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Ever since the first casino opened its doors hundreds of years ago, casinos have attracted hundreds of thousands of players looking to try their luck, show off their skills, or simply have a good time.
Casinos are glamorous temples of entertainment where the possibilities of striking it rich are endless. Since these beginnings, the casino industry has grown into a massive global phenomenon. Today, casinos can be found in almost every corner of the world, from the iconic Las Vegas strip to the luxurious casino cruises sailing the Caribbean.
If you’re interested in gambling, it’s good to know the ins and outs of casinos. In this article, we’ll delve into the rules and secrets of gambling in casinos from online blackjack to the various perks that come with being a high roller. We’ll take a look at some of the most popular casino games and see what it takes to win. Finally, we’ll explore the various strategies you can use to improve your odds the next time you walk into a casino.
Let’s get started!
What Is A Casino?
The first casino was opened in Venice, Italy, in the 17th century. Ever since then, casinos have been places where people could gather to gamble, eat, drink, and generally enjoy themselves. Today, the casino industry is a massive global phenomenon worth over $137 billion.
Casinos come in many different forms today. There are the iconic land-based casinos that host a variety of games from classic casino tables to slot machines and poker rooms. Then there are casinos specialized in only one or two types of games, like poker casinos or slot machine casinos. In recent years, online casinos have also become increasingly popular.
These are virtual casinos that you can access through your computer or smartphone, where you can play alongside many other players from all over the world.
Finally, there are cruise ship casinos that offer players the chance to gamble on luxurious boat trips around the world. These casinos tend to offer VIP programs that give players various perks and bonuses, like free drinks, complimentary cabins, or invitation-only events.
No matter where you gamble, though, all casinos are focused on one thing: winning. With relatively modest margins, casinos still make incredible profits with billions in annual revenues.
This is thanks to the maths behind the games, which always slightly favor the house. Understanding the maths behind casino games will better prepare you for gambling, whether you’re playing online or in a brick-and-mortar casino.
It’s also important to know which games are more favorable to the house, so you can choose which ones to focus on and which ones to avoid.
Casino Games Guidelines And Rules
The cornerstone of any casino, be it online or land-based, are its games. Casino games attract players by offering thrill, excitement, and the chance to win money.
All games in a casino are based on probability, a fundamental concept of maths that informs players of the likelihood of any outcome. Casino games use various mechanisms to ensure that the probabilities are what the house wants them to be.
Let’s take a look at the most common casino games and their mechanics.
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as twenty-one, is one of the most popular casino games in the world. The objective of the game is to beat the dealer by getting a total of 21 points, or as close to it, without going over. Each card has a value: numbers from 2-10 correspond to their value, face cards are worth 10 points, and aces can be 1 or 11 points.
Players receive two cards at the beginning of the game and can either ‘stand’ with their current points, ‘hit’ and receive another card, or perform a variety of other actions such as ‘split’ or ‘double down’.
If the player goes over 21 points, they ‘bust’ and lose the game. If the player has a higher score than the dealer at the end of the game, they double their bet.
Roulette
Roulette is another iconic casino game. It consists of a table with numbers between 0 and 36, with an additional 00 slot in American roulette. The numbers are divided into two colours – red and black – and consecutive numbers are placed opposite each other across the table.
Players can make a variety of bets such as betting on a specific number, betting on an odd or even number, or betting on a colour. After the players make their bets, the dealer spins a ball in the opposite direction on the roulette wheel.
The ball eventually lands on a number, and if it’s a number that the player bet on, they win. While roulette is purely based on chance, there are strategies you can employ when playing roulette to improve your chances of winning.
These strategies are best used on online roulette games, where the game uses a random number generator to determine where the ball will land.
Poker
Poker is a casino game that relies more on skill and strategy than other games that are purely based on chance. In fact, expert poker players can even make a living through their poker skills.
It’s played with a standard deck of 52 cards, and the objective is to have the best possible poker hand according to the game’s rules. A poker hand is ranked based on the probability of receiving such a combination, so the rarer the combination, the higher the rank.
Players can either bet against each other or bet against the dealer. The winner is determined by assessing either the poker rank of each player’s hand or by having the best poker hand that beats the dealer’s hand.
Slots
Slots are one of the easiest and most accessible casino games you can find. They require no knowledge of any complicated rules or strategies, and success solely depends on chance. These factors make them very appealing to casino newbies and experienced players alike.
Slots consist of three or more spinning reels with up to dozens of pay lines. You win by lining up matching symbols on these pay lines. Some symbols have special features that can increase your winnings significantly, such as wild symbols that can substitute for any symbol or scatter symbols that can unlock unique features and free spins.
The odds of winning on slots depend on the game and how many pay lines you’re betting on. You can find out these odds in the game’s rules or info section.
Video Poker
Video poker is a hybrid game that combines the gameplay of slots and the strategy of poker. It’s typically played on a machine console similar to slots, but it works differently.
The player receives five cards and can choose to discard some or all of them. The discarded cards are then replaced by new ones, giving the player their final hand. The player wins if their final hand matches one of the winning hands on the paytable.
As it’s based on poker, the player needs to know which hands rank highest and which ones rank lowest. The payout is determined by the rarity of the hand and the bet amount.
Keno
Keno is a casino game that’s similar to a lottery. It originated in China and quickly made its way to the US in the 19th century. In this game, players bet on numbers between 1 and 80. Then, 20 numbers are drawn at random.
The player can choose to bet on anywhere between 1 and 15 numbers. The odds and payouts depend on how many numbers the player bets on. Players can also choose to bet on all numbers, which offers the highest payout.
It’s an easy game to play, as it’s entirely based on chance and has no strategy element. You can usually find keno in land-based casinos, but some online casinos also offer it.
Caribbean Stud Poker
Caribbean Stud Poker is yet another variation of the iconic card game. This one originated on the casino cruises in the Caribbean, hence the name.
It’s played against the house, where the dealer deals five cards to themselves and each player. The player can only see one of the dealer’s cards, called the upcard. Players must then decide whether to fold or continue playing by making a bet that’s usually double their initial bet.
Winner is determined by comparing hands. The dealer needs an ace and a king or higher to qualify. If the dealer doesn’t qualify, the player wins automatically.
In the event of a tie, the dealer returns the player’s bets.
Let It Ride
Let It Ride is a poker-based game where the player needs to make the best possible five-card hand. Unlike other poker games, however, the player isn’t playing against the other players or the dealer.
The player receives three cards and two community cards are dealt face down on the table. The player has the option to withdraw the first of two bets they make at the start of the round, hence the name “Let It Ride.”
After examining their hand, the player can either withdraw their second bet or let it ride. The two community cards are then revealed, and the player’s hand is scored.
Big Six Wheel/Money Wheel
The Big Six Wheel, also known as the Money Wheel, is a large vertical wheel that is spun by a live dealer. The wheel is divided into a variety of sections, each with a different multiplier value, with the lowest being 1x and the highest being 20x.
Players can place bets on whichever value they believe the wheel will stop at. Once the wheel comes to a stop, the dealer marks the number with a marker and pays out all the winning bets.
Practical Tips For Casino Players
1. Learn the basics of at least a couple of games
Although many casino
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