Playing games for money and gambling have been around for centuries. The first-ever casino was started in a theater in Italy to give patrons something to do during intermission. Ever since then, casinos have taken the world by storm.
Nowadays, apart from massive casinos around the world, casinos have even moved into the online space. Online casinos allow you to get access to all the fun of gambling without ever leaving your own home and provide
Although casinos and the games played inside them are constantly evolving, there are a few that have stood the test of time and remain popular in both brick-and-mortar and online casinos. Let’s go over a few of the fan-favorite games you can find in most casinos.
1. BLACKJACK
Blackjack is a classic game that you will find anywhere and everywhere where gambling is involved. Each casino has its own rules for each table, but you can be sure you’ll find it.
HOW TO PLAY
Blackjack is a game you play against the dealer. The goal is to have a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer’s without going over. Each player gets two face-up cards, while the dealer receives one face-up and one face-down.
Each card has a certain value, and you must do some quick basic math. Once you get your cards, you can hit (draw another card) or stand (keep your current hand). If your hand goes over 21, you bust and lose the round. The dealer must hit until they reach a hand value of 17 or higher. If the dealer busts, all remaining players win.
2. ROULETTE
Roulette is another popular game you’ll find in any casino. This is one of those games that you hear before you see it. It has a spinning wheel and a ball; what more could you want from a casino game?
HOW TO PLAY
Roulette is a thrilling game that you play on a spinning wheel with numbered pockets from 0 to 36. The wheel has two colors, red and black. The objective is to guess which pocket the ball will land in.
First, you place your bets on the table and choose individual numbers, groups of numbers, or colors that you think the ball will land on. Once all bets are placed, the croupier spins the wheel and releases the ball. If the ball lands on a number or group of numbers you’ve bet on, you win. The game offers various betting options, each with its own odds and payouts.
3. POKER
Poker is a super classic game that’s been around since the late 18th century. Since then, many variations have evolved, but the classic version remains king. You’ll find it and its variations in casinos everywhere.
HOW TO PLAY
You play poker with as many players as the table allows. The objective is to win chips by creating the best hand or by making other players fold or give up.
Depending on the game, each player gets a certain number of cards and then places a bet clockwise. You can either fold (withdraw from the current hand), check (pass without betting), bet (place more chips into the pot), call (match the previous bet), or raise (increase the previous bet). This keeps going until everyone stops betting and is ready to show their cards. The player with the best hand wins the entire pot.
4. BACCARAT
Baccarat is another game where you play against the dealer or banker. It’s super popular in France but has obviously spread throughout the world. It also includes many variations, but you can always find a table with the most basic version of the rules.
HOW TO PLAY
In Bacarrat, the objective is to have a hand value closest to nine. Face cards and tens have a value of zero, while other cards hold their face value.
You have three options when betting,
- Your hand will win
- The banker’s hand will win.
- A tie.
Both you and the banker get two cards. A third card may be drawn based on specific rules. The hand with a value closest to nine wins the round, and payouts are made accordingly.
5. SLOT MACHINES
Slot machines are the most popular game any casino, whether online or in person. They are extremely fun to play, and they can easily hypnotize you with their flashing lights and sounds. There are basic slot machines and much more complex ones that offer mini-games along with regular gameplay.
HOW TO PLAY
Slot machines are probably the easiest game to understand in a casino. You simply insert a coin into the machine and spin the reels, which all have different patterns. If the reels line up according to a specified pattern, you win. You can place your bet before you spin and you can choose the lines of patterns that will pay out. For example, one line would be just the three center symbols matching up. However, some machines offer up to hundreds and even thousands of line payouts!
Because there are so many themes for slot machines and so many different payout rates, they create a super fun and engaging game for players of all experience levels.
6. CRAPS
In its most basic form, Craps is a dice game where you bet on the outcome of someone’s roll. Of course, this is an oversimplification of the rules. The real thing is much more fun and engaging and lets all players get in on the fun.
HOW TO PLAY
Craps start with the croupier, or the “dealer,” taking all bets from the players around the table. As a player, you can bet on several things in the game, including the single outcome of the dice roll, a series of throws, or even specific numbers on the dice.
Once you place your bets, the shooter will throw the dice, and winning bets will be paid out. It’s important to know how to place bets in craps because you can not hand anything directly to the croupier. There are also several rules about handling the dice when you are the shooter.
7. KENO
This game is just an honorable mention. It is not always offered in every casino, but it is still very popular. It is essentially a massive bingo-style game that you can play every hour or every few hours in a casino or in a specified Keno lounge.
HOW TO PLAY
Keno is similar to bingo, except the main difference is that you get to choose the numbers on your card. You get a special card that has numbers one through 80 on it. You can then choose up to 26 numbers and mark them on your sheet with an X.
If one of your numbers is drawn, you win a payout. If you choose fewer numbers, your payout can be bigger. For example, rather than choosing 26 numbers, you can choose only 6, and if one of your numbers “hits,” you win a bigger amount. Keno is extremely fun to play and doesn’t require lots of skill. This makes it super appealing to beginners and pro gamblers alike.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s always good to have a basic understanding of popular casino games. Especially if it’s your first time in a casino, all the games can seem a bit overwhelming. Once you get the hang of the most popular ones, you can start playing, practicing, and formulating strategies to hopefully get bigger winnings. Remember, always gamble responsibly and within your means. That means treating the games as a fun pastime rather than a guaranteed source of income.
If you feel like taking a break from gambling for the evening and prefer a night in, check out our list of the best movie-drinking games.
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