BLACKJACK

Perhaps the most popular and easy to learn card game in the casino, Blackjack (also called "21") provides unlimited options to the player and none to the dealer. Players control the game by controlling the number of cards they choose to accept, and by choosing what to do with those cards once they have been dealt.

REMEMBER: Blackjack is not just a game of chance, but a game of skill.

GOAL: The objective in blackjack is to get closer to 21 total points than the dealer. However, one must be careful not to exceed 21. Dealers must draw until they reach at least 16 points, and after 16 points the dealer must stand.

CARDS: Blackjack is played with a standard 52 card deck. Card values are equal to the number displayed on the card (example 2 of hearts is worth 2 points) with face cards worth 10 points. The only exception in blackjack is that the Ace may be worth either 1 or 11 points. The player has the right to choose the Ace's value, and may change its value as it best suits the hand. If the player draws an Ace and a 10 it is called blackjack and gets paid 3 to 2 unless the dealer too has blackjack.

BASICS: In blackjack the dealer deals his cards one up, and one down. The down-turned card is only exposed after the player has finished betting.

The player can hit (take a card) or stand (not take any more cards). The decision is the player's. A push is a term used when the player and the dealer have cards of equal points. A bust is a word for exceeding the 21 point limit.

If a player is dealt cards of equal value (like a 3 of spades and a 3 of diamonds), they may also choose to split and play them as two new and separate hands. The only exception is when splitting Aces, in which case only one card is given to the player for each Ace. Players must bet an equal amount on the newly formed hand as did on the original hand.

Players may also double down. This involves doubling the original bet after the first two cards have been dealt. Players may only receive one card after doubling down.

Surrender allows the player to forfeit betting their hand in exchange for half of their original bet.

When the dealer shows an Ace as his face up card the player may buy insurance. The player is essentially allowed to bet up to half the original bet at 2 to 1 odds that the dealer's hole card (the face down card) is a 10 or a face card.

Above these spots are the 1st, 2nd and 3rd 12 places. These bets cover the 12 numbers that lie above these spaces. Another way to bet 12 numbers is by betting on the spots to the right of the 34, 35 and 36 spots. These bets encompass the row at which they end. These bets all pay 2 to 1.

Players may also bet on individual numbers on the board. Place your bet in the center of the number box and you will win 35 to 1 if your number comes up!

Split Bets

It is possible to split your number bet by placing your chip on the boarders between numbers. A bet between two numbers pays 17 to 1. If a chip is placed on a corner, all four adjoining numbers are being bet on with 8 to 1 odds.

By placing a chip on the border below the numbers boxes and above the 1st 2nd and 3rd twelve boxes players can either bet a column of three, or a column of six (by placing the chip on the line dividing two columns of numbers). The odds for these bets are 11 to 1 or 5 to 1 respectively. The only exception to this rule is when betting on the five numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. This is done as when betting on a column of six, but as it only encompasses 5 numbers the odds move from 5 to 1 to 6 to 1.

POKER

Basics of Poker and Poker Hands

Most poker games inside of our casinos are played with a standard 52-card deck. The cards are ranked according to the value of the number on the card or the value of the face. The ranking, from highest to lowest, goes as such: Ace (A), King (K), Queen (Q) , Jack (J), 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. The ace can also be used to complete a low straight; A, 2, 3, 4, 5. As well as numbers and faces there are 4 different types of suits which are used to determine the value of a poker hand. These are: Spades (S), Clubs (C), Diamonds (D), Hearts (H).

Poker hands are valued based on their five card ranking. These rankings are detailed below (a rank of 1 equals the best):

Tie Hands

If two hands are tied in rank, the following rules apply:

If two players both have straight flushes, flushes, or straights, the highest card that is part of the hand determines the winning hand. If the highest card still results in a tie, then the next highest card will determine the winner. And so on...

If both players have a full house, then the highest 3 of a kind will determine the winner.

If both players have three of a kind, the highest-ranking three of a kind will be determined the winner.

The highest-ranking pair in the hand will decide two hands with two pair. If this still results in a tie, then the remaining pairs will be compared and the highest-ranking pair will then determine the winner.

If both players have a single pair then the highest-ranking pair will win. If this is also a tie, then the next highest-ranking single card will determine the winner. If this still results in a tie, then the next highest single-ranking card will determine the winner. And so on...

Two hands with no pairs, flushes, or straights are compared and the card with the highest-ranking single card will be determined the winner. If this still yields no winner, then the next highest card will be determined the winner. And so on...

Casino Rules May Vary - These Rules Represent A General Guide

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CRAPS

The most exciting game with two dice! This game can win you (or lose you) a lot of money in a very short time. Craps is played with two six-sided dice, and bets are placed in various spaces clearly marked on the craps table. The table top is called the layout.

GETTING STARTED: LINE BETS: The Come-Out Roll is the first roll of the dice. If the player has placed a pass line bet then the player wins on this roll with a 7 or an 11. Conversely, a 2, 3 or 12 is a loser. If the player has placed the don't pass bet then a 7 or 11 is a loser and a 2 or 3 is a winner. A 12 on this bet is a push.

Any other number thrown becomes the point and pass line bets win if the point is rolled before a seven. Don't pass bets are won by a seven being rolled before the point.

COME & DON'T COME BETS: These bets are the same as the line bets, except that they are made after the come-out roll. The point established on the come bet is called the come point.

FREE ODDS BETS: These are bets placed after the line and come / don't come bets and once a point is established. These bets do not afford the casino any advantage, hence the name free odds bets. The free odds pass line bet is that the point will be repeated before a seven is thrown. The amount bet may be up to the amount originally bet and is placed behind the pass line bet. The player will receive 2 to 1 on points 4 and 10, 3 to 2 on 5 and 9, and 6 to 5 on 6 and 8.

Don't pass free odds bets are placed next to the don't pass original bet. On this bet players must lay odds, betting more than will be won and winning in proportion to wagers won on the pass free odds bets. Don't pass free odds bet work like don't pass bets in that they are betting a 7 will roll before the point.

Free odds can be made on the come & don't come bets as they are made in the pass & don't pass free odds bets.

FIELD BETS: Field bets are bets on the following one roll. Players can bet that the next roll will either be a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 or 12. This bet pays even money on all numbers except 2 and 12 which pay 2 to 1. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are losers.

PLACE BETS: Place bets on 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 are bets that one of those numbers will be rolled before the 7. The odds are 9 to 5 on 4 and 10, 7 to 5 on 5 and 9, and 7 to 6 on 6 and 8. By betting the don't bet you lay reverse odds.

BIG 6 & BIG 8: These bets are that either 6 or 8 will be rolled before 7. These are even odds bets.

HARD WAYS: A bet on 4, 6, 8, or 10 rolled by the dice showing doubles. example: the hard 8 is a pair of fours. Odds are 7 to 1 on 4 and 10, and 9 to 1 on 6 or 8.

HORN BET: A bet than the next roll will come up either 2, 3, 11 or 12. Odds are 15 to 1 on 3 and 11 and 30 to 1 on 2 or 12.

ANY 7: A bet that the next roll will be a seven. Pays 4 to 1

2 or 12: A 30 to 1 bet on either 2 or 12

3 or 11: A 15 to 1 bet on either 3 or 11

Any Craps: A 7 to 1 bet that the next roll will be a 2, 3 or 12.

BACCARAT

Baccarat is a stylish and elegant game providing good odds for the player. The average house advantage is less than 2% and as low as 1.17%. Baccarat is a simple game of chance with no decisions or options after the initial bet is placed.

Card Values

Card values in Baccarat are equal to their face value (2 of spades equals 2 points) and Aces are worth 1 point. The exceptions are for all 10s, Js, Qs and Ks which are always valued at 0.

When playing a hand, card values are added together and the sum is the total hand value. When the total hand value exceeds 10 points the digit in the tens column is dropped. Thus the greatest value for a hand may be 9.. For example if the total sum equals 11 and the tens digit is dropped then the new value is 1.

Objective

The objective of the game is to bet on the hand that gets closest to 9 total points.

Bets

Baccarat bets are either placed in the player box, or in the bank box. The choice is up to the player unless he or she is dealing, in which case the player must bet bank. Another bet may made called a tie bet in which one bets that the player and the bank will tie in points. This bet pays 9 to 1.

Playing

Once bets are placed, the player and the bank receive two cards each. If the player or the bank draws an 8 or a 9 it is an automatic win.

If the player draws between 0-5 then another card must be dealt, with an initial 6 or 7 the player must stand.

If the player stands than the bank must follow like rules, and draw on 0-5 and stand on 6 or 7.

On the other hand if the player draws the banker also must draw when holding 0-2 total points. If he holds 3 points he must draw when giving the player 0-7. With 4 points he must draw when giving the player 2-7. With 5 points he must draw when giving the player 5-7. With 6 points he must draw when giving the player 6-7. And with 7 points the banker must always stand.

Winning

Winning hands are paid even money when betting player, and even money minus 5% when betting banker.