WHAT YOU WILL FIND:

Guide to Slots

Craps Strategies

Guide To Roulette

Baccarat Strategies

Who knew the first slot machine was invented in 1895?
I bet you didn´t! The slot machine days of reel strips of playing cards and lemons, cherries and bell fruit gums scrolling has transformed into a new virtual era.
The online slot machine craze has revolutionized the Industry.
Today you don´t have to travel to Vegas to hit three buttons and pull the handle.
No more annoying loud bells ringing and nosey people hovering over your machine, waiting to grab it once you leave.
I remember back in the day when my parents planned a trip to Vegas .It became this whole big ordeal. Just preparing took a few weeks. By the time they arrived in Vegas they were exhausted. What a way to start a vacation. Although, tired my parents headed down to the casino in hopes of lifting there spirits, or pockets. Although they had some wins, it certainly would have been a more profitable gain had they had the opportunity to stay at home and play online, eliminating the aggravation and cost of the trip.
Because of many stories alike a whole new idea was unrolling. As humans we tend to imagine things and create unrealistic ideas. The planning and strenuous preparations for that long trip to Vegas that didn´t even guarantee a win made you just dream about bringing Vegas into your own home. Determined we were, we did.
That slot machine that you liked is now only a few steps from your own refrigerator.
Wow, your favorite snacks I n your comfortable recliner and playing for big bucks.
It can´t get any better.

Slot machines have gone through many face-lifts. Surgecally planting new rich graphics and musical tunes. Now you´ll be singing your way to fortune.
Monopoly and wheel of fortune are but a few, of many games you´ll find.
Not to mention video games that have become a whole new exciting phenomenon.
With such an advance in technology new rules and guidelines have changed too.
Slot machine betting produces most of the casinos revenue. So it is important to be one step ahead of the game. Know how to manage your wagers and select slots that fit you.
There are three categories of slot machines, basic slots, progressive slots, and bonus video slots. The basic slots better known as the three reel wonders that have a single payline, or the diamonds and red, white and blue 7´s,are great games for getting started. Progressive slots are different. They are run by an ever-growing jackpot. Bonus video slots on the other hand, offer side bonuses while your still playing the game. This can raise your winnings and rise your wagering. It has become more popular then ever. However, it is important to take your time and know what your doing. In no Time you'll be “slot savvy”, You´ll find people calling you Mr. Big buck. Kind of catchey, huh? Remember Pac-man gobbling all those chips, well now it´s your turn. So step aside Pac-man because I am coming through, big time.

The majority of a casino’s actions and winnings come from Slot machines. They are simple to use, inexpensive to maintain, and require little attention or player skill (although some people swear that luck is also a gambling "skill").

There are many different machine games. Jackpot size, combinations, symbols, size and number of coins allowed in each machine can vary. Included in these games are the popular video poker games. Modern machines are completely electronic. Symbol combinations come up randomly and machines are pre-programmed to return a certain percent to the players.A slot machine returns between 85 percent and 98 percent, depending on the game, location and usage. The average house advantage is calculated to be about 9 percent. Only play slots at a casino with a 98% Payout Average.

General Tips
Recognize the symbols that constitute a jackpot on your machine. All machines are different. Las Vegas attendants say winners routinely walk away from winning machines without waiting for the rest of the payout from attendants. The largest jackpots are all paid by attendants.
If you're lucky enough to hit an attendant-paid jackpot -- typically $1,200 or more -- do not touch your machine or leave it for even a second. Do not insert more coins or allow anyone to touch it. A attendant must come by to complete the transaction.
Always play the maximum bet. If a machine will take a bet of five quarters, place the five-quarter bet. This gives you the best odds of winning long-term if you get a good hand.
If you like to play slots, Always look for a 98% or higher payout with a progressive jackpot.

Hot Tips That Slots Players Need To Know

Are there any sure-fire ways to win at slots? Absolutely. Here are some ways:

Play the progressives with maximum coins.
Continue to play only if the machine is hitting at least one out of four spins.
Stop playing and cash out if you double your bank roll. Example: If you alloted $100.00 ro play slots and you accumulated $200.00 or more in winnings -> CASH OUT!
Stop playing at a pre-determined limit. Don't get caught up in the "I need to win my money back" mentality.
The above ways doesn't guarantee that you'll become an instant winner, because it's tough to beat a house edge that generally runs well over 10 percent, but it also doesn't have to be so tough on your bankroll. So, let's get started...

The only true skill to playing slots is machine identification.
Example: Progressive machines offer the opportunity to compare and shop around for the best value. One 25 cent "machine carousel" can have a progressive jackpot of $2,600, and another bank of machines- exactly the same and standing side by side-$1,900. You should always be looking for the best opportunities possible.
Casinos will advertise machines that have a 98.5 percent payback. WOW! A casino game holding just a percent and a half, and on a machine no less. But there's a down side. If you look closely at the advertisement, it will probably say "on select machines." Furthermore, it probably won't be posted on the machine itself, and it will generally be limited to a single bank of machines in the casino. Now it becomes your responsibility to find them. Easiest way: Ask a employee, and if he or she doesn't know, have one of them ask a direct supervisor.
Casinos give away millions of dollars in comps each year, and as a player, you deserve your share. Repeat, you deserve your share. How? Casinos now offer you the ability to "comp yourself" by using one of their player's club cards. It's generally based on the number of coins you cycle through a machine, so you might as well get credit for all those quarters you're inserting. Shop casinos for comp value and find out what you're worth to them. If you play online slots, look for a casino that offers the best comp points.
You always want to treat "comps" as a form of profit, but you never want to gamble just to receive them. It's much better to play a 98 percent payback machine and increase your winning opportunities than play machines with a poor return that cycle more of your coins. Remember, you're there to stay in action and possibly win, not lose your bankroll for a free buffet.
If you can't afford to play the maximum amount of coins, you shouldn't be playing that denomination of machine. If dollar slots are too rich for your blood, drop down to a quarter machine. It's always better value to play five quarters versus one dollar or five nickels instead of one quarter. The maximum coins always have the best payout value.
I recommend not playing back the credits you've accumulated. Cash out and take stock. The problem with playing back credits is that the longer you stay, the machines built-in advantage eats away at them. It doesn't take long to zero out. Example:  If you have $100.00 bank roll for slots, play the $100.00 and do not allow the machine to play back your credits.  Look at it this way, The credits accumulated is your profit, if any.

Can't decide which type of machine to play? If you're going to choose between video poker and slots, play video poker. Even poor play on a video poker machine will have a better payback than most machines.
Before you walk away from a machine, don't forget to press the cash-out button. Millions are lost each year by gamblers forgetting their winnings (stored credits).
You receive full payment when hitting a jackpot. Even with some relatively small jackpots, if the machine is short coins in the hopper, you'll receive only a partial cash payment in the tray, with the balance to be paid by a attendant. If you were to insert more coins and pull the handle, say bye-bye to the remainder of your jackpot.
Read all the posted material on a machine. It is your responsibility to fully understand all printed information concerning the number of coins to insert, lines needed to be lit, prizes or awards. In most cases, when someone calls a attendant over and complains the machine "just ripped me off," that individual generally didn't read the pay schedule correctly.
When you insert coins, don't assume all the tokens register before you pull the handle. Played five but only four recorded? Sorry. You'll get a sympathetic pat on the back from the casino, but no money.
Avoid machines that use video representations of symbols. With these slots, there is absolutely no way to figure out what the payoff percentage of that machine is.
Most casinos will hold a machine for you while you go to the restroom, take a short break or even go on a buffet run. Just ask a supervisor to reserve your machine and give a specific time when you'll return.
Don't chain yourself to a cold machine, even if it's your favorite. Why? Because the longer you stay on any machine, the more time the machine's built- in mathematical advantage has to work you over. This is how casinos build mega-resorts, time always working on their side and a mathematical edge on each and every machine.
Even though you're only playing slots, you still need to set a loss limit on your bankroll for both your trip and each individual gaming session. Divy up your wad per playing session, discipline yourself and stick to it.
When searching for high payback machines, ask a few employees where the local players find the best value. Simply put, locals don't play dog machines.
Leave both your credit and bank teller cards at home so you will not be tempted with the easy convenience of getting cash. Only bet what you can afford to lose.

More Slot Machines...

Good Luck with the Slot Machines!

Craps is an exciting, fast-paced dice game where players can place several of the best bets in the casino; yet new players are apt to shy away from the craps table because of the confusing number of different bets. The strategy to becoming a good craps player is to:

*Learn the different bets on the craps table.

*Start with a basic beginner strategy.

*The Different Craps Bets

Pass Line  - A pass line bet is a bet placed before the come out roll (i.e. the first roll of the dice in a new craps round). A wager on the pass line wins immediately if the come out roll is 7 or 11 (naturals), and loses if the come out roll is 2, 3, or 12 (craps numbers). If any other number (4,5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is rolled, that number becomes "the point." If the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7, your pass line bet wins. If the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again, your pass line bet loses.

Don't Pass Line  - A don't pass line bet is essentially the reverse of a pass line bet, and is also placed before the come out roll. If the shooter rolls 3 or 12 on the come out roll, a don't pass line bet wins immediately. If, however, the come out roll is 7 or 11, don't pass line bets lose. If the come out roll is 2, a don't pass line bet is returned to the player in a push. If the come out roll is 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes the point. Once the point has been established, don't pass line bets win if the shooter rolls a 7 before rolling the point again. If the shooter rolls the point again before rolling a 7, don't pass line bets lose.

Come  - A come bet is placed before any roll of the dice, once a point has been established by the come out roll. Come bets win immediately if the shooter's next roll is 7 or 11, and lose if the roll is 2, 3, or 12. If the shooter rolls 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10, that number becomes "the come point." If the shooter rolls the come point again before rolling a 7, the come bet wins.

Don't Come  - A don't come bet is essentially the opposite of a come bet. Don't come bets win immediately when the shooter's next roll is 3 or 12, and lose if the roll is 7 or 11. If the shooter rolls a 2, the bet will be returned to the player in a push. After the come point is established, don't come bets win if 7 is rolled and lose if the come point is rolled.

Odds  - An odds bet is a "back up" bet on an original pass line, don't pass line, come, or don't come bet. Gold Club allows odds bets of three times your original bets.

Field  - A field bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be either 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12.

Big Six and Big Eight  - A big six bet is a bet that 6 will be rolled before 7. Likewise, a big eight bet is a bet that 8 will be rolled before 7.

Place  - Win A place win bet is a bet that either 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before a seven.

Place Lose  - A place lose bet is a bet that 7 will be rolled before either 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10.

Buy  - A buy bet is a bet that either 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10 will be rolled before 7. A vigorish (vig.) of 5% is charged when placing the buy bet.

Lay -  A lay bet is a bet that 7 will be rolled before 4, 6, 8, 9, or 10. A 5% vig. is charged when placing the lay bet.

Any 7  - An "any 7" bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 7.

Any 11  - An "any 11" bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 11.

Any Craps  - An "any craps" bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be 2, 3, or 12.

Horn  - A horn bet is a bet that the next roll of the dice will be either 2, 3, 11, or 12.

Hardway  - A hardway bet is a bet that the shooter will roll either a 4, 6, 8, or 10 as doubles (2+2, 3+3, 4+4, or 5+5) before rolling a 7. Rolling a number by doubles is said to be rolling the number "the hard way."

*Start on the Pass Line

A good beginner strategy is to start with a minimum pass line bet, backed by single odds.

If the bets win, place a new pass line bet with double odds. Keep the amount of your original pass line bet (flat bet) the same, but increase the odds bet.

If those bets win, go for triple odds.

Don't increase your minimum flat bet on the pass line until you are winning. Then only increase it by 50% of your previous wager. If you lose, go back to the minimum flat bet.

Add a Come Bet

When you are comfortable playing the pass line, you can add a minimum come bet with single odds. If you win, double and then triple your come odds.

Don't increase your minimum come bet (flat bet) until you are winning. Then only increase it by 50% of your previous wager. If you lose, go back to the minimum bet.

Don't Pass Line and Don't Come Bets

When you have gained experience by placing pass line and come bets, you can try don't pass line and don't come bets with odds.

Use the same betting strategy: wager the minimum bet with steadily increasing odds. After a win, you can increase your next flat bet by 50%. After a loss, you can wager a minimum flat bet.

Taking Odds vs. Laying Odds

You "take" odds on a pass line or come bet, but "lay" odds on a don't pass line or don't come bet. Laying odds on don't bets means that you have to wager more to win less since don't betters have an advantage once the point has been established.

Place Win on 6 or 8

Although the house advantage is relatively low on this bet, you should really only consider it when you are winning your pass line (or don't pass line) and come (or don't come) bets with odds, and the number 6 or 8 is not already covered by your bets.

Casinos almost always have their odds published on the table. An odds bet is a supplement to the original pass line bet and it can range anywhere from 1 to 100 times your original bet, depending on the house odds. A pass line bet with odds cannot be made on the "come out roll", as it can only be made after the point is set. For example, if you were betting $5 on a pass line bet and the point got set to 4, you could place an equivalent or larger bet just below your original wager.

Place the chips half-on and half-off the bottom of the pass line. If on the next roll a 4 is hit you win your pass line bet back, and an additional sum of money derived from the odds bet. In this case, the payoff is 2 to1 on the odds bet. The actual number the point is set to determines the payout on odds bets. If the point is set to 4 or 10, odds bets are paid back at 2 to 1 odds. If the point is set to 5 or 9, odds bets are paid back at 3 to 2 odds. If the point is set to 6 or 8, odds bets are paid back at 6 to 5 odds.

The odds bet is usually explained as being an intelligent bet in the game of craps. This is because the more you wager (double, triple, quadruple odds bet) the lower the house edge drops. A standard pass line bet holds a house edge of 1.41% - respectable, and compared to many other casino games you have to choose from its downright excellent, but take into account the potential for odds betting and it's a whole different story. The house edge on a pass line bet with ten times odds is an incredible 0.18%.

For quick reference here is a chart showing the advantage derived from each stage of odds bets.

Bet Casino Payoff Casino Advantage
Pass Line Bet Even Money 1.41%
With Single Odds (1x) Even Money Plus Odds 0.85%
With Double Odds (2x) 0.61%
With Triple Odds (3x) 0.47%
With Five-Times Odds (5x) 0.33%
With Ten-Times Odds(10x) 0.18% 

Below are some other Bet strategies:
The Don't Pass Bet
The Come Bet
The Don't Come Bet
The Hardway Bet
The Buy Bet
The Proposition Bet
The Field Bet
The Place Bet
The Lay Bet
The Don't Pass Bet

If you're in a land based casino and having a good time at the craps table, maybe making a few new friends, then you probably shouldn't bet on the don't pass bet. Essentially its like betting against the shooter or against the dice, which means you win when everybody else loses. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but you want to keep those new friends don't you? You want to be invited to the next party no? Craps is a party game in a casino, filled with good vibes, my well learned advice, don't disrupt the vibes. They may have nothing at all to do with mathematics, but they are no less important.

On the don't pass bet (to make this bet place your chips in the narrower section just beyond the pass line labeled don't pass) made on the come out roll, you lose on a 7 or 11, and win on a 2 or a 3. A 12 on the come out roll is like a push in blackjack, it's a standoff where nobody wins or loses. If anything else is rolled it becomes the point, and you win if a 7 is rolled before the point is repeated. Notice how this is the opposite of the pass line bet, and notice how you win when the shooter loses. Seems awfully nice of the casino to offer an opposite bet of the normal one, wouldn't the house lose their statistical edge? Only if they kept the numbers straight. Sadly on a don't pass bet with odds, the casino pays out pretty crappy amounts. The odds of a 7 coming out before a 10 are quite good so the casino has to hedge its bet in effect.

The Come Bet

You'll quickly notice the large area of the craps board labeled with 'COME' smack dab in the middle of the playing area. Make sure you have read the section on the Pass bet in our craps rules section and earlier in this section, if you know all there is to know about the Pass line bet, then you wont have any trouble getting your head around the simple 'COME' bet. The easiest way to think about the COME bet is to think, it's exactly the same as the Pass line bet, but can be made after the point is set. There is no such thing as a come bet on the come out roll, because it would be exactly the same as a Pass line bet.

Say I wanted to make a come bet, and the point had been set to 5. I would put my come bet down in the come section and wait for the next roll. If a 7 or 11 is hit you win (while the shooter looses), and you lose on a craps shot (2, 3 or 12). If it's any one of the other numbers, this becomes your 'come point'. If your 'come point' is rolled before a 7, you win. So say a 9 is rolled, at that time the stickman moves your come bet to the 9 on the board. Now if the shooter rolls a 9 before a 7 you win, if they roll a 7 before a 9 you lose. Also remember that on come bets you also have the ability to place "odds" bets just like pass line bets after your 'come-point' is established.

The Don't Come Bet

The don't come bet is the opposite of the come bet, much in the same way the don't pass bet is the opposite of the pass bet. The don't come bet must be made after a point is set by the shooter. If a 7 or 11 is rolled you lose, if a 2 or 3 is rolled you win, and a 12 is a standoff. Otherwise a come point is set and you win if a 7 is rolled before the come point is repeated, and lose if the come point is repeated before a 7 is rolled. The don't come bar is highlighted in our graphic.

Once again the odds are in your favor that a seven would be rolled before a 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10 so the odds bets pay the opposite of a pass line odds bet.

The Hardway Bet

Named that way because it's a hard way to win, just kidding, but the hardway bet has some pretty horrible odds, so I recommend you stick with pass line bets with odds for the most part. Actually the 'hard' bit derives from the doubles involved. To roll a 'hard eight' means to roll it with double 4's, to roll a 'hard 6' means to roll it with double 3's. So in craps the only hardway bets that exist are a hard 4, 6, 8, and 10. When you make a hardway bet your betting that the hard version of what your betting on will come up before the soft version, or a seven. The soft version is the opposite of the hard version. Two threes is a hard six, but a 4 and a 2 is a soft six.

Odds are not completely consistent from casino to casino on the hardway bets but generally they go like so: a hard 4 pays 7 or 8 to 1, a hard 6 pays 9 or 10 to 1, a hard 8 pays 9 or 10 to 1, and a hard 10 pays 7 or 8 to 1.

Hardway bets are usually placed to add a little spice to the game, not in any effort to win more money. This is emphasized by the fact that the house edge is something atrocious on these bets. For a 4 or 10 the hard way, there is an 11.1% house edge, for a 6 or 8, it's around 9%.

The Buy Bet

You may find some people who look like they know what they're talking about around the craps table 'buying' instead of 'placing' numbers. What's the difference, why do we care? A buy bet decreases the house edge and enables you to win more. The numbers 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 can all be bought, but usually the 4 or 10 is picked because its pays off better. The buy bet is similar to the place bet in that the number you buy must come up before a 7 does. The odds are higher for a buy bet. 2:1 on a 4 or 10 buy, 3:2 for a 5 or 9, or 6:5 for a 6 or 8. The catch is, you have to pay a 5% commission on any bets you buy (often called a 'vig'). Depending on how much you bet, buying a bet can make you more money in the end even after accounting for the 'vig'. The odds are only in your favor on a buy bet for a 4 or 10, so stick with the place bet on any others.

The Proposition Bet

Proposition bets are the ones you can make in the middle of the table, and exist only on the 'next roll'. As one roll bets they can be heart racing and exciting, an integral part of the craps experience.

These bets include:

"any seven" bet With the "any seven" bet you're betting the shooter will hit a 7 on the next roll. Horrible house edge, never make this bet.
"snake eyes" bet With the "snake eyes" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a two on the next roll.
"yo eleven" bet With the "yo eleven" bet you're betting the shooter will hit an 11 on the next roll.
"any craps" bet With the "any craps" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 2, 3, or 12 on the next roll.
"any three" bet With the "any three" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 3 on the next roll.
"midnight" 12 bet With the "midnight" bet you're betting the shooter will throw a 12 on the next roll.
"horn" bet With the "horn" bet you're combining the snake eyes, 3, yo 11, and midnight bets.
Just to illustrate the horrible house edge on many of these proposition bets I have provided a table:

Bet Casino Payoff Casino Advantage
Any Seven 4:1 16.67%
2 or 12 30:1 13.89%
3 or 11 15:1 11.11%
Any Craps 7:1 11.11%
Horn Bet 2 or 12 - 27:4 3 or 11 - 3:1 12.50%

The Field Bet

The field bet is also among the smarter bets in craps, but not the great odds you get with odds on the pass line. The field holds approx a 5.5% house edge. As you'll notice in our graphic, the field is an area on the craps table just beyond the don't pass bar. The other handy bit about a field bet is that it can be played on any roll, so it's a very non-threatening move.

The great aspect to the field bet is the simplicity. It's a one-time bet which states simply: if the shooter throws a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 (any of the numbers in the field area) then you win. If a 5, 6, 7, or 8 are thrown then you lose. There is no trick to placing your chips on one of the numbers in the field, its just anywhere you want and any of those number can be hit. If your betting on the field, most casinos also give you a bonus if a 2 or a 12 is thrown (notice the circles on those numbers). Many casinos pay 2x your bet when a 2 or "snake eyes" is thrown and some even pay 3x your bet if a 12 (commonly called a 'midnight') is thrown.

So look at that, even if you're just a beginner you already know exactly how to make a pass bet, a pass bet with odds, and a field bet. Most of the wagering at a craps table revolves around just these betting techniques.

The Place Bet

The place bet is a variation of betting with a number. You can make a place bet anytime by handing the dealer your bet and saying 'I want to place the 8' or whatever number you want to place bet for. You can make a place bet at any time on any of 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10. If the number you have 'placed' is hit before a 7, you win and you're paid as follows: 4 or 10 placed - 9:5 odds, 5 or 9 placed - 7:5 odds, 6 or 8 placed - 7:6 odds.

Notice the pass line bet offers better odds, so basically you should stick with it over the long run. Although you can technically place a place bet at any time, it is impossible for it to come into effect until the shooters point is set, therefore it is more acceptable to ask for this bet after the come out roll is over.

The Lay Bet

An unusual and uncommon fellow, the lay bet resembles the don't pass and don't come bets in that you are playing against the dice. The lay bet can be made at any time. In essence it's the opposite of the buy bet, and the same as the don't come bet, but with different odds. The lay bets may be placed on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10. The bet is on the fact that a seven will be rolled before your number. 7 is more likely to come up than any other number so the casino requires you to wager more than you could win. This bet also requires a commission of 5% on average. If the bet is on 4 or 10 you get 1:2 odds, on 5 or 9 2:3 odds, on six or 8 5:6 odds. Lay bets are usually only made by people who think they understand more about what's going on that is probably possible. I would be surprised if anyone were ever in a position where a lay bet is the best option, I recommend sticking to the basic bets if your not an expert already.

Craps Strategy Continued...

Good luck at the Craps Tables!

ROULETTE

The overwhelming majority of American casinos use a double-zero Roulette wheel. This wheel has pockets numbered from 1 to 36, plus 0 and 00, for a total of 38 pockets. Contrarily, in Europe a single-zero wheel is commonly used and Roulette has always been the most popular game in the casino.

There are usually six seats at the Roulette table. In order to help the dealer differentiate each player’s bet, every player is assigned a different color chip, which they purchase right at the table. Each table has its own minimum chip values and that information is usually posted on a sign at the table. As an example, let’s say a table has a $1 minimum chip value. This means that when you give the dealer your money the colored chips he gives you in return must have a minimum value of $1 each. Thus, if you gave the dealer $50 he would ask what value you wanted on the chips and if you said $1 he would give you 50 colored chips.

If you prefer, you could say you wanted the chips valued at $2 each and he would just give you 25 chips rather than 50. You can make the value of your colored chips anything you want and you’ll notice that when the dealer gives you your chips he’ll put one of your chips on the railing near the wheel with a marker on top to let him know the value of your chips. Later on when you’re done playing at that table you must exchange your colored chips for regular chips before leaving. The colored chips have no value anywhere else in the casino so don’t leave the table with them.

Besides the minimum chip value, there is also a minimum amount that must be bet on each spin of the wheel. Once again, the minimums are probably posted on a sign at the table and if it says $2 minimum inside and $5 minimum outside this means that if you are betting on any of the 38 numbers that pay 35-to-1 the total of all your bets must be $2. You could make two different $1 bets or one $2 bet, it doesn’t matter except that the total of all your bets on the numbers must be at least $2. The $5 minimum outside means that any of the outside bets that pay 2-to-1, or even money, require that you bet $5 each time. On the outside bets you can’t make a $3 bet and a $2 bet to meet the minimums - you have to bet at least $5 every time. After you’ve exchanged your cash for colored chips you’re ready to place your first bet so, let’s see what your options are:

You can make a straight bet where you only bet on one number and if it comes in you’ll be paid 35-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26% and by the time you’re done with this roulette section I’m sure you’ll be very familiar with that number. Another choice you have is to do a split. This is where you put a chip on the line that separates two numbers. If either number comes up you’ll be paid at 17-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26%.

If you put a chip in an area that splits 4 numbers this is called a corner bet and if any one of those 4 numbers comes in you will be paid off at 8-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26%.

If you put a chip at the beginning of a row of 3 numbers, this is called a street bet and if any one of those 3 numbers shows up you will be paid off at 11-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is 5.26%.

You can also put a chip on the line between two streets so that you have a double street covered and if any one of those 6 numbers come in you’ll be paid off at 5-to-1. The casino advantage on this bet is?... you guessed it...5.26%.

The only other bet you can make on the inside numbers is the 5- number bet where you place one chip in the upper left corner of the number 1 box. If any one of those 5 numbers comes in you’ll be paid off at 6-to-1 and what do you think the casino advantage is on this bet? Nope, I gotcha... it’s 7.89%. Actually, this is the worst possible bet on the roulette table and the only bet you’ll come across that doesn’t have a 5.26% house edge on the double-zero roulette wheel. You should never make this bet.

One quick word here about "to" and "for" when discussing odds. Whenever the odds are stated as "to" this means that in addition to the stated payoff you also receive your original bet back. In other words, if you won your single number bet in roulette you would receive 35-to-1, which is a 35-chip payoff, plus you’d still keep your original one-chip bet, so you end up with 36 chips. Now if the odds are stated as "for" that means you do not receive back your original bet. If the odds in your single number bet were 35-for-1 you would still receive a 35-chip payoff but the casino would keep your original one-chip bet so you would only end up with 35 chips. The only place in a casino where the odds are always stated as "for" is in video poker. You might also come across it on a couple of craps bets where the odds are stated as "for-one" rather than "to-one" in order to give the casino a slightly better edge.

Now, getting back to our roulette examples, let’s look at all of the outside bets that you can make and keep in mind that the house edge on all of these outside bets is...do you remember the number?...that’s right...5.26%.

There are three bets you can make that will pay you even money, or 1-to-1, which means that if you win, you will get back one dollar for every dollar you bet:

Red or black - If you put a chip on red then a red number must come up in order for you to win. If the ball lands on a black number, 0 or 00 - you lose. The same thing goes for black - you lose if it comes in red, 0 or 00 and you win if the ball lands on a black number.

Odd or even - If you put a chip on odd then the ball must land on an odd number in order for you to win. If it lands on 0, 00, or an even number - you lose. If you bet on even, you win if an even number shows up and lose if the ball lands on 0, 00 or an odd number.

1 through 18 and 19 through 36 - If you bet on 1 through 18, then you win if a number from 1 through 18 comes in and you lose if the ball lands on 0, 00 or a number higher than 18. Similarly, if you bet on 19 through 36, you win if one of those numbers comes in and you lose on 0, 00 or any number lower than 19.

The only other bets left are the dozens and columns bets. If you look at the roulette betting layout you can see three areas that each correspond to 12-number sections on the table. The one marked 1st 12 covers the numbers from 1 to 12, the one marked 2nd 12 covers the numbers from 13 to 24 and the other one that’s marked 3rd 12 covers the last section of numbers from 25 to 36. If you bet on the 1st 12 you would win if a number from 1 to 12 came in and you would lose if anything else came in, including 0 or 00. The same principle holds true for each of the other dozen bets where you would win if a number in that section came in and you would lose if anything else showed up. All dozens bets pay 2-to-1.

The last bet to look at is the column bet and that is also a bet that pays 2-to-1. There are three possible column bets you can make and you’ll notice that each area corresponds to the numbers in the column directly above it. So, if you put a chip under the first column you will win if any of the numbers in that column come in and you will lose if any other number, including 0 or 00 shows up. Once again, the same rule is in effect for each of the other columns where you would win if the number appears in the column above your bet and you would lose if it doesn’t.

Rules for Playing Roulette

Roulette consists of a wheel with 38 numbers, including the numbers 1-36, 0, and 00.
The numbers on the wheel alternate pairs of odd numbers with pairs of even numbers and alternate between black and red. The two zeros are green in color and are placed at opposite ends of the wheel.

The object of the game is to determine which number or color the ball will ultimately land on.
In Roulette the player places a bet on a number, color, or group of numbers on the Roulette table.
The more numbers they bet, the lesser the odds and therefore winnings. The dealer will always announce "No More Bets" when he or she is about to spin the wheel.
The dealer spins the roulette wheel in one direction, while rolling a ball into the wheel in the opposite direction and winnings are determined by the slot on the Roulette wheel where the ball finally stops.
The amount of the payoff depends on how the bet was placed.

There are two types of Roulette bets:

*inside bets and outside bets.

There are 6 inside bets:
straight bet, split bet, street bet, corner bet, five number bet, and a line bet. There are three basic

Outside bets:
even-money, column, and dozen bets.

You can place as many different types of bets at any time. There are no limits to the number of wagers placed on each spin.

*Inside Bets

Straight Bet:
You can bet on one number by placing a chip in the center of the number you want to place your bet on (1-36, 0, 00). If that number wins you are paid 35 to 1.

Split Bet or Two Number Bet:
You must place your chip on the line between two separate numbers. If the ball lands on either of these numbers you win. The pay out is 17 to 1.

Street Bet or Three Number Bet:
This allows you to cover three numbers in a row with one bet. To make this bet place your chip in the outside line of the row you want to bet on. If one of these three numbers comes up, you win. The pay out is 11 to 1.

Corner Bet:
Place your chip in the center of four numbers and if one of these numbers comes up you win. Pays at 8 to 1.

Five Bet:
The only five number bet you can make is on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. Place your chip on the outside line that divides the 0 and 1. If any of these 5 numbers comes up you will be paid 6 to 1.

Six Line Bet:
Allows you to bet on two rows of three numbers. Place your chip in between the outside line of the last numbers of the two rows. If any of the 6 numbers come up you will be paid 6 to 1.

*Outside Bets

The following 3 outside bets all pay at 1 to 1.

Any Red or Black Bet:
Bet on either red or black. Place your chip on either the red spot of the black spot.

Any Number or High Number Bet:
Bet on whether the next number will be 1 through 18 or 19 through 36. Place your chip on either 1 to 18 spot or on the 19 to 36 spot. You lose if either the 0 or the 00 come up.

Any Even or Odd Bet:
Bet on whether the number will come up as even or odd. Place your chip on the even spot or the odd spot. You lose if either the 0 or the 00 come up.

1st 12, 2nd 12, 3rd 12:
These bets divide the Roulette table into the numbers 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36. Place your chip on one of three spots: 1st 12, 2nd 12, or the 3rd 12. This bet pays 2-1.

0 and 00 Bet:
Bet the number 0 or 00 by placing your chip on the corresponding spot. This bet pays at 35 to 1.

Column Bets:
A column bet is a bet on any one of the three long columns of numbers. To make the column bet place your chip on any one of the 2 to 1 spots. This bet pays 2 to 1.

Roulette Continued...

Good Luck at the Roulette Wheels!

BACCARAT

Baccarat (correctly pronounced "BAH-kah-rah") has long been a favorite card game of high rollers, but even many more budgeted players as well! The rules are incredibly simple and can be mastered in a few minutes. The object of baccarat is to correctly predict whether the banker's hand will win, the player's hand will win, or the game will result in a tie.

The value of a hand is determined by adding the values of its individual cards. Tens and face cards count as zero, while all other cards count as their numerical value. After summing the total, only the last digit is used. Therefore, baccarat hands all have values from 0 to 9. The hand with the higher value wins. If the hands have the same value, the game results in a tie. Initially, both the banker and the player are dealt two cards. If the two initial cards total 8 or 9, the hand is called a "natural", and the game will end at that point. Otherwise, standard Baccarat "third card rules" (that Gold Club players need not remember) determine if a hand should receive a third and final card.

Winning bets on the player's hand are paid at 1:1 odds. A 5% commission is charged on winnings as a result of a bet on the banker, making the net odds on banker bets 0.95 to 1. A winning wager on a tie bet is paid at 8:1odds. If the game does result in a tie, bets on the banker or player are returned.
If you have an abundance of pure luck, then Baccarat is your game. Baccarat is played using a fixed set of rules for the player and the dealer. Calculations have been made that show the odds of the player winning are 44.62%, losing 45.85%, and tying 9.53%. Thus it would seem advantageous to bet on the house winning virtually every hand.

To even out the odds, the house charges a commission (usually 5%) on winning bets placed on the house. How should this change the way a player wagers?
Factoring in the commission, you are still slightly better off betting that the house will win. This assumes the commission is the usual 5%. However, should the commission change then you have to adapt your strategy. If the commission is less than 5% then it is always advantageous to bet on the house, while if the commission is more than 5% it pays to bet on the player winning.
Removing the tie hands in the event there is no payoff, the odds of the player winning are 49.32% and for losing 50.68%.

Baccarat sometimes allows for a bet to be made for a tie, and sometimes doesn't (mini Baccarat typically played online usually does). Although the odds of 8 to 1 may sound appealing, it is considered one of the worst wagers in the casino, so don't bother making this bet part of your baccarat strategy.
You can test out your Baccarat strategies right now at Hotspot Casino. They offer a great version of online Baccarat you can play for real money or just for fun. They do allow tie bets and take a 5% commission on banker bets, a great rendition of Baccarat online.

Rules for Playing Baccarat

The game of Baccarat is often regarded as glamorous as it is frequently played by the rich elite in a fancy roped-off Baccarat pit. However, don't be intimidated because once you know the rules you'll realize that Baccarat is one of the easiest casino games there is. You don't even need to know the rules in order to play as the game is entirely based on chance, but knowing the rules will help you get into the spirit of the game and enjoy your wins more.

The Basics:

'Live' Baccarat 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, so no special skill is involved. The player with the "shoe" is considered the banker. He/she may place his/her bet either with the bank or with the players. In live games every player at the table gets a chance to deal the cards, but you don't have to deal, just pass the shoe to the next player. Baccarat is traditionally a high stakes game. At an online casino you'll be able to play at considerably lower limits, so this is an ideal place to start.

A player places a wager on which of two hands (the "Player" or the "Banker") will have a total point closest to 9. Each hand receives at least two cards but no more than three. The first and third cards dealt from the shoe constitute the "Player's" hand and the second and forth cards constitute the "Banker's" hand.

Face cards and tens count as 0; Aces count as 1, and all other cards count as face value. If required, a third card is dealt to each hand according to specific rules (see the table below). To work out the value of each hand, you simply add the cards. If the total is over 10, the first digit is ignored. So a 4 and an 8 would normally equal 12, but because we disregard the first digit, the hand is worth 2 points. Similarly, a 3 and 7 would equal 0, and a 10 and 9 would equal 9. If the point value of the first two cards drawn for either hand is 8 or 9, it is known as a "Natural" and no further cards will be drawn.

The hand with the highest point total closest to nine wins. Winning bets are paid even money (1:1). However, a winning "Banker" bet pays a 5% commission which is withheld from winnings after each such bet. That means if you made a $10 banker bet and won, you would receive $10.00 minus 5% ($0.50), which would actually be $9.50. If both hands result in identical totals, the "Tie" bet wins, paying 8 to 1. Ties, however, occur less than once out of every ten hands. When a "Tie" occurs, all bets on the "Player" and the "Banker" are neither paid nor taken.

The Player Hand

The player hand is played first, according to the following rules:

When the first two cards equal.... ...the player must:

6, 7, 8, or 9 -> Stand
Any other value -> Draw one card

The player hand can never receive more than one additional card. The hand must stand after the third card, regardless of its value at that point.

The Banker Hand

The banker hand is a bit more complicated. How the banker hand gets played is usually determined by what the player hand's third card is. If the player did not draw a third card (i.e. had a 6 or higher), then the banker draws a card only if its first two cards total less than 5. Otherwise, the banker stands.

If the player did draw a third card, then the banker plays as follows:

When the banker's first two cards equal… ...the banker draws if the player's third card is:
3 -> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
4 -> 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
5 -> 4, 5, 6, 7
6 -> 6, 7

When the banker's first two cards equal... ...the banker will:
2 or less -> Always draw
7, 8, or 9 -> Always stand

Top Baccarat Strategies...

Good luck at the Baccarat Tables!

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