Games In Las Vegas Casinos

This guide can only offer the fundamentals. For more detailed information check out the links at the bottom of each page. Also many resort casinos offer free gaming instruction. You should also be aware that although the basics are the same, some games and rules may vary from casino to casino. If you have any questions or require further instruction, do not hesitate to ask a dealer or casino supervisor for assistance.

It is played with eight complete decks of cards. The cards are shuffled by the dealer or "croupier," and then reshuffled and placed in a special box called the "shoe." The game is played by set rules outlined below. There is no option in the game on drawing or standing.

The object of the game is to come as close to the number nine as possible. Face cards and tens, or any combination of cards totaling ten, count as nothing. The ace is counted as one, the deuce is two, etc. The player with the "shoe" is considered the banker. He may place his bet either with the bank or with the players. The words "bank" and "players" are used as terminology for the game.

A person holds the "shoe" and continues to be the banker as long as the banker's hand wins. When the player's hand wins, the "shoe" is then passed on to the next player. He then becomes the banker. A player may pass the "shoe" if he so desires.

The cards are taken from the "shoe" by the person acting as the banker. Two cards referred to as "the player's hand," are extended to the player's side. This is done as a courtesy. The cards are turned over by the player and called by the croupier.

Player

Banker

TIE BETS
Bettor must bet EITHER the Player or Banker in order to also bet a tie. It is not permitted to bet on the "Tie" line only. Ties bets traditionally pay 8 to 1.

Bingo in Las Vegas takes the game a little further however. Many variations including "Letter X", "Six Pack", "Coverall" and "Indian Style Papoose" Bingo are offered. Additionally, some properties offer special progressive payouts as high as $10,000. Rules, payouts and variations vary from property to property. Bingo brochures detailing particular games and payouts are available at each respective location.

Ten's, Jack's, Queen's, and King's count as 10; Aces count as either 1 or 11, as you choose. Other cards play at their face value. You are given a chance to draw additional cards, one at a time, to get closer to 21. If you "bust", (go over 21) you lose, and the dealer collects your bet.

If your count is closer to 21 than the dealer's, you win. If it is under the dealer's, you lose. A tie is a standoff and results in a "push" (nobody wins).

The dealer has no choice on hitting or staying; he must hit when holding 16 or under and stay on 17 or over. After each player is satisfied with the number of cards he has asked for, the dealer turns up his hidden card. If he has 16 or less, he must "hit," that is draw an additional card or cards, until he reaches 17 or over. Dealer must stand on 17. If he "busts," he must pay all the players left in the game.

Caribbean Stud Poker is a casino table game. It is played on a 21 table and is based on the standard 5- card stud poker game. It is also the first casino table game to offer a progressive jackpot.

Each player makes the opening bet, or "ante". Players then have the option to bet $1.00 to participate in the progressive jackpot. Players win all or part of the progressive jackpot with a Royal Flush, Straight Flush, Four of a Kind, Full House or Flush.

After the progressive jackpot bet, players then have the option to bet to call the dealer. If a player feels he has a hand which will beat the dealer's, he will make this bet, which is twice the amount of the ante bet. If a player feels his hand can't beat the dealer, he can fold and not bet to call the dealer. At that point, the dealer must have a hand of Ace/King or higher to continue. If the dealer does not have such a hand, the hand is over. The dealer will pick up all cards and pay ante bets to all players still in the hand. If the dealer's hand is high enough to open and the player's hand beats the dealer's, the player may qualify for one of the following bonuses:

Craps is considered by many to be the most exciting game in any casino. In its many varieties of wagering, Craps can also be a complicated game. About the only way to learn all these intricacies is to play. There are some simple bets that you can make to start with, and the odds on these are quite favorable.

The most basic bet is placed on the "Pass Line" before the shooter rolls the dice. If the shooter rolls 7 or 11, you and he win, and he keeps the dice to roll again. If he hits 2, 3, or 12, the bet is lost but he remains the shooter and continues to roll the dice until he either makes his point and you both win, or he shoots 7 and the bet is lost.

In the above case, you have bet with the shooter. If you want to bet against him you place your bet on the "Don't Pass" line and the rules are entirely reversed except that if, on his first roll, the shooter rolls 12, it is a standoff (you neither win nor lose).

After the roll has begun and the shooter has a point, you can make a bet by placing it on the "come" line. The same rules apply to you as if the shooter were making a first roll: it the next roll is 7 you win; if it is a 2, 3, or 12, you lose; if it is any other number, that becomes your "come point" and, for you to win, it must be rolled again before a 7. If a 7 comes first, the bet is lost.

A beginner might do well to start with a "pass" line bet and then perhaps try a "come" bet. And don't worrv about making an error. The dealers will be happy to explain more about the game to you.

EXPLANATION OF CRAPS BETS

• PASS LINE: An even money bet. If the first roll of the dice adds up to 7 or 11, you win. 2, 3, or 12 loses the bet. Any other number is the "point" and if the point is rolled again, you win, but lose on 7.
• DON'T PASS LINE: Just the reverse of the PASS LINE, except that if 12 is the first roll, it's a standoff; nobody wins.
• COME BETS: Basically the same as the PASS LINE except that you must bet after the point.
• DON'T COME: The reverse of the COME BET, except that a first roll of 2 or 3 wins, and 12 is a standoff.
• ODDS: Once you have a "point" or a "come point", you may take the ODDS and win if the point or the come point is made before a 7. Payoff - Two to one for 1 0's or 4's, three to two for 5's or 9's, six to five for 8's or 6's. When betting DON'T PASS or DON'T COME, you lay the odds as outlined.
• PLACE BETS: Once a shooter makes a "point", you may take a PLACE BET on numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. If your number comes up before 7, you win. Payoff - Nine to five on 4's or 1 0's, seven to five on 5's or 9's, seven to six on 8's or 6's.
• FIELD: Here you're betting that 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12 is rolled before 5, 6, 7 or 8; 2 and 12 pay double.
• BIG 6 OR 8: You may bet one or both and win even money on the number when thrown before 7.
• HARD WAY BETS: You win if the number comes up exactly as on the table; lose if the number comes up any other way, or if a 7 is thrown.
• PROPOSITION BETS: 2 and 12 pay thirty for one, 3 and 11 pay fifteen for one, all on the first roll.
• ANY CRAPS: You can bet on any roll. If Q, 3 or 12 rolls, you win. You are paid seven times the amount of your bet. If any other number is rolled, you lose.

Keno is easy to play and is one of the most popular games in any casino.

Simply mark a blank Keno ticket with the numbers of your selection. Then present your ticket to the Keno desk with your wager and the clerk will give you a duplicate ticket. In a few minutes, twenty numbered Keno balls will be drawn, and if enough of your selected numbers are drawn, you are a winner.

The amount of money you win is dependent upon the type of tickets you play and the number of spots (numbers) caught. You may play as many tickets as you wish, and it is possible to win as much as $50,000 on a $1 wager in some casinos.

Playing lotteries in other states is definitely exciting, but that experience cannot match the thrill of watching a live Keno race in action.

In many casinos, "multi-race" Keno is featured, where you can play a number of consecutive Keno races at one time.

Convenient Keno runner service is available in many hotel casinos, where you can play your favorite Keno numbers while in restaurants and lounges.

Poker is played with one deck of playing cards and dealt only by professional dealers. Games featured include: Seven Card Stud, Texas Hold-em, Seven Card Stud High-Low Split, Razz and Omaha High-Low Split. The games, the limits and the amount of rake (house commission) are clearly posted in the poker area.

Las Vegas is also famous for the number of poker tournaments which are held at many casinos throughout the year.

A poker dealer will be happy to explain the basic rules of the game to anyone who has questions. Your poker seat is waiting.

For those who love the excitement of betting on thoroughbred horse racing, a number of hotel/casinos offer Race Books. Live closed-circuit broadcasts from race tracks around the country allow players to bet on, and watch, races from coast to coast.

From straight pari-mutual bets to more exotic bets, playing the horses in a Race Book is the next best thing to actually being at the track. The Race Books all provide local newspapers, racing sheets and other publications offering tips and information on races from tracks in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Florida and California.

If you're new to the sport, race book ticket writers are happy to answer your questions.

Everybody loves sports, and sports enthusiasts from around the country come to Las Vegas to watch, and bet on, the latest action.

A number of resort casinos feature Sports Book wagering. Odds, point spreads and lines are posted for a variety of professional and college sporting events. Events are shown live on giant screen TV's in the Sports Books, allowing bettors and spectators alike to keep track of the day's games and matches.

You can bet on virtually any sporting event, with the exception of team events taking place within the state of Nevada. Professional and college football, professional baseball, professional and college basketball, boxing, professional hockey, golf and auto racing are among the events offered for wagering.

In addition to straight bets, other wagers, including propositions, teasers, parlays and futures bets, are offered.

Even if you're not an expert, sports betting can be a challenging and inexpensive way to add more excitement to any sporting event.

Roulette is a truly enticing game. It is fast-paced and easy to play. The Roulette wheel spins around and around and a pearl-like ball drops down and settles into the winning slot.

Checks (chips) ranging in value from $1 to $500, can be bought from the dealer. Each player is given different colored checks. You may bet money as well as checks and make as many bets as you wish. The amount of return on a winning bet is determined by the amount of the wager and the type of bet made.

Odds on Roulette range from 35-to-1 to even money, and are determined by the combinations of numbers selected by the player.

Below are the various bets and their odds:

Sic Bo (Dice Pair) is an ancient Chinese game played with three dice. The object is to select the individual numbers, or combinations of numbers, that will appear on the dice after they are shaken.

The possibilities are displayed along with payoff odds on the table's easy-to-read layout. The possibilities include single dice numbers, two of a kind, three of a kind, or combinations of any two or three of the dice.

To play, place your bet on the possibility you select. After bets are made, the dice tumbler is rotated and then set on the table. All winning possibilities of the three dice are illuminated on the layout. Winning payoffs range from one-to-one to 150-to-one.

You've hit the jackpot when it comes to playing slot machines in Las Vegas.

These "one-armed bandits" can be found in every casino, with a variety of models and coin denominations to please every player, including mechanical, electro-mechanical video, and the newest technology - touch screens. With one touch of the screen, you can change from poker to slots. There are three to nine reelers, crisscrosses, multiples, progressives, and specialty machines such as 21, Keno, Video Poker, Poker Bingo, and Video Horse Racing and Dog Racing.

Slot machines were introduced around the turn of the century, and their popularity increases daily. Thousands of slot players agree - playing slots is still the most enjoyable and relaxing form of gambling.

Day or night, you'll find slot machines that offer astounding payoffs, some at record-setting levels.

Slots are fun and easy to play. Drop in a coin and pull the handle. The lights and ringing bells will let you know when you've hit the jackpot. If you have any questions, please ask a slot attendant or change person for assistance.