A Beginner's guide to CASINOS

The Casino Experience - What You Can Expect

When you step into a casino, you’ve entered a different universe. The lights, the sounds, the energy, you can’t miss it.

·     Land-Based Casino: The ambience of land-based casinos can be anything from lazy gambling halls to ultra-posh casino resorts. In Monte Carlo, you’d probably walk by chandeliers, velvet drapes and well-dressed players before finding the baccarat tables. Things are on a different scale in Las Vegas, such as mega-resorts that contain casinos along side restaurants, some of which have Michelin stars, theatres, and nightclubs. Macau, the “Gambling Capital of the World,” has high-roller salons and VIP rooms, where millions can change hands in one night.

·     At an online casino, it is virtual but still appealing. Vibrantly themed slot games, engaging live dealer streams, and interactive chat encourage the social aspect of gaming. In one click, you can go from a themed slot machine to a real live roulette wheel hosted by a human croupier.

·     Entertainment, as much as gambling. Whether sipping champagne at a blackjack table in Monaco or having a quick spin of online roulette to break up your coffee break, casinos are about plugging you into a world of possibility and excitement.

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Popular Casino Games Explained

The games offered at casinos can be pretty overwhelming, but most fall into a few classic categories. There are more, but as a beginner, these are the ones you’re most likely to hear discussed:

Slot Machines

Slots are the easiest of all gambling games for the beginner. Just twist the reels and watch for the winning combinations. Contemporary slots have unlimited themes and features, from Egyptian treasures to blockbuster films, and offer bonus rounds and progressive jackpots worth millions.

·     On land: Rows of machines that blink and flash when someone hits a big jackpot.

·     On the web: Many more games, with 3D graphics, mini games and mobile versions.

·     Slots are completely random, but that’s the point: anyone can win any time.

Roulette

Rare are the images as glamorous as that of a spinning roulette wheel.

·     European Roulette: 1 zero, 2.7% houseedge (best for players).

·     American Roulette: Includes a double zeroand raises the house edge to 5.26%.

·     Bets go from basic (red/black, odd/even) to complex (splits, streets, corners). This is why, for novices, they should start with some outside bets such as red/black.

Blackjack

Known as the “King of the Casino,” blackjack blends luck with simple strategy. The aim is to beat the dealer by getting closer to 21 without going over.

·     Offline: You will hear a cheer every time the dealer busts.

·     Online/live dealer: This is ideal for beginners who want to play for low stakes. It is perfect for beginners to work on their game and get some experience under their belts before going out to a real casino.

·     Blackjack, easily approachable, but also among the few casino games where strategy can make a big difference in cutting into the house edge.

Baccarat

The classiest game there is, because James Bond played it. The rules are straight forward: You must bet on the “player,” “banker,” or “tie.” The hand closest to 9 wins.

In Monte Carlo and Macau, baccarat is the table game of choice for highrollers and celebrities. You’ll find baccarat online in traditional casual versions and VIP live tables.

Craps

Craps is the noisiest, most enthusiastic table in any gambling hall. Bettors call or chant the numbers on dice rolls, and it’s the only place where the atmosphere tends to be rousing as roars go up when a “shooter” gets hot and hits the point number, and there are even cheers when the come-out roll is awinner.

Craps can seem complicated when you’re first learning how to play because of all of the betting options. However, placing a basic “pass line” bet at the start allows players to get involved without taking too much risk. So, online craps can be simplified a bit to begin with as a way to help us newbies as we pick things up.

Poker (Texas Hold’em)

Poker is a player-vs.-player, and not a player-vs.-house game, unlike other games in casinos. The most common type is Texas Hold’em, where each player has two private cards and shares five community cards.

·     Texas Hold’em is a game of psychology, reading other players, betting, and bluffing. It’s the star of tournaments like the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Online poker rooms allow you to join games or tournaments from anywhere in the world, anytime, day or night.

·     Other differences include Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and Five-Card Draw, but Hold’em is the beginner’s best game to get you all started.