and thus take their money elsewhere.
#4 – It’s a Common Courtesy
It’s also accepted that players should act with decorum and class in the casino environment.
Streaming live on TikTok? Posting live wins or losses to Facebook or Insta? Filming the inside of the casino without the manager’s permission?
These are considered major red flags, and will likely see you banished from the casino floor either temporarily or perhaps even permanently.
