Let's get one thing clear first: I’m a dog lover — always have been. I’ve got three of my own, and if I could bring them everywhere with me, I would. But I don’t. That’s called common courtesy.
These days, it feels like everyone is pushing the limits by bringing so-called 'service dogs' into casinos that clearly aren’t service dogs. And the rest of us are expected to just deal with it.
Thankfully, I’m not allergic to dogs or afraid of them. I actually love having them around. But let’s be honest… Pets don’t belong at the poker table.
Dogs, cats — even pet squirrels — I’ve seen it all in Vegas. None of them belong at the poker table.
Are they really service dogs?
The current rule is that if you sit down and notice a dog, you can move tables, but only if you say something before playing your first hand.
The idea is to prevent people from using dogs as an excuse to table-hop. In practice, it doesn’t work. Half the time you don’t even realize a dog is there until two orbits later, when something brushes against your leg and you suddenly find yourself staring at a dog the size of a horse hiding under the table.
If you’re allergic, there’s nothing you can do. If you’re scared of dogs, tough.
The liability problem
Casinos don’t want to deal with this issue. They’re afraid of the legal fallout. But here’s the thing — they’re not even asking the right question. And there is a right question:
“What service does your dog provide for you?”
That’s legal. You can’t ask what disability a person has, but you can ask what the dog is trained to do.
A true service dog performs tasks, such as detecting a severe allergic reaction and fetching an EpiPen. That’s legitimate. A large goldendoodle sitting under the table for comfort? That’s not legitimate.
A matter of courtesy
If a dog isn’t providing an actual f**king service, it shouldn’t be at the poker table. Period.
Most of us love dogs — I certainly do. This is about awareness and common courtesy. My main point is that all players need to make sure their choices don’t put others in uncomfortable or even unsafe situations.
What do you think? Let us know in the comments below. And follow Christina if you dare on X and Instagram.
