1dcde4Casinos are among the most exciting places on the planet. The lights, the sounds, and the energy are all contagious.
Whether you’re a gambling novice or a high-roller, there’s nothing quite like the buzz you get from entering a casino. And it’s this very buzz that makes casinos one of the most popular themes for movies, books, and TV shows.
Slots and other games take centre stage at most casinos, but what many people don’t realise is that casinos are also a great place to play card games. And if you don’t know much about card games, don’t worry! We’re about to introduce you to some of the most popular card games played in casinos all around the world.
So, if you’re ready to learn more about some of the most entertaining casino card games out there, keep reading!
Let’s start with the most popular card game of them all: poker. Poker has been a fixture in casinos since the 1800s. And while the game has evolved dramatically since then, the basic principles have remained largely the same.
Today, poker is played with a standard deck of 52 cards. Depending on the type of poker you’re playing, the number of players at the table, and the casino’s rules, one or more jokers may be added to the deck.
Poker is a game that centres on betting. Each player at the table places their bet, and the player who makes the highest bet is granted the privilege of seeing the face-down cards of all players who decided to stay in the round.
This person has the option to fold (discard their cards and no longer compete for the round’s pot), call (match) the highest bet, or raise (increase) the bet. The remaining players then do the same until everyone has either folded or called the last bet.
Once all bets have been settled, players who are still in the game show their cards. The player with the highest-ranked poker hand wins the pot.
There are dozens of different poker variants, but some of the most popular include
• Texas Hold’em
• Omaha
• Seven Card Stud
• Five Card Draw
While the rules of each game vary, the objective is always the same: use your cards and your wits to beat the other players and win the pot!
Blackjack, or 21 as it’s often called, is another incredibly popular casino card game.
The objective of the game is simple: get as close to 21 as possible without going bust (going over 21). The game starts with the players placing their bets. All players receive two cards face up, and the dealer receives two cards, one face up and one face down.
Each card is worth its face value, with face cards (king, queen, and jack) counting as 10 points each.
Players then take turns deciding whether to hit (take a card), stand (end turn), double down (take a chance and double the bet), or split (when a player’s first two cards are of the same value, they can split them into two different hands).
Once all players have decided to stand, the dealer reveals their down-facing card and draws additional cards until the total is 17 or more.
The player with a score of 21 (an ace and a face card or ten) is immediately rewarded, and all players with a higher score than the dealer’s score win the round.
Casino blackjack rules vary, but generally, the dealer must draw additional cards until their hand reaches a total of 17 points or more.
Casino blackjack is a fast-paced game that regularly pays out, making it a firm favourite amongst casino goers!
If poker and blackjack had a child, it would be baccarat. This classic card game has been thrilling casino enthusiasts for centuries.
Although its popularity pales in comparison to the aforementioned card games, baccarat is still a staple in many casinos worldwide.
The game is played with either one, two, or three decks of cards, depending on the casino’s rules. Up to 14 players can take part in a game, but it’s becoming more common to see fewer players around the baccarat table these days.
Unlike poker and blackjack, the objective of baccarat is not to beat the other players around the table. Instead, players bet on who they think will win, themselves, the banker, or if they think the round will result in a tie.
Once the bets are placed, players and bankers are dealt two cards each. Depending on the total of the cards, either the player or the banker can choose to draw a third card.
The winner of the hand is determined by adding up the value of the cards. Face cards and tens have a value of zero, aces have a value of one, and
