A casino is a facility that accommodates and offers gambling services and activities. Casinos are typically located within hotels, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions, and at times, they are known as gaming resorts.
Offering hundreds or even thousands of video slots and mechanical reel slots, blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, and baccarat tables, and so much more, casinos are primarily made for enjoying oneself and having fun. Yet, as you walk into a casino, the games offered can seem overwhelming.
So, whether you’re a beginner or a regular player, knowing the types of games found in casinos and picking the right ones for you can enhance your experience. Moreover, knowing how to play these games and learning some tips and strategies can help you have a better chance of walking away with some money in your pocket.
All the Different Casino Games Explained
Walk into a casino, and you’ll likely see dozens of slots, a variety of card games, and rows upon rows of roulette wheels. But there’s more to it than simply putting down a wager, pulling a lever, or rolling the dice.
There are hundreds of different games found in casinos, each varying in rules, tactics, and strategies. Learning how to play each game will help you decide which ones you prefer. Having knowledge of the rules, odds, and probabilities of each game will help you decide what’s best to choose.
Slots
Slots are the easiest games to play at the casino, and there are no strategies required to play them. All you need to do is put in your money, hit the spin button, and cross your fingers.
These days, slot machines are dominated by video slots, with each game offering a different theme, including TV shows, movies, and bands. The appeal of video slots lies in the additional features and bonuses they offer, such as free spins, wild symbols, and special bonus rounds.
Classic slot machines use mechanical reels rather than video screens, and they typically have fewer paylines than video slots. Their payouts aren’t as generous as video slots, but they can still pack quite a punch. In addition, classic slots usually have fewer features, making them ideal for traditionalists.
Table Games
Table games comprise card games like blackjack, dice games like craps, and wheel games like roulette. These games are played on a table, hence the name. Table games tend to be more complex than slots, requiring players to remember rules and develop strategies.
Blackjack
Blackjack, or 21, is one of the most popular card games found in casinos. Those who play blackjack must attempt to score 21 points, or as close to 21 as possible, without going bust, where their score exceeds 21.
The dealer gives each player, including themselves, two cards. Faces are worth 10 points, aces are worth 1 or 11 (player’s choice), and numbers are worth their corresponding values. The dealer’s score is visible to all players, whereas each player only sees their own cards.
Players can signal they wish to hit and receive a new card to add to their score. They can also choose to stand, where they retain their current score. If the player’s score goes over 21, they go bust, and the dealer collects their wager.
Players can win by scoring exactly 21 points, known as a ‘blackjack’, or by having the dealer bust. Blackjack pays 3:2, whereas a standard win pays 1:1.
Roulette
Roulette is a wheel game with a little ball that rotates on the outer edge of the wheel. The wheel itself has a series of numbered pockets in different denominations, with the number 1 placed opposite to the number 36.
Players place their bets on the table, predicting where they think the ball will land. These bets can be placed on individual numbers, groups of numbers, or outside bets on odds or evens, reds or blacks, and highs or lows.
Once the wheel stops, the ball rests in a pocket, and whichever pocket matches the number on the table covers the win. Players can bet on one number, and if it comes in, they’ll be paid at higher odds, while smaller odds are paid for outside bets.
Craps
Craps is a dice game that involves predicting the outcome of a roll, or series of rolls, of a pair of dice. The player who throws the dice is called the shooter. Other players can place bets on the table, predicting the shooter’s outcome.
There are several bets that can be made in craps, with some having more favorable odds than others. As the game progresses, different phases can trigger various payouts. For example, the ‘pass line’ bet pays even money, whereas the ‘free odds’ bet allows players to bet on a shooter’s roll without a house edge, increasing the potential payout.
Bac