Slot Machines: Cascading Combinations
For many, slot machines are the perfect representation of casinos. In Las Vegas, they play a very important role, and can be found everywhere, even in bars and at Harry Reid airport. There are over 160,000 of them throughout the city. The concept is simple: you pull a lever (or rather, press a button) and line up identical figures to win more or less money, depending on the amount bet. In recent years, these machines have been modernized with themes inspired by Asia, the Far West (with the famous Buffalo), TV series and games such as Game of Thrones, Wheel of Fortune, Monopoly and many others. While the principle remains the same, they've clearly become more playful. Be careful, though, as these machines are programmed according to precise algorithms, with a low probability of winning the jackpot. Every Las Vegas casino also has one or more Megabucks. Introduced in 2005, these machines work like the old ones, with a simple combination of three figures. However, the starting stakes are higher, and the jackpot reaches several million dollars. At present, the record winnings stand at almost $10.5 million. This astronomical sum was won at South Point Casino, just south of the city. In Las Vegas, the big casinos on the Strip are not known for their high payouts. The outlying establishments, generally frequented by Valley residents, are more generous. In any case, it's important to be reasonable when playing. The best thing, of course, is to set a budget. A word of advice: if you see someone hit the jackpot on a machine, don't pounce on it afterwards. The machine in question won't give much away for a while.
Poker: the soul of Las Vegas
Poker is the most popular card game in Las Vegas, and probably worldwide. Although it's a game of chance, you have to be able to guess your opponents' intentions, and don't hesitate to bluff to fool the other players. The principle is to obtain the best combination of cards. These include pair (two identical cards), double pair (two pairs of identical cards), three of a kind (same three cards), straight (five cards in a row), suit (five cards of the same suit, i.e. five diamonds, hearts, spades or clubs), full house (three of a kind and a pair), four of a kind (four of a kind), straight flush (five cards in a row of the same suit) and royal flush (the five highest cards in a row of the same suit). This last combination is the strongest a player can get. There are various poker variants, including Texas Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, Omaha Hi-Low, Razz, Stud and 5 Card Draw. But clearly, Texas Hold'em is the most popular among players. Created in Texas in the early 20th century, this version arrived in Las Vegas in the late 1960s. Today, Texas Hold'em is played in numerous local tournaments and at major competitions such as the World Poker Tour and the World Series of Poker, held every year in Las Vegas in early summer.
Blackjack: beating the bank
Originating in the 18th century as 21, blackjack is also a very popular card game in Las Vegas casinos. The rules couldn't be simpler: players must obtain a higher number of points than the dealer (also known as the bank), without exceeding 21. Beyond that number, the player loses his or her bet, and the bank collects. Blackjack is played with 1 to 8 decks of 52 cards in a shoe. The game is played in two stages, with two cards dealt at the start, then each player draws a card to get closer to the famous 21. Cards from 2 to 9 represent their face value: 10s, Jacks, Queens and Kings count as 10 points and are called "Logs"; Aces count as 1 or 11, and their value will always be calculated to the player's advantage. Example: if you get 20 points when the cards are dealt and then draw an ace, its value will be 1, not 11. Stakes are set by the casino from the outset, with a minimum and maximum amount. However, it is possible to make a secondary bet that has nothing to do with the first. This can enable a player to win even if he has exceeded the fateful number 21. The secondary bet involves fulfilling conditions by making card combinations. A player can win 100 times his stake if he gets three aces of hearts or three sevens of hearts, diamonds and spades.
Roulette: all bets are off
Also very popular with Las Vegas gamblers, roulette always attracts a lot of people, who sometimes just come to enjoy the atmosphere around the table. The game's main attraction is that the rules are simple and easily understood by the uninitiated, even if it's best to study them before getting started. In a nutshell, players just have to bet on a color (red or black), on one or more numbers (0, 00 and from 1 to 36) and, finally, they have to choose between the height or parity of the number. The croupier then throws the ball, which delivers its verdict when it comes to a complete stop. There are many ways to win, ranging from 1 times the stake to 35 times the stake. To get the maximum payout, you need to predict a single number (including 0 and 00) and cross your fingers that it comes up. According to statisticians, the probability of winning 35 times your stake is 2.70%. That's not much. Finally, roulette is also famous for the phrases uttered by the croupier. These include "faites vos jeux" ("place your bets") at the start of the betting period; "les jeux sont faits" ("all bets down") at the release of the ball; and "rien ne va plus" ("no more bets") at the end of the betting period and when the announcement of the winning number is imminent.
Craps: two dice to win it all
Extremely popular in American casinos, craps is very often depicted in movies. One of the most famous scenes is from the 1995 film Casino, directed by Martin Scorsese, when Sharon Stone throws the dice on the table in a frantic atmosphere. In concrete terms, craps is a dice game played with two dice thrown. Its principle seems simple since it is about betting on the luck or bad luck of the dice thrower. But in reality, this game is much more complex than it seems. In craps, each game is played in two stages with 1 to 16 players and 4 dealers. In the first stage, the player rolling the dice must get a certain amount of money to pass or fail. Three types of combinations will determine the outcome of the game. If the sum of the dice is 2, 3 or 12, the player does not pass and loses his bet, as do the other players who have bet on him. However, if players bet on the shooter not passing, then they win. If the player makes a combination of 7 or 11, then he and the others win their bets. Finally, if the sum amounts to 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 10, this result will determine what is called the "point". From here, the second phase of craps can begin. In this phase, the player rolls the dice again to obtain the same number of points as in the first phase. If the player rolls again, he wins his bet. As for the other players, those who had played "pass" also get their bets back, while those who had bet on "don't pass" lose everything. In the second case, if the shooter rolls 7, he loses everything. For the other players, the situation is reversed and only those who bet "don't pass" win. Finally, the last possibility: the player does not make the point or 7. In this case, the result is suspended and the player rolls the dice again until he makes the point or a 7. In short, craps is a real game of chance with a great atmosphere. But be careful, before you start playing, you should really master the rules.
Keno and bingo: variations on lotto
Very easy to play, keno and bingo are games of chance that are very similar to lotto. Keno appeared in the United States in the 19th century with the arrival of large numbers of Chinese immigrants, as the game was very popular in China. The rules consist in choosing between 1 and 20 numbers, depending on the rules, on a card of 80 numbers. The casino then draws 20 numbers at random to determine the winners. Obviously, the more winning numbers a player has, the more money he or she will receive. Bingo is played with 90 balls, numbered from 1 to 90, where the numbers drawn are announced one after the other. Each participant must own at least 1 game card. A card contains grids of 3 rows and 9 columns, with 15 different numbers and 5 numbers per row. To win, you need to make winning combinations. The aim is to mark the numbers contained on the card(s), in accordance with the draws, announced and displayed, while being the first to complete a line (quine), or the entire card (bingo). The first player to obtain a combination on one of his or her cards is the winner, and must call out "Quine" and/or "Bingo". If more than one player wins, the winnings are shared proportionally between them.
Sports betting: a new fad for players
Legalized throughout the United States, sports betting has a place of its own in Las Vegas. In recent years, most of the major casinos have set up specific betting areas with hundreds of seats and dozens of screens showing sports events (basketball, field hockey, MMA, soccer, soccer, baseball, golf, auto racing, tennis, college sports) and horse racing. In addition, there are different variations of sports betting. The big casino groups, such as the MGM Group (BetMGM Sports), also offer smartphone applications. But the prize undoubtedly goes to Circa, one of the last casinos to open in the Downtown Las Vegas area. This establishment offers a three-story space with 350 seats and a 78 million pixel screen, claiming the title of the largest sports betting experience in the world.
