A Germany Trip

On your next trip to Germany, you may wish to gamble a little bit in the casino. If you do, you should know that German casinos are quite different from American casinos. While the games are very similar (German casinos have slot machines, poker, and blackjack much like US casinos), the etiquette is very different.

Think of German casinos as more of a ‘James Bond’ experience. The German casinos try to be much more upscale in attire. Often, a suit and tie is necessary for men. German casinos are among the most particular in Europe; in most parts of Europe, they just necessitate shoes and a collared shirt. The German casinos will often seperate the slot machines from the table games. In the slot machine section, the attire is more casual, whereas the table games require the suit and the tie.

German casinos tend to be very spread out. It is not like Vegas where the casinos are on top of one another. Heavy government regulation and monopolies mean there are generally one casino per city. Less competition means things are more ‘expensive’ in general. German casinos do not have the sort of comps that you would expect in Vegas, and often the odds are much worse. This is especially the case in poker, where the rake can be obscene.

If you are visiting a German casino, just remember to bring your nicest attire and a sense of patience. It will be a very different experience from an American casino. There are no glitzy buffets and rowdy craps tables, but it can be a fun experience nonetheless.