Follow these twelve easy tips, and your first experience with gambling will be a great one!
You promised yourself you wouldn't bet a nickel in Las Vegas, let alone a dollar. But here you are, standing in the middle of the casino. People at a craps table shout and slap hands. A woman at the blackjack table lets out a whoop of joy. All around you, the air is full of the electric hum and clatter of slot machines. One slot machine emits a high, warbling song and flashes to announce the winning of a jackpot. Everything is light, and sound, and fun. And let's face it, your resolution not to gamble is wearing pretty thin.
Almost every tourist gambles in Las Vegas, whether it's a couple of nickels slipped into a machine or a couple of million placed on a blackjack table. This article will explain the different types of gaming available to you in a casino and will offer tips on having fun in the casinos without losing your shirt.
WHAT SHALL I PLAY?
There are three types of games in most Las Vegas casinos.
The first are the ever-present slot machines. Originally developed to give women something to do while their husbands played the less-reputable table games, slot machines have taken on a life of their own and are the bread and butter of most casinos. The play is simple. You insert a coin or two, press a button, and a few seconds later the machine lets you know whether or not you've won.
The next type of game is video poker. A favorite with Las Vegas natives, video poker offers at least some hand in your own fate. In the most common version, Jacks or Better, you're dealt a hand of five cards. Keep the best cards, discard the rest, and the machine will deal you the number of cards you discarded. Pairs of jacks or better win payouts.
Finally, there are the table games. Table games are games that require you interact at least minimally with another human being. Some, like blackjack, pit you against the dealer; others, like poker, pit you against the other gamblers. Table games come in many different varieties, but some you are likely to see include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, Pai Gow poker, and craps.
A DOZEN TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME GAMBLERS
1. Never forget that the house always has the edge. There are rare moments when you can whittle that edge to as little as a tenth of a percent, but in the long run the house always wins.
2. Decide on a bankroll. A "bankroll" is how much money you plan to devote to gambling (i.e., how much you're willing to lose). Be careful not to exceed your bankroll.
3. Take lessons and buy strategy cards. Most casinos take some time in the mornings, when things tend to be slower, to offer lessons about their table games. Attend these, and you're likely to pick up not only the basics but some excellent inside tips as well. Basic strategy cards can be found at almost every casino gift shop. Many casinos allow you to bring these cards to the playing table.
4. Take it easy on the free drinks. Las Vegas casinos offer free alcoholic drinks to players It's all too inadvertently drink too much and start to make poor gaming decisions. (The casinos count on it.) Also, since Las Vegas is in a desert, it's very easy to get dehydrated. You don't have to give up the drinks completely, just alternate alcoholic drinks with a bottle of water.
5. Keep an eye on your valuables. Casino security is excellent, but not perfect. Pickpockets are always circulating the casino floor looking for unattended bags, wallets, chips, coins, etc.
6. When playing the machines, always play the maximum number of credits allowed. This allows you to get the best payouts on a jackpot.
7. Look for the best paying machines. Look for clusters of machines guaranteed to pay 99% or higher. It doesn't mean you personally will be this lucky, since the averages are calculated on millions of spins, but it does mean that the house advantage is cut to 1%. On Jacks or Better video poker, examine the payout schedule. Ideally, you will be paid six coins for a flush and nine for a full house. A payout of five coins for a flush and eight for a full house is more common, but less desirable.
8. Do talk to strangers. Joining an empty table isn't any fun (and you'll lose money faster playing "heads up" with the dealer). Instead pick a lively table ask if there are seats available, and hop into the action. Don't worry about being a novice--most dealers and gamblers are patient and friendly with first-timers. If the table you've chosen isn't being nice, pick up your chips and move to a different table.
9. Don't chase your losses. Chasing your losses refers to spending more than you had originally planned to try to win back lost money. It almost never works.
10. Quit on a high note. If you put money into a slot machine and hit a jackpot right off, consider taking your winnings and walking away. Otherwise, you'll probably lose everything you've just won back to the casino. On table games, my personal rule is to stop once I have twice the money I started with.
11. Keep track of time. Most Las Vegas casinos do not feature windows or clocks. They want you to feel as though you are in a timeless fun land where nothing matters but the gaming. Just remember that you do have outside obligations and appointments. Wear a wristwatch and check it from time to time. Otherwise, you might end up like my poor aunt who lost twenty-four hours playing in the casino and missed her flight home!
12. Have fun. That's the bottom line. Gaming is all about having an enjoyable time without hurting yourself or anyone else.
So"¦why not go ahead and put that quarter in?
