The Unspoken Rules of Betting Shop Etiquette

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Betting shops on the high street are still around and going strong. They are still great social hubs where people get to hang out, interact socially and target winning some bets. 

The enormous rise in the popularity of online sportsbooks - just browse Legalbet UK, a website which analyses betting sites and their offers, to see its incredible extent  - hasn’t erased them.  

While some people frequent betting shops, there are many people around who have never stepped foot in one before. While it could feel a little intimidating walking into a betting shop for the first time, they are places where people with a common interest go to get together. 

Everyone is there for the same purpose, so stepping into the environment doesn’t have to be a high-pressure thing, and there shouldn’t be any concerns about visiting one. But like with all places that you visit in society when you do go to a betting shop, there are some standard etiquette practices to follow. 

Don’t Put Staff Under Pressure 

The staff at a bookmaker shop are people doing the jobs that they have trained hard for. They have to deal with a lot of people during the day, handle a lot of money and perform accurate checks on betting slips.  

So it’s good manners to not put them under pressure by arguing with them or hurrying them. Be patient and courteous and remember, it’s not going to be their fault if your bet goes wrong, so don’t take it out on them. Don’t ask them for betting advice, either. 

Unsolicited Tips 

Everyone in the shop has likely already done their fair share of research and analysis before placing a bet. It’s great to have conversations about betting and explore what other people are doing, which is part of the full experience and can often be a good chance to learn. 

However, it’s not great etiquette to go around spreading unsolicited tips. It’s best to keep out of everyone else's business when it comes to bet selections. Don’t go around trying to tell other bettors what to do, or telling them that they should or should not bet on something. The final bet decisions are always personal - keep them that way. 

Be Gracious 

There’s a thin line between celebrating a winning bet with some decorum and being obnoxious. Everyone loves a winner, and in a betting shop, you will likely find other patrons happy for a win that you land. 

But understand that if you have backed a winner in a horse race, then there are probably a lot of other bettors in the shop that lost a bet on that same race.  

So while you should feel free to celebrate a good win and give a good cheer, don’t drag it out by being brash or dancing around wildly for ten minutes like you’d just scored the winner in the Champions League Final.  

Don’t Be Disruptive 

Following on from the previous point, it’s also good betting shop manners to not be disruptive in the shop in general. Other people are there to try and enjoy their betting, to watch live sports on the TV and think about what bets they are going to make.  

Anything that takes away from that enjoyment is disruptive, like shouting, having had too much to drink or blurting out offensive language because something in a football match hasn’t gone your way. The betting shop environment should be a positive one, and all patrons should play their part in that.  

Earphones 

Some people head to betting shops to sit down and do their research, particularly with horse racing, when they don’t make their final decisions until close to the start of a race. So don’t go in there with a call blasting out of your speakerphone, having your ringtone go off every two seconds because of notifications, and certainly don’t have music playing. Be considerate and put in the earphones for what you want to listen to. 

Double Check Your Bet Slip 

Everyone wants a smooth, efficient service in a sportsbook, so don’t hold up the line by not being ready with your bet slip. Take a moment to double-check things over, like the event, bet type and the stake that you want are all correct. Just don't wait until you are at the cashier to decide what you are going to bet on, holding up other patrons. 

If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.