[Jimmy The Fish]

[ QUOTE ]
Before I learned how to play poker (and I was familiar with casinos because I counted-cards at BJ) I was intimidated to play poker.
This was 3 years ago.
I would NEVER have known that you are actually allowed to stand there at the rail and watch.


[/ QUOTE ]

I was also highly intimidated at first. I would have been one of those people who had to be chased down by the floorman.

I think that a casino interested in the long-term health of its poker room could hang a couple discreet signs outside the room, simply stating "It's Okay To Watch!" (However, I can see many casino execs frowning on such friendly gestures -- because a customer watching the poker room is a customer who isn't gambling.)

I tend to prefer the closed rooms, but that's only because the closed rooms I've experienced were much less smoky. Give me a smoke-free environment, and I'd probably choose the open layout (preferably right next to the sports book).