Since I was a teenager and saw the gangster movie Casino, I have been fascinated by gambling, especially casino games.
Despite the fact that there were some parts of the film that I didn’t want to get involved in, other parts piqued my interest.
After all, owning a casino is essentially the same as having a licence to print money. Right? So by that logic, any casino with a nineteenth century glass of bourbon in hand and a chip in front must be a luxury.
I came to this startling realization of how ill-prepared I was about 2 hours into my first casino outing.
How can this happen in the real world?
Because I had no understanding of what I was doing or how the games worked, it happened. I would never want a newcomer or a first-timer to have the same experience I had two decades ago. As a result, I am here to help. We need to be familiar with a wide range of games to understand how casino games work.
Table games can be played in any casino. Players spin the wheel, dice are rolled and cards are dealt. Spending time on the casino floor playing high stakes table games is an unforgettable experience.
Baccarat
Baccarat is one of the four pillars of the casino, possibly the least known or understood. You’ll see that the mystery of the Baccarat approach is removed once you understand how the hand values are formulated. Baccarat became one of the most accessible casino games.
I raise my head: “Baccarat” is a word from ancient European languages meaning “zero”. Playing zero in baccarat is a good example.
We call it a zero because in baccarat, face cards and tens, usually worth ten dollars, are worth zero dollars. Meanwhile, aces are worth one and number cards are face value.
The object of baccarat is to guess whether the banker or the player will get a better score. If both hands win the same draw, you can place a bet.
Roulette
Roulette is the most famous and simplest casino game. The word ‘roulette’ comes from the French term ‘petite roulette’.
There are so many games available to the player that hundreds of articles have been written on the subject. So let’s stick to the basics of the game.
The player’s bets are placed first in roulette. The ball is thrown onto the roulette wheel, where players can continue betting. The bet ends when the dealer says “no more bets” while the ball is still in motion. Winning bets are placed when the ball has come to a complete stop and the next round begins.
Craps
You’ve arrived at the craps table if you’re looking for real friends and a good time. My favourite casino is standing around a table, looping around a pair of five, betting and rolling the dice together.
Craps is the most complex casino table game, but it doesn’t have to be scary. Go through some basics, and you’re at home rubbing elbows with enthusiastic players.
To pass or to be passed?
For now, skip the side bets and focus on the main event. This is the line that says “Pass” or “Don’t pass”. Bets with a shooter winning are called Pass Line bets.
A bet wins if the shooter rolls a 7 or 11. A bet loses if the tie is 2, 3 or 12. If there is another number, it is converted to a point. Before rolling a 7, the shooter tries to hit that spot. When a player rolls a 7 before hitting the point, the bet is called “seven out” and the bet loses.
The “Never mind” bet is usually used in conjunction with the “Pass Line” bet. The “don’t care” bet is again a game against the shooter. If the roll is 2 or 3, the “ignore” bet wins, and if the roll is 12, the bet is deferred. It’s a loser if you score 7 or 11. If another number is rolled, the score is determined, and if a 7 is rolled before the score is reached, the bet is paid. This is a brief overview, but it will give you a basis for understanding how craps works. The table gives you everything else.
Whatever you remember, don’t say the word seven at the dinner table. Also, make sure the dice land on the back wall when you roll them.
Blackjack
My favourite casino game is blackjack. To appreciate it properly, you don’t have to be as brilliant as Raymond Babbit. Because I was so easy to learn, I didn’t have much company. In the fast-paced action of blackjack, even experienced and inexperienced players can’t seem to get enough real money.
The object of the game is to get to 21 without moving before the dealer reaches 17. If the total is greater than the dealer’s winnings, you don’t lose. When you hit 21 or blackjack, you usually earn a lot more money.