1dcde4Ever since the first casino opened its doors to the public, decades ago, casinos have been attracting thousands of visitors worldwide. Millionaires and budget-conscious visitors alike all flock to casinos for one main reason: to play games of chance and skill and hopefully win some money.
Casinos are glamorous places that are depicted in movies and pop culture equally. The bright lights, the excitement, the sounds of clinking coins and laughing people – this is the image casinos have successfully crafted for themselves. However, casinos were not always the gigantic, extravagant palaces that they are today. In fact, the first casinos were nothing more than small, cozy venues that served mainly as gathering places for the upper class. Today, casinos are big business and it’s likely that they will only continue to grow in the years to come.
Before we delve into the rules and strategies of casino games, it’s important to understand how casinos came to be in the first place. Let’s take a closer look at the fascinating history of casinos and some of the most popular games that you can play inside them. Then we’ll discuss some practical tips for players who are new to casinos.
The History of Casinos
Most scholars agree that the first gambling houses emerged in the 17th century in Italy, though their predecessors were arguably centuries older. These establishments were called “ridotti” and they were essentially private clubs for the upper classes. Unlike the casinos of today, ridotti were rarely profitable. They were more of a pastime for nobles and their primary purpose was socializing, not earning money. Most games back then were actually skill-based, such as chess, and only occasionally involved chance.
Fast forward to the 19th century and the beginnings of the casino industry as we know it today. A crucial milestone in this regard was the opening of the first legitimate casino in Monte Carlo in 1863. This casino was established by Princess Caroline, who realised the economic potential of gambling for her tiny sovereign principality that was struggling financially.
Monte Carlo became the epitome of elegance and luxury and swiftly gained a reputation as the gambling capital of the world. However, the casino era was somewhat short-lived due to the First World War, which forced the closure of many popular casinos. During this period, gambling was seen as a decadent pastime and many casinos were converted into offices, theatres or even hospitals.
It wasn’t until the 1960s that casino culture truly recovered. Notably, it was during this decade that Las Vegas emerged as the gambling capital of the USA. The first legal casino there was opened in 1931, but the real boom didn’t happen until decades later. By this point, casino owners increasingly realised that in order to attract more visitors, they needed to offer more than just gambling. The focus was thus on making casinos into full-fledged entertainment complexes that offered dining, shopping and live shows in addition to gaming rooms.
This is the paradigm that most casinos still follow today. However, the latest trend in the casino industry is the emergence of online casinos, which have become incredibly popular since their debut in the 1990s. Online casinos allow players to enjoy their favourite casino games from the comfort of their own homes, or even on the go via their mobile devices. These sites offer hundreds of different games, ranging from classic slot machines to <a href="https://remycasino.com/tag/roulette/”>roulette and from video poker to live dealer games. Online casinos also offer lucrative bonuses and promotions that help players maximize their bankrolls.
The Most Popular Casino Games
Casino games come in all shapes and forms. Whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned pro, there’s always something new to explore. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular casino games that you can play today.
Slots
Without a doubt, the most popular game category at pretty much every casino is slots. Slots are so popular that they usually make up over 70% of most casino floors, which speaks volumes about their popularity. Moreover, the majority of new games that online casinos introduce on a monthly basis are slots.
Their appeal is understandable; slots are easy to play and don’t require any special skills. Players simply need to decide how much they want to bet, how many paylines they want to play and then spin the reels. Slots also offer players a plethora of themes to choose from, ensuring that everyone can find something that suits their tastes. Last but not least, slots offer big payouts, with some jackpots reaching well into six figures. Of course, the iconic jackpot slots, Mega Moolah and Mega Fortune, dwarf these payouts with their millions in jackpots.
Roulette
Roulette is another casino staple that is easy to learn and incredibly exciting to play. The name comes from the French word for ‘little wheel’ and refers to the central feature of the game. In this game, players wager on which number they think the ball will land on once the wheel stops spinning.
Roulette comes in several variations, including European, American and French roulette. The versions differ slightly in their wheel layouts, which affects the odds. For instance, the numbering on the wheel includes a zero (and in some cases, two zeros) which is not part of any bet. So if the ball lands on zero, all other bets lose. American roulette tends to be less popular among seasoned players because it adds an extra double-zero space on the wheel, which slightly lowers the odds of the player.
Blackjack
Blackjack, sometimes referred to as 21, is another globally popular casino game. The object of the game is to beat the dealer by accumulating a score of 21 or as close to 21 as possible. Players are dealt two cards and they can either stick with these or ask for extra ones, hoping to get closer to 21 without going over. The dealer has to keep drawing until they reach 16 and stand at 17 or higher.
Unlike some other casino games, blackjack involves a certain level of skill that can be honed through practice. For instance, it’s imperative to know when to stick and when to ask for a card, as every decision directly affects the house edge. Moreover, skilled players can also strategically surrender, which wisely forfeits half of their bet, when they realize that their hand is likely to lose. Knowing when to use this tactic is the mark of a seasoned blackjack player.
Poker
Poker is a card game that comes in many different varieties, all of which are wildly popular. The most common variety by far is Texas Hold’em, which is the main event in most World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker tournaments. In this game, players are dealt two cards and then bet on the strength of these cards before the community cards are dealt. The objective is to make the best possible hand using a combination of the two cards in your hand and the cards on the table.
Video Poker
Video poker is a hybrid game that combines slot machines and poker. Players wager on a machine, usually with a standard five-card poker hand layout. The machine then deals a hand and the player can choose to keep or discard any of the cards. The machine then replaces any discarded cards to create the final hand.
In terms of skill, video poker is somewhere between slots and poker. The odds are generally more favourable to the player than slots because most video poker games are based on a paytable similar to poker. These paytables can be found on the screen above the cards, with different payouts listed for every poker hand. The player thus needs to decide which cards to keep and which to discard based on the probable outcome.
Live Dealer Games
Live dealer games are a unique hybrid of online and brick-and-mortar casinos. Essentially, they allow players to participate in traditional casino games from the comfort of their home, using an online interface. Players get to see a live video feed of the actual dealer and can even interact with them and other players via a chat function. Live games are increasingly popular and casinos are increasingly adding new live dealer sections. Some of the most popular live dealer games are roulette, blackjack, baccarat, and poker.
Practical Tips For Casino Players
If you’re new to the world of casinos, it can seem a bit daunting at first. The atmosphere and the games can be intimidating and it’s easy to get lost in all of the excitement. But once you get to know the ropes, you’ll find that it’s easy to navigate and a lot of fun. Here are some practical tips that will help you get the most out of your casino experience, whether you’re playing online or offline.
Set Your Limits
Gambling can be addictive and it’s very easy to get carried away in the heat of the moment. For this reason, it’s crucial to set yourself internal limits on how much you’re willing to bet and lose. Decide how much money you’re willing to risk and how much you want to win before you start playing. When you reach either of these limits, stop playing. Remember, it’s better to leave the casino with some money in your pocket than with empty pockets and no money to show for it.
Do Your Research
Nothing will improve your casino game experience more than learning the rules and tricks of the games you’re playing. It’s not enough to have luck on your side, as most casino games have elements of skill. Take some time to research the odds and probabilities of the games you’re playing. You can even practice online via demo versions that mimic the real-money version of the game. This way, you’ll know what to expect and when to use specific strategies.
Take Advantage of Bonuses
Most online casinos offer players lucrative bonuses to entice them to sign up and play. These bonuses come in various forms, such as free spins, deposit matches, no deposit bonuses, and more. These offers give you extra money to play with
