Casinos are among the most popular places for adults to spend their leisure time, as they offer a variety of games to satisfy anyone’s gambling tastes. But before you enter a casino, you should learn more about what games have the best and worst odds, how to play them, and what strategies to use to decrease the house edge, which represents the percentage of stakes that a casino expects to win from a player over a period of time.
All these questions are especially relevant if you’re a beginner. At the end of the day, you don’t want to end up losing all your money, right? Well, luckily for you, we’ll cover all these topics right now, so you’ll be prepared for your first visit to a casino!
Casino Games – Most Common Casino Games You Can Play
Casinos offer a variety of games, but many of them are simply versions of the same thing, as they all involve some sort of standards, such as cards, dice, or mechanical devices. Among the most popular ones are:
Slot Machines – Slots are the easiest games to play at a casino, as they require no skill and have no complicated rules. Slots also offer a very low payout percentage, often in the mid-90s. Although the gameplay is fun and rewarding, it’s best to avoid slots, as they have the sleaziest house edge of all casino games.
Roulette – Roulette is one of the most iconic casino games, and it offers many different ways to bet, which range from betting on a single number, to betting on colours, odd or even numbers, and more. The house edge varies depending on the type of roulette (American vs. European), but it usually ranges between 5% and 10%, which is significantly higher than many other casino games.
Poker – This is a card game that relies heavily on both luck and skill. Although it is available in multiple variations, Texas Hold’em is the most popular version nowadays. Poker can be played in cash game or tournament formats, and it is one of the few games where players compete against each other, and not against the house. For this reason, it’s possible to win money in the long run, although it requires a lot of practice and study.
Blackjack – Often referred to as 21, it is another card game that is very popular in casinos. The object of the game is to reach a score of 21, or as close as possible to it, but no more. The dealer usually draws cards until he reaches 16 and must stand on 17 or more. Depending on the casino, some variations of the game may give a small advantage to the house, while others shift the advantage to the player.
Craps – This is another iconic casino game, which uses a pair of dice. The simplest way to describe how to play craps is to bet on the number that you believe the dice will show after they are rolled. The other players may place additional bets on other outcomes, however, these are more advanced craps rules and strategies that you can learn later.
Casinos offer many more games, such as baccarat, keno, bingo, sic bo, and more, but these are the most popular ones, so you should at least learn their rules and basic strategies.
Casino Rules – What to Expect and How to Play
Since casinos are businesses and need to make money to survive, they implement various rules and policies that give them an advantage over players, so learning how to play and how to behave in a casino is very important, as it may help you avoid costly mistakes. Let’s review the most important casino rules and considerations that you need to know about:
Legal Age – One of the first things to consider before heading to a casino is to check if you’re of legal age to gamble. Most casinos require that you be at least 21 years old, however, some venues may allow you to enter and play if you’re 18 or older, but these are often few and far between.
Registration and Membership – Most casinos require you to register as a member before you can play, and some even expect you to wear exclusive membership cards the whole time you’re playing, as this allows the casino to track your play and offer you rewards based on your activity. Rewards may include cashback, food and accommodation discounts, and more.
Jackpots and Payouts – When it comes to jackpots and payouts, casinos have varying rules, so it’s important to check their policies regarding jackpot payouts, as some may have relatively low limits, so they will only pay out amounts higher than that when you collect your winnings over several days.
Also, keep in mind that most casinos will require you to show a government-issued ID before you can collect your winnings, so make sure to have one on you before you leave to avoid any inconvenience.
Tipping – Although it’s not mandatory,