Ask the Slot Expert: Is it rude to stare at a slot player?

Hi John:

I was wondering your stance on if it's considered bad etiquette when people stand behind you while you are playing and literally stare at you the entire time you play. I notice this in certain casinos in PA and NJ, and find it absurd. Is it just me -- or is this considered bad etiquette in a casino?

In some cases I will be in a non-smoking section, only to have a few people standing behind me smoking. When this happens, I either stop playing and just wait it out (they will usually leave) or if I really get irritated, I tell them that staring at me is entertainment and I charge $50 for the 'show' -- they leave when I do this (and it's pretty funny to watch their expression since its not expected for them to hear that).

Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Harry

Dear Harry,

I agree with you. It is rude for people to stare at you while you play.

Most of the time when this happens, the "starer" wants to play the "staree's" machine -- especially if the machine has a high progressive or is one of the few that has a banked bonus and the bonus is high. We call those starers Jackpot Vultures.

Even worse than staring, though, is smoking in the non-smoking section. One person told me that he thought it was OK to smoke in the non-smoking section as long as he was walking around and didn't stop to play a machine. I disagree. There is no smoking in the non-smoking section, period. We go to the non-smoking section because we don't want to be exposed to smoke.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.