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The 3 Basic Types of Casino Games To Know Before you go to Vegas

Updated on November 2, 2010

Each year many travelers head to a gambling city like Las Vegas or Atlantic City. They want to have a good time trying their luck at winning one of the many different casino games that are available for play in these places. Of course, most of these people will come back with less money than they had when they left for their vacations and only a few will be the lucky winners at these places. You can’t guarantee that you’ll be a winner at any of these games of luck. However, you can increase your chances of winning by making sure that you fully understand the games that you’ll be playing while you’re there.

Gamblers at these casinos can choose from a diverse range of different games. However, those games can be loosely grouped into three common categories: slot machines, random number games and table games. It’s best to have at least some idea of what each of these three categories entails before you head to the casinos. That way you can not only get a good sense of which games are the best to play but you can also have the knowledge you need to switch between game types if the type that your playing isn’t working for you.

Slot Machines

The first type of game that you might choose to play when you go to a casino is a slot machine. Some of the reasons that people are drawn to slot machines include:

o   These games are very simple to play. You don’t need a lot of skill; you just need to be able to push a button. This isn’t always true but it’s the general rule for these games.

o   Slot machines are familiar. In many ways, these machines are similar to the video games, computer games and mobile phone games that we are all familiar with playing. This familiarity offers a level of comfort that makes playing these games seem simple. Slot machines are also familiar because they are often themed in relation to popular culture (such as your favorite TV show), playing jingles and using icons that are familiar to you.

o   You don’t have to interact with others at the slot machine. Many people are intimidated by having to interact with the dealers and other players at random number games and table games. This isn’t a problem when you just sit down at a machine and play by yourself.

o   These games are cheap. You can play for a long time with just a little bit of money when playing slot machines. There are nickel machines and even penny slots in many casinos. Just be aware that you can still lose a lot of money if you aren’t careful. Also, you can’t win a lot if you don’t invest a lot so don’t expect to win big on most slot machines (although there are exceptions).

Random Number Games

The second type of game that you may encounter when you go to the casino is the random number game. The most well known random number game is roulette. As the name suggests, you select a random number and bet on it and if the number comes up then you win. Other random number games include Keno, Big Six and even Bingo (as a variation).

Some of the reasons that people enjoy random number games include:

o   They get to play their lucky numbers. Even people who don’t really believe in lucky numbers usually admit that they have a favorite number and will play it. This adds to the fun of a casino game.

o   These games remind people of playing the lottery. Keno, especially, is like a lottery game. We all have dreams of winning the lottery someday so we find this aspect of random number games to be appealing.

o   This is an interactive game but it’s not as intimidating as table games. You get to play with other people and interact with a casino employee when playing random number games. However, you don’t have to have any special knowledge to play most of these games so you don’t have to be afraid of looking like a fool.

Table Games

These are the games that we often see featured on movies about casinos. Poker (in its many different forms) is a great example of a table game. Other popular casino table games include blackjack and craps. Some of the reasons that people enjoy playing table games at casinos include:

o   These games require more skill than the other two types of games. This means that they are more challenging, making them more fun for a lot of people. Additionally, this presents the illusion that you as a player have some control over the win, tempting you to want to try your hand at the game.

o   These are the most interactive games. These games are usually played with other people at the table. People who enjoy the social aspect of casinos tend to prefer table games for that reason.

o   These games may be played in tournament form. People who get seriously into gambling may want to participate at the tournament level.

A note on hybrid versions of these games

As technology has advanced, these three types of casino games have started to blend a little bit. You can now enjoy machine versions of random number games like Keno as well as table games like poker. Generally playing on a machine is considered to have worse odds than playing at a table but it can also be lower in cost and allow you to avoid intense social interaction if you’re not desiring that from your casino experience. There is never any guarantee that playing a certain type of casino game will lead you to win or to lose. However, it never hurts to know as much as possible about the games that you play. Brush up on the pros and cons, strategies and options for all three different categories of casino games before your next trip to a gambling city like Las Vegas.

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