House
The question we hear most at the door
Nearly every first-time guest asks the same thing at the door. It's a fair question, and here's the honest answer, once and for all.
"So what's actually at stake in there?" It's the question I hear most often, usually from someone standing in the front hall with their coat half off and a slightly wary look. They've heard there's a card room, they've seen the word casino on the sign and they're not sure what they're walking into. I'd be wary too.
The honest answer
Nothing. Chips are plain discs worth nothing outside the room, nobody bets anything, and no one wins anything except a name on the board and a bit of bragging. There's no cash on the tables, no cashier and no way to cash anything in. It's cards for the sake of cards.
What it's like instead
It's a quiet room with warm lamps and green felt, where people play roulette, blackjack and poker at an easy pace. Dealers explain everything. Beginners are welcome, and plenty of people come only to watch. It's a lot like a good lounge room after a big dinner, with better lighting.
What it isn't
It isn't a pokies room. There are no pokies and no gaming machines of any kind in the building, and nothing is played online. You have to be in the room, in person, eighteen or over, with a dealer opposite you. Anything else you hear is somebody else's idea.
Why we do it
Because people who've eaten well like to stay in the warm and do something with their hands. We'd rather offer them a deck of cards than a closed door. That's all, and it's honestly enough.
If you're still unsure
Come and have dinner, and just look through the doorway. No one will push you in, and no one will mind if you go home after the pudding. Lots of our regulars did exactly that for months before they sat down at a table, and they say it was the best way to start.