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Ever since the first casino opened its doors to the public, decades ago, they have been a subject of fascination for millions of people worldwide. There’s a certain allure to the seemingly endless array of games, the brightly lit halls, and the promises of a thrilling experience that casinos tend to offer their guests. It’s this enigmatic aura that’s compelled many to wonder what lies behind the shiny facade.
Questions on the minds of many first-timers and aspiring gamblers include:
What really happens behind the scenes at a casino?
How do I play the games correctly and with the best chance of success?
Is there any truth to the rumours about casinos fixing games or cheating players?
What are some of the most common tricks and tactics used by casinos to gain an edge over players?
How can I avoid becoming one of the many gambling addicts that tend to frequent casinos?
In this article, we will answer all of these questions and more. But first, let’s take a step back and learn exactly how casinos came to be such a popular phenomenon in the first place.
The birth of casinos
Casinos originated in Europe, and notably in Venice, Italy, where the first ever official casino was opened in 1638. This establishment was called the Casino di Venezia, and it served as both a hall for gambling and official government meetings. Other Italian cities soon followed suit, and casinos began to pop up all over the continent, particularly in the likes of Monaco and Baden-Baden in Germany.
However, it was in France, the birthplace of famed mathematician Blaise Pascal, where the casino industry really began to thrive and attract international attention. This was thanks to a variety of reasons, but notably the strict policies on gambling that resulted in the establishment of an advanced and mature casino industry throughout the country, culminating in the world’s first ever roulette wheel being placed in one of Paris’ recognisable casinos, Palais Royal.
Over the following centuries, casinos would continue to grow and evolve, with the introduction of new games and gambling opportunities in markets across the globe, particularly in the United States and United Kingdom, where they began to appear in the early 20th century.
In more recent years, the digital revolution has decidedly shifted markets and opportunities online, with internet casinos becoming increasingly popular among the iGaming crowd.
Today, the casino industry is a multi-billion dollar enterprise that continues to grow year on year. With the emergence of online casinos, the popularity of casinos has spread across the globe, making it a familiar fixture in many countries and cities alike.
Casino games: How to play
The exciting range of games available at casinos is a major drawcard for most gamblers. With so many exciting opportunities, and countless games to choose from, it’s vital to at least have a basic understanding of how to play the games correctly, and how to give yourself the best chance of winning.
Remember that the house always has an edge, which is a statistical advantage that guarantees casinos will make a profit over time. It’s crucial to understand that you aren’t necessarily playing against other players, but rather the casino itself.
With that in mind, here’s a quick run down of some of the most popular casino games, to help you get a better understanding of how they work, and more importantly how to play them correctly.
Roulette
Roulette is one of the most popular casino games worldwide, owing to its relatively simple gameplay and thrilling atmosphere that surrounds the game.
There are two main variants of roulette, American and European, with the main difference being the extra zero pocket on the American wheel, which slightly decreases the odds of players winning.
The game is played on a large wheel where a small white ball is thrown in the opposite direction to the spinning action. Over time, the ball will slowly come to rest in one of the numbered pockets, which correspond to where the wheel comes to a rest.
Before the wheel is spun, players must place their chips on a specific number, colour (red or black), or range of numbers, depending on their preferred bet type.
Once the ball comes to rest, payouts are given out based on the odds of the particular bet type. For example, betting on a specific number will pay out more than betting on red or black, because it’s a more unlikely outcome.
Blackjack
Blackjack, sometimes referred to as 21, is another globally popular casino game that involves the aim of beating the dealer’s hand without going over a score of 21.
The game starts with the player receiving two cards, which are dealt face up for the player to see. The dealer also receives two cards, both of which are dealt face down.
If the player receives a high value card, let’s say a ten or a face card, and receives a card with a value of 10, they are considered to be dealt a natural blackjack, which usually pays out 3:2.
Players can then opt to stand, which means accepting their current score and refusing any additional cards. Alternatively, they can hit, which means requesting an additional card in an attempt to get closer to a total of 21.
If the player goes over 21, they lose immediately and forfeit their bet, no matter what the dealer’s hand shows.
Once the player has finished their turn, it’s the dealer’s turn to reveal their down card and decide whether to stand or hit.
If the dealer goes over 21, they lose, which is known as going bust.
If the player hasn’t gone bust, the outcome of the dealer’s hand determines whether the player wins, loses, or pushes (ties).
Baccarat
Baccarat is a casino game that doesn’t require much interaction from players, but is still immensely popular amongst casino goers.
The game is played out like this:
Both the player and the banker are dealt two cards, with the object of the game being to attain a score of 9, or as close to 9 as possible.
Card values range from 1 to 9, with 10s, jacks, queens, and kings scoring 0 and aces scoring 1.
If the player or the banker scores a natural 9 (known as a ‘perfect’ score), they automatically win.
Wagering on the banker’s hand pays out 95% of the bet amount, while wagering on the player’s hand pays out even money.
Casino tips and tricks
Having learned more about the core principles and gameplay behind some of the most popular casino games, you may be wondering what it takes to play them better, or at the very least to have more fun whilst doing so.
While there are no proven ways to completely turn the odds in your favour, as the house always has an edge, there are a few tactics and tricks you can employ to give yourself the best possible chance of winning.
These principles all relate to smart and responsible gambling, which essentially means knowing when to walk away, how to manage your bankroll, and understanding the maths behind the games you’re playing.
Walk away
Firstly, know when to quit. Casinos are designed to be thrilling and exhilarating, with a carefully crafted atmosphere that encourages you to keep playing.
It’s all too easy to get carried away in the action, especially with a few lucky wins, but it’s important to realise that the games are designed so that the house always has an edge.
The longer you play, the more likely it is that the house will win, so try to keep your gambling sessions short and fun, and always set yourself a budget to work with.
If you’re on a losing streak, learn to walk away and come back another day, or alternatively, switch games, or even establishments, as luck often plays a big part in casino games.
Manage your bankroll
Secondly, and arguably most importantly, learn to manage your bankroll, or the amount of money you have set aside for gambling purposes.
Before you enter a casino, you should set a budget and stick to it, meaning the amount of money you’re willing to lose if luck doesn’t go your way.
Each game you play will have a minimum bet, so make sure to check this before you start, to ensure that your budget will cover you for a reasonable amount of time, and isn’t so high that you blow through it all in just a few minutes.
A good tactic is to divide your bankroll by the number of gambling sessions you intend to play, and divide this by the number of hands or spins you expect to play in total.
This will give you a reasonable idea of how much you can afford to bet on each hand, or spin, and offers a decent chance of walking away with some money in your pocket, even if things don’t go your way.
Practice makes perfect
Lastly, while it’s not always possible to master a game without first betting money, it’s worth considering practicing certain games, especially those with sound strategy elements, such as blackjack.
There are numerous helpful resources online that can give you a better understanding of sound strategies to employ, which can drastically improve your chances of winning cash in the long run, despite the house edge.
Remember that while these can help you manage your expectations and odds, they’re not 100% foolproof, so be sure to learn the rules and basic strategies for each game you play before diving into a casino environment.
The dos and don’ts of casino behaviour
Casinos have a set of rules and etiquettes that tend to differ from other venues.
While these might not be written down anywhere, they’re still norms that you’ll want to be aware of if you
