The rules of the casino…

Is lady luck on

your side…?

If you have any Las Vegas holidays planned, you need to know the rules of basic casino games. Here's a quick guide to three of the most popular.

Some would say that all you need is luck win these games, while other argue that these games actually require a great deal of skill. What do you think? You decide...

Image by Triin

Blackjack

One of the most widely played casino games in

the world, blackjack is the staple of any

gambling institution.

The premise is simple. The aim of the game is

to get dealt a group of cards that add up to 21.

The player is initially dealt with two cards -

they then have the option to take another card

from the dealer (hit) or stick with the cards

they've got (stand).

The player can take as many cards as he needs,

but if the sum of the cards tips over 21, then the

player is "bust" and loses the game.

Once the player has decided to stick, the dealer

reveals his cards. The player with the total

closest to 21 is the winner.

Image by Images of Money

Craps Craps is a dice game, where players can place bets on the

outcome of a roll of a dice.

The players can play against each other (street craps) or

against a bank or casino (table craps).

In table craps, players take turns to roll the dice (shoot)

and players can place bets on various outcomes by

placing their chips on certain points of the table. The

shooter must place a bet on the "pass" or "don't pass" line.

The round starts with one or more "come out" rolls. In

this stage of the game, if the shooter rolls a 2, 3, or 12,

anyone betting on the 'pass' line loses and the shooter is

said to have rolled a "craps".

A roll of 7 or 11 in this stage is called a “natural" and

players betting on the pass line win.

However, if any other number is rolled, then this

establishes the point at where the players will "pass“, or

win. So for example, if the shooter rolls a four, then he

must roll a four again to win. However, if he rolls a seven

before he rolls the point value again, then he loses (i.e.

"don't pass").

The round ends when the player throws the point value (to

win) or a seven (to lose) and the dice gets passed on to the

next player. Image by Dave Gough

The Roulette

Wheel Another iconic game, the roulette wheel is one

of the most well-known features of the casino.

The croupier spins the wheel in one direction,

then spins a ball in the opposite direction. The

ball whizzes around the wheel until it

eventually slows down and lands in one of 37

or 38 numbered slots.

Players place bets on the outcome of the spin.

There are variety of bets that can be placed,

each varying in odds. For example, you can bet

on whether the ball will land on a red or black

slot, or if the number of the slot will be odd or

even. However, if you're feeling REALLY

daring, you can bet on the exact number. While

the chances you'll win are a great deal lower

than other bets, the pay out will be a great deal

larger, too!

Image by Kuoni