The Wheel

The game of American Roulette is played on a wheel which consists of thirty-eight slots, each with its own number. The numbers on a Roulette wheel are 1-36, 0, and 00. The numbers alternate pairs of odd numbers with pairs of even numbers. The numbers also alternate between black and red. Both the 0 and 00 slots are green. A dealer or croupier spins the wheel in one direction and then rolls a small ball in the other direction. The ball then drops into one of the slots as it begins to slow down.

The Table

The table is designed so that the numbers, not including 0 and 00, are lined up into three columns, each of twelve numbers, the first row is 1,2,3; the second row is 4,5,6 and so on. The rest of the table is devoted to the myriad bets the game entails. Betting is broken down into two major categories, inside bets and outside bets. There is no limit to the number of bets one can play

Inside bets

Straight bets

This is betting that one particular number on the wheel will come up. This bet is done by placing a chip on top of the number on which you want to bet. If that number wins, the payoff is 35 to 1.

Split bets

This is betting that one of two numbers that lie next to each other on the table will win. Placing a chip on the line that separates two numbers does this. You win if the ball lands on either number. The payoff is 17 to 1.

Street bet, Trio bet, or Three Number bet

In this bet, a player is wagering that any number in a particular row will hit on the next spin. To make this bet, you must place a chip in the outside line of the row on which you want to bet. You win if any number in the row comes up. The payoff is 11 to 1.

Corner bet, Square bet, or Four-Number bet

This bets that one of four numbers will hit on the next spin. The numbers should all be touching and moving a chip into the center of four numbers places the bet. If one of these numbers comes up, you win. This bets pays 8 to 1.

Five-Number bet

This is betting that either the 0, 00, 1, 2, or 3 will come up on the next roll. To take this bet, place a chip on the outside line that divides the 0 and 1. You will be paid 6 to 1 if any of these numbers come up.

Six Line bet

This is betting that one of six numbers in two adjacent rows will come up. Place a chip in between two rows on the outside line. If the ball lands on any number in the two rows, you will be paid 6 to 1.

Outside bets

Red

You are betting that the next number to come up is a red. If the next number landed is red, you will be paid 1 to 1, or even money. To play this bet, place a chip on the box marked "Red".

Black

You are betting that the next number to come up is a black. If the next number landed is black, you will be paid 1 to 1, or even money. To play this bet, place a chip on the box marked "Black".

Even

This is wagering that the ball will land on an even number. This bet does not include 0 or 00. The payoff is 1 to 1. To play this bet, place a chip on the box marked "Even".

Odd

This is wagering that the ball will land on an odd number. The payoff is 1 to 1 if the next number to come up is odd. To play this bet, place a chip on the box marked "Odd".

Low bet

This is a bet that the next number will be between 1 and 18. The payout is 1 to 1. To play this bet, place a chip on the box marked "Low".

High bet

This is a bet that the next number will be between 19 and 36. The payout is 1 to 1. To play this bet, place a chip on the box marked "High".

Dozen bet

These bets divide the table into the numbers 1-12, 13-24, and 25-36. To play this bet, put a chip in one of the three boxes marked "1st 12", "2nd 12" or "3rd 12". This bet pays 2 to 1.

Column bet

This bets that a number in a particular column will come up on the next spin. The payoff is 2 to 1 and is done by placing a chip at the end of the layout below your desired column where it is marked "2 to 1".

English Roulette

The major difference between English and American Roulette is that English has only a 0 instead of both 0 and 00.

On the grand scale of American casino games, roulette has one of the smallest followings, with nowhere near the popularity of slot machines, video poker, blackjack, or craps. It draws more players than baccarat, mostly because the baccarat pits have traditionally been closed to low-budget players. But roulette is in danger of being passed in popularity by newer games such as Caribbean Stud Poker and Let It Ride. In Europe, on the other hand, roulette draws big crowds. It is one of the mainstays of Monte Carlo and other European resorts.

The difference is the 00 featured on the American wheel, which is not placed on the French wheel in use at European casinos. The French wheel has 36 numbers plus a single 0; the American wheel has 36 numbers plus 0 and 00. All bets at both wheels are paid at odds that would be true if only the 36 numbers existed. The house advantage in roulette comes from the 0 on the French wheel and the 0 and 00 on the American wheel. 

The bottom line is that American roulette players buck a house edge of 5.26 percent on all bets but one, which carries a 7.89 percent house edge. European players face only a 2.7 percent edge, and that is lowered to 1.4 percent on even-money bets by a rule called en prison, which is described later in this article. At 1.4 percent, roulette becomes competitive with other casino games; at 5.26 percent, it's a very difficult game to beat.

A few French wheels are in use in the United States mostly in high-limit rooms. They usually carry larger minimum bets than American wheels -- but a player in these areas who plans to make larger bets and wants to play roulette should seek out a French wheel.

Even at the higher house advantage on an American wheel, most casino-goers sit in for a few spins sooner or later. It can be an entertaining, relaxing way to spend some time. The dealer -- the French may call them croupiers, but in the United States they're dealers -- gives players plenty of time to choose among the dozens of available betting combinations; then it takes time to spin the wheel and the ball before a winner is determined.

So while craps moves at 100 or so rolls per hour and blackjack about 60 hands per hour, roulette moves at a more stately pace -- roughly 45 spins per hour. Facing fewer decisions per hour, the roulette player who bets $5 per spin faces an expected loss per hour only slightly higher than that of an average blackjack player who has not learned basic strategy. In this article, you will learn the basics of roulette, as well as how and when to bet, to increase your odds of winning. Let's begin by getting you familiar with the equipment and rules of the game.

Equipment and Table Personnel

Roulette is played at an elongated table. At one end is a wheel, with a notch in the table where the dealer stands. The table is covered with a felt layout with boxes for the numbers 1 through 36 arranged in three columns and 12 rows. At the end of the portion of the layout closest to the dealer, above the numbers 1, 2, and 3, are boxes for 0 and 00. Each of the numbers 1 through 36 is surrounded by either a red or black oval or rectangle. The 0 and 00 have green backgrounds. This rectangular grid, with a box for each number, is used for wagers called "inside bets."

Outside the numbered boxes are several other boxes for "outside bets," encompassing up to 18 numbers at a time. Most of the areas for outside bets are on the long side of the table across from the dealer. However, at the end of the rectangle away from the dealer are boxes for bets on each 12-number column.

The wheel itself has 38 numbered slots, each with the same colored background as the corresponding number on the table layout. The small, hard ball used to be made of ivory; now it is usually plastic. The dealer spins the wheel in one direction, then spins the ball in the opposite direction around a track on the bowl-shaped recess that holds the wheel. When the speed of the ball decreases, it falls off the track toward the wheel itself, and bounces around until it settles in a numbered slot.

Roulette Chips

Regular casino chips are not usually used at a roulette table. Instead, when the player places money on the layout and asks for chips, the dealer will give out special roulette chips. Each player gets a different color of chips so the dealer can keep track of which chips belong to which player. Because the house does not want to get in a dispute over what chips belong to whom, couples or friends playing together may not share chips. Even husbands and wives playing together are required to play separate colors.

The dealer also will ask the player what denomination to designate the chips. At a $5 minimum table, for example, the player usually may designate each chip to be worth $1, but has the option of making them worth $5, $10, or any other denomination. Once the designation has been made, the dealer will place a chip atop a rail near the wheel, then place a marker atop it to indicate the value of that color chip for that session.

Because the next player to use the same color chips may designate a different value, roulette chips have no value away from the roulette wheel. The cashier's cage will not accept them. When ready to leave the table, place all remaining roulette chips on the layout and ask the dealer to cash out. The dealer will exchange them for the equivalent amount of regular casino chips.

Rules

Seats at the roulette table are for players only. Even if a nonplayer sits down when only one player is at the table, the dealer will ask the nonplayer to move.

Play begins after the dealer has cleared off all losing bets and paid all winners from the previous spin. Players are given time to put down bets by placing chips on the layout before the dealer starts the spin. After the spin has begun, players may keep betting until the ball is about to drop from the track at the top of the wheel down toward the numbered slots. Then the dealer will call, "No more bets."

The ball will bounce around, then finally settle in one slot. Next the dealer will place a marker on the layout on the corresponding number -- or on top of any chips that have been bet on that number. The dealer will then clear away all losing bets and pay off all those who have bet on the winning number or on combinations including the winning number. When all that is done, the dealer will lift the marker off the number on the layout, and betting may begin again.

Deciding how many chips to place where on the roulette table depends on what type of bet you want to make. In the next section, we'll review the difference between inside and outside bets, and some betting systems used by experienced players.

Roulette Betting Tips

Knowing which type of bet to make is important for players who want to hold their own at the roulette table.

Each table will carry a placard describing the minimum and maximum bets at the table. For example, it might read, "Roulette. $5 minimum inside bets, $5 minimum outside bets. $1,000 maximum outside, $100 maximum inside." Table maximums usually are lower on inside bets because of the higher payoffs offered. The odds are exactly the same as on outside bets, but most casinos are loath to risk losing $35,000 at one shot on a $1,000 bet on one number.

Though the listed minimums for inside and outside bets are likely to be the same, they don't mean the same thing. A player betting the $5 minimum on inside bets is allowed to spread five $1 chips around on different bets on the inside. However, the minimum for outside bets means the player must wager the entire $5 on each outside bet. Betting $1 on evens, $1 on red, $1 on the first 12, $1 on the first 18, and $1 on the first column doesn't satisfy the minimum.

The player may make any of the bets by placing a chip or chips on the appropriate spot. However, the size of the table may make it difficult to reach some betting areas. To place a bet you can't reach, put the chips on the table and ask the dealer to put them on the desired bet for you. If you aren't sure how to make outside or inside bets, check the information below.

Outside Bets

Red or black: There are 18 numbers with red backgrounds and 18 with black backgrounds. A bet on red pays off if the ball stops in the slot by any of the 18 red numbers; a bet on black pays off if the ball lands on any of the black numbers. A winning red or black bet pays even money -- the player keeps the original bet and gets an equal amount in winnings.

Odd or even: Another even-money bet. The player is betting that either one of the 18 odd numbers (1, 3, 5, and so forth) or one of the 18 even numbers (2, 4, 6, and so forth) will be chosen.

1 through 18, 19 through 36: Also for even money, a bet on whether the ball will stop on any of the first 18 numbers or any of the last 18 numbers.

The house gets its edge from 0 and 00 -- they are neither red nor black, neither odd nor even, neither part of the first 18 nor the last 18. If the ball lands on 0 or 00, all even-money bets -- in fact, all outside bets -- lose.

In casinos offering a French wheel with the en prison rule, the player does not lose an even money bet when the 0 comes up. Instead, the bet is "in prison" -- the player does not lose the wager, but it remains in effect for the next spin. If the bet wins on the next spin, it is released, and the player may pull it back. The bet may not remain in prison on consecutive spins -- a second consecutive 0 makes the bet a loser. This is a very favorable rule for the player, and one that is rare in the United States.

Dozens: Wagers on the first 12 numbers, second 12, or third 12 pay 2-1.

Columns: Wagers on any of the three columns on the grid pay 2-1. Because the grid is arranged in 12 rows of three consecutive numbers (1-2-3 is the first row, 4-5-6 the second, and so on), each number in a column is three higher than the one before.

Inside Bets

Single number: Bets on individual numbers, including 0 and 00, are placed by putting a chip or chips fully inside a numbered box. If a single-number bet hits, it pays 35-1. (Remember, however, that the true odds are 37-1.)

Split: This is a wager on two numbers, and it pays 17-1. Make a split bet by placing a chip so that it straddles the line between two numbers.

Street: A three-number bet, paying 11-1, is made by placing a chip on the line separating outside bets from the inside, indicating a row of three consecutive numbers.

Corner: A chip is placed at the intersection of a horizontal line with a vertical line inside the layout. This indicates a bet on the four adjacent numbers, and it pays 8-1.

Five-number: For the worst bet on the table, place a chip so that it lies on the line separating the inside from the outside, while straddling the horizontal line between 0-00 and 1-2-3. This bet pays 6-1 and carries a 7.89 percent house edge. The five-number bet does not exist on the French wheel because of the absence of 00. 

Double street: Just as on the street bet, place a chip on the line separating the outside from the inside, but let it straddle the horizontal line between two rows. That gives you six numbers in two consecutive three-number rows, and the bet pays 5-1. 

Special note: Watch for your payoffs. On winning inside bets, most dealers will push the winnings to you but leave the original bet in place. After the dealer has finished payoffs and is ready for the next round of bets, it is up to you to move the original bet if you do not want to make the same wager. Some dealers will leave the winnings on the layout, and if you do not wish to bet it all on the next spin, you must remove it. It is common for the dealer to leave the winnings on outside bets next to the original bet. It is up to you to move the chips when the dealer is ready.

Betting Strategy

Roulette is a game of pure chance, and barring exceptional circumstances, no strategy can overcome the built-in house percentage. Play your birthday, your anniversary, last week's winning lottery numbers -- in the long run, it makes no difference. Either you get lucky or you don't. For most players, roulette has no element of skill. 

That being said, rare exceptions do exist. Sometimes a bored longtime dealer gets in a groove and releases the ball at exactly the same angle and velocity nearly every time. A very small number of players can spot what numbers are passing as the dealer releases the ball. With that knowledge, they can predict at a better-than-chance rate approximately where the ball will fall. The player then either bets or signals a partner to bet accordingly.

The second exception comes when the wheel itself shows a bias. Perhaps the wheel is off balance, or a slight track has been worn on the wood leading down to the numbers, or the metallic walls, or frets, between numbers are of slightly different heights or tensions. This is rare, for most casinos check the wheel carefully on a regular basis. And spotting a truly biased wheel means tracking play for thousands of spins -- the same number showing up three times in half a dozen spins does not mean the wheel is biased.

Many casinos now have an electronic display at roulette wheels showing the last 12 or 18 numbers. Some players like to play any number that shows up twice or more in that span -- or to bet the last several numbers that have come up -- in hopes that the wheel is biased. Others like to match the bets of any other player at the table who has been winning, hoping the other player has discovered a bias. Neither system is likely to pay off, but they're as good as any other system.

Betting Systems

Perhaps because roulette moves more slowly than other casino games, players seem more inclined to use betting systems, especially on even-money bets. In the long run, none of them helps. No betting system can change the game's percentages, and some systems can be financial disasters for the player. Here are a few that have persisted for decades.

Martingale: The player doubles his bet after each loss. When a win eventually comes, it leaves the player with a profit equal to his original bet. That is, if the player bets $5 on black and loses, he then bets $10; if that loses, he bets $20, and so on. A win at the $20 level overcomes the $5 and $10 losses and leaves the player with a $5 profit. The player then goes back to the original bet level.

This sounds good in theory -- keep betting until you win once, and you have a profit. In practice, you run into very large numbers very quickly, and run up against maximum bet limits. Staying with the $5 starting point, the fourth bet is $40, then $80, $160, $320. If the table maximum is $500, you're past it on the next bet -- after seven losses, you cannot bet the $640 necessary to wipe out the $635 in previous losses and start a new sequence.

Streaks of seven or more losses do happen about once in every 121 sequences, and you have no way to tell when a streak is going to happen. And on that eighth bet, the house still has a 5.26 percent edge, as it does on every spin. The wheel has no memory -- it does not know that seven consecutive red numbers have come up -- and the streak does not change the odds on the next spin. Besides that, having lost $635, do you really want to risk $640 more for a $5 profit?

Grand martingale: This is an even worse, even faster way to lose money. Instead of merely doubling the bet, after a loss the player doubles the bet and adds another unit. So if the starting unit is $5, the next bet is $15 ($5 doubled, plus another $5 unit), followed by $35, then $75, $155, and so on. The Grand Martingale player runs up against a $500 limit after only six losses, by which time he will have lost $600.

Cancellation: Not as dangerous as the Martingales, but no solution, either. The player starts with a number or series of numbers and bets the total on either end. If he wins, he crosses off -- cancels -- the numbers just played. If he loses, he adds the total just played to the end of the series. When all numbers have been canceled, the result is a profit equal to the sum of the original numbers.

For example, let's say our $5 bettor starts with the series 2-3 for the $5 starting point. If he wins, he has a $5 profit and starts a new series. If he loses, the series becomes 2-3-5, and the next bet is $7 -- the sum of the numbers on either end. A win at $7 would cancel the 2 and the 5, leaving $3 as the next bet. A win at $3 completes the $5 profit.

All very tidy, but a perfectly ordinary sequence such as a loss, a win, two losses, a win, three losses brings the sequence to 3-3-6-9, with a $12 bet on the line and two wins needed to close out the sequence. The cancellation player doesn't run into the huge sums of money a Martingale player must bet, but can wind up making bets considerably larger than the starting point and running up losses.

Roulette looks like an easy game to try because it relies solely on chance. But the real skill comes in knowing how to bet before the wheel stops.

Slot Machine Basics

About 80 percent of first-time visitors to casinos head for the slots. It's easy -- just drop coins into the slot and push the button or pull the handle. Newcomers can find the personal interaction with dealers or other players at the tables intimidating -- slot players avoid that. And besides, the biggest, most lifestyle-changing jackpots in the casino are offered on the slots. The following article will tell you everything you

need to know about slots, from the basics to various strategies. We'll start at square one, with a primer on how playing slot machines works.

How to Play

The most popular slots are penny and nickel video games along with quarter and dollar reel-spinning games, though there are video games in 2-cent, 10-cent, quarter, and dollar denominations and reel spinners up to $100. Most reel spinners take up to two or three coins at a time while video slots can take 45, 90, and even 500 credits at a time.

Nearly all slot machines are fitted with currency acceptors -- slide a bill into the slot, and the equivalent amount of credits is displayed on a meter. On reel-spinning slots, push a button marked "play one credit" until you've reached the number of coins you wish to play. Then hit the "spin reels" button, or pull the handle on those few slots that still have handles, or hit a button marked "play max credits," which will play the maximum coins allowed on that machine.

On video slots, push one button for the number of paylines you want to activate, and a second button for the number of credits wagered per line. One common configuration has nine paylines on which you can bet 1 to 5 credits. Video slots are also available with 5, 15, 20, 25, even 50 paylines, accepting up to 25 coins per line.

Many reel-spinning machines have a single payout line painted across the center of the glass in front of the reels. Others have three payout lines, even five payout lines, each corresponding to a coin played. The symbols that stop on a payout line determine whether a player wins. A common set of symbols might be cherries, bars, double bars (two bars stacked atop one another), triple bars, and sevens.

A single cherry on the payout line, for example, might pay back two coins; the player might get 10 coins for three of any bars (a mixture of bars, double bars, and triple bars), 30 for three single bars, 60 for three double bars, 120 for three triple bars, and the jackpot for three sevens. However, many of the stops on each reel will be blanks, and a combination that includes blanks pays nothing. Likewise, a seven is not any bar, so a combination such as bar-seven-double bar pays nothing.

Video slots typically have representations of five reels spinning on a video screen. Paylines not only run straight across the reels but also run in V's, upside down V's, and zigs and zags across the screen. Nearly all have at least five paylines, and most have more -- up to 50 lines by the mid-2000s.

In addition, video slots usually feature bonus rounds and "scatter pays." Designated symbols trigger a scatter pay if two, three, or more of them appear on the screen, even if they're not on the same payline.

Similarly, special symbols will trigger a bonus event. The bonus may take the form of a number of free spins, or the player may be presented with a "second screen" bonus. An example of a second screen bonus comes in the long-popular WMS Gaming Slot "Jackpot Party." If three Party noisemakers appear on the video reels, the reels are replaced on the screen with a grid of packages in gift wrapping. The player touches the screen to open a package and collects a bonus payout. He or she may keep touching packages for more bonuses until one package finally reveals a "pooper," which ends the round. The popularity of such bonus rounds is why video slots have become the fastest growing casino game of the last decade.

When you hit a winning combination, winnings will be added to the credit meter. If you wish to collect the coins showing on the meter, hit the button marked "Cash Out," and on most machines, a bar-coded ticket will be printed out that can be redeemed for cash. In a few older machines, coins still drop into a tray.

Etiquette

Many slot players pump money into two or more adjacent machines at a time, but if the casino is crowded and others are having difficulty finding places to play, limit yourself to one machine. As a practical matter, even in a light crowd, it's wise not to play more machines than you can watch over easily. Play too many and you could find yourself in the situation faced by the woman who was working up and down a row of six slots. She was dropping coins into machine number six while number one, on the aisle, was paying a jackpot. There was nothing she could do as a passerby scooped a handful of coins out of the first tray.

Sometimes players taking a break for the rest room will tip a chair against the machine, leave a coat on the chair, or leave some other sign that they'll be back. Take heed of these signs. A nasty confrontation could follow if you play a machine that has already been thus staked out.

Payouts

Payout percentages have risen since the casinos figured out it's more profitable to hold 5 percent of a dollar than 8 percent of a quarter or 10 percent of a nickel. In most of the country, slot players can figure on about a 93 percent payout percentage, though payouts in Nevada run higher. Las Vegas casinos usually offer the highest average payouts of all -- better than 95 percent. Keep in mind that these are long-term averages that will hold up over a sample of 100,000 to 300,000 pulls.

In the short term, anything can happen. It's not unusual to go 20 or 50 or more pulls without a single payout on a reel-spinning slot, though payouts are more frequent on video slots. Nor is it unusual for a machine to pay back 150 percent or more for several dozen pulls. But in the long run, the programmed percentages will hold up.

The change in slots has come in the computer age, with the development of the microprocessor. Earlier slot machines were mechanical, and if you knew the number of stops -- symbols or blank spaces that could stop on the payout line--on each reel, you could calculate the odds on hitting the top jackpot. If a machine had three reels, each with ten stops, and one symbol on each reel was for the jackpot, then three jackpot symbols would line up, on the average, once every 10310310 pulls, or 1,000 pulls.

On those machines, the big payoffs were $50 or $100--nothing like the big numbers slot players expect today. On systems that electronically link machines in several casinos, progressive jackpots reach millions of dollars.

The microprocessors driving today's machines are programmed with random-number generators that govern winning combinations. It no longer matters how many stops are on each reel. If we fitted that old three-reel, ten-stop machine with a microprocessor, we could put ten jackpot symbols on the first reel, ten on the second, and nine on the third, and still program the random-number generator so that three jackpot symbols lined up only once every 1,000 times, or 10,000 times. And on video slots, reel strips can be programmed to be as long as needed to make the odds of the game hit at a desired percentage. They are not constrained by a physical reel.

Each possible combination is assigned a number, or numbers. When the random-number generator receives a signal -- anything from a coin being dropped in to the handle being pulled -- it sets a number, and the reels stop on the corresponding combination.

Between signals, the random-number generator operates continuously, running through dozens of numbers per second. This has two practical effects for slot players. First, if you leave a machine, then see someone else hit a jackpot shortly thereafter, don't fret. To hit the same jackpot, you would have needed the same split-second timing as the winner. The odds are overwhelming that if you had stayed at the machine, you would not have hit the same combination.

Second, because the combinations are random, or as close to random as is possible to set the program, the odds of hitting any particular combination are the same on every pull. If a machine is programmed to pay out its top jackpot, on the average, once every 10,000 pulls, your chances of hitting it are one in 10,000 on any given pull. If you've been standing there for days and have played 10,000 times, the odds on the next pull will still be one in 10,000. Those odds are long-term averages. In the short term, the machine could go 100,000 pulls without letting loose of the big one, or it could pay it out twice in a row.

So, is there a way to ensure that you hit it big on a slot machine? Not really, but despite the overriding elements of chance, there are some strategies you can employ. We'll cover these in the next section.

Slot Machine Strategies

Slots are the easiest games in the casino to play -- spin the reels and take your chances. Players have no control over what combinations will show up or when a jackpot will hit. There is no way to tell when a machine will be hot or cold. Still, there are some pitfalls. It's important to read the glass and learn what type of machine it is. The three major types of reel-spinning slots are the multiplier, the buy-a-pay, and the progressive.

The multiplier. On a multiplier, payoffs are proportionate for each coin played--except, usually, for the top jackpot. If the machine accepts up to three coins at a time, and if you play one coin, three bars pay back ten. Three bars will pay back 20 for two coins and 30 for three coins. However, three sevens might pay 500 for one coin and 1,000 for two, but jump to 10,000 when all three coins are played. Read the glass to find out if that's the case before playing less than the maximum coins on this type of machine.

The buy-a-pay

Never play less than the maximum on a buy-a-pay, on which each coin "buys" a set of symbols or a payout line. The first coin in might allow the player to win only on cherry combination, while the second coin activates the bar payouts, and the third coin activates the sevens. Woe is the player who hits three jackpot symbols on a buy-a-pay with only one coin played--the player gets nothing back. A variation is the machine with multiple payout lines, each activated by a separate coin. All symbols are active with each coin, but if a winning combination lines up on the third-coin payout line with only one or two coins played, the payoff is zero.

The progressive

You also have no reason to play less than maximum coins on a progressive machine. A player who eventually lines up the jackpot symbols gets a percentage of each coin played. The first progressive machines were self-contained--the jackpot was determined by how much that particular machine had been played since the last big hit. Today most progressives are linked electronically to other machines, with all coins played in the linked machines adding to a common jackpot.

These jackpots can be enormous -- the record is $39,710,826.26, a $1 progressive at a Las Vegas casino. The tradeoff is that frequency and size of other payouts are usually smaller. And you can't win the big jackpot without playing maximum coins.

If you must play fewer than maximum coins, look for a multiplier in which the final-coin jump in the top jackpot is fairly small. Better yet, choose a machine that allows you to stay within your budget while playing maximum coins. If your budget won't allow you to play maximum coins on a $1 machine, move to a quarter machine. If you're not comfortable playing three quarters at a time, move to a two-quarter machine. If you can't play two quarters at a time, play a nickel machine.

With so many paylines and the possibility of betting multiple coins per line, video slots are different. Some penny slots with 20 paylines take up to 25 coins per line. That's a $5 maximum bet -- a pretty penny indeed! Most players bet less than the max on video slots but are sure to cover all the paylines, even if betting only one coin per line. You want to be sure to be eligible for the bonus rounds that give video slots most of their fun. Some progressive jackpots require max coins bets, and some don't. If a max-coins bet is required to be eligible for the jackpot and you're not prepared to roll that high, find a different machine.

Money Management

Managing your money wisely is the most important part of playing any casino game, and also the most difficult part of playing the slots. Even on quarter machines, the amount of money involved runs up quickly. A dedicated slot player on a machine that plays off credits can easily get in 600 pulls an hour. At two quarters at a time, that means wagering $300 per hour -- the same amount a $5 blackjack player risks at an average table speed of 60 hands per hour.

Most of that money is recycled from smaller payouts--at a casino returning 93 percent on quarter slots, the expected average loss for $300 in play is $21. Still, you will come out ahead more often if you pocket some of those smaller payouts and don't continually put everything you get back into the machine.

One method for managing money is to divide your slot bankroll for the day into smaller-session bankrolls. If, for example, you've taken $100 on a two-and-a-half-hour riverboat cruise, allot $20 for each half-hour. Select a quarter machine -- dollar machines could devastate a $100 bankroll in minutes -- and play the $20 through once. If you've received more than $20 in payouts, pocket the excess and play with the original $20. At the end of one half-hour, pocket whatever is left and start a new session with the next $20.

If at any point the original $20 for that session is depleted, that session is over. Finish that half-hour with a walk, or a snack, or a drink until it is time for a new session. Do not dip back into money you've already pocketed.

That may seem rigid, but players who do not use a money management technique all too frequently keep pumping money into the machine until they've lost their entire bankroll. The percentages guarantee that the casino will be the winner in the long run, but lock up a portion of the money as you go along, and you'll walk out of the casino with cash on hand more frequently.

That is changing in new server-based slots that have started to appear in casinos. Operators will be able to change payback percentages at the click of a mouse, but they still must have regulatory approval to do so.

There is a lot more to slot machines than meets the eye. But if you learn the ins and outs of playing them, you can use some strategies that just might help you hit the jackpot.

Slot Machine Myths

Because most players do not understand how slot machines work, whole sets of beliefs have grown over when to play a machine and when to avoid it. Little truth is in any of them. Here's a look at some of the more pervasive slot myths:

Change machines after a big jackpot -- the machine won't be due to hit again for some time. From a money-management standpoint, it makes sense to lock up the profits from a big hit and move on. But the machine is not "due" to turn cold. In fact, the odds against the same jackpot hitting on the next pull are the same as they were the first time.

Play a machine that has gone a long time without paying off -- it is due to hit. Slot machines are never "due." Playing through a long losing streak all too frequently results in a longer losing streak.

Casinos place "hot" machines on the aisles. This belief is so widespread that end machines get a good deal of play regardless of how they pay. It is true that not all machines in the same casino are programmed with the same payback percentage. And it's true that casinos want other customers to see winners. But slot placement is more complex than just placing the hot ones at the ends of aisles.

The payback percentage is lowered when the crowds are bigger and demand is greater. It's not that easy to change a machine's programming. Changing the programmed payback percentage requires opening the machine and replacing a computer chip. That's not something to do cavalierly.

Slot Machines of the Future

The lifespan of slot games has changed in the video slot age. Because the popularity of video games can peak and decline within a matter of months, casino operators who wanted to offer their customers the latest video slots had to spend a lot of time changing their machines one at a time. Further aggravating this process, most states required the presence of a gaming board agent when the evidence tape was broken, the old game chip taken out, a new chip put in and resealed in the evidence tape, and the machine closed and the paperwork done.

That's changing with the advent of downloadable and server-based games. Nearly every major slot machine manufacturer showed server-based slot machines to the casino industry at the 2005 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. By the spring of 2006, such games were getting trials in Nevada and California.
With server-based systems, a game theme can change instantly. A dollar game can become a penny game. And it can be done with whole banks of machines at once, not just one machine at a time.

One slot manufacturer's system shows a diagram of the casino floor. With a click and drag of a computer mouse, the operator can highlight the games to change. Then with the click of a mouse on a pull-down menu, he or she can select a new game theme, number of paylines, coin denomination, and payback percentage. Voila. New games.
Apply that to a bank of, say, 12 machines, and the effect is amazing. One minute, 12 nine-line nickel slots, the next minute, 12 twenty-line penny slots.

To some extent, it will allow operators to tailor their game offerings to player preference. More and more, casinos are using electronic data warehouses and analytical software to track who's playing, and when. Combine that ability with server-based games, and a casino can change accordingly when it knows that it gets strong penny play during daylight hours but has people waiting for nickel games at night or that video players fill the games on weekdays while other players are crowding low-limit video slots on weekends.

Just as video slots and payoffs by bar-coded tickets have revolutionized the slot floor in the last decade, you can look for server-based games to give casinos another overhaul in the coming years. It won't be long, and the process has already begun.

Source: Howstuffworks (http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/how-to-play-slot-machines.htm)

How To Read A Slot Machine

Most people look at the vast array of slot machines at the casino and think they are all alike. They see a handle, coin slot and flashing lights and figure one is as good as another. What they are missing is a lot of valuable information that can help determine if and how they play a certain slot machine.

Not all machines are the same and the way to separate one machine from another is to learn how to “Read” a machine by looking at the pay out schedule on the front. Let’s take a look a typical slot machine and see what information can be found.

First of all you will find the denomination of the coin needed to play that machine. I don’t know how many times I have seen a person drop a quarter into a machine only to get a confused look when the coin drops through and back into the tray. Upon closer observation they discover that they tried to put a quarter in a dollar machine. This is the first thing you should look for.

There are several types of machines that you need to be aware of:

Multiplier: This machine has a pay out for a certain symbol and the number of coins played multiplies it. If the machine pays 5 coins for three lemons when you play one coin, it would pay 10 for the second coin and 15 for three coins played. This machine does not penalize you for not playing maximum coins. If you plan to play only one coin at a time, this is the type of machine you should look for.

Bonus Multiplier: This machine operates the same as the multiplier except that it offers a bonus when you play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three 7’s may pay 1,000 for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and 10,000 for maximum coins. You need to decide if the bonus is worth playing the extra coin.

Multiple Payline: These machines have more than one line of play. Each coin activates a particular line. If you hit a winner on a line that is not activated, you will not receive anything. The older machines used to have three lines but the newer video slots can have up to nine lines.

Buy-a-Pay: These are the most misunderstood machines in the casino. Each coin activates a different pay out. You need the maximum coins to receive the largest jackpot. One example is the “Sizzlin 7’s” machines. The machine will pay on cherries, bars and sevens. The sevens pay 1,000 coins. If you play one coin you can collect only on the cherries. If you play two coins you can collect on cherries and bars. You need three coins in to collect on the Sizzlin 7’s. If you hit the jackpot with one coin in YOU WILL NOT WIN ANYTHING!!! Do not play this machine under any circumstances unless you are playing the maximum coins.

Progressive Slots: The progressive slots take a certain percentage of the money played and add it to a pool for the top jackpot. “Megabucks” or “Quarter Mania” are examples of machines from several casinos linked together to offer a life changing jackpot. Keep in mind that the percentage of the payback on the lesser wins is lowered to allow for the big prize. Some casinos have machines linked together within their own casino to offer mini-progressive jackpots. NEVER PLAY A PROGRESSIVE WITH LESS THAN MAXMIMUM COINS!! There is a story circulating that a lady hit the “Megabucks” when the jackpot was 20 million but because she only had one coin in she collected only $5,000. While this is an Urban Legend there are other cases of people losing out on lesser progressive jackpots because of short coin play.

All of the slot machines have the information you need posted on the front. Before you sit down to play, take a minute to “Read” the machine. This will make you a knowledgeable player and help you determine which machine is best suited for you.

Slot Machine tips

About the Machines

Slot machines contain a "random number generator" (RNG) micro-computer that constantly (even while the machine is not being used) spits out numbers. These random numbers correspond to positions on each of the reels in the machine. When you pull the handle or push the "Spin" button you aren't really initiating anything except the spinning of the reels which is merely for show. You are simply telling the machine to display the reel positions that correspond to the last set of random numbers that were generated.

The above is important because it de-bunks some long-held assumptions about slot machines. Like the roulette wheel, where every play is completely random and independent, one pull of a slot handle is completely random and completely independent of the previous or next pull. It all comes down to the precise moment that you pull that handle or push that "Spin" button (i.e. which set of random numbers you select). Pulling the handle or pushing the button a 100th of a second later would yield a totally different result.

The result of the above is this:

If someone gets a big payout at a machine that you just left, don't feel bad because you "missed" a payout. You would not have gotten that payout if you continued to play because you wouldn't have pulled the slot machine at the exact fraction of a second that the winner did. Again, this is due to the rapid generation of random numbers.

A machine is never "due to hit". The payback percentage and hit frequency are calculated over the long term.

A machine can go for days on end without a decent payout but there is no reason it can't have two large payouts in a short period of time.

Playing faster will not increase your chances of winning. The RNG will generate thousands of numbers between the spins of even the fastest player. While a faster player may seem to win more, it's simply because they've spinned more for a given amount of time.

The number of coins you play has nothing to do with the numbers that are generated.

It makes absolutely no difference to the machine, or the results, if you pull the handle or press the "Spin" button.

Lets take a simplified example of a three-reel machine. If a machine has 10 symbols on each reel, and there are two "blank" positions between each symbol, that's 30 positions on each reel. A three-reel machine gives 27,000 (30 X 30 X 30) possible results that you could get when you pull the handle or press the "Spin" button. A fair number of these possible results will give smaller, partial payouts, but there's only a 1 in 27,000 chance that the combination of numbers that represents the machine's jackpot will be generated.

Given the random number generation, luck is as involved with slot play as it is with table play. However, the key point with slot machines is that they are set up with different payback percentages and hit frequencies. (The odds at table games are pretty much the same wherever you play because the rules are consistent from one casino to the next.) Machines that pay off frequently are said to be "loose". But loose isn't always a good thing if you're looking for a hefty jackpot. If a machine is has a high payback percentage (98%), but also has a high hit frequency, you'll end up with a lot of little payouts. You may come out ahead, but you'll be less likely to hit a sizable payoff. The best machines are those with a high payback percentage and a lower hit frequency.

Everyone has their own rules for which slot machines to pick but I thought I would list some factors to pay attention to when playing slot machines. Slot machines, and increasingly video poker machines, are the most popular forms of gaming in casinos.

Tip #1 - Only play the best paying machines - Look for machines that payout between 95 and 99 percent and only play those. Theses are mostly $1 and higher machines. Statistical research data indicate that $5 or higher machines have the highest percentage payout range. The range starts at 93.7% and goes up to 98.5%. Remember - these are ranges and averages, not absolute values. The next highest payouts come from $1 machines followed by 50-cent machines, 25-cent machines, and 5-cent machines. You will often see signs that say "Up to 98% payback" indicating that they have loose machines. This means that over the long term the slot will pay out 98 cents of every dollar that is played. The "up to" is the key point here. It means that a casino could have only one machine set to pay back at 98% to comply with the sign. If you find an area of slots with a sign without the "up to" you may want to give it a try.

Tip #2 - Play non progressive machines - Because the random number generators are programmed to produce a higher number of reels and symbols on progressive jackpot machines, slot players are better off playing the flat rate machines found in the best locations.

Tip #3 - Bribe a casino employee - Ask an employee in the slots area which machines are the best. Offer them a cut of your profits (if you make money) for helping you.

Tip #4 - Physical placement - When picking a machine, location is very important. The physical placement of the machine is an indicator of how loose or tight the machine is. Here is some more information on how to find tiht and loose slots.

Finding loose slots

Because loose slots exist to attract more slots players, the casino has a special slot placement strategy to get the most out of them. Since the number of wins on a loose slot machine is more frequent, the casinos want as many witnesses as possible. You could consider it as another way of advertising, but one that we can use to our advantage as slot players.

Near the change booths - casinos want other players who are waiting in line to receive change to hear the unmistakable sounds and sights of players hitting mid-level and top jackpots. This will motivate other players to get more change and play more machines.

On elevated carousels - high payoff machines that are visible from nearly any angle from the gaming floor also serve to motivate other players to put more money into their chosen machines.

Near the coffee shop/cafe/snack bar - casinos frequently place their best machines in these locations to motivate players to eat quickly and get back to the gaming floor as soon as possible. When a player takes a "time out" for food or drinks it's time spent not playing the machines. No play means no revenue for the casino.

Slot aisles known as "crosswalks" - crosswalks are areas that players must walk through to get to other slot aisles. The casinos want slot players to witness frequent jackpot (mid-level or top) payouts. People passing by using these carefully planned pathways are more likely to be drawn into the main slot aisles, where the mid-range and tight machines are waiting to fleece them.

AVOIDING TIGHT SLOTS

Similar to the loose slots placement strategy, there is also one for tight slots. These, on the other hand, are always located secluded areas where there aren't many passer-bys and few other slot players. Just try to think of it from the casino's point of view and it's sure to enlighten you a little. One thing to remember is that every casino is different and that each moves their slot machines around to challenge those who seek the loose ones.

Near casino entrances - At one time, the casinos placed some of their best-paying machines here in an attempt to lure players in off the street and into the main casino, where the tighter slots were located. This plan backfired as patrons who began playing at the entrances stayed at the entrances. They never ventured any further into the casino. And, why should they? They did just fine right where they were! The casinos have now moved mid-range and tight machines into the entrance areas.

Around or near the sports book/racing areas - Casinos do not want their sports book patrons to be distracted by the clanking of tokens hitting the slot trays. Sports book players spend vast amounts of money, betting on all kinds of action, and would probably not play slot machines themselves - so placing a high-payout machine there would be waste of time, and may even cause the sports book players to leave the area.

Near the ticket/show lines - People waiting in line for show tickets or to see a show have already taken off their "gambling hat" for the time being. Since their interests lie elsewhere than in playing slot machines, placing a loose machine there probably would not motivate those folks to play.

Surrounding the gaming table areas - Slot machines that are near the gaming tables are almost always tight machines with a few mid-range machines thrown in for good measure. Table players aren't usually regular slot players. The point of loose slots is to attract more people to play them, so why put one in an area where slots aren't much favoured?

The older places near the north end of the Strip may set their machines looser to try and draw players away from the newer, fancier resorts.

Tip #5 - Play the maximum number of coins - The only way you can hit the jackpot is by playing the maximum coins. When you look at the payout table on the slot machine, most of the time there are three columns; the first column is the payout for playing one coin, the second for playing two coins, and the third for playing three coins (maximum).

Tip #6 - Don't play multiple-payline slots - Although it seems like you have better chances playing multiple-payline slot machine, you're increasing the odds against you drastically. The fact that you have to pay more to play these kinds of slots and that the payout rates aren't as good as single-payline slots makes it a bad deal.

Tip #7 - Always use your slots card - Don't forget to insert your players card in the reader before you begin playing and don't forget to take it with you when you leave. Many players do not take advantage of "comps." The reasons given range from, "I didn't want to take the time to register" to "I'm afraid they'll report my winnings to the I.R.S." to "If I use a Slot Club Card, the casino will 'tweak' my machine if I win too much." Other reasons were also given, but let's address these three.

First, NOT taking the time to join a Slot Club deprives you of some great benefits such as discounts on meals and rooms and other special offerings. In fact, the comps you receive may mean the difference between a winning or losing session.

Second, the casinos do NOT report your winnings to the I.R.S. unless the amount meets I.R.S. regulations. If this happens, the casino will present you - on the spot - with I.R.S. Form W-2G (for gambling winnings) which must be reported by you on your federal income tax return. If the casino doesn't present you with Form W-2G, the I.R.S. has no idea what you've won, and they don't care since your winnings do not meet their reporting criteria.

Third, the casinos DO track your play. In effect, when you insert your card into the machine, you are "logging on," but there is nothing untoward going on. The casinos can't award comps if they don't know how much you've spent. And, comps accrue whether you play your own money or THEIRS - doesn't matter. Casino security also tracks play through the Slot Club cards, but what they are looking for are potential cheaters; people who are doing extraordinarily well for extremely long periods of time with no downward trend in their winnings. They also keep an eye on people who are losing BIG because of the possibility of a negative emotional reaction from the player.

Tip #8 - Play with coins rather than bills - If you want to get the most play for your money, feed the machines coins rather than using bills. However, make sure that the payout percentage is worth your time.

Tip #9 - Know when to stop - Discipline is necessary when gambling, regardless of what casino game it is. It's very easy to just keep playing because you think you are minutes away from the jackpot, but that can be dangerous. Your chances of hitting the jackpot is the same for each pull. Decide how to handle your winnings. Pocket 25% or 50% or 75% and add the remainder to your bankroll for more playing, or keep it all.

Tip #10 - Play the highest denomination machines that fits into your bankroll - The higher the denomination the higher the percentage of payout on slot machines. Therefore, if you can afford it, play the five dollar slots in the best locations. If that's too much then play the $1 machines. Typically, dollar machines return on average 95 % with quarter machines returning 93 % and nickel machines 90 %.

Tip #11 - Try the machine next to you if yours is not paying off - according to industry sources, the casinos NEVER place two loose machines next to each other. - If you're uncertain as to whether your machine is loose, it may not hurt to try the machines on either side of you.

TIP#12 - All reel-type slot machines contain variant programming. This programming allows the machine to pay out several percentage points both above and below its baseline payout percentage. For example, if a machine is programmed with a pay out percentage of 96%, there will be times when it pays at 93% and other times it pays at 98%. This may help you understand why a machine that treated you very well on one trip to the casino totally destroyed your bankroll on your next visit.

Tip #13 - Test every machine you play. Play a certain number of pulls or spins and gauge how the machine is responding. After you have played for a while, stop and tally what the machine has paid out. If you are, at least, breaking even - then stay and repeat the excercise. If you are not at least breaking even, move on.

Tip #14 - All slot machines "dump" from time to time. - Dumping occurs when a given machine has been paying out below its programmed percentage payout for an extended period of time. Dumping is its way of returning to its baseline percentage. This phenomenon can occur anywhere on the gaming floor, and you need to take full advantage of it when it happens. Ok, HOW?

If you were to observe two slot machines side-by-side, and one was a legitimate 99%er while the other one was a 90%er (tight) machine dumping - you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. And, the best part is: it doesn't matter! Using your personal pull-rule, you would play the machine(s) fast and hard. When they stop paying, MOVE ON.

Tip #15 - "Loose" is a relative term as it applies to casino slot machines. - It varies from casino-to-casino, and from player-to-player. If your definition is significantly different from that of the casino you are about to enter, you may be in for a disasterous session.

On the newer slots, there are a series of small windows on the side of the machine. One window says "coins in." Another says "coins out," or similar terms. These windows are primarily for the slot technicians' use, but you may also be able to use them to your own advantage.

Divide the number of coins out by the number of coins in. Mulitply the result by 100. If it yields 96 or higher, it may fit the general definition of "loose."

There is also a third window that says "bills in," but if the first calculation yields less than 96(%), the number of "bills in" becomes moot since most serious players won't play a machine that is less than 96%.

If, on the other hand, the first calculation yields 96 or higher, then factoring in the number of bills in will give you a pretty good idea of the machines' payout percentage. Assuming the "bills" were twenty-dollar bills is sound since the most common bill used by slot players is the twenty. Just don't forget to convert the bills correctly according to the denomination of the machine.

Tip #16 - By and large, the main slot banks contain mostly mid-range and tight machines with a few loose machines scattered among them. How many loose machines can be found there? It depends on the overall size of the space allocation, and loose machines can be found as close together as every 4th machine, up to a distance of every 12th machine. Total available square footage is the main determining factor.

Tip #17 - Contrary to popular belief, the casinos do not "hide" or move their best machines simply because people find and play them. The casinos WANT them to be played. When slot machine players see and hear someone hitting a jackpot, it motivates them to pump more money into their own machine in hopes of hitting their own jackpot. It also draws other players into the general location of the jackpot where tighter machines wait to take their money. How many times have you seen players begin to play machines on either side of someone who has just hit a jackpot? Enough said.

Tip #18 - Develop a 6th sense when it comes to slot machines. - You need to ascertain how the machines are playing before you decide which to play. And whatever you do, DO NOT fall into the "my machine" syndrome based upon your good fortune in time past. Approach every machine like you are seeing it for the first time.

Source: homepokergames.com (http://www.homepokergames.com/slottips.php)

How Slots Work

The mechanics of slot machines are quite complex and very few people understand how they work or are programmed to perform. Here is how three-reel 'stepper slots' that have actual moving reels really work.

The first step is for the player start a new play by pressing the spin or max bet button.

The machine then selects three random numbers, one for each reel. These are chosen from a random number generator which is constantly churning out random numbers at a rate of thousands per second. The numbers chosen at the moment the play has commenced are the ones used to determine the final outcome. In other words the outcome is already been fated the instant you press the spin button.

Next, the random numbers will pass through a mapping table to be assigned a specific reel to stop on. Each possible random number on each reel is mapped to a particular stop. Typically, the symbols with larger pay-outs are mapped to fewer numbers.

The machine will then spin for a few seconds to keep the players entertained and then stop on the reels programmed by the random numbers drawn on the reel map.

Five-reel video slots work in a similar fashion except that here, each reel stop has an equal weighting. This is because the game is multi-line and equal weighting results in equal odds for each line played.

Some slot machines have an in-built feature wherein the bonus increases in proportion to the amount a player plays. When the reels stop in a particular pattern the player wins the coins in the machine. These kinds of slots have variable states, which means, if the state is higher, so will the expected payback be, as well. Examples of this kind of machine include Piggy Bank, Car Race, Temperature Rising, and Double Diamond Mine. It is possible to have a positive expected value playing slots if you only play variable state slots in very high states.

Source: Slots Top List (http://www.slots-toplist.com/slots-work.php)

Blackjack Rules

The object of Blackjack is for the total of your cards to be closer to 21 than the dealer's cards, without exceeding 21. In

Blackjack, aces can count as either 1 or 11, picture cards as 10, and number cards as their face value. An ace and a ten-value

card as your first two cards means you have Blackjack and you win one and a half times your bet (a $10 bet receives $25

payout). If the total value of your cards is closer to 21 than the dealer's, you win the same amount as you wagered (a $10 bet

receives $20 payout). If the total of your cards is more than 21, you "bust" and lose your bet. If you and the dealer have the

same card total (17 and higher) neither of you win and your bet is returned to you in a "push". Blackjack beats a score of 21.

Rule variations

Our Blackjack follows standard "Las Vegas Strip" rules, with the following exceptions: * All cards are returned to the deck after each round, and the deck is shuffled. * The player can only split once. * The player can double after splitting. * The dealer will not check for Blackjack in any case. * If the player doubles and the dealer has blackjack with his first card an ace, the player loses both his bets. * If the dealer's first card is of value 10, and the dealer gets Blackjack, the player gets the Double bet back.

Split

If your first two cards have the same point value, you may split them into two separate hands by placing an additional bet equal to the original bet. You then proceed to draw cards. You can draw as many cards as you like on each split hand except for aces. Split aces receive only one additional card for each ace. An ace with a ten-value card in a split hand is counted as 21 and not Blackjack.

Double

After you are dealt two cards, you can "double" your bet. You increase your bet by an amount that matches your original bet. You are then allowed to receive one more card only.

Insurance

Insurance is considered a side bet in Blackjack. If the dealer has as Ace as his up card, you will be given the insurance option. You buy insurance to bet that the dealer has Blackjack. It allows you to protect your bet against the possibility that the dealer has Blackjack. Insurance costs an extra half of your initial bet which is wagered by clicking the Insurance button. If the dealer has Blackjack, you are paid 2 to 1 on your insurance bet. If the dealer doesn't have Blackjack, you lose your insurance bet, but continue to play your dealt cards.

10 Card Charlie

It is theoretically possible for the player to draw 10 cards without going bust. In this instance the player's hand automatically wins, except when the dealer has Blackjack.

Winnings

Blackjack game

This page explains how our online Blackjack game is played. Click here to learn about Blackjack Rules. To play our six deck Blackjack game: * Click on a chip to place a bet * Increase your bet with repeated clicks until you reach the desired amount. Decrease your bet with right clicks on your chips on the table. * Click the Deal button to receive your cards. * If the dealer has an ace as his up card, you receive the insurance option. Accept insurance with a click on the Insurance button. * Receive another card with a click on Hit * If you do not wish to accept another card click on Stand * Double your bet with a click on Double * Split your pairs with a click on Split * The Insurance, Double and Split options require an additional wager, as described in the rules. If you do not have sufficient funds you will not be able to use these options. * To play another round, click New Game. To place the same bet as in the previous round click Rebet.

Multihand:

You can play Blackjack in Multihand mode. Select "Multihand" in the casino lobby to be able to play up to three hands simultaneously. To place a bet, click on a chip and then select the bet area with another click. Every additional click on the bet area increases your bet. To play with two hands, place bets in two bet areas. To play with three hands, place bets in three bet areas. You can still opt to play a single hand by selecting one bet area only.

Multiplayer and Private Group Modes:

Multiplayer and Private Group Modes enable you to play at the same table with other people. Private Group tables have a name and you need to know this to be able to join. Keep in mind that: * A 15 second countdown is shown on screen if a player has been inactive. If the player does not act during the countdown, the player will automatically stand or skip a turn. * If a player loses Internet connection during gameplay, the player is removed from the table. Other players continue playing uninterrupted.

Buttons:

Shortcut keys: You can use shortcut keys on your keyboard as an alternative to clicking on the buttons on the screen.

Note on large wins: Winning amounts of $10,000 or more are considered to be large wins. Games involving large wins are verified by a live operator. Note on disconnections: If you are disconnected from the Internet during a game in Real Money mode, re-establish your Internet connection and log back into the casino. You will be automatically directed to the interrupted game so you can continue playing.