At the table

House rules at the poker table

The poker room on level two at Elements Casino Brantford runs on a short set of written house rules. The Level Two desk sets them out here in the order a player meets them at the table.

By the Level Two deskChecked October 14, 2026

Devices

Phones, watches and headphones

Before you ask: a live hand is a hand whose cards are still in play. While a player holds one, no phone or other electronic device may be used. Smart watches follow the same logic: a watch cannot be used while a player has cards. Nobody talks on the phone at the table, and every device stays silent.

Headphones are allowed at the table. One condition comes with them: a player who cannot follow the action may be asked to take them off. The action here means the bets and decisions moving around the table. Calls can wait until the player steps away from the table.

A phone lying face down on a walnut ledge beside a folded green napkin and a coffee cup, under a brass wall lamp. — Generated image, not a photograph of the casino

Photos

Photos and messages

Recording, photos, video and audio are not allowed in the poker room unless management authorizes them. Messaging about live play falls under the same rule, so a hand still in progress is not described to anyone by text or chat. The courteous course is to ask management first and accept the answer. Other players share that table too.

Table talk

What is said at the table

While a hand is live, the players in it speak English. They speak loud enough for the dealer to hear every word. The rule holds until the pot is awarded, meaning the chips in the middle have been pushed to a player.

Verbal statements are binding. A player who says "raise" or "fold" is held to that word, even when it comes out of turn, before the action reaches that seat. Side wagers, meaning bets between players outside the pot, are not permitted.

Code of conduct

The code of conduct

Collusion, meaning players working together against others at the table, and any form of cheating are barred.
Threats, discrimination and harassment are not allowed toward anyone in the room.
Foul language is barred, and shoes stay on at all times.
Abuse of the cards and damage to property are not allowed.
On any question of conduct, the decision of the Poker Pit Manager or Supervisor is final.

FAQ

Short answers

Can headphones stay on during play?

Yes, headphones are allowed. A player who cannot follow the action may be asked to take them off.

Can a call be answered at the table between hands?

No, nobody talks on the phone at the table, between hands or during one. Devices also stay silent at the table.

Can players at the table speak another language?

Players in a live hand speak English, loud enough for the dealer, until the pot is awarded. The house rule speaks only to that stretch of play.

Who settles a dispute at the table?

The decision of the Poker Pit Manager or Supervisor is final. The Level Two desk is not part of the room and cannot rule on a hand.