Playing by the rules
The rules of the house, plainly written
The rules at Wollemi Hall are few and kept short. Read them once and you will know them; the staff will remind anyone who forgets, always quietly.
First principles
Why the rules are short
A calm room is the only goal
Every rule below exists to keep one thing intact: a calm room in which adults can eat and play cards without hurry or noise. We have removed any rule that did not serve that purpose. What remains can be written on one side of a sheet, and the sheet hangs on the landing at the top of the stairs.
Who decides at a table
The croupier. At roulette, blackjack and poker alike, the person dealing is responsible for the pace, the count and the order of play. Their decision on a hand is final for that hand. If a guest disagrees, the floor manager is asked, and the matter is settled away from the table before the next round.
When something goes wrong
A raised voice, a dispute over a count or a guest who has simply had enough: each is handled in the same manner. The game pauses, a member of staff speaks quietly with the person concerned, and play resumes or the guest is walked to the door with courtesy. I have never needed to do more than that.
Three things that always apply
- Adults only: the casino room admits guests aged 18 and over, with no exceptions for any reason.
- Chips are counters without value; they are never exchanged, sold, lent or taken out of the room.
- Everything takes place in the building; the hall offers nothing online and takes no bets in money.
At the tables
Rules for play
- Take a seat only when the croupier invites you, and tell the croupier if you wish to leave before the next hand.
- Chips are placed and moved by the player alone, and only while the croupier says that play is open.
- At blackjack, signal a decision clearly with a hand, not by touching the cards, and wait for the croupier to respond.
- At roulette, keep your hands clear of the cloth once the wheel has been spun and the croupier has called the spin.
- At poker, the cards you hold are your own business; show them only when the hand requires it.
- A hand in progress is never discussed aloud with players who have already folded or left their seats.
- The croupier may close any table at any time if the room is short of staff or the evening is winding down.
- Spectators stand behind the rail and keep conversation low; they do not coach seated players.
- Tournament seating is by draw only, and no player may swap a seat except at the croupier's request.
- Guests who feel unwell, tired or upset are encouraged to step away; a chair on the landing is always free.
Around the building
Rules for the rest of the house
- Identification is shown at the top of the stairs on every visit to the casino room, however familiar your face.
- Dinner guests may bring children to the dining room until the casino room opens; the stairs are for adults only.
- Tables in the dining room are held for fifteen minutes after the booked time, and the host will telephone first.
- Mobile phones are silent in the dining room and put away completely at the tables upstairs.
- Photographs of the food and the room are welcome; photographs of other guests require their permission.
- Staff politely decline gifts offered at the tables, and nothing is ever collected from guests for them.
- Coats and bags go on the stand at the top of the stairs, not on chairs at the tables.
- The heater is not to be moved or covered, and the front window is not to be opened after dark in winter.
- Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the building, and the footpath outside is the only place to step out.
- Any complaint is welcome. Tell the host or the floor manager, and it will be answered before you leave.