Author: Jeremiah Booker

Every gambler makes mistakes, and some of them are more embarrassing than others. Blackjack players are no exception. But all you need to know are a few simple things and you can avoid making embarrassing mistakes at the blackjack table.

Here are seven ways to avoid making embarrassing mistakes when you’re playing blackjack. And some of these simple steps are also going to help you increase your odds of winning.

And if you do make a mistake, simply learn from it so you don’t make the same mistake again. It’s also a good idea to explain to the dealer that it’s your first time playing blackjack for real money. The dealer can help you avoid making a big mistake.

1 – Know How to Stand

When you don’t want to be dealt any more cards you want to stand. You can stand after receiving your first two cards at the blackjack table, or after receiving any number of other cards.

You can signal to the dealer that you want to stand a couple different ways. The most important thing to do is say out loud the word stand.

You can also place the flat of your hand over your cards and move it from side to side. This is a signal that you want to stand. Another way to stand is to slide your cards under your wager. But make sure this is used in the casino where you’re playing, because not every casino uses this hand signal.

The most important thing you need to do when you’re playing a blackjack hand is to always say what you intend. You can use hand signals as well, but I never recommend only using hand signals. When you say what you’re doing and use hand signals, the dealer can hear what you want to do and the dealer and the cameras recording the game action both can see your hand signal.

This is true when you stand and when you make any of the other common playing decisions explained on this page.

2 – Know How to Hit

When you hit it means getting another card from the dealer. When you want another card, say hit and point to your cards. Some players tap their cards, but the proper signal is to point.

When you point at your cards and say hit, there’s no room for error. The dealer will clearly understand what you want to do.

The dealer then moves to the next player in the hand and you sit back and wait for the dealer hand to be revealed.

You used the proper hand signals while also speaking what you intended to do. This is how you can guarantee you’re not making mistakes playing blackjack.

3 – Know How to Double Down

When you have a total of 9 to 11 against certain dealer cards you want to double down. You can learn more about knowing when this is the best play in the final section on this page.

Doubling down means that you double your original wager amount and you receive exactly one more card and then stand. Here’s how to properly double down.

Slide an extra wager, the same amount as your original wager, out to where you placed your original bet and say double or double down. The dealer then gives you one card and moves to the next player at the table.

The ability to double down on key hands is one of the ways that you can keep the casino edge low and improves your chance to win. You won’t double down often, but when you do it in the right situation it can be profitable.

Make sure that you understand how to double down properly so the dealer doesn’t make a mistake.

4 – Know How to Split Pairs

Sometimes when you’re playing blackjack you get two cards of the same rank. When you have a pair of the same cards you have the option of splitting the two cards into two hands, and playing each hand separately. Here’s how to split a pair into two hands.

Turn both cards face up on the table, and then place them side by side so they’re not touching each other. Then slide a wager the same size as your original wager forward behind the card to the right and say split.

Some pairs you always split and some pairs you never split. And some pairs you split sometimes and don’t split other time.

For example, you always split aces when you have a pair and also when you have a pair of 8’s. And you never split a pair of 5’s. You can learn more about when to split and not split in the last section on this page.

5 – Understand Insurance

Blackjack insurance is a special side wager the dealer offers the players when the dealer has an ace showing. You have the opportunity to place a second wager of half your original wager. When you take insurance and the dealer has a blackjack you lose your first wager and win 2 to 1 on your insurance wager. When this happens you break even on the hand.

But when the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack you lose the insurance wager and play your first wager and hand as normal. This looks like a decent wager to many blackjack players, but it’s not a good risk.

If you want to take insurance you say yes when the dealer asks and slide a wager forward half the size of your first wager. But the best play is to always say no when the dealer asks if you want insurance.

6 – Understand the Casino’s Rules

Blackjack dealers follow a simple set of rules. The dealer rules are always posted on the table and the dealer either hits or stands on a soft 17. A soft 17 is a hand that totals 17 including an ace that counts as 11.

The dealer follows these rules and you don’t have to do anything, but it’s good to know what the dealer has to do. If you have a hard 16 and the dealer is showing a six, you know you should probably stand and hope the dealer busts.

If the dealer has a high down card he or she has a high chance of busting. But if you hit your 16 you have a high chance to bust, and if you bust before the dealer busts you lose.

7 – Use Blackjack Strategy

In the example in the last section about standing on a 16 against a dealer 6, it probably makes sense to play this way. But other situations make it harder to figure out the best play. But if you want t have the best chance to win you need to use the best blackjack strategy on all of your hands.

You don’t have to figure out the best strategy on your own. You can use a blackjack card or chart that includes all of the best strategy plays.

Don’t play any more blackjack without a strategy card or chart. You can use them at the table when you play, and it won’t take long before you know most of the correct plays.

Conclusion

Now you know all of the common plays you have to make when you play blackjack and the hand signals that some players use. Remember to state what you want to do loud enough for the dealer to hear it, even if you use hand signals. This way there’s no chance of your action being misinterpreted.

It helps you make proper playing decisions at the blackjack table when you understand how the dealer rules work. You should never follow the rules the dealer uses, because it’s going to cost you money.

Instead, use proper blackjack strategy every time you play. This gives you the best chance to win.

Many gamblers dream of winning $1 million or more. Of course, only a small percentage actually accomplish this goal due to the difficulties that gambling presents.

Therefore, you might think that any notion of a gambler winning $1 billion is a tall tale. Less than 3,000 billionaires exist in the world, and they don’t put “professional gambler” on their business cards.

However, sources suggest that Zeljko Ranogajec has accomplished the seemingly impossible feat of betting his way to $1 billion in profits.

Is this really possible? I’ll discuss more on Ranogajec and his accomplishments along with if it’s really possible for him to have won 10 figures through gambling.

Who Is Zeljko Ranogajec?

Zeljko Ranogajec is an Australian professional gambler. He was born in Hobart, Australia, to Croatian immigrants.

Ranogajec was a solid student and eventually went on to attend the University of Tasmania, where he studied banking, finance, and tax laws. It’s during this time that he found his true passion at a local casino.

Zeljko began playing blackjack for real money at Wrest Point Casino. He eventually became a card counter and started making serious money. Ranogajec spent so much time in Wrest Point that he even met his future wife, Shelley Wilson, at the casino.

He and Wilson eventually moved to New South Wales so that he could continue studying at the University of NSW (Sydney). However, Zeljko later dropped out due to his highly successful gambling career.

Ranogajec’s Gambling Successes

Zeljko Ranogajec is easily one of the most successful gamblers of all time, if not THE most successful. Here’s a look at the various routes that he took to become a big winner.

Horse Racing

Betting on horse racing is Ranogajec’s bread and butter. He employs a solid strategy that has enabled him to make massive profits from horse betting over the years.

His approach involves:

Regarding the latter point, Ranogajec bets so much money that he can negotiate rebate deals with bookmaking companies. For example, he has a significant rebate with Australia’s Tabcorp.

The bulk of Ranogajec’s winnings come from horse racing. Therefore, he’s created a large business out of the matter.

He’s developed a network of analysts, bettors, and administrators to provide information. Although Ranogajec doesn’t technically employ anybody directly, he unofficially employs over 300 Australians in his pursuit for racing info.

Blackjack

While Zeljko may be best known for his horse betting prowess, he was also an outstanding blackjack player years ago.

He no longer needs to play advantage blackjack these days. But early in his career, he developed a reputation for being one of the game’s best.

Ranogajec started with a relatively small bankroll worth a few hundred dollars. He turned this miniscule amount into millions of dollars by counting cards and using other advantage play methods.

Eventually, he got banned from Jupiters Casino and other Gold Coast-area gambling establishments. Ranogajec moved to the United States and played blackjack there until he was kicked out of Atlantic City and Vegas casinos as well. He started dedicating more time to horse racing after the bans began adding up.

Despite having not played for a while, Ranogajec is still a blackjack legend. He entered the Blackjack Hall of Fame in 2011.

Keno Jackpot

Ranogajec used to play keno quite a bit in New South Wales. In 1994, he won a massive jackpot worth $7.5 million at North Ryde RSL Club.

He didn’t have any special advantage in keno. Instead, Zeljko simply kept betting until he eventually won the giant payout.

Ranogajec Is Responsible for the Downfall of a State-Owned Gambling Company

As mentioned before, Ranogajec works out deals with various bookmakers to get lucrative rebates. He has an especially good mutual relationship with Tabcorp.

However, not all of Ranogajec’s deals end up so great for the operator. Case in point, Tote Tasmania closed down in 2011 due to the big rebates that they gave Ranogajec.

In a court case involving an ex-associate, Ranogajec explained the strategy to the courtroom. Zeljko said he’d bet so much that even when losing, he’d still rake in a profit.

With a 10% rebate, for example, he could only earn $95 on every $100 wagered and still come out ahead by $5.

Such favorable deals allowed Ranogajec to earn around $52 million over three-and-a-half years betting on US horse races alone. Only around 15% of this amount came from actual winnings, while the other 85% was due to rebates.

Tote Tasmania had backed themselves into a corner based on the rebate they’d agreed to with Ranogajec. The Treasurer of Tasmania eventually sold the state-owned company off to Tabcorp to salvage something from Tote.

Taxes Reveal Nothing

One look into Zeljko Ranogajec’s taxes could potentially clear up how much he makes each year. The only problem, though, is that gambling winnings aren’t taxable under Australian law.

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has repeatedly looked into Ranogajec’s betting to determine if he does need to pay any taxes.

They reopened the probe again, though, in 2008. After spending years on the case, they got Ranogajec and his longtime business partner, David Walsh, to agree to a settlement in 2012.

The deal is completely confidential and only covers the years between 2004 and 2011. Therefore, no information regarding Ranogajec and his earnings were released after the settlement.

Do the Numbers Add Up to $1 Billion?

The only real sources on Zeljko’s net worth are the Australian Rich List and Daily Telegraph. According to the Rich List, Ranogajec is the 164^th richest person in the Land Down Under with a $600 million AUD net worth.

Assuming this list is fairly accurate, then Ranogajec isn’t worth $1 billion. However, he could’ve easily won this amount and more over the course of his career.

The Daily Telegraph spoke to an unnamed relative of Ranogajec. The relative heard that “he’s a multi-billionaire.”  Of course, this hearsay doesn’t constitute actual evidence that Zeljko is worth billions. However, it’s something that helps confirm he’s worth a massive fortune.

What Is Zeljko Ranogajec Doing Today?

Ranogajec has moved from Australia to London. He works as a consultant for Newfield Limited, which is a sports event and international racing company.

He’s no doubt still gambling on racing as well. After all, Zeljko is one of the world’s best horse bettors and will likely continue to be for the rest of his life.

Aside from his betting and business activities, though, little is know about Ranogajec. He’s a very private person who doesn’t give interviews and speak to the media much.

He did break his silence, though, when asked about his potential multibillion-dollar net worth. Ranogajec simply stated that such figures are “just a big exaggeration.”

A 2018 feature by the Daily Mail claims that Zeljko enjoys a lavish lifestyle. This article discusses how the 59-year-old lives a jet-setting lifestyle with his family, including Shelly and their teenage daughter.

It also reiterates that Ranogajec enjoys living as privately as possible. Therefore, he’s unlikely to ever spill the details on his true gambling winnings or net worth.

Conclusion

Back to the original question, has Zeljko actually won $1 billion in profits? Yes and no. The word “won” must be used quite liberally here. Ranogajec didn’t actually win everything that he’s made through betting.

Instead, the bulk of his profits came from favorable rebate deals with racebook operators. He may have enjoyed as high as a 10% rebate with the now-defunct Tote Tasmania (now part of Tabcorp).

Technically speaking, though, Zeljko has probably won $1 billion through wagering when counting rebates. He’s worth anywhere between $600 million and billions, even when accounting for his lavish, but private, lifestyle.

Ranogajec shows the pinnacle of what’s possible with betting. He’s earned the type of wealth through gambling that’s normally reserved for the world’s most elite hedge fund managers and business owners.

Even in the best of times, spending an extended period of time in any casino exposes one to bacteria, fungi, viruses, and other germs spread by close contact. From the felt underneath your fingertips to the chips in the palm of your hand, surfaces inside a crowded casino tend to accumulate all sorts of muck and grime.

Thankfully, casino operators are taking additional steps toward sanitization, but you can still do your part to protect yourself. Whether you’re worried about the arrival of flu season, or you simply want to stay clean and safe while playing, here are six simple methods to make it happen.

Use Hand Sanitizer to Clean Your Hands After Touching Chips

Back in 2007, when every gambler and their mother could be found playing real money poker, Bluff magazine commissioned a unique study on germs in the casino.

Specifically, the Bluff team wanted to know what sort of harmful microorganisms could be found on the average poker chip. The magazine connected with microbiologist Brian Hedlund from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV), who then secured several chips from various poker rooms around Sin City.

After swabbing the samples and letting the life forms found incubate for a few days, Hedlund reported startling results. According to his analysis, the average chip you use to place bets contains 3,000 unique microorganisms, while one particularly disgusting chip maxed out at over 5,000.

These germs ranged from the relatively harmless to dangerous microorganisms like staphylococcus and bacillus cereus, which cause staph infections and food poisoning, respectively. Hedlund’s team even identified the pathogen responsible for antibiotic resistant staph infections known as MRSA.

Before you give up on casino gambling forever, Hedlund did advise hesitant players to remember that these germs are already everywhere. As he put it in the Bluff report, your hands naturally hold hundreds of millions of microorganisms which are naturally occurring and largely harmless.

Nonetheless, adding certain germs to your hands’ existing petri dish isn’t exactly a great idea nowadays…

These percentages, combined with regular use and a 30-second scrub, ensure any germs you absorb from casino chips are dead on arrival.

The key with chip transmission prevention is to stay vigilant and avoid complacency. Sanitize your hands after initially buying chips, then do it again every 15 minutes or so as you enjoy the game. To wrap things up, use hot water and antibacterial soap for a final handwash once you’re back home or in the hotel room.

Clip Your Fingernails and Keep Them Short Throughout the Trip

Spend enough time playing casino table games and you’ll inevitably notice that the ends of your fingernails have changed color from clear to black.

This happens when you pick up chips, cards, or dice from a felted table over and over again. As you do, your fingernails scrape along the surface of the felt and drag all sorts of gunk along with them. For the most part, this debris contains tiny pieces of lint that the felt leaves behind after wear and tear.

I hate having to clean my fingernails after a long session on the tables, so I take the preventative step by clipping them nice and short before I play my first hand. The shorter, the better in my book!

Lately, I’ve been in the habit of clipping my nails before and after a table game session. That way, whatever dirt does manage to accumulate promptly ends up in the waste bin.

Use Sanitizing Wipes for Slot and Video Poker Machines

If chips are the dirtiest surface you can find at a casino, the screens and buttons found on gaming machines are the clear runner-up.

On any given day, hundreds of people will sit down at a machine to try their luck. And every last one of these people uses their fingertips to tap the screen or press buttons while they play.

The casinos are supposed to be sanitizing machine surfaces with regularity these days, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. When you have a few packs of alcohol-based sanitizing wipes in your bag, you can easily take a few moments to scrub your machine down.

Make sure to hit the screen, the buttons, the pull lever, and the slot where bills or players club cards are deposited. Let the sanitizer do its work and dry up for a minute or so, then feel free to sit back and enjoy your favorite machine free from worry.

Always Use a Straw for Drinks

Enjoying a nice beverage while you gamble it up is a time-honored tradition on the casino floor.

After all, you don’t know how well that glass was washed or if somebody else has had their mouth on it recently. Knowing this, a straw offers a surefire way of avoiding any secondhand contact that can spread germs.

Fortunately, cocktail servers in any land based casino worth its salt will have their trays stocked up with straws. Even better, I recommend bringing your own personal metal straw along to cut out the middleman.

Steer Clear of Smoke

I’ve always adopted this tactic when I walk around the casino because I hate the smell of cigarette and cigar smoke.

But in light of what we’ve learned about the flu and other airborne transmission, avoiding any lingering smoke is simply common sense. Secondhand smoke is dangerous in its own right, so when exhaled germs are factored in, areas with heavy smoke can become one of the dirtiest places in any casino.

Wear a Cloth Mask Whenever You’re Close to Other People

Back in the day, wearing a mask within the casino was considered a definite no-no. Gaming regulations prevented gamblers from covering their faces, as doing so essentially erased the impact of that ever present “eye in the sky.”

Those days are over though, and the next time you enter a casino, you’ll likely be asked to wear a simple cloth mask just to cover your nose and mouth. Listen, I get it… Masks can be uncomfortable and unwieldy while you’re playing, especially during the stifling summer months in Las Vegas.

Even so, they’re one of the easiest ways to avoid catching the flu and other infectious diseases. If staying clean and safe is a priority for you, adding a mask to your gambling gear is a no-brainer.

Conclusion

Staying healthy when gambling has never been more important, but that doesn’t mean you have to abandon your favorite casino altogether. Between the additional steps taken by operators to protect guests, and the helpful tips found above, anybody can navigate the casino floor without worrying about catching the flu or some other illness.

Washing your hands after handling chips and scrubbing down slot machines may seem like a burden at first, but you’ll adjust to the habit in no time flat. And when everybody adds these preventative measures to their casino routine, the whole place becomes cleaner and safer as a result.

So, if you’re looking for a casino night in Nitro, West Virginia, the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort has just what you’re looking for. Located just 14 minutes from the state capital of Charleston and 36 miles east of Huntington, West Virginia’s largest metropolitans, residents and travelers flock to this casino daily.

And yes, if you’re wondering, the casino is famous for its Mardi Gras theme, reflecting its 2010 name change from Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center to the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort.

So, are you ready to read about what West Virginia gambling has to offer?

Let’s get started.

1 – Casino Overview

Mardi Gras Casino and Resort has seen a positive reputation that continues to grow in the Charleston, West Virginia area and will do so for years to come as the gambling scene continues to erupt.

The casino and resort offers a 150-room luxury hotel, 900 real money slots, 20-plus table games, live music and entertainment, a sportsbook, greyhound racing,  meeting, and banquet services.

If you’re looking for state-of-the-art recreation, the location also contains a heated pool, fine dining options, a fitness center, and a gift shop.

In 2018, Delaware North acquired the casino; the same parent company that owns Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack a couple of hours northwest.

2 – Casino Games Offered

With 90,000 square feet of real estate, you can bet that there is no shortage of space. The Mardi Gras Casino game floor offers some of your favorite games and the stakes options are literally endless.

As mentioned in the overview, the casino features 900 slot machines, ranging from Bourbon Street style games to the High Rollers Room.

Whether you’re into playing Blackjack, Roulette, Craps, or more, you’ll definitely find your favorites at Mardi Gras. The casino also features a poker room and regular updates regarding tournaments and other poker-related events at Mardi Gras Casino and Resort.

The Betly Sportsbook at Mardi Gras allows you to engage in fun, quick, and easy sports betting. You can place your wager either with on-hand staff at a location known as the Cage or for self-service, just walk up to one of the five conveniently located kiosks.

Just name the sport, choose the event, and place your wager. It’s that easy to get involved in the action of all your favorite sports. And if you can’t make it into the casino for whatever reason, you can also bet on the action anytime with Betly’s online sportsbook.

And just like wagering on the casino floor, you can also earn rewards points for sports betting with each wager via the Lucky North Club, allowing you instant cashback, food discounts, and more.

And like the casino’s current cousin up in Wheeling, Greyhound racing is a huge staple of gaming at this casino. The live races begin at 7 p.m. from Wednesday to Sunday and are featured around a full calendar year.

3 – Dining

Mardi Gras West Virginia offers three distinct dining options, with each offering its own unique theme.

If you’re looking for an upscale night out, The French Quarter has you covered. It is the staple of fine dining in the region and if you want a taste of the good life, look no further.

If you’re in a hurry, you can also order grab and go and even place online orders as well. Two types of menus are offered here. The Regular Menu is offered from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. while on Thursday and Friday, the Hot Food Menu is offered from 4:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The latter is also offered on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.

Finally, The Grill at First Turn serves as your casual option, serving some of your classic, flame-grilled favorites.

4 – Promotions and Entertainment

Mardi Gras is always offering something going on, such as the big game on its flatscreen TVs to the next big poker tournament. Or if you’re into live entertainment, Louie’s Lounge almost always has something going on.

Another hot promo at Mardi Gras is the Lucky North Club, where you can earn points for casino comps, food discounts, and much more.

Here’s a brief overview of how the points system works: For every 100 points you earn, you receive $1 cashback. For every $5 bet at the slots, $10 bet at the tables, or $1 bet at the racetrack, you receive 1 point in return.

The more you play, the more points you earn that as mentioned can go toward a variety of rewards like cash-back and food discounts, but also concert tickets, hotel rooms, merchandise, and more.

Best yet, membership to the Lucky North Club is free, easy, and regardless of how you perform in the game room, you will win.

5 – Accommodations

The Luxury Hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites so if you’re traveling through the Charleston or Huntington area and want in on the action, you most definitely want to check this place out. Especially if casino gaming is your thing.

From suites that resemble small apartments to the simple room for one, this hotel will fulfill your demand.

Also offered at the hotel is a heated pool, hot tub, and fitness facility. So if you’re the recreational type, there’s definitely more to do when taking a break from all the casino and gaming-based action.

But, if you’d like to take a day or two off from all the hard gaming, check out the next section for a brief overview of what lies beyond the casino.

6 – Nearby Attractions

Looking to explore the area?

Don’t worry, because there’s plenty to do if you decide to venture off casino property. Even in a small town like Nitro or an obscure state capital like Charleston. However, nearby Charleston has you covered in everything from culture to sports to outdoor attractions.

Venture over and you can experience a variety of museums, including the West Virginia State Museum, Avampato Discovery Museum, the St. George Orthodox Cathedral, The Capitol Theater, and more.

If you’re up for some sports, then Appalachian Power Park, home of the West Virginia Power, is a great destination. As is the University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field, or Cato Park if outdoor picnics, swimming, and golfing is your thing.

Are you up for hiking? Well, then the Daniel Boone Park, Danner Meadow Park, Kanawha State Forest, and Magic Island are your top destinations.

Local sports include the Class-A South Atlantic League’s West Virginia Power (affiliated with the MLB’s Seattle Mariners), West Virginia Alliance of the USL League Two, and the Women’s Spring Football League’s West Virginia Wildfire.

And if you’re looking to spend some casino winnings on shopping, look no further than the Charleston Town Center, which includes the 130-store shopping mall on 3 stories of real estate. The mall features four anchors, six major restaurants, and 12 fast-food locations.

Conclusion

Mardi Gras Casino and Resort has something for everyone who enjoys land based casinos, whether you play the slots, table games, poker, or even to bet on greyhound races.

The casino also contains a luxury hotel complete with a pool, hot tub, and fitness center, among other major amenities, and with it comes dining options that range from fine dining to your high-end sports bar.

The casino runs promotions on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis and their biggest promotion is the free-to-join Lucky North Club, where you can earn points for every dollar amount you wager for instant cash-back, concert tickets, etc.

Finally, if you’re looking to take a break from gaming or if you are curious to see all of what downstate West Virginia has to offer, feel free to explore Nitro and its nearby metropolitan, Charleston.

Have you been to the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort and if so, what was your experience?

I thought it would be fun to look at the subject of luck in gambling and what kinds of casino superstitions various gamblers believe in.

I’m a tough-minded, hard-nosed realist, so I’m not superstitious at all.

In fact, I’m a little bit of an intellectual snob when it comes to things like magical thinking.

But it is fun to think about how things like luck work in a casino.

Luck in Gambling Is Just Statistical Deviation

Any time you deal with an uncertain event, you measure the likelihood of that event happening with a unit called probability. It’s just like measuring time with units like minutes or distance with units like miles.

And probability is just as exact.

The difference is that random events are, well… random. You can make predictions, but you can’t be sure.

Ask anyone who placed a bet on Hilary Clinton to win the election in 2016.

The experts had her as a huge favorite, but even when someone has a 70% probability of winning something, that isn’t a sure thing. In fact, a 30% probability of winning is still huge. Ask anyone who lost with a pair against an opponent’s flush draw at the Texas holdem table.

You’ll expect someone to win or lose when gambling at a certain specific rate based on probability, but with random events, you can’t predict what’s going to happen in the short run.

The ultimate example of the short run is a single event.

For example, when looking at roulette odds for betting on black, you have a 47.37% probability of winning and the casino has a 52.63% probability of winning.

But you’ll either win or lose.

You won’t get 47.37% of your money back. It’s one or the other.

And in the event of two random events in a row, well, you might win once and lose once, or you might win twice, or you might lose twice. They’re not equally likely, but that happens all the time.

What Kinds of Things Don’t Affect Probability?

Suppose you wear your lucky hat to the casino. Does the probability of winning a bet on black at the roulette table change?

Superstitious gamblers believe that the probability does change based on that hat. They think they’re more likely to get lucky.

Realists, on the other hand, understand that probability has a formula, and it only accounts for two things:

The number of ways an event can happen compared to the total number of possible events.

That probability isn’t affected by your lucky hat or shirt. It’s not affected by someone giving you a quick kiss for luck, either. (Sorry, Luke Skywalker.)

Carrying around any kind of good luck charm doesn’t matter, either. Why would it?

If it did matter, wouldn’t you be able to guarantee getting rich at the casino?

After all, the house edge is generally a small number. You wouldn’t have to sway it much to change from a loser to a winner.

Why Are Gamblers Superstitious?

The human brain is programmed to look for patterns and make sense of them. It’s a survival instinct that stood them in good stead when the cavemen were trying to evade saber toothed tigers.

But that doesn’t mean that all the patterns the human mind detects are accurate predictors of the future.

Humans also experience something called confirmation bias. I know countless people who visit the casino a couple of times per month or more. They always talk about their winning sessions, but I rarely hear them say anything about their losing sessions. Most of them are convinced they win as much money as they lose. They’re convinced they’re breaking even.

But I don’t know any of them who are keeping records and can actually demonstrate on paper that they’re breaking even.

What About Psychic Powers?

I have a friend who’s a psychic. He’s never asked me if I believed in his psychic powers or not, and I never felt the need to tell him what I thought. I suspect he really believes in his own psychic powers, though.

He once wrote a blog post about how to use your innate psychic powers to win more often at poker. I never played poker with him, but I’d sure like to.

We went to a restaurant once, and the waitress had an accent. He was flirting with her, and he asked her what country she was from. She said she was from Belarus (or something like that), and he replied, “In a million years, I never would have guessed that.”

Okay, so you’re psychic, AND you have a big clue – you can HEAR or accent.

And you still can’t guess where she’s from?

After all, there are only 200 or so countries in the world that are possibilities. You can eliminate a lot of them just by the process of elimination. She was obviously not from Canada or Mexico, for example.

No one has ever demonstrated proof of psychic powers, though. The James Randi Educational Foundation used to offer a million dollars to anyone who could demonstrate any kind of paranormal abilities under rigorous testing conditions.

No one ever won the million dollars – not even famous psychics like Sylvia Browne.

This isn’t a challenge that was only available one year, either. The challenge was offered consistently from 1964 until they ended it in 2015.

In 50 years, they never had anyone demonstrate believable proof of psychic abilities.

Maybe those psychics were too busy predicting lottery numbers and winning poker games?

Yeah, I doubt it, too.

What About the Gamblers Fallacy, Is That a Superstition, Too?

I write about the Gamblers Fallacy a lot here, too. It’s the mistaken belief that past events have an influence over the probabilities of future events. For example, if you’re playing roulette, and red has come up 6 times in a row, you might think red is less likely to come up on the next spin.

This doesn’t mean you’re superstitious except in the most literal and generic sense.

It just means you don’t quite grasp some of the subtleties of probability as a mathematical concept.

That’s why they’re called “independent” events.

Blackjack is a notable exception, by the way. As the cards get dealt in blackjack, the composition of the deck changes. This DOES have an effect on the probabilities while you play.

Here’s an example:

Suppose you’re playing blackjack from a single deck, and the four aces have already been dealt. Unless the dealer shuffles the deck before dealing the next hand, your probability of getting a “natural” or “blackjack” on the next hand has dropped to 0%.

You can’t have a blackjack without an ace, and there aren’t any more aces left in the deck.

If There’s No Such Thing as Luck, How Can I Win at Gambling?

For most people, winning at gambling on any kind of consistent basis is an unrealistic goal. Most people just don’t want to put in the effort to change the odds. And, with a lot of games – most of them in fact – nothing you do can change the odds anyway.

Blackjack is an exception because you can learn how to count cards.

Sports betting is another exception because you can look for inequities in the odds offered by the sportsbook to get a mathematical edge.

Playing poker for real money is another exception because you can use a variety of skills to play better than your opponents, giving you a mathematical edge.

But none of that has anything to do with any kind of psychic powers or good luck charms.

Yes, you can get lucky and win at gambling.

But unless you’re the exception to the rule – an advantage gambler – you have no control over that happening. You just pay your money and take your chances.

Your best bet is to assume that your gambling activities are a form of entertainment. In the long run, you’ll lose money gambling, but that’s okay as long as you’ve enjoyed the ups and downs on the road to going broke.

Of course, if you maintain a realistic budget for your gambling, you won’t have to worry about going broke, either.

Conclusion

How does luck work in gambling?

It’s just a matter of deviation in the short run. In the long run, every poker player gets the same cards over and over again.

Be realistic. Treat gambling as entertainment. Budget for it and have fun knowing that your expectations for the experience are realistic.

Most everyone would love to get rich from casino gambling. Who wouldn’t want to win a huge jackpot from a 50-cent spin or win prize money at a blackjack tournament?

But the reality is that most people can’t or won’t get rich from casino gambling alone. Only a small percentage of gamblers are that lucky.

In this post, I take a serious look at what it would take to get rich from casino gambling. When you learn what’s required, you might decide there are other, much easier ways to get rich.

Decide How You Would Define “Rich”

The definition of rich varies from person to person. I have family members living in mobile home parks who think I’m rich because I can afford to rent a four-bedroom house in the suburbs. I also have in-laws who think I’m poor because I don’t own my own home and drive a 15-year-old pickup truck.

I decided to search for “how much money do you need to be rich” into Google, and I got a quick answer: $2.3 million. Truthfully, I don’t care to debate whether that’s high or low. It’s a good enough number to use as an example.

So, what would it take to win $2.3 million from casino gambling?

Play a Progressive Jackpot Game

Playing progressive slot machines like Megabucks is one way to win $2.3 million from the casino. In fact, the starting size of the jackpot for that game is $10 million, so you have a lot of wiggle room. Here’s what it takes to pull that off…

First, you need enough money to wager $3 per spin on Megabucks. If you win on your first spin, you’re all set. You can call it a day, then go home and enjoy your winnings.

The odds of winning Megabucks, though, is lower than 100%. We don’t know the exact odds, but estimates say that the actual odds of hitting that jackpot are between 1 in 17 million and 1 in 50 million.

If you make 17 million spins on Megabucks at $3 per spin, you’re looking at $51 million in wagers. If you make 50 million spins, you’re looking at $150 million in wagers.

Of course, not all those wagers are going to be losing spins either. If you play long enough, you’re bound to hit, and the average jackpot combined with how soon you hit the jackpot will determine whether you’re rich (having $2.3 million in profit left) after the end of your gambling career.

In this scenario, I am assuming that once you’ve won your $2.3 million, you will quit gambling and retire.

Based on a cursory look at the list of winning jackpots on LVOL, I’d say that the average amount won is between $10 million and $15 million. Sometimes, the jackpot gets as high as $30 or $40 million, but it hits a winner before $20 million more often than not.

I don’t think a 1 in 50 million shot at a $15 million jackpot is a good way to gamble your money away trying to earn $2.3 million, but you could try it.

If you play 40 hours a week, you’re looking at spending 2,500 weeks playing. If you take a two-week vacation every year, you’re still looking at playing the game for 50 years before hitting the jackpot. And that’s an average. It may well take longer than that. Standard deviation might force you to play for 100 years before hitting the jackpot.

But who wants to be 70 by the time they hit the jackpot? Oh, and there’s no guarantee that you’ll even see a profitable result when you do hit.

Progressive jackpots are a lousy way to get rich with casino gambling.

You Could Count Cards in Blackjack and Gamble With an Edge Over the Casino

I’ll admit it, I was being a little facetious when I suggested trying to get rich with casino gambling by playing Megabucks slots. A better strategy might be to count cards in blackjack.

Let’s assume that you’re a good enough card counter to get an edge over the casino. An average profitable card counter might have an edge of 1%.

Now, let’s assume that you have a big enough bankroll to bet an average of $50 per hand. If you’re playing an average of 100 hands per hour, you’re able to get $5,000 worth of hourly action.

With a 1% edge, you’re looking at making $50/hour playing blackjack. If you can play 40 hours a week, you can earn $2,000 a week counting cards, which is the equivalent of $100,000 a year.

This means it would take 23 years to earn $2.3 million playing blackjack. You could shorten that time period, though.

As your bankroll grows, you can increase how much you’re able to bet per hand. This will increase your hourly earnings. Realistically, though, it’s going to take years to get rich from being a card counter in blackjack unless you’re part of a team.

Parlay Your Winnings at Negative Expectation Games

Here’s the idea: You start with a small bet on a close-to-even-money proposition, and you bet your winnings along with your additional stake. As you double up, your profits get big faster than you might think.

Let’s suppose you’re going to try to get rich by doubling up after each bet playing roulette. How many bets in a row would you need to win to get rich?

Let’s say you start with a $5 bet and you just keep betting your winnings along with your original stake. The progression would look like this:

As you can see, you only need to win 20 bets in a row to win $2.6 million at roulette. This sounds like there might be a better way to go about it than trying to win at Megabucks.

Here’s the problem, though: Casinos limit the size of your bets at these games. The maximum bet at the roulette table is usually $5,000, although it can vary from casino to casino and from table to table.

Also, the odds of winning at roulette 20 times in a row aren’t good at all. They’re better than the odds of winning at Megabucks slots, but they’re still terrible. Back to the drawing board!

Maybe You Could Become a Poker Pro?

Playing poker for real money, strictly speaking, isn’t really casino gambling. You’re playing against the other players, not the house. By definition, if you’re playing a casino game, the house is banking the action. This is good and bad.

It’s good because when you’re dealing with other players, you can get an edge by playing more skillfully than they do. It’s bad because you’re taking money from other people instead of from a large, soulless corporation.

Winning consistently at poker isn’t the easiest thing in the world to pull off either. I’ve read from multiple reliable sources that only 5% to 10% of all poker players show a profit in the long run. The rest are breakeven or losing players.

Even if you can break into the top 5%, the number of players who actually get rich instead of just grinding out small amounts is even smaller.

If you’re a low stakes player, you might be able to win $500 a month playing online no limit Hold’em games. If you’re getting good and have the bankroll to pull it off, you might be able to go up in stakes and make $2,000 a month.

At $2,000 a month, you’re looking at $24,000 a year. It would take less than 10 years to get rich doing that, AND you get to play poker while you’re at it. That sounds like a winner to me, Bob!

If you can go up in stakes and really beat the elite players, you might even be able to make a quick score at the World Series of Poker. That worked for Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, and multiple other surprise wins at the WSOP.

Betting on Sports Is Another Way to Get Rich With Casino Gambling

Strictly speaking, betting on sports isn’t exactly the same things as playing casino games. The sportsbook model is different. But like casino games, sports bets are designed with an edge for the sportsbook (casino) in mind.

They usually set up point spreads on football games in such a way that a bet has a 50/50 probability of winning.

This means that just to break even in the long run at sports betting, you must win 52.4% of your bets. To make any kind of profit, you need to do better than that. And the best handicappers and sports bettors in the world max out at about 60%.

You’ll probably never see a winning record that good, but luckily, you can still make plenty of money just being right 55% or 56% of the time.

Conclusion

If you think the ways to get rich from casino gambling sound impossible, well, you’re mostly right.

Casinos wouldn’t stay in business or generate the kinds of profits they do if they made it easy to get rich from them. Businesses don’t exist to lose money. They exist to generate profits.

Sadly, for gamblers, that means they need you to lose. You CAN get rich gambling at casinos, but it’s hard. Only the most elite gamblers can pull it off.

But wouldn’t it be worth it to try? After all, the hardest goals are always the most satisfying goals to achieve.

Alabama might not be the first state you think of when you think of gambling and casinos. You probably do know that it’s the “Heart of Dixie,” though.

As it turns out, Alabama does have a casino scene, and in this post, I’m going to reveal some of the secrets about the Alabama casino scene you might not know about.

An Overview of the Alabama Casino and Gambling Scene

Alabama’s probably never going to compete with Nevada or even Oklahoma in terms of casinos, but the state does boast three Native American casinos and a racino with parimutuel betting. The only kind of gambling you can do at these casinos, though, is via Class II gambling machines.

And, Alabama is one of the only six states in the Union without a state lottery.

It’s illegal for an individual to own a Class III slot machine, but individual collectors are allowed to legally own Class II slot machines.

Go figure.

Class II Slot Machines in Alabama and How They Work

What’s a Class II gambling machine?

A traditional slot machine has a random number generator that creates the outcomes on the screen in front of you. (If it’s an old-fashioned machine, the RNG generates the reel symbols on the reels.) Actual mechanical slot machines no longer operate in casinos anywhere in the United States that I know of.

Each slot machine has its own RNG. It’s just a computer program that thinks of thousands of numbers per second. When you hit the spin button or pull the lever, that program stops on whatever number it’s thinking of at that instant.

And each of those numbers corresponds to a combination of reel symbols. The payouts are based on how likely a specific set of reel symbols is to occur on a payline. The payout is always less than the probability of getting that result.

Here’s an example:

If you have a 1 in 5 probability of getting a specific combination, it’s probably going to pay off at even money or 2 for 1 instead of the 5 to 1 that would make it a break-even bet.

Those kinds of slot machines are called Class III slot machines. That’s a legal distinction because different states have different laws about what kinds of gambling are allowed and which aren’t.

Class II slot machines duplicate the visible action of a traditional slot machine but does so within the letter of the law. Class II gaming, basically, just refers to bingo games – whether they’re electronic or not.

When these laws were first passed, this led to a rise in how common bingo halls were in states where Indian gaming had become popular. Then someone realized that if you used a bingo algorithm to power the results on a game that looked like a slot machine, you could stay legal and make more money.

But what’s happening behind-the-scenes is that you’re playing an electronic bingo with at least one other player in a centralized computer system. The outcome of this electronic bingo game determines your payout on the “slot machine.”

Class II slot machine games offer basically the same odds as Class III slot machines, they just use a different mechanism to determine the outcomes. One of the best analogies is that Class II bingo resembles playing a scratch-and-win lottery ticket.

One thing to beware of, though – Class II “video poker” games aren’t really video poker at all. They don’t mimic the odds you’d find in a deck of cards, and the decisions you make during play are essentially meaningless.

And, since making meaningful decisions is the whole point to real money video poker, you can’t really justify playing Class II video poker games.

Victoryland Is the Largest Casino in Alabama

VictoryLand is more than just a casino. It also offers a race betting and a hotel. It’s located in Shorter, Alabama. The casino has an interesting history.

In 2010, they were forced to close their casino, restaurant, and hotel. A federal probe into “gambling improprieties” prompted the arrest of Victoryland’s owner, Milton McGregor, and 10 state senators and lobbyists. Charges included bribery, conspiracy, and honest services fraud.

In 2012, McGregor was acquitted of all charges, but Alabama’s Attorney General, Luther Strange, insisted that the electronic bingo machines on the site were illegal.

In 2013, the state seized over a quarter million dollars in cash and over 1500 gambling machines.

But in 2015, the courts found that it was unusual and inappropriate that the state’s Attorney General was only taking action against Victoryland and not the other Alabama land based casinos which were operating in the same manner.

The casino reopened (again) in 2016 with over 500 gambling machines.

Victoryland now has over 1000 gambling machines on its gaming floor, and the casino is open 24/7.

The Wind Creek Casinos Are the Other Casinos in Alabama

Besides Victoryland, you’ll find casino-style gambling at three other casinos in Alabama, all of which are named “Wind Creek Casino.” These include:

The biggest of these is Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Wetumpka, which offers 2500+ gambling machines. They claim to offer the highest payouts in the Southeast on their website, but that sounds like marketing-speak to me. (The state of Alabama doesn’t require any of the casinos there to publish return-to-player percentages.)

Like most Vegas-style casinos, Wind Creek Casinos & Hotel Wetumpka has a robust set of promotions where they award players with rebates, free spins, cars, and travel.

Their rewards program is called Wind Creek Rewards. It’s not much different from any other slots club – you can earn “free” food, hotel stays, and concert tickets based on how much time and money you spend gambling there.

They also claim on their website that this is the “most generous” rewards program in the Southeast – more marketing-speak.

They also have a full-service hotel and a Starbucks on site as well as a spa.

Will Alabama Have a Lottery Soon, Too?

In March, 2020, one of Alabama’s legislator’s put forth a lottery bill. This new law would create a paper-based lottery. The plan is for the funds to go toward Alabama’s pre-kindergarten program and toward a college scholarship program. A tiny percentage of the funds would also be allocated toward problem gambling programs.

The lottery bill will need 63 votes to pass, but it has at least 70 co-sponsors. It looks likely to pass if it ever comes up for a vote, but there’s no telling when that might be. At one time, they were anticipating a vote by the end of 2020, but that’s uncertain.

Conclusion

Alabama gambling is not exactly on the same level as a state like Nevada or even Oklahoma.

But if you want to gamble there, you can find gambling machines in a few locations operated by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. Or you can gamble at Victoryland.

You’re limited to Class II gambling machines at these locations, though – you can’t participate in any kind of table games at any of the gambling halls in Alabama.

But you can bet on dog races and horse races at the racino there.

What the impending lottery will do to the business model of these casinos is a question yet to be answered, but since 44 states – including many that have a lottery – offer both the lottery and casinos, I don’t think Alabama needs to worry about their casinos going bankrupt because of the lottery.

As an avid casino gambling enthusiast, I’ve made more than my fair share of sprints across the desert to soak in Sin City. But there’s also no shortage of casino options to choose from in the Copper State.

Thanks to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) of 1988, the 22 federally recognized Native American tribes residing in Arizona have set up 25 casinos from Flagstaff to Tucson, and all points in between.

In this guide, I’ll be talking about the Talking Stick Resort in Arizona. As someone who is local to the state, I’ll give you the rundown on what it’s all about.

Talking Stick Resort Rises From the Sands

For folks who are planning a trip to the warm and sunny climes of Arizona, it is my distinct pleasure to serve as your guide to my state’s casino gambling scene.

To begin this series covering the best and worst casinos in Arizona, the natural starting point is Talking Stick Resort, a glittering full-scale resort located just outside of Scottsdale. If you’re familiar with the area at all, taking a nighttime drive on the 101 North from Tempe and gazing to the east will leave you with no doubt about where to find Talking Stick Resort.

After all, you can’t miss the place, not with its neon hued 15-story hotel tower soaring above the saguaro and sand below. This place opened its doors in 2010, making it one of the newest casinos in the state, and every penny invested by the Salt River Indian Community Pima-Maricopa shines through at first sight.

Simply put, outside of the best casinos on the Vegas Strip, you just won’t find a top-tier gambling and entertainment destination like this anywhere in the Southwest.

Gambling Options at Talking Stick Resort

To begin with, the gaming floor alone at Talking Stick Resort encompasses more than 98,000 square feet, right on par with Sin City’s big boys like the Bellagio. That gaming floor contains over 850 slot and video poker machines, along with 54 table games featuring blackjack, Let It Ride, Three-Card Poker, and even Casino War.

Even better, unlike most casinos in Arizona —where non-card table games like roulette and craps aren’t permitted—Talking Stick Resort has all of your favorite gambling games. By using large “bubble craps” machines and virtual roulette wheels, the casino’s operators found a clever way to cater to their customers while still adhering to Arizona tribal gaming compacts.

You’ll definitely enjoy yourself here, thanks in part to the aforementioned allotment of 850+ machines featuring all of the latest titles and technology. If you’ve enjoyed a particular slot like Wheel of Fortune, Sex and the City, or Buffalo that have become staples in Vegas, you can bet your bottom dollar Talking Stick Resort has them in abundance.

Over in the table game pit, which is designed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding slots and video poker machines, there are eager-to-please dealers working the tables 24/7. My status as a regular might have something to do with it, but the folks in the box at Talking Stick Resort always seem to have a smile and some small talk at the ready.

That should be par for the course in a quality casino, but you’d be surprised at just how many dealers in other Arizona venues just don’t bother with the customer service aspect of their profession.

My favorite part about Talking Stick Resort’s casino is how clean and modern every nook and cranny feels. From the keno parlor to the pit, the sports bar and the buffet, and even the bathroom facilities, this casino looks the part of a Las Vegas-style resort. That extends to every aspect of Talking Stick Resort, too.

Resort Amenities and Restaurants

Locals and visitors alike love the outdoor swimming area that doubles as a pool party. This section is complete with an in-house DJ and cocktails on demand during certain hours of the day.

If your gambling escapades have you working up an appetite, you’ll have no shortage of selections either, what with multiple eateries on-site—Black Fig Bistro, Ocean Trail, and Blue Coyote Café.

The amenities are truly off the charts at Talking Stick Resort. Did I mention there’s a golf club? The adjoining Talking Stick Golf Club is home to not one but two professionally designed 18-hole links. The O’odham Course (18 holes – 7,133 Yards, Par 70) and the Piipaash Course (18 holes – 6,833 Yards, Par 71) each offer their own distinct challenges, but both are nestled perfectly amidst the serenity and splendor of the surrounding Sonoran Desert.

The ARENA Room Is Every Poker Player’s Dream Come True

Back to the gambling bonanza that is Talking Stick Resort, the property is known far and wide in Arizona as the home of the ARENA Poker Room.

This facility was modeled after the biggest and best poker rooms in Vegas, and that shines through as soon as you step foot inside. A collection of 49 tables can be found inside the ARENA Poker Room, and on busy days, every last one of them will be ringed with gamblers playing poker for real money.

Unlike your typical Arizona poker room, the ARENA lives up to its billing by spreading much more than basic $1/$2 No Limit Texas Hold’em. You’ll find No Limit games running as high as $10/$20 blinds, along with variants like Pot Limit Omaha, Seven Card Stud, and even H.O.R.S.E.

If tournaments are more your thing, the ARENA poker room hosts daily and nightly tournaments ranging from the $100 to $300 buy-in level. These are augmented by several seasonal tournaments with even larger prize pools, plus the annual Arizona State Poker Championship which is regularly attended by top touring pros.

And once again, the staff working the poker room are all consummate professionals. From the tournament directors to the dealers to the chip runners, employees at the ARENA strive to make every step of the process seamless and pain-free.

Poker may not be in the gambling spotlight like it once was, but if you’re in Arizona and want to feel like you’re playing the game like Las Vegas pros do, Talking Stick Resort is the ticket.

From a Dusty Tent in the Desert to Arizona’s Diamond in the Rough

In the title, I admit that my reviews are slightly subjective, so let me tell you a little story about why I love Talking Stick Resort so much.

As a college kid, I spent my days studying textbooks and casino gambling manuals. I was fascinated with the blackjack card counters of old, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) on ESPN, and even the “backend” as I briefly explored a side job as a dealer. Sufficed to say, I went searching for the closest casino the day I turned 21.

At that time, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community operated a small venue called Casino Arizona* off the 101 and Indian Bend. But calling it a casino was generous to say the least, as this joint was essentially just an oversized tent. I’m talking a nondescript beige canopy stretched out to cover 20,000 square feet at most.

*The tribe also operates a second Casino Arizona facility a few miles south along the 101 where slots and bingo are the primary draw

To see just how far the tribe has come with its casino development since then is nothing short of astounding. Through hard work and patience, the people at the old Casino Arizona—many of whom are still plying their trade at Talking Stick Resort—managed to make a major investment in their own future.

I’m sure glad they did, and after you experience Talking Stick Resort for the first time, you will be too.

Conclusion

Talking Stick Resort stands alone as Arizona’s premier casino gambling destination for many reasons. Top-notch service, an elite collection of amenities, courteous, highly trained employees, and a certain sense of style usually reserved for Sin City—you name it, and Talking Stick Resort has it in spades.

By day, the place is packed with regulars who come for the cards and camaraderie. By night, the college kids and young at heart come to dance, drink, and party until sunrise. Picture the platonic ideal of a casino resort in your head, then visit Talking Stick Resort to see your vision realized.

Most gamblers focus on games that provide them the most entertainment value for their money. Others look for games with better odds.

Slot machines and the lottery are two of the most popular types of gambling games in the United States and worldwide. So, which game offers better odds, slot machines, or the lottery?

On this page, I’ll discuss the lottery vs. the slots in terms of odds and winnings. Continue reading to learn more below.

Winning Jackpots

Before I get into the details of the real factors like the house edge and return to player, let’s look at why people are so drawn to the lottery and progressive slots.

Winning the lottery offers players the potential to instantly begin a seemingly new life. People are drawn in by the potential to go to bed with a few hundred dollars in the bank and wake up a multimillionaire.

I’m referring to the lottery games with huge payouts like the Powerball and MegaMillions games. I have never met a single person that chatted me up about how they really wish they’d hit four numbers on Power Ball and cash in that $100 ticket.

It would seem that every ticket is bought to match all five numbers plus the Powerball. I mean, $100 is far from terrible for a $2 investment, but it won’t cover the electric bill. No, players spend hours dreaming of how they’ll spend their immense fortune after they hit the jackpot.

I’ll admit, shopping for a new Ferrari sounds like more fun than paying the internet bill. Unfortunately, only a handful of lottery players will ever get that opportunity. The largest Powerball jackpot in history was pushing $1.6 billion. That’s the kind of money many people can’t even fathom.

Progressive slots also provide instant entry into the lifestyle of the rich and famous. The most famous and lucrative of the progressive slots is Nevada’s Megabucks.

Megabucks gives players the chance to turn $3 into over $10,000,000. You may choose to play for $1, but you’ll be playing for a much smaller top prize.

If you’re one of the lucky few that see three jackpot reels line up on a $3 spin, you’ll be handsomely rewarded.

Odds of Hitting a Massive Payday

Huge multi-state lotteries like Powerball typically pay out around 50%. Most of the winners on a gigantic lottery game are small prizes.

For example, in the Powerball game, you have a 1 in 38 chance of hitting the Powerball and doubling your $2 investment.

As the prize amounts increase, your odds decrease dramatically. Remember that $100 prize I mentioned earlier? Your odds of winning it are a sobering 1 in 36,525. Indeed a tremendous gap for a relatively short jump in money.

If you are like most lottery players, these numbers mean nothing to you. You came to dance, and nothing short of hitting the jackpot will fulfill your dreams. Well, you probably know the odds aren’t in your favor. So, I’ll cut to the chase…

Your odds of hitting the Powerball jackpot are an astronomical 1 in 292,201,338.

What about the Megabucks slots? Megabucks actually gives you much better odds at hitting the jackpot. Of course, the jackpots rarely reach the massive numbers of the lottery.

However, the average jackpot size is around $10 million. I don’t run in circles where not one of us could use an extra $10 million. You may even hit the jackpot when it climbs close to $40 million as one anonymous gambler did back in 2003.

Wherever the jackpot happens to sit at any given time, your odds are roughly 1 in 50,000,000. It’s still not great, but that’s considerably better than the Powerball lottery.

Scratch-Offs

Scratch-off lottery tickets can be purchased at just about any convenience store or gas station in many US states. These instant win games can be purchased for as little as $1.

I am of the variety that rarely carries cash anymore. But I’ll sometimes see a couple of singles in my wallet leftover from my tipping fund or maybe some golf winnings. I enjoy dropping $2 to $5 on a ticket and seeing if I can’t surprise my wife with flowers or whatever she happens to have on her wish list.

Rarely have I won any significant cash, but for as little as I play, I’m definitely in the black. Scratch-offs may start at $1, but the games in some areas can go all the way up to $50.

The amount of the top prize will depend significantly on the price of the ticket. Purchasing a $1 ticket may net you a top prize between $500 and $5,000. The big scratch-off prizes are reserved for the high dollar tickets. For example, the state of Texas offers a $50 game named “$200 Million Ca$h” with four top prizes of $5 million.

Your odds of hitting the top prize will vary depending on how many tickets pay the maximum amount. It will undoubtedly be an extremely slim chance of striking gold.

Casino Slots

Real money slots come in as many varieties as scratch-off tickets. Walk into any Las Vegas casino, and you’ll be greeted by a sea of slot machines.

Casino slots can range from the standard spinning reel models to the latest video slots with over 20 pay lines and high definition graphics. Just like their vastly different appearances and levels of immersion, the money can be very different.

As a whole, casino games generally pay based on how much you wager. Imagine you place $10 on an even money roulette bet. If you win, you get $20. That’s your original wager plus a $10 profit. Slots are slightly different and yet the same.

For instance, a slot machine may have a $1 bet as the standard bet. Yet, you may have the option to increase that up to say $5 to activate multipliers for your winning. Additionally, you can choose how many lines to play. It can get tricky here because, obviously, betting max lines will increase your investment.

Most significant casinos will payout at between 90% to 95%. Some places may be smaller, usually the penny slots or low denomination machines.

Looking at that number, one fact becomes crystal clear—slots pay out at a much higher percentage than the lottery. If your main goal is to enjoy small incremental wins, you’ll probably have a much better time playing slots than the lottery.

After all, even the smallest wins on a slot machine can be incredibly exciting for most players. You’re bombarded by ringing bells, flashing lights, and even the sound virtual coins plinking into your bank.

Slots or Lottery

Lottery jackpots are the go-to get-rich-quick scheme in the United States. Millions of tickets are sold every week for the Powerball and Megamillions drawings.

People spend countless hours fantasizing about winning a massive jackpot even though they have an exponentially better chance of being struck by lightning not once, but twice in their lifetime.

Lottery scratch offs could net you some smaller wins along the way, but the top prizes are still unlikely. Slots are your best bet if you’re strictly looking at your odds of winning. Even the vast Megabucks progressive gives you a much better chance at an early retirement than the lottery.

The payouts are so much higher on slots than the lottery that it’s really not a competition. To put it in perspective, the theoretical difference boils down to this. If you put $100,000 into a slot machine for an hour, you could leave with $95,000.

Put the same $100,000 into lottery tickets, and at best, you’re walking away with $50,000. Despite being one of the highest house advantages in any casino, slots still has much better odds than the lottery.

Conclusion

I’m not here to tell you to steer clear of the lottery, especially if that’s your favorite game or an essential hobby to you.

However, you should understand that your odds of winning are minuscule. It’s almost a certainty that you are never going to hit a lottery jackpot.

Of course, someone’s going to win. So, it might as well be you.

If you’re concerned about getting the most from your entertainment dollar or enjoy winning, stick to the slots.

Blackjack is one of the best casino games for people who have never gambled before. The game is entertaining, exciting, and fosters a sense of togetherness with other players at the table. It’s a perfect introduction to the world of gambling, and one of the optimal ways for aspiring gamblers to learn the ropes at the casino.

If you play the game correctly, blackjack has some of the best odds in the casino. That means you can play longer and gain more valuable experience betting, as long as you abide by the book. Some may argue that the game is more complicated than some others around the casino. This may be true, but you can learn how to play the game and maybe even win money with a little effort.

Like any other type of table game, mistakes are bound to happen. If you’re new to gambling and want to avoid losing money early, here are the seven most common mistakes that cost blackjack players money.

Playing Against the Book

One of the factors that makes real money blackjack enticing for beginners is the simplicity of the game’s strategy. If you follow specific rules and play with perfect strategy, you should win almost half of your hands over time. The manner you approach each hand of blackjack changes based on the cards you have and the card the dealer is showing.

Blackjack strategy is somewhat easy to learn, but it will require some time. However, in the interim, I recommend consulting a strategy card as you’re learning. Brand new players usually lose their money because they don’t understand basic strategy. If you’re ever confused about the correct move, it’s okay to ask your fellow players (if they’re competent players) or the dealer.

For some inexplicable reason, individual players think they can outsmart the game. I’ve seen newer gamblers ignore basic strategy, adamant that their style of play can beat the casino. There’s no way to outsmart the casino: the house always has an edge. The only way to beat the house is to learn to count cards.

Habitually Splitting Anything Besides Aces and Eights

The same types of players who ignore blackjack tips and strategies are the ones who split cards that should never be split. One of the easiest ways to frustrate other players and kill a hand is to split anything besides aces and eights consistently. A hard and fast rule in blackjack is to always split eights because 16 is a weak hand. Additionally, splitting aces gives you a chance to hit blackjack, and you can improve on a 12.

By splitting 10s, gamblers are taking one of the best hands in blackjack and throwing it away. A 20 is going to beat the dealer a majority of the time. In my experience, gamblers who split 10s got lucky and hit a double blackjack several years ago. Now, they play foolishly in an attempt to recapture their past glory.

Checking Phones Between Hands

This might be controversial and polarizing, especially if you’re a fan of your smartphone. It’s a good idea to never look at your phone at a casino table. Dealers will ask you to put your phone away, and if you continue to check it, you may be asked to leave the table. A standard practice amongst gamblers is to step away from the table between hands to glance at their phones.

Checking your phone every so often isn’t going to cost you money. However, continually sliding back from the table to fire off texts and check Twitter takes your head out of the game. Blackjack isn’t complicated, but it rewards engaged gamblers. Not only is it bad casino etiquette, but I’ve found that gamblers who are frequently on their phone get distracted and are more prone to committing careless mistakes.

Playing Beyond Their Means

Always gamble at the table with the smallest minimum when you’re new to gambling. Unless money isn’t an issue for you, it’s a waste to play at a table with high rollers if you don’t know how to play. Every table at a casino designates the minimum and maximum somewhere on the table’s top.

If your bankroll is $100, you can lose every single hand and still play 20 hands of blackjack. If you take your bankroll to a $25 table, you can lose everything in four hands. The best way to hone your skills is to play. Sticking to tables with smaller minimums will give you more opportunities to improve at blackjack.

Chasing Casino Losses

Of all the mistakes that gamblers make, chasing losses is among the worst. The impulse is perfectly understandable: you lose a few hands and want to make your money back right away. To do so, you have to increase your bet. If you’re lucky enough to win, you’re out of the hole. But if you lose, the hole is suddenly much deeper.

Even gamblers with a lot of experience succumb to the temptation of chasing losses. But it’s unnecessary in a game like blackjack. I would argue that it’s inadvisable in almost every circumstance. As I said earlier, if you play with perfect strategy, you can lower the house edge to less than 1%. That means losses are to be expected, but over time, you should come close to breaking even.

When new gamblers chase losses, they expose themselves to the possibility of losing their entire bankroll. Sometimes, tables get cold, and you can go on a long losing streak. If you keep stacking losses and increasing your bet after each loss, you could be getting bounced from the table early. Never stack losses, especially for those of you who aren’t familiar with blackjack and gambling.

Failing to Stand up From the Table

The way to win money playing blackjack is to learn to count cards and slowly increase your stack of chips over long sessions. Gamblers who want to win money need to stay completely focused and block out distractions. Blackjack is somewhat fast-moving and calls for gamblers to flow from hand to hand. Casinos are full of distractions, and it can be challenging to lock in on the game at hand.

Some new gamblers take to the game quickly and can find themselves securing early wins. It’s next to impossible to take a break if you’re winning, but it’s crucial to sustained success. I suggest taking a hand off every 20 to 30 minutes to stretch your brain and give your mind a break.

Playing blackjack can be more mentally taxing than you’d anticipate. Regardless of how well you’re faring at the table, you need to stay as sharp as possible. New gamblers will hit a wall at some point, and their quality of play will rapidly decrease.

Playing With the Wrong Crowd

Most gamblers can recall who they were with their first time inside a casino. The person who brought you along or suggested a night out at the casino often becomes a gambling guide. If this person in question is a quality gambler, you’re in luck. But if the person is terrible at gambling, you could find yourself in trouble.

Make sure to verify all information before you start spending money. New gamblers who ignore basic blackjack strategy do so because of bad advice. Always consider expanding your gambling circle to make sure you’re surrounding yourself with quality players.

Conclusion

Blackjack is one of the most popular table games at the casino and a good starting point for beginners. You might have heard that the game requires more skill than other types of games. That may be true, but it shouldn’t dissuade you from giving it a shot.

By avoiding the common mistakes listed above, you’ll put yourself in a position to start winning early. As long as you don’t deviate from basic strategy, you’ll have nearly a 50% chance of winning each hand. Mistakes will happen while gambling, so don’t beat yourself up if they cost you a few hands. Consider it a rite of passage into the world of blackjack.

All casino games stack the odds in favor of the casino. That’s obvious. The casinos wouldn’t stay in business if they didn’t.

But people play casino games anyway.

Why?

They find them entertaining.

But what one casino gambler finds entertaining varies from what another casino gambler might find entertaining.

This post looks at what pros and cons each of the various casino games offer players.

The Pros and Cons of Blackjack

The biggest pro that blackjack offers is that it offers some of the best odds in the house. The house edge for blackjack, when played with perfect basic strategy, is less than 1%.

The house edge is the statistically predicted amount you’ll lose on each bet. The lower the house edge is, the better your chances are (generally speaking) of walking away from the game a winner.

But in blackjack, you get to make decisions that either improve your odds or make them worse.

This is also the biggest con of the game. Some gamblers don’t want to play a game where they have any decisions to make. It’s too much pressure.

The other big con to blackjack is that it’s impossible to win any kind of big prize at the blackjack table. If you bet $10, you’ll win $10 or $15 if you get a blackjack. Some people prefer bigger payouts even if it means they get paid off less often.

The Pros and Cons of Slot Machines

The biggest pro for playing real money slots is that you can win a large enough amount of money on a single bet to really make a difference in your life. Even the lower ranges of flat-top machines average a top prizes of 1000 coins. I don’t know many people playing dollar slots who wouldn’t get excited about a $1000 win.

Of course, this ignores the progressive jackpots that are available, too. These are games where you can literally win a life-changing amount of money. Megabucks has a starting jackpot of $10 million and gets bigger every time someone in Nevada spins the wheel.

Also, slot machines don’t involve any skill at all. For some gamblers, this is a great perk. They’d rather not have the pressure of making decisions. Other gamblers, though, might find the lack of agency disturbing or boring.

The biggest con for playing slot machines is that they’re a huge drain on your bankroll over time. You calculate your expected hourly loss by multiplying the house edge by your hourly action. Most people make 500+ spins per hour at a slot machine, which drives their hourly action through the roof.

Think about it this way:

If you’re risking $3 per spin on a slot machine, you’re probably putting at least $1500 per hour into action.

If the house edge on the slot machine is only 6% — which would make it one of the best-paying slot machines out there – you hourly expected loss on that machine is $90.

Compare that to a game like blackjack, where the best you can hope for is 200 hands per hour (and that’s if you’re heads-up with the dealer). If you’re betting $5 per hand, you’re only putting $1000 per hour into action. Since the house edge for blackjack is around 1% or as bad as 2% if you play poorly, your hourly loss is likely to be in the $10 to $20 range.

I prefer my gambling games to be transparent about the odds they’re offering, and that’s just not the case with slot machines. You could play 2 identical slot machines sitting right next to each other on the casino floor, and one might have a house edge of 6%, while the other might have a house edge of 12%.

The Pros and Cons of Craps

The biggest pro of craps is that it’s more fun than any other game in the casino. It’s an adrenaline rush, and it’s a streaky game. You can start off with very little money on the table and find yourself up several times that in minutes.

You can also see all those winnings washed away with a single throw of the dice that goes badly.

The other pro of craps is that it offers some of the best odds in the casino – if you stick with the right bets. I always suggest sticking with games where the house edge is 1.5% or less. Craps makes the cut if you stick with the pass or come bets. You can also play don’t pass and don’t come bets. Taking or laying odds has a house edge of 0%.

You should skip all the other bets at the craps table. This is one of the cons of the game – a huge number of bets with a high house edge that the casino staff is going to pressure you to make every time the dice are thrown.

Being a reader of my blog, though, you’ll be immune to the casinos’ sales techniques.

The other con is that the game seems complicated to newcomers, and it can be intimidating to learn how craps betting works. Don’t worry about it, though. It’s less complicated than you think, and most craps players are more welcoming to newcomers than you might think.

The Pros and Cons of Roulette

The biggest pro for roulette is that it’s easy to understand. I was able to pick up how to play in a couple of bets, and most gamblers are smart enough to do the same. You don’t have to stress out about learning a lot of jargon or looking foolish at the roulette table.

The other big pro for roulette is that you have some flexibility with how volatile you want your bets to be. If you want to experience lots of small wins, you can place even money bets which win half the time. If you prefer to see larger wins that happen less often, you can place bets on single numbers and see a payoff of 35 to 1 when you win.

You can place bets with payouts in between, too.

In American roulette, the default house edge is 5.26%, which is far outside of my usual recommendation. If you can find a European roulette game, though – one with a single zero instead of a 0 and a 00, you can get a lower house edge of 2.70%.

In most Vegas casinos, the European roulette games have a higher minimum bet than the standard American roulette tables.

Some people fall for some terrible casino betting systems related to roulette, like the Martingale. If you’re a sucker for those kinds of things, roulette might be a game you’d be better off avoiding.

The Pros and Cons of Video Poker

If you like having some influence over the outcome of your gambling games, video poker might be ideal for you – especially if you’re an introvert. I usually recommend blackjack to casino players who want to make decisions that matter.

But introverts often dislike blackjack because of the necessity of sitting with other players at the table.

Another pro to video poker is the low house edge. You can find video poker games with a house edge of between 0.3% and 0.5%. You must be able to use close-to-optimal video poker strategy to see those numbers, though.

Video poker doesn’t lack cons, though. It’s as fast-paced a game as slot machines, so you’ll be putting a lot of money into action per hour when you play video poker. Just like slots, you’ll probably make 500 bets per hour when playing video poker games.

It’s also more volatile than some of the games with a low house edge. Even though the house edge is low, part of why it’s low is because of the payout for a royal flush, which only comes up once every 40,000 hands. That means you’ll only see a royal flush on average once every 80 hours or so.

The other con to video poker is that the house edge varies based on the pay table. If you’re not familiar with how the various pay tables work, you might easily find yourself at a video poker game where the house edge is 6% or 7% instead of the 0.3% to 0.5% I was touting earlier.

Conclusion

All gambling games in a casino have their pros and cons. Much of the decision about what you should and shouldn’t bet on in the casino boils down to your personal preferences.

There are no right or wrong answers, although I think you should stick with games where the house edge is lower than 1.5%.

When it comes to winning money at the casino, having experience on your side is a major benefit. Unfortunately, everyone was a beginner at one time or another, so it’s important to minimize losses (or even win a few bucks) while you’re still learning the ropes.

Blackjack presents opportunities to even the most green of gamblers. Whether it’s the easy rules to learn, relatively good odds, or just the general fascination of the game itself, blackjack seems to be the go-to choice.

In this article, I’ll lay out the most common mistakes newer blackjack players make that hurt their chances of winning.

1 – Making the Wrong Choices Hitting and Standing

This is the most basic component of blackjack strategy as it involves a decision you have to make on just about every hand. Of course, I’m talking about the choice of whether to “hit” or “stand.”

It sounds simple enough to get a grasp on, but making the right choice when it comes to asking for an additional card or not can be responsible for huge wins or devastating losses. Some people believe that there is no right or wrong time to hit or stand and rely on instinct, suffice it so say that the casino is a big fan of these individuals.

While there are plenty of nuanced things to consider when it’s your turn to decide, there are a few hard and fast rules that should be adhered to at all times.

First, if your hand is 12 or less, you should always hit. Even though there’s a small chance you could still bust if you get a face card, this risk is more than worth it. You aren’t going to have a chance if you stay holding a 12.

Things get more complicated with rule number two.

Most experts recommend always hitting on a “soft 17.” This means a hand where you’re holding an ace and a six. The reason it’s important to distinguish the soft 17 is because the ace can be played as a one if the situation calls for it.

When you look at all the possible outcomes, there is just a single situation where it’s absolutely necessary to stand. If your first two cards make 17 or higher, it just isn’t going to be in your best interest to try to get any closer to 21. The risk of going over is simply too great.

2 – Not Knowing When to Split or Double Down

Whereas the first section (hitting or standing) focuses on winning the hand itself, knowing when to split your cards and double down is crucial to your betting strategy. It can be the difference between a modest win, and one that really boosts your bankroll. If you don’t know how to do it properly, it can hurt your bottom line significantly.

If you’re unfamiliar with how the process works, “splitting” refers to a situation where you’re initially dealt two of the same card number. If this occurs, you have the option to “split” them, meaning you can play two hands at once.

Unfortunately, there’s no rule that always applies to whether or not splitting is the right move, but there are times when it’s more advisable than others.

For example, if you’re dealt two 10s (or even two nines in some cases), it’s probably best to just stick with the hand you have. You’re already in a good position, and taking the risk of playing your cards as two hands isn’t worth it.

In other cases where you’re dealt more pedestrian cards, see what the dealer has before making your decision. If you feel as if you can win the hand without splitting based on the dealer’s hand, consider sitting on what you’ve already been dealt.

Again, the decision of whether or not to double down should be made after evaluating the dealer’s hand. If the dealer is showing a card between two and nine, it’s a good idea to take the risk as you’re in good position to win the hand.

The one time when you should double without a second thought is when you’re dealt an ace. The option to play the card as an 11 or a one means that you have some flexibility that can help you avoid busting. On the flip side, if the dealer has an ace in his or her hand, avoid doubling down.

3 – Playing at the Wrong Table

Think all blackjack tables are the same? While the rules of the game itself might not change much, there’s still a number of blackjack variants involved that can have a huge impact on the outcome of your playing session.

The first thing you want to take note of when finding the right table for your strategy is the minimum bet. If your bankroll is on the lower end, it’s crucial to find tables that have lower minimums. Most casinos have options for around $10, but some can go even lower. On the other end of the spectrum, tables can have up to $100 minimum bet which means they’re largely meant for high rollers.

If you’re a newer player, avoid the tables with high minimums. These can drain your bankroll in just a few quick hands.

Another aspect of selecting a table that players, especially inexperienced players, should consider is the option to use a virtual game instead of a live dealer. The reason is that when you use a virtual dealer, you’re typically going at your own pace and won’t have the anxiety of having to make quick decisions due to other people waiting on you.

The most important thing to know is that not all tables are the same. Usually if you look hard enough, you can find one that fits what you’re trying to do.

4 – Not Playing Online

Simply put, real money online blackjack offers tremendous opportunities to learn the game and win some money in the process.

Due to relaxed gambling laws that are slowly spreading to every corner of the country, online casinos are competing to earn new business. In order to attract new players, these online platforms provide significant perks when you sign up.

For example, some casinos will match your initial deposit with a credit that can be used towards the games you play. These “bonuses” should be taken advantage of and can lead to massive wins if you utilize them.

In addition to the money aspect, online blackjack is the perfect way to hone your skills in a low-stakes environment. While most casinos won’t have tables that go below a $10 minimum, you can find blackjack games online that have a $1 minimum, or even less if that’s what you prefer.

Don’t miss out on all the benefits to be gained in online casinos. Once you become comfortable with the rules and game strategy, then you’ll be confident stepping up to higher-minimum tables when you visit the physical casino.

Conclusion

Blackjack is a timeless casino game that has remained popular because of low house edge and relatively easy-to-learn strategy. If you’re someone who enjoys casinos, growing your knowledge of this game is a necessity.

Taking the time to master the most basic blackjack strategy guidelines can help you out tremendously over the course of your gambling life.

You win some, you lose some. Unfortunately, for the majority of bettors, a casino trip ends in the latter.

The thrill of having a chance at hitting it big is worth the price of admission, but it would certainly be nice if consistent winning could be part of the plan – even if it’s just a small amount. You may not have stopped going back, but losing money at the casino isn’t a sustainable financial strategy.

In the following article, I’m going to lay out the most common reasons gamblers keep losing money at the casino, and then explain what you can do about it.

1 – You Don’t Have a Bankroll

It’s not the most fun part of gambling, but it’s undoubtedly the most important. Having a defined casino bankroll is the first step to avoiding big losses and managing your money effectively.

If you aren’t familiar with the term, your bankroll is the pool of money that you’ve set aside explicitly for gambling. You can create one just for a single day, or keep one going if you’re a frequent gambler.

The first thing to consider when setting up your bankroll is that it should only include an amount of money or cash that you’re willing to lose. Essentially, you should think of it like a purchase or an investment where you may or may not ever see that money again.

The reason it’s so important to have a bankroll when you enter the casino is because it’s a not-so-subtle reminder that you shouldn’t keep gambling once you’ve reached a certain loss amount. It prevents a bad day at the casino from seriously hurting you financially.

When you set aside your money, the very next step of creating a bankroll is determining a percentage or range between which you can place bets.

For example, if you have a $500 bankroll you might say that you’ll only bet between 2% and 5% of your total amount on any one bet. That means nothing less than $10, and nothing more than $25. This is important to note because it will help you realize which minimums you can afford. That $50 minimum blackjack table just wouldn’t be a prudent decision with this amount.

Keep track of your bankroll number as much as possible, and calculate where you’re at every time you take a break. Again, a bankroll isn’t the most exciting thing, but it is the most important.

2 – You Never Take Breaks

I’ll let you in on a secret – every single game in the casino (with the exception of poker) is slightly tilted in the house’s favor. That means, statistically speaking, the more you bet or play, the more likely it is that you’ll lose money.

Regardless of whether or not you’re winning, it’s crucial to step away every so often in order to recalibrate. If you’re on a hot streak this can be especially difficult, but walking away before your luck turns in the other direction might just be the best thing you can do.

It’s completely understandable that in the heat of a real money roulette or blackjack game that you’ll get sucked into the action. To combat this inevitability, try setting a 30-minute timer on your cell phone that will alert you to take a lap around the casino, use the restroom, or do any other activity besides gambling.

Even the best gamblers have a hard time thinking clearly when they’re in the middle of a streak. Don’t fall victim to this by utilizing the timer trick

3 – You’re Picking the Wrong Games

One thing that you simply can’t afford to overlook when trying to come out of the casino ahead is the games you’re playing. Yes, there are several different ones that all give you roughly the same odds, but others need to be avoided entirely.

Unfortunately, slot machines rank near the top of the list of games that should not be played by gamblers hoping to maximize their bankroll. Although they’re fun, easy, addicting, and can occasionally result in a big jackpot, the risk doesn’t match the potential reward.

Besides simply looking at the odds involved with slots, it’s important to take another factor into account – the number of turns you can run through in a short amount of time.

As I mentioned previously, all games are slightly tilted in the house’s favor. The more you bet or play, the more it’s likely that you are eventually going to have the numbers regress to the mean, which results in you losing.

With slots, you can do hundreds of spins in an hour, meaning that it’s more likely than not the statistical probabilities will come through, and that’s bad news for gamblers.

I won’t say that slot machines should never be played, but they should never be played for long periods of time. If you’re able to win money, quit before things start going the other way.

Another mistake players often make that costs them is choosing 6/5 blackjack. The majority of blackjack games pay 3/2 meaning you’ll get a higher payout if you hit blackjack.

The tricky thing about this one is that you often won’t notice the difference if you don’t actively look for it. Before playing any blackjack game, make sure it’s 3/2 and not 6/5. It’s a near guarantee that there’s one somewhere in the casino.

4 – You’re a Victim of the Gambler’s Fallacy

I see this one happening on roulette more than any other game, but it can be applied to just about everything in the casino.

For example, if in roulette the ball has landed on red 4 times in a row, it’s “due” to be black in the next couple of spins. This is an example of one of the worst casino gambling strategies.

The reality is that each spin is its own thing. The fact that it was red on the last spin, or the last 100 spins, has absolutely no impact on what the next spin will be.

It’s hard to wrap your mind around the concept, and many people would probably argue that it’s human nature to think in terms of this fallacy. However, now that you know about it, you can potentially avoid it.

5 – You Drink Too Much

You can go to the casino to have a good time, you can go to the casino to win money, but accomplishing both at the same time is difficult.

I’m not against having a few drinks while still maintaining your original gambling strategy, but if you’re drinking to the point where you start making poor decisions, your finances are not going to be in good shape.

Simply put, alcohol exacerbates the personality traits that lead to losing money at a casino. Unnecessary risk taking, thoughtless decisions, and irrational wishful thinking are exactly what the casino wants – and it’s exactly what alcohol accomplishes.

Like I said, have fun and let loose if you want – but factor that in and consider the effect it will likely have on both your bankroll and bank account.

If you are going out with friends, regardless of it’s in Las Vegas or your hometown, consider lowering your bankroll for that trip. If it’s more about the good times than the money, prioritize accordingly.

Conclusion

Few people can consistently win money at casinos. Perhaps the reason is that most people violate one of, if not all of, the five things described in this article.

The good news? It’s never too late to change. Watch your alcohol intake, have a bankroll, choose the right games, and you’ll be on your way to being successful.

Whether you play on a daily basis or have only visited a few times in your life, casinos have an undeniable feeling of, “we’re seeing a lot, but we’re not seeing it all.”

The enigma of casinos has led to a certain air of mystery. In many cases, some of the most commonly believed notions about casinos are actually false, while the truth is most commonly known by those who have worked in the industry.

In this article, I’ll get into some of these notions that have made their way into the culture, then I’ll explain what’s true and what is not.

Fact: Casinos Want You to Lose Track of Time

Everyone has heard, at some point or another, that land based casinos don’t include any windows or clocks in their building. Not only that, but the reason is so you completely lose your sense of time altogether, leading you to gamble for long periods of time without taking breaks.

It turns out this one is true! And the fact that many casinogoers know about it does not stop it from still being a very effective form of manipulation.

Without the sun to indicate that the day is in fact moving, or clocks to remind you that your wife got home two hours ago, people can get quite lost in a gambling session. Now, obviously just about everyone has access to a timepiece right in their pocket via phone, but seeing numbers on a screen doesn’t quite have the same impact as seeing it go from light outside to dark.

Fiction: Casinos Pump in Oxygen

I can’t say how this one got started, but it’s one of the most widely-believed myths about casinos that just won’t seem to die. No, casinos do not circulate extra oxygen throughout the air inside the casino.

Second, casinos have no way of knowing potential health problems that guests might have. Adding oxygen might actually help in some cases, but in others, it could cause unknown problems. The casino does not need that on their list of things to deal with.

The bottom line is that the risk of burning the casino down is simply not worth the benefit of a few extra dollars. The next time your friends try to drop this knowledge on you, make a bet that they’re wrong and you could start the day with a few extra dollars in your bankroll. You’re welcome.

Fact: Casinos Are Laid Out in a Specific Way

What does the local chain grocery store have in common with the casino downtown? They’re both laid out in a specific way that is designed to maximize profits.

Casinos use psychological tricks in a way that aims to make the bettor feel comfortable, meaning not having an eye on the door at all times. I won’t say they’re made to be a labyrinth of sorts, but that isn’t far from the truth. Casino builders want you to get swallowed up in the action and feel good doing it.

Another way casinos look to use the gaming floor design to their advantage is by making the games with the worst odds the most noticeable. For example, if you walk around you can’t help but notice the flashing lights seen on games like Big Six and other low-odds video slot machines.

Obviously the responsibility falls on the gambler to make the right decisions about what games to play and how long to play them, but in a way, it’s a battle of wills between house and player that often goes unnoticed.

If you find yourself wandering around the casino looking for a game to play, keep in mind that the ones that stand out are noticeable for a reason. They’re probably going to take your money.

Fiction: Casino Machines Are Rigged

When you lose a hand in blackjack or watch as the roulette ball lands on black instead of red, you can accept that you just got unlucky. However, when the dealer in video blackjack seems to be hitting 21 at a high rate, it might feel like something else is at play.

It can be difficult to accept that losses in video based casino games, such as video poker, 21, roulette, or slot machines are legitimate. I mean, how easy would it be to program them in such a way that ensures they’ll always come out ahead?

The reasons are plenty when it comes to why a casino would not want to manipulate their games to have a better outcome for the house. The penalties for doing this are severe, and the hit to a casino’s reputation might be irreparable. Nobody is going to want to play at the casino that has knowingly cheated guests in the past.

Casinos have strict rules and regulations surrounding their video offerings, so the next time you lose, the only person you have to blame is the random number generator that seems to be extra lucky that day.

Fiction: You’ll Get Arrested for Card Counting

If you’ve ever watched the movie 21 or Rain Man, it’s likely that you’ve considered counting cards. At the same time, you’ve also probably wondered what the consequences of that would be if you were to get caught.

Somewhat surprisingly, card counting isn’t technically illegal. It certainly won’t get you thrown in jail or punished in a legal sense, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely free of consequence.

As you would expect, casinos don’t want their gamblers counting cards and getting an edge on the house, but they aren’t going to dedicate a ton of time and resources to preventing the practice (unless you’re really making a ton of money). However, people get caught all the time because it’s hard to keep a straight face while doing it.

The worst you can expect is probably a stern, but fair, talking to by the casino staff. They might kick you out for the day, suggest you don’t come back and play there again, or may just tell you not to do it anymore.

Each establishment differs when it comes to how they handle card-counters, but one thing is for sure—the vast majority of them go undetected.

Fact: You Can Ban Yourself

I can’t say how frequently this unique law is invoked, but the fact that it even exists is interesting enough in itself. Casinos will actually allow you to ban yourself, and can enforce it through legal means.

While it’s hard to know if this has had a positive impact on the lives of those who gamble compulsively, in my opinion, it’s a good step. Let this be a reminder that gambling can become a problem, and if you see things heading that direction in your own life, use the gambling addiction resources at your disposal to help.

Conclusion

The inner workings of casinos will always remain somewhat enigmatic to those on the outside, but hopefully this article shed some light on separating myth from reality.

If you’re interested in learning more about the history of casinos and how they function today, there are a number of resources that hold these insights. I encourage everyone to learn about what makes casinos tick, because it’s certainly not a clock!

Blackjack isn’t typically known for its win potential alone. Instead, it draws many players who want to use strategy to boost their odds of winning.

However, blackjack can deliver big wins under the right circumstances. Even if you don’t collect serious profits, you still have a better chance to beat blackjack than most other casino games.

The degree to which you win, though, all depends upon the approach you take. This guide covers the different routes that you can take when playing blackjack and the win potential associated with each.

Straight Betting

Straight betting is the most-common strategy used in any type of gambling. It involves placing the same size of wager in each round. If you risk $1 on each online blackjack hand, then you’re straight betting.

Anybody who plays real money blackjack for a significant amount of time usually varies their bets at some point. However, the average player sticks with a certain bet size until they either feel hot or cold.

Here’s an example on how easy bankroll management is with straight betting:

Considering that you never raise bets by a significant amount with this strategy, you don’t have to worry about your bankroll wildly fluctuating.

The downside to straight betting, though, is that it doesn’t offer big scores relative to your bets. You’re instead relying on a major hot streak to truly cash in.

As long as you don’t expect to win serious money, though, then straight betting is a relaxing strategy. You still have an outside shot to collect big profits if you do catch a rare hot streak.

Blackjack Systems

Blackjack players have been using casino betting systems for centuries. They enjoy gambling systems for their big win potential.

Plenty of these betting strategies exist. They differ based on their complexity and whether they call on you to raise or lower bets during win streaks.

If a system requires you to raise bets after wins, then it’s known as a positive progression system. Assuming the strategy involves raising wagers after losses, then it’s a negative progression system.

The latter are mainly designed to help you recoup potential losses rather than net big wins. Positive progression strategies, on the other hand, are all about capitalizing on hot runs.

The Paroli is an example of positive progression. It calls on you to flat bet until experiencing a win. At this point, you double your next wager.

Assuming you lose this bet, then you go back to the original starting wager. If you win, then you continue doubling bets. You only reset to the starting wager upon winning three consecutive rounds.

Here’s an example on how the Paroli can help you book big profits:

The downside to the Paroli, or any other blackjack system, is that they don’t overcome the house edge. Instead, they just manipulate short-term winnings.

You can actually accelerate losses when using a system. But provided you’re okay with this and want to chase big winnings, then systems can still be worth trying.

High Roller Play

High rollers have always had an affinity for blackjack. They love that this game features such a low house edge and, as a result, a great chance to win profits.

Of course, online casinos don’t feature extremely high stakes. However, most gaming sites do let you wager up to $500 per hand.

$500 a hand is definitely high stakes. If you get hot with this amount of money on the line, then you’re looking at a big payday.

The first thing you want to do when preparing to play for high stakes is find the best blackjack odds. Most online blackjack games offer around a 0.5% house edge.

However, you can do even better than this if you look hard enough. Some online blackjack games feature as low as a 0.3% house advantage.

Unfortunately, the casino still holds the edge in such cases. But you’ll nearly be in a coinflip situation with them. If you get just a little luck on your side, then you can win big.

The main thing to worry about, though, is what happens when you experience a downswing. If you’re wagering anywhere from $100 to $500 per hand, then your losses will sting that much more.

I suggest that you have a really large bankroll if you’re going to risk $100 or more per round. You should have at least $5,000 to comfortably play these stakes.

Progressive Jackpots

Online slots draw all the attention when it comes to progressive jackpots. However, progressive online blackjack also exists.

You aren’t going to win millions of dollars when playing for blackjack jackpots. Nevertheless, you can look forward to some very large prizes.

Assuming you’re dealt four suited aces within the same hand, then you’ll collect the jackpot. The odds of this occurrence happening are just 1 in 6,454,650.

You can also win payouts for lesser hands, including the following:

WGS Technology also features a progressive jackpot game with a $1 side bet. Its blackjack jackpot is currently worth almost $68,000 at the time of this post.

You win 100% of the progressive jackpot with four suited aces. You can win 10% of the jackpot by getting four aces of any suit.

Here are the other available payouts:

Online blackjack jackpots aren’t going to let you retire early. But they definitely offer some serious money through both the jackpots and other side payouts.

Chasing Casino Bonuses

Most gaming sites feature online bonuses. Such might be available when you initially deposit (i.e. welcome bonus) and/or when you place subsequent deposits (i.e. reload bonus).

The most-common online blackjack bonus is a deposit deal. These offers match a portion of your deposits up to a certain amount.

Here’s a specific example of how they work:

The bonus funds will be available immediately for real-money blackjack. You can’t cash out the funds, though, until you’ve met conditions and special terms.

You definitely want to know every term behind the deal. However, you should pay special attention to the rollover (a.k.a. playthrough).

Rollover determines how much you’ll need to wager before the money is actually yours. Low rollover is better because it doesn’t force you to risk as much.

What’s the Best Approach for Winning With Internet Blackjack?

Most gamblers prefer straight betting with slight variations based on their results. Many of the same players increase wagers when they’re really hot in order to capitalize.

Of course, you don’t necessarily need to do what most player gamblers are doing. After all, straight betting doesn’t offer big winnings when small stakes are involved.

Systems provide a nice way to capitalize on hot streaks—especially the positive progression variety. Just keep in mind that they won’t help you overcome the long-term house edge.

High-roller play is worthwhile when you have a large bankroll. It can deliver huge wins if you’re comfortably able to bet $100 per hand or more.

Progressive blackjack is the best way to turn a few dollars into massive payouts. The odds may be against you winning a jackpot, but you at least don’t need to bet much to play.

As you can see, no one route is perfect when trying to win online blackjack profits. You should choose the option that best suits your individual situation and goals.

Conclusion

Outside of card counting in land-based casinos, the house always holds an edge in blackjack. However, this edge is smaller than what’s seen in most other casino games.

That said, you have a solid chance to win in online blackjack with the right strategy and approach. Regarding the latter, you can go with any of the routes discussed above to achieve your desired winnings.

The betting strategies covered throughout this post don’t guarantee profits by any means. Depending upon your choice, though, the right strategy will help you win whatever amount you’re looking for during a hot streak.

Economists and scientists will need to study data for years to understand just how devastating the 2020 novel coronavirus pandemic truly has been for the world. The short-term consequences are obvious.

More than 3 billion people have spent months in lockdown. Hundreds of thousands of people will have died by the end of the first wave. And the worldwide economy has come to a standstill.

Industry experts remain hopeful that land-based casinos and cruise ship companies will return to business but it’s reasonable to guess that some companies will go bankrupt.

And one should not expect life to return to complete pre-pandemic normalcy because no matter how many people survive the virus, it’s not yet known if any immunity people develop will be permanent.

Epidemiologists are predicting multiple waves of infection. The 1918 influenza pandemic hit the world in three waves over about two years. It’s possible the novel coronavirus will be a threat for another year or longer.

And that means how, how often, and where to people travel will change.

1 – Who Can Afford to Travel Any More?

Even the wealthiest people have been affected by the pandemic because financial markets around the world have lost trillions of dollars in accumulated value. Any investments millionaires and billionaires have made will have shed immense value.

While people like Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos remain incredibly wealthy the lower end of the top 1% will have shrunk. Many people who were once comfortable with recreational travel expenses will think twice before embarking on their next trip.

But millions of average workers who save up for vacation travel every year have been forced to cancel plans because travel in 2020 won’t be practical. The travel and tourism industries have probably lost a year’s worth of revenue as most of their customers burn through savings.

It will take time for people who still have jobs or go back to work quickly to save up for their next trips.

2 – How Have Health and Safety Regulations Changed?

The cruise ship industry often made headlines with norovirus outbreaks. While debilitating the norovirus isn’t anywhere near as deadly as the coronavirus. But cruise ships had to be disinfected after each outbreak.

With the novel coronavirus the cruise ship industry has been shut down. Until cruise line owners can adopt better health management processes not many people will want not be able to enjoy gambling on cruise ships.

One way to make ships safer is to book fewer passengers. But that means to remain profitable the ships will have to charge more for cruises.

Before allowing cruise lines to resume business as usual various governments may pass new laws or regulations mandating additional medical facilities and expertise on the ships. Those costs will be passed on to passengers.

No matter how you look at it, the era of the cheap cruise vacation may be over.

3 – Land-Based Casinos Have Changed Their Environments

Macau and Las Vegas are trying to revive their economies as quickly as possible. Both cities depend heavily on land-based casinos. And hundreds of Native American tribes have lost vital revenue from casino closures, too.

To ensure the safety of players the casinos are adopting strategies for maintaining social distancing, enforcing personal hygiene, and disinfecting games.

It may be a long time before poker rooms become the crowded smoke-filled bastions of quiet social gaming they once were.

Smokers will have to be consigned to designated areas. Any casino that doesn’t change its smoking policies risks losing valuable customers who won’t want to risk damaging their lungs.

And the slot machine industry could tumble in the long run. You simply cannot play slot machine games without touching the machines.

4 – National Parks Should Recover Quickly

One good thing about many national parks is that they are large enough to accommodate crowds. Everyone understands social distancing so the tour groups may be smaller and more spread out.

People will be able to enjoy day trips to local parks and hiking trails.

Where national parks may be affected is in their hotel and restaurant facilities. Governments may require changes in how customers are handled and facilities are sanitized.

Any increased costs associated with maintaining public health and safety may result either in closure of facilities or increased fees.

The benefit of allowing people to spend time outdoors is clear. It’s good for our well-being and doctors say that viruses are more likely to be passed around during cold months because people stay indoors.

5 – Hotels Have Changed How They Operate

The good news for the hotelier industry is that many new technologies have already been tested. Even before the pandemic some high end hotels had upgraded their services to restrict staff interaction with guests.

These upgrades include using Internet-of-Things technologies so customers can change or request services without interacting with hotel staff.

Room service robots have also been tested in several markets. And China made extensive use of room service robots in the hotels they designated for quarantine areas.

The demand for IoT technologies and robots will increase and filter all the way down from the most luxurious hotels to less expensive hotels. Don’t expect the $50-per-night roadside hotel to add these conveniences but even the low-end side of the industry will have to change things.

That could mean hiring more cleaning staff, which means room rates could go up.

To save on laundering costs hotels may turn to using disposable bed sheets. This industry is still in its nascency but if the technologies used to produce disposable sheets is practical it may become the wave of the future.

Although recycling is considered to be more environmentally friendly, hoteliers may have no choice but to turn to more disposable items to reduce their guests’ chances of getting the coronavirus.

Common breakfast areas in low-end hotels may be discontinued. Or customers may be required to take food back to their rooms. Take-out and fast food restaurants near many hotels may enjoy a boost in business as hotels cut back on their complimentary breakfast plans.

6 – Travelers May Demand More Information About Destinations

People already flock to travel Websites to read customer reviews about hotels, theme parks, casinos, and other destinations and services. Expect more people to do that and to see more detailed questions.

While not everyone will think to ask about what health precautions resorts and cruise lines implement, many people will and you should eventually find those questions on the Internet.

Smaller hotels with fewer customers and reviews may suffer from a lack of information about how they protect their guests from possible infection.

If the general public remains skeptical about traveling out of country then international travel may lose business to domestic travel. No one wants to be trapped in a hospital thousands of miles from their friends and family.

What no one can predict how people will be now when planning a casino trip. Some people may throw caution to the winds and scoop up every cheap vacation plan they can find. Some people may stop traveling completely for fear of becoming infected.

7 – Expect to See Special Offers and Discounts

Even if new regulations and the adoption of safer technologies means hoteliers, theme parks, travel services, and land based casinos must charge more, the competition for travel guests will be fierce.

There may be a period of intense competition, especially as businesses open up again, to lock in future revenue and encourage guests to restore trust in brands.

If travel industry vendors change their pricing and services they will most likely exclude the more expensive services from their discount offers.

Conclusion

It’s too soon to know for sure how these industries will change. What is safe to say is that because they were already adopting new technologies they will continue along that path because many of those technologies would have made travel and vacation stays healthier anyway.

The pandemic may accelerate the evolution of business and vacation travel services and conveniences. In the end people may be much happier with how they are served on their trips even if it costs more money and they must travel less often.

The first time I made a wager in a casino I played a table game that I’d never seen or heard about before. It was a great deal of fun, and I lost somewhere around $150 over four hours of play.

I really enjoyed the game, so I started researching it to see what I could learn. At the time, the internet wasn’t available yet, so I had to read books. I quickly learned that the game had a high house edge, and I’ve avoided playing it ever since.

This was one of my first lessons about learning what I needed to avoid as a casino gambler. Over the years I’ve learned about several more things to avoid.

Here’s a list of 5 things every casino gambler should never do.

Gamble Without a Budget

This is the most dangerous thing that gamblers do, and almost all of them do it. But it’s simple to avoid making the same mistakes that others are making.

Every time you visit a casino you need to have a gambling budget. This means that you need to set a limit for your losses, and never go over your limit. This helps you make sure that you never lose a penny more than you want.

The easiest way to do this is to only take the amount you’re willing to lose when you gamble. If you reach your limit, you stop gambling right away.

You can set your limit at any amount you want, but never make the mistake of gambling without setting a limit before you start.

Fight the Casino House Edge

Every casino game and gambling option has a casino house edge, and it’s not in your favor. The edge is how casinos, sportsbooks, poker rooms, and race tracks make money.

If you know that every gambling activity has an edge against you, the logical question is why would you take the risk?

If you don’t find a way to get an edge, the answer is that you probably shouldn’t play. But millions of gamblers play every year anyway.

The good news is that you can get an edge if you know what you’re doing. Spend some time learning more about the following subjects to find out how to gamble with an edge.

Consume Alcohol While Gambling

I’m not the moral or vice police, so I don’t care if you want to consume alcohol or not. But I’ve been gambling for around four decades and one thing I’ve learned is that gambling and alcohol should never mix.

If you want to gamble and you want to drink, spend some time gambling, and then when you’re done, start drinking.

Here’s a good option that you can consider. Spend some time handicapping sports games before you start drinking and place your bets. Then you can drink while you enjoy the game without needing to make any decisions.

Chase Anything

Have you heard of the Martingale betting system? It’s a casino betting system that some gamblers use. The basic idea of the system is you double your wager after you lose. You keep doubling until you win.

This seems like a system that can work, because when you win you make enough to show a small profit. The problem is that eventually you lose too many decisions in a row and end up with a huge loss you can’t cover.

This is why you should never use the Martingale system. The system is based on chasing your losses. And even if you don’t use the exact system, if you’re like most gamblers you’ve chased your losses at least once.

Sometimes when you chase losses you get lucky and win, but sometimes you don’t get lucky and you lose even more.

It’s always dangerous to chase losses, and the smartest thing to do is to simply never do it. Stick with your budget, find games that give you a realistic chance to win, and never deviate from your plan.

Casinos offer comps because they make gamblers risk more money and play longer. In other words, comps help the casino make more money, not less. This is why you should never chase comps.

Play Any Game Where You Don’t Know the Numbers

Have you ever sat down to play real money slots or a table game that you didn’t know the house edge for? In truth, I don’t know a single casino player that hasn’t done this at least once.

The problem with this is that you have no idea how bad the edge is. If you’re not careful you’re going to play with an edge of 5% to 10%. This is especially bad because there are games available with an edge of 1% or less, even if you’re not an advantage player.

Look at a few numbers to see just how bad this is.

If you risk $1,000 on a game or slot machine with a 10% house edge, you’re going to lose somewhere around $100. If you risk the same amount with a 5% edge, your expected loss is $50. But if you do it with a 1% edge, your expected loss is only $10.

Not only do you need to know the edge for every game you play, you also need to know every strategy you can use to lower the edge. The only way to do this is to study the games you want to play before you gamble. And never play any game or make any wager when you don’t know and understand all of the numbers.

Conclusion

If you always use a budget when you gamble in a casino, avoid consuming alcohol when you gamble, and learn all of the numbers, you’re doing better than most gamblers. If you learn enough, you can even learn how to gamble without losing money.

Start with the five things you should never do on this page and learn as much as you can about advantage play. With enough effort you can learn how to be one of the few casino gamblers who walks away with more money than you started with.

Riverboat gaming in the United States has a long and storied history. Few images ignite American gamblers’ curiosity and romantic nature like that of our grizzled forefathers, drink in hand, pistol on their hip, and poker chips on the table.

But nowadays, most things have progressed tremendously. Why do some states require casinos to be on boats?

The Wild Midwest

Riverboat gambling was initially a byproduct of spare time and excess money meeting on long trips. Well, to do merchants would spend extended periods of time traveling the country searching for new business opportunities.

In the 1800s, much of this travel was done over the extensive waterways across the eastern seaboard to the midwest. Merchants with time on their hands and money in their pockets were eager to find some relief from their mounting boredom.

Gambling became the preferred method for passing the hours of passengers on the riverboats.

It wasn’t long before professional gamblers began making a home in the riverboats. At the time, gambling was becoming illegal in nearly every new municipality that sprung up, and lynch mobs were known to handle any alleged cheats with extreme prejudice.

With the law on one side of the road and angry hordes of losing gamblers on the other, it makes sense to get out of the road. So, they did and hopped on the waterways.

In fact, the lore surrounding these colorful men and women continue to inspire. You’ll not have to look too far to find them portrayed in film and on television.

Unfortunately, the expansion of the railroad and the Civil War saw riverboats become outdated for all involved. Rail is a much more viable method of transportation.

However, the 1980s began to see the riverboat gambler’s resurrection. States looked west and saw the revenue Nevada gambling was pouring into the coffers from taxes on gambling.

States on the Mississippi River began to pass laws allowing games of chance on their waterways and created the legal framework for taxing the casinos.

Modern Riverboat Casinos

The fact is that most riverboat casinos today are no more a boat than a wooden door. Perhaps the only thing they have in common with boats at all is that they’re on the water and seem to float. However, I wouldn’t test this.

When the first legal riverboat casinos came into existence, they were incredibly restrictive. Most had small $5 limits on bet size and would have restrictions on how much a guest could lose in 1 trip.

The 1990s saw these laws relax quite a bit and the revenue streams became wide open for not only the casino operators but also the states.

Today, you can find these riverboat casinos in six states. These six include Louisiana, Mississippi, Iowa, Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois.

I have had many opportunities to visit some of the more extensive riverboat casino operations in Louisiana and Mississippi. It’s a strange sensation to wake up in the morning and look down on the waters below your hotel room and see these massive “boats” perched on the water below.

The novelty has still not worn off for me. If you’ve ever had the chance to get out on the water to gamble for yourself, you likely haven’t lost that feeling of intrigue either.

Not all of the states with headwaters on the Mississippi have joined the party. These states include Kentucky, Arkansas, Minnesota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.

So, while it’s easy to see the tremendous benefits of offering gaming licenses, some states have opted to let history remain just that.

Perhaps they feel that the limited geographical impact is too much for the possible social ramifications. Or maybe the voters in these states aren’t impressed by the significant tax revenue.

Boosting Local Economies and State Budgets

Riverboat gambling has an incredible impact on the state and local budgets where they operate.

In Indiana, the casinos are levied with 20% in state and local taxes. A whopping 15% goes to the state, and 5% remains in the local community.

That translates to nearly $400 million in state taxes and another $80 million locally. This amount of money has a tremendous impact on social programs and civil projects.

Louisiana sees more tax money flow in from their riverboat gambling than any other industry.

It’s more than just tax money. These “floating” casinos create jobs. Any of the riverboat casinos are going to need to hire dealers, accountants, security, management, and a host of hospitality workers.

Many of these workers are pulled from their respective communities. This pumps millions of additional dollars into local economies.

WinStar World Casino is the largest casino in the world, and while it isn’t spread over the Red River, I do want to draw an example from it here.

It was the type of place people couldn’t wait to graduate high school and get away from, few prospects. That changed drastically, thanks to the casino.

Suddenly, Thackerville, OK, was a destination. Not only does the casino draw tourists from surrounding states, but it put thousands of people to work.

I know people as far away as Dallas, TX (84 miles) that were thrilled to be hired as blackjack dealers or security at the casino.

The significant project also blessed the surrounding small towns. Suddenly, there became a wealth of new jobs for anyone willing to work.

The waterborne casinos along the Mississippi have had similar effects on the local economies where they operate.

My Favorite Riverboat Casinos

Sam’s Town – Shreveport, LA

Sam’s Town is probably familiar to Las Vegas casino gamblers. Sam’s Town has been a staple in the Nevada desert for decades.

Sam’s Town decided to roll the dice and open up shop on the muddy Mississippi. All of the luxurious amenities you’d expect to receive in Las Vegas have made the trip south.

Are you feeling a little worn out from a late night at the progressive slots?

Head down to Spa Blu and let your troubles fade away while being pampered in luxury.

Speaking of progressive slots, every slot machine at Sam’s Town is part of a progressive jackpot. That means with every spin of the reels, and you could be hitting the jackpot worth over $80,000.

Casino Queen Marquette – Marquette, IA

If you are searching for a VIP experience on a working man’s wage, look no further. The Casino Queen is a relatively small operation on the Mississippi River.

The Casino Queen offers a humble eight table games that pale compared to even the smallest casinos on The Strip. However, slots are the name of the game here, and you’ll have over 1100 to choose from on the Casino Queen.

The Casino Queen places emphasis on its staff. Even the long time Vegas veterans will be impressed at the level of service you’ll receive from the moment you step aboard.

The Grand Victoria Casino – Elgin, IL

A short 40-mile drive west of Chicago sits the Grand Victoria Casino Elgin. The casino boasts over 36 table games and a bank of 1100 slots.

That’s not what the casino is most well known for, though. The casino is renowned in the state for the emphasis it puts on community outreach.

The highest-grossing casino in Illinois gives significantly to non-profits in the surrounding communities.

So, if you want to feel good about where your entertainment dollars are going, make the trip to Elgin. If you happen to win, don’t feel bad the Grand Victoria is doing just fine.

Conclusion

You may not find all of the luxury and opulence on a riverboat as you would at some of the fantastic Las Vegas casinos, but that’s part of the charm.

These nods to the past have a way of transforming you back to a simpler time when things moved at the river’s gentle pace. Today, much like the railroad locomotives that replaced the riverboats, life tends to go full speed ahead with no stops for miles.

If you’re looking for an entertaining experience in a welcoming atmosphere, check out one of these unique casinos on the water for yourself.

Most casual gamblers head to the slot machines, where they don’t need to think too much when playing. Meanwhile, those who see themselves as strategists sit down to the blackjack tables.

Blackjack features some of the most complex strategy out of any casino game. Players’ chances of winning can rise or fall by around 5% based on their skills.

Unfortunately, some gamblers’ odds fall because they make too many mistakes.

Players make mistakes on the blackjack tables for a variety of reasons. Here are seven of the biggest reasons why people lose when playing blackjack.

1 – Relying on Luck to Win

Many casino games force you to rely on chance to win. Slot machines, baccarat, roulette, keno, and scratch cards all fall into this category.

You can’t do much to boost your odds of winning with these games other than looking for high RTP and making the right bets.

Nevertheless, some players still rely solely on good fortune. These gamblers believe that they merely need to wear their lucky shirt or sit in a certain seat to win.

Superstitions like these are fun and can spice up a gambling experience. However, they have no mathematical bearing on the outcomes.

The same gamblers should head to the slot machines if they’re not going to bother with strategy. At least this way, they won’t give up RTP to the house over their unwillingness to improve.

2 – Ignoring Blackjack Strategy

The players described above may ignore blackjack strategy for the simple fact that they don’t know it exists, or at least that it plays such a large role in the game. However, a certain subset of players know of the strategy yet still choose to overlook it.

They might refuse to study up on the game for the following reasons:

Some of these reasons are understandable. For example, beginners may not realize just how much proper play can impact their winnings. Therefore, they simply start playing the game and hope for the best.

Those who ignore strategy out of laziness, though, should really reconsider. They must realize that mastering the game isn’t as hard as it seems.

In fact, all one really needs is a blackjack strategy chart. Readily available all over the internet, these charts show every proper decision to make in each situation.

Here’s an example:

Players can use strategy charts for both land-based and online blackjack play. However, they should know that land-based casinos aren’t thrilled when a player slows the game down by referring to their chart every two seconds.

A good way to quickly learn strategy is by playing the online version while referring to the chart. This method will help gamblers quickly master the game before heading off to casinos.

3 – Failure to Understand How Game Rules Impact the Odds

Strategy isn’t the only key aspect when trying to reduce the blackjack house edge. Game rules also play a large role in this mission.

Of course, this mistake can be attributed to being new to the game. Most new players don’t realize that there are different rules in blackjack—let alone how these rules change the house edge.

But once somebody realizes this, they should pay special attention to the rules before taking a seat. Here are some key rules and how they alter the house advantage:

If you’re playing online blackjack, you can refer to the info screen to check out the various rules. When playing in land-based casinos, you’ll need to watch the games for a while.

In either case, you can quickly see two of the biggest rules printed on the table felt. Each table lists the natural blackjack payout and if the dealer hits or stands on a natural 17.

The goal behind knowing the rules is to simply find the best available deal. Therefore, you should only play at tables that offer favorable rules.

4 – Using Oddball Strategies

Unless you’re card counting, the best blackjack strategy is basic strategy. You can’t do any better than following the path blazed by gaming mathematicians over time.

Even still, some gamblers think that there’s a secret way to easily beat blackjack. They pull out ridiculous strategies in an attempt to overcome the house edge.

Mimicking the dealer is one of the worst and most common of these strategies. It calls on players to make the same type of moves that the dealer does based on the house rules.

First off, a dealer must hit to a hard or soft 17. The hard or soft factor varies based on the given casino. Secondly, these gamblers will avoid doubling down and splitting hands. The croupier can’t perform either of these actions, so the players in question don’t either.

Mimic the dealer sounds like a smart idea at first. Given that the house has an advantage, players should theoretically pull even with them by copying the croupier.

However, this strategy is missing one crucial element—the dealer gets to act second. Considering that the house acts second, gamblers automatically lose when busting regardless of what happens to the croupier.

Furthermore, one misses out on the potential value from doubling down and splitting cards. In the end, they face a 7% house edge, which is about 4x to 5x worse than what the average player faces.

5 – Chasing Losses

Nobody likes suffering a losing session. Given that blackjack is a negative expectation game, though, losses do happen. But some players refuse to accept their losses. They continue playing under the guise that they’re due for a win.

Outside of advantage gamblers, nobody is ever due for a win in blackjack. Even the best amateur players still face around a 0.5% house edge.

Of course, only facing a 0.5% house advantage provides a strong chance to win in a given session. But one still needs a bit of luck to make money.

The idea that anybody is ever due for winnings is off-base. Chase losses under this mindset is one of the mistakes that gamblers make.

Here’s an example to explain:

6 – Failing to Sign Up for the VIP Program

VIP rewards provide an opportunity to earn something back from one’s betting action. Land-based and online casinos commonly offer casino comps, which in some cases pays back a percentage of gamblers’ total bets.

Unfortunately, many blackjack players miss out on these rewards because they don’t sign up for the VIP program. After all, land-based casinos require gamblers to join the players club before getting rewarded.

Here’s a look at how easy it is to sign up for the players club:

Online casinos don’t feature as complicated of a process to get loyalty rewards. Once a gambler signs up and deposits their money, they’ll immediately be eligible for VIP perks.

Again, though, those playing inside of land-based casinos want to ensure that they join the players club. Otherwise, they’ll miss out on earning extra money.

7 – Playing Blackjack Just to Get Rewards

As covered above, players definitely want to take advantage of loyalty perks whenever possible. If one is going to play blackjack anyways, they might as well collect rewards in the process.

However, the last thing that anybody should do is play blackjack longer for the VIP benefits alone. Rewards are never worth extending one session for.

Here’s an example to show how loyalty benefits compare to theoretical losses:

Even under the best circumstances, VIP perks won’t overshadow theoretical losses. That said, they should be treated as an extra benefit rather than the sole reason for playing.

Anybody who’s ready to quit a blackjack session should just leave the table. Upgrading from a free meal to a hotel room won’t be worth it in terms of dollars and cents.

Conclusion

Blackjack is far from the easiest game in the casino. Therefore, it’s hard to fault those who make mistakes with this game.

However, those who know better are just being plain irrational when they make the same blunders over and over. Relying on luck, failing to study strategy, and using crazy strategies are some of the mistakes that gamblers make.

Luckily, all of these mistakes can be fixed with a little effort. Blackjack players who take the time to improve will eventually benefit through more winnings.

When people’s hard-earned money is on the line, they will say almost anything to convince themselves that their methods are the best. That’s all well and good as long as they’re the only ones impacted by the malarkey they spew.

The problems arise when other people start to heed their “wisdom” and listen to their delusions.

Gamblers are prone to offer unsolicited advice about any type of table game or sports bet in existence. If there’s a game at a casino, most gamblers have a few theories they’re willing to share with you, even if those thoughts lack substance and validity.

If you’ve been to a casino before, you’ve probably heard some of these sage pieces of advice. And, if you’re like me, you’ve unfortunately taken some of it, and it’s cost you money.

While there are several reputable sources that gamblers should consult for thoroughly researched and vetted information, the internet, and the gambling world are full of ideas that should be avoided.

Here are six common gambling tips and fallacies that you should ignore.

You’re Going to Win Eventually

When I said that I’ve fallen for some bad advice in the past, I picked up the most devastating bit of wisdom when I first started gambling. While it stands to reason that most table games are random and the outcomes are mostly unexpected and unpredictable, there is no reason to think that you’re magically going to start winning.

Sure, eventually you’re going to break a bad losing streak and win a few hands if you play long enough. But, as a gambler, the idea that you are due for a win is preposterous and dangerous. The casino owes you nothing, and the gambling gods aren’t going to snap their fingers and hand-deliver you some profitable wins.

Most gambling, especially at several popular casino table games, is entirely random and out of your control. If you’re playing roulette and keep throwing down money on your lucky number expecting to strike it rich, the odds are stacked against you.

If you’re losing money at an alarming rate and your bankroll is getting depleted, don’t just expect to snap out of your losing streak.

Bankrolls Are for Suckers

There’s a large sect of gamblers who got their start during their college years. Once you’re old enough to start gambling, sometimes the temptation to dive headfirst into the industry is too attractive of an offer to pass up.

I started gambling once I got to college and made friends with some kids in my dorm who would go to the local casino every week.

One thing I immediately noticed was the fact that most young adults under the age of 25 are terrible with money, especially gamblers. Because I ingratiated myself in a community of younger gamblers, I learned the ropes by listening to them.

One of the common phrases I heard on a weekly basis was, “It’s just money, you can’t take it with you.” I adopted this mindset for the first few years of gambling, and it’s a mistake I wish I could take back.

Before you start gambling, make sure you have a good plan in place on how to handle your money, so you don’t put yourself into financial jeopardy.

Increase Your Bets After a Loss

If you’re like me, you’ve probably been at a blackjack table during the middle of a terrible cold streak. These streaks are common in table games, and it’s something that’s hard to rationalize as a younger gambler.

You might start to think that the deck is stacked against you, or that the casino is cheating. Both of these ideas are baseless and inaccurate.

The worst thing you can do during one of these cold spells is to add fuel to the fire and start doubling or tripling your bet to win more money. If you allow yourself to take a second and analyze your strategic approach to a game, there’s a good chance you can pinpoint the issue and rectify it.

The only way out of a losing streak is through it. To properly weather the storm, you need to make sure your betting is consistent, and you have enough money in your bankroll to outlast the bad cards. Losing streaks will come to an end one way or another.

Either your fortunes will turn, or you’ll be standing up from the table broke because you doubled your bets when you shouldn’t have. The choice is yours.

Beginner’s Luck is Real

Once again, I must be the bearer of bad news and inform you that there’s no such thing as beginner’s luck. Your first trip to a casino might be profitable, and you might score some early wins, but it simply doesn’t exist. Most experts believe that this occurs because new gamblers have no pressure going into the games they’re playing, so they play carefree and loose.

It should merely provide more motivation to learn how to play the games and become a better player.

But, if you find yourself at the casino for the first time and can’t seem to lose, ride that streak through the night. If some of the older, grouchier gamblers at the table trying to get into your ear, pay them no mind. They’re probably just jealous that you’re winning.

What Happens at the Casino, Stays at the Casino

I know the saying goes, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” but for this post, I feel like it’s necessary to include every casino. When you head to a casino to gamble, you’re typically hoping to blow off some steam and take a break from your day-to-day routine.

Every time I go to the casino, I try to treat it like a mini-vacation.

When you’re in this mindset, sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the casino’s energy and allow yourself to forget about the world outset of the tables. While this isn’t such a terrible thing to do, it’s important to remember that your real-world problems aren’t going to disappear while you’re gambling. Your problems are still going to exist when you’re done gambling.

For this reason, it’s critical to gamble responsibly. You might consider taking it easy on the free alcohol and making sure you’re staying within your means.

I’m all for having a good time while gambling, but there’s no point in sacrificing tomorrow’s happiness by acting foolishly.

This Slot Machine Is Due for a Win

Perhaps the most common gambling fallacy in the world is that slot machines are due for a jackpot. If you’ve never been to a casino before, I highly recommend walking through the rows of slot machines and opening your ears. Some of the stuff you’ll hear will border on utter lunacy.

Slot machines appeal to new, inexperienced gamblers and old-school gamblers who never bothered to try their luck at the tables. They can be tedious, isolating, and monotonous.

As you mindlessly press buttons or pull the levers on the machine, you can begin to convince yourself that you’re due for a big win.

This might happen once in a blue moon, but slots are completely random, so don’t assume they will suddenly start rewarding you with a jackpot.

Conclusion

Gamblers are big fans of repeating the same betting-related refrains to anyone who will listen to them. Whether it’s that you’re due for a win or beginners seem always to have the best luck, these baseless assumptions should be shrugged off.

It might be fun to buy into some of these claims, especially if it convinces you to partake in some mistakes that most savvy vets would determine to be inadvisable. Some of these tips are harmless in nature, but others can be detrimental to your financial and physical well being.

Before you go gamble, make sure your head is on straight and avoid falling for one of these fallacies. Always manage your bankroll responsibility and never assume you will win a hand because you’re due.

I recently wrote a post about switching from slot machines to video poker games, and if you’re insisting on playing gambling machines, I’m convinced that this is a switch you ought to make.

But, if I really had my druthers, I’d prefer that you switch from gambling machines to table games.

In this post, I explain why you SHOULD switch from gambling machines to table games, and I offer suggestions for how you can go about that in as painless a fashion as possible.

Gambling Is Entertainment and Has a Cost

I’ve written about this so much that you might be tired of reading it, but you need to consider casino gambling as an entertainment expense with a specific cost. That cost, in the long run, is determined by how much money you wager and how high the house edge is.

How much money you wager is determined by the size of your wagers and how many wagers you make.

For example, if you bet $10 on average every time you place a bet, and you place 100 bets, you’ve put $1000 into action.

If you’re playing a game with a house edge of 5%, you’re expected to lose an average of $50 on that kind of action.

If you’re playing a game with a house edge of 1%, you’re expected to lose an average of $10 on that kind of action.

The conclusion here is obvious – with everything else being equal, gambling on games with a lower house edge costs you less money.

If you can get similar entertainment for less money, it usually makes sense to do so.

It’s like deciding to spend $10 a year on Showtime instead of paying $50 a year for HBO. It’s a no-brainer. The only difference is the programming.

When it comes to casino games, the programming is equivalent to the games you’re playing.

The Number of Bets You Make per Hour

Suppose you’re playing roulette for real money. How many bets per hour can you make at the roulette table?

At an average roulette table, you’re probably looking at about 45 spins per hour. If you’re playing for $5 per spin, you’re putting $225 into action per hour at the roulette table.

Most people already know that roulette has a house edge of 5.26%. This means your estimated loss for an hour of roulette play is $11.84.

The decision you need to make is whether roulette is $11.84 per hour worth of entertainment.

Let’s contrast this with an average slot machine game, though. Strike that. Let’s contrast it with a GOOD slot machine game.

You’re losing eight times as much at that slot machine per hour than you would be at the roulette table, even though the house edge is close to the same and the amount wagered per bet is similar.

The big difference is how many bets per hour you’re getting in.

Think about it.

You’re betting 60% of what you’re betting at the roulette table, but every hour, you’re losing eight times as much.

THAT is the effect of bets per hour.

There’s More to Account for Than Just That

I’ve suggested in previous posts that you should switch from slot machines to video poker machines. That’s simply based on the big difference in payback percentage. The best slot machines only have a payback percentage of 94%, while the worst video poker games have a payback percentage of 95% or higher.

Since you’ll play about as many hands of video poker per hour as you would spins of the slot machines, the difference in the cost to you is dramatic.

And you’ll find outliers, too, but the outliers in video poker tend toward having a super-low house edge. The outliers in slot machines tend to lie in the other direction.

For example, without TOO much trouble, you can find video poker games where the house edge is less than 1%.

On the other hand, it’s easy to find slot machines with a house edge of 25%.

Even so, you should play table games.

This is because the rate of play on a video poker game is so high that it compensates for the low house edge.

For example, you might decide your game of choice is going to be blackjack. With perfect blackjack strategy and the right rules in place, you’re looking at a house edge of 0.5%.

You’ll probably need to place a minimum $5 bet at the blackjack, and, at the Jacks or Better game, you’ll probably need to bet $1.25 per hand.

But at the blackjack table, you’ll probably only play 75 hands per hour.

At the video poker game, you’ll probably play at least 600 hands per hour.

What does this do to your average hourly loss?

At the blackjack game, you’re looking at 75 hands/hour X $5/hand X 0.5%, or $1.88 in hourly losses.

At the video poker game, you’re looking at 600 hands/hour X $1.25/hand X 0.5%, or $3.75 in hourly losses.

You have a video poker game with the same house edge and a significantly lower wager per round, and you’re still losing twice as much per hour as you would at the blackjack table.

Blackjack for the win.

Don’t Just Play Any Casino Table Game

I always suggest that you try to limit your gambling to bets with a house edge of less than 1.5%.

You don’t have to always pick the game with the lowest house edge. Maybe you hate blackjack, for example, or maybe you don’t want to mess with basic strategy.

It’s okay to choose other table game bets with a low house edge.

One example of a great table game bet is the pass line bet in craps. The house edge is only 1.41%, and you don’t have to worry about making any decisions.

Also, when you place a pass bet in a craps game and the shooter sets a point, you get to place another bet – the free odds bet. This bet has a house edge of 0%.

Craps isn’t the only casino game besides blackjack with bets with a house edge of lower than 1%, though.

Baccarat is another example of a casino game with a low house edge that doesn’t require any decisions on your part. Just don’t ever place the tie bet.

The house edge on the banker bet in baccarat is 1.06%, making it one of the better bets in the casino. The only catch is that baccarat is normally played for higher stakes than most other table games.

It’s not that hard to find a blackjack game with a $5 minimum bet, but good luck finding a baccarat game with a minimum bet of less than $25

And that tie bet in baccarat?

It pays off at 8 to 1 odds, which is nice when you hit.

The problem is that it’s a sucker bet. The house edge on the tie bet is a whopping 14.36%.

Other Differences Between Table Games and Gambling Machines

The difference in the house edge and the relative estimated cost per hour isn’t the only consideration when deciding between table games and gambling machines.

You’re usually going to have other players at the table, too, but the amount of interaction with those other players depends on how gregarious you’re feeling (and how gregarious they’re feeling.)

When you’re playing table games, you’ll need to buy in at the table and convert your cash into chips. When you’re finished, you must take the chips to the chip cage to swap those chips out for cash money.

With gambling machines, you usually just insert cash into the machine and get credits. When you’re done playing, you get a ticket back. You can use this ticket to play other gambling machines, but you can also cash it in at various spots in the casino.

But, really – switching from gambling machines to table games is easy to do and well worth the trouble.

Conclusion

Should you make the switch from gambling machines to table games?

Unless you’re incredibly introverted and shy, yes, you probably should make the switch. There aren’t a lot of perks to table games that will make a difference to the average player.

Blackjack has been available in gambling houses since at least the 1700s. Known as Vingt-et-Un to the French back then, it quickly became one of the most popular casino games.

Fast forward to today, and you no longer have to visit land-based establishments to play. You now have other options thanks to the internet and various devices.

One method of playing blackjack even allows you to train to become a card counter! If you’re intrigued by playing blackjack in as many ways as possible, then you’ll definitely want to check out the five options presented below.

1 – Low Roller Tables in Land-Based Casinos

Blackjack got its start in brick and mortar casinos. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the game continues to be a hit in land-based casinos. Blackjack is especially popular among low rollers.

Given that many players don’t like risking a fortune, low roller tables are particularly popular.

Of course, you can always raise your bets with these games. In many cases, you’ll be able to risk a maximum of $500 per hand.

But you can also drop your wager when you’re not feeling so lucky. Smaller bets give you a stronger chance of lasting throughout the night and extending your entertainment.

2 – High Roller Tables in Land-Based Casinos

High-roller blackjack is the stuff of movies. After all, nobody ever made a film about Joey Lunchpail sitting down at a $5 table. High-roller games are featured in private areas of the casino. Only gamblers who are willing to risk $50 or more per hand can sit at these tables.

Many wealthy businesspeople and celebrities enjoy high-stakes gambling. Paris Hilton, P. Diddy, and the late Kerry Packer are among the rich and famous who’ve bet big on this game.

Packer is an especially interesting story. Before his death in 2005, the Australian media mogul regularly wagered six figures per hand.

Luckily, you don’t need to bet anywhere close to $100,000 to play at a high-stakes table. Assuming you ante up the $50 or $100 minimum, you can rub elbows with the elite.

If this amount seems like too much, then you should consider that blackjack features a low house edge. Here’s a look at your theoretical losses when playing for high stakes:

3 – Online Blackjack (Virtual)

Blackjack is a staple at online casinos. In fact, many gaming sites offer variations of blackjack, such as double exposure, switch, surrender, and Spanish 21.

Of course, online real money blackjack doesn’t compete with the land-based version in terms of atmosphere. However, it does present other notable advantages.

First off, the internet version doesn’t require that you travel anywhere. Instead, you can simply pull up a game on your smartphone, tablet, or computer whenever.

You don’t even need to risk anything when playing online. Gaming sites allow you to sample their blackjack games after you’ve created an account.

The internet version also presents more favorable rules in many cases. Thanks to these favorable rules, you’ll typically only face around a 0.5% house edge in online blackjack. Compare this to the land-based game, where the house advantage commonly ranges from 1% to 2%.

4 – Live Dealer Blackjack

As mentioned above, traditional online blackjack doesn’t quite offer the same atmosphere as land-based establishments. But you can partially remedy this by playing at a live dealer casino.

A live game takes place in a brick and mortar studio with a human dealer and real table. The studio streams the action to your device.

Therefore, you get the best of both worlds: the convenience of internet blackjack and the social aspects of the land-based version.

Speaking of the latter, you can chat with the dealer through a chat box. This element makes live dealer blackjack feel like when you’re chatting with croupiers in brick and mortar casinos.

Of course, live blackjack isn’t completely like sitting in a chair surrounded by other players. However, it’s the next best thing that you can find when playing online.

5 – Card Counting Training Program

Not every method of playing blackjack is about you competing against the dealer. You can also play this game while training for something bigger.

You’ve certainly heard about card counters. A card counter uses their skills to make long-term profits in blackjack.

Blackjack card counting actually isn’t that hard to get started with. The difficult thing, though, is maintaining an accurate count while keeping up with the game speed.

A better route is to train for the task ahead. Card counting training programs let you hone your craft before placing bets.

The great thing about counting programs is that they don’t cost a thing. All you need to do is find them through a simple Google search and start playing.

These programs flash cards on the screen. It’s your job to accurately keep the count while the virtual cards are dealt.

How to Choose Where You Play

You can see that there are plenty of options for enjoying blackjack. But where do you start? The following tips will point you in the right direction.

Consider Your Stakes

The first thing that you want to consider before playing blackjack involves the stakes. After all, you don’t want to play above your means and risk too much money at once.

You should begin by looking at your bankroll size. From here, you can form an accurate picture on what stakes you’re best suited for.

Here’s an example on figuring out how much to play for:

Based on the fact that your bankroll will theoretically last for 267 hours, you’ll be perfectly fine playing $5 stakes. You might even consider increasing your bet size.

Decide If You Want to Travel

Brick and mortar casinos arguably offer the best blackjack experience. You can head to the casino with your buddies and have a memorable evening.

However, not everybody has a casino in their backyard. Many gamblers need to drive or possibly even fly to the nearest gambling establishment.

Even if you only have a half-hour drive ahead of you, this bit of travel time can be a nuisance. It’s especially annoying when considering that you also have to park and walk for a while until reaching the blackjack tables.

You might be perfectly fine with all of this when you’re really wanting to play in a live setting. If not, though, you should consider learning how to play online blackjack.

Think About the Exact Experience You Want

All of the routes for playing blackjack covered before offer a different experience. Here are the perks behind each method of playing:

Depending upon what mood you’re in, you may want to play a different type of blackjack each time out. You might seek a high-roller experience at a brick and mortar casino one day. The next, you may just want to lay on your couch and play the game online.

Conclusion

The blackjack world has changed greatly over the past few decades. Thanks to the internet, you now have several options for playing this popular casino game.

Online casinos, live casinos, and training programs are all available over the internet. Each provides distinct advantages that make them worth considering.

Of course, you can always opt for a classic gambling experience, too. Low-roller and high-roller tables are both available in land-based casinos.

You don’t need to commit to any one style of blackjack either. Instead, you can switch things up every time that you decide to play a session.

Gambling addiction is known by multiple other names. People often refer to it as compulsive gambling or problem gambling.

The latter term, however, is actually slightly different from a gambling addiction. Problem gaming refers to a specific type of issue.

Odds are, you’re fortunate enough not to have to worry about either a gambling addiction or problem. But if you or somebody else you know struggles with gambling, then you’ll want to know the difference between the two terms.

Characteristics of Gambling Addiction

A gambling addict is somebody who bets compulsively. They don’t really think when they’re betting—they just do.

Oftentimes, an addict doesn’t feel strong emotions when they’re winning big or losing big. They just place a wagers simply to get action.

At the end of the evening, a gambling addict could go through their entire bankroll and not realize it until their last chip is gone.

Gambling addiction is the result of a deep-seeded problem. For example, somebody who suffered through trauma or has lost their house may use betting as an escape mechanism.

They might start out playing casino games, for example, because they enjoy them. Eventually, though, they’ll begin placing wagers in a mindless state.

This dilemma is particularly worrisome because the addict doesn’t even think about the potential losses. They just keep making bets out of compulsion.

Characteristics of Problem Gambling

Unlike a gambling addict, a problem gambler is aware of what they’re doing. They don’t place wagers out of compulsion but rather a specific desire.

Many problem gamblers start out making harmless wagers. But they quickly spiral downward once the losses mount.

Chasing losses might work if one has an advantage. For example, a skilled poker player or sports better could benefit by using their advantage to win back money.

But the vast majority of people don’t hold an edge when they gamble. Instead, they’re at the mercy of the casino house edge.

Here’s a common scenario that can happen when somebody pursues losses:

Aside from going after previous losses, problem gamblers also make every attempt to hide the situation. They lie to loved ones, steal money, and/or convince themselves that nothing is wrong.

As a result, those with gambling problems will fray or even lose relationships throughout their lives. They especially risk the latter when they continue violating the trust of loved ones through gambling.

What’s Worse – Gambling Addiction or Problem Gambling?

Neither a gambling problem nor addiction is desirable. Both conditions cause one to lose considerable money in the short and long run.is th

If it’s a contest between which one is worse, though, then gambling addiction wins (or loses). It causes people to gamble uncontrollably.

Somebody with a gambling addiction may have difficulty seeing their problem. They simply keep placing bets without a second thought.

Even those who aren’t addicts sometimes have trouble quitting a gambling session. An addiction makes it nearly impossible to leave the casino, stop buying lottery tickets, or stay away from the poker tables.

Of course, problem gambling brings serious challenges as well. Those suffering from a gambling problem may have more control over their situation.

However, they also struggle to contain themselves. Anybody with a problem will make every attempt to win back losses—even when dealing with negative-expectation wagers.

Given that the vast majority of betting propositions are in the negative-expectation category, problem gamblers almost always end up losing more. They sink even further into the pits when lying about their addiction and/or stealing money to continue gambling.

Is There a Cure for a Gambling Problem or Addiction?

Unfortunately, no cure-all exist for either a gambling addiction or problem. The best that one can do is take a multi-step approach when they realize they are gambling too much.

As covered in the next section, gamblers should pursue multiple steps to help themselves. Again, though, no pill or magical method exists for curing an addict.

Those who suffer from an addiction or problem may even need outside intervention. After all, they might not consider themselves to have a problem and get angry when confronted about it.

Steps to Recovery for Problem and Addicted Gamblers

Most people don’t immediately admit that they struggle with gambling and go about fixing the issue. Instead, they usually need to go through the following process.

Step 1: Admit to the Problem

Many gambling addicts fail to see that they place far too many bets. Instead, they may see their wagering as a healthy way to blow off steam.

Problem gamblers often realize that they bet too much. However, they don’t want to admit to anybody that something is wrong.

In either case, a gambler needs to recognize and accept that they have a problem. They won’t get any better if they continue betting the same as always.

Step 2: Seek Out Available Resources

Gambling addictions and problems aren’t as common as the general public may believe. In fact, only around 1.5% of those who gamble suffer from degeneracy.

But given that there are 7.7 billion people who gamble worldwide, 1.5% is a large number. A number of organizations have sprung up to treat these people.

Here’s a list of some hotlines and organizations that help people with gambling issues:

Step 3: Commit to the Process

Some gamblers start on the right path towards recovery. But somewhere along the way, they get sidetracked and stop the treatment.

Of course, the same people can always pick up where they left off. Ideally, though, one will commit to a group and/or professional help and stick with it.

Commitment is the only way that one can undertake all of the steps they need to kick a gambling problem or addiction.

Step 4: Realize the Long Journey Ahead

As mentioned above, many gamblers fall off the wagon at some point. They may visit a betting site on their phone under the guise that they’ll merely check out the Super Bowl odds. Next thing they know, they’re wagering on the game and also placing several prop bets.

Or, they could visit a casino resort for a friend‘s bachelor party. The addict might tell themselves that they’re merely at the casino for their friend. By the end of the night, though, they’re betting $50 per blackjack hand.

If avoiding gambling addiction pitfalls were easy, then it wouldn’t be such a hot topic. But it’s not an easy feat, which is why so many people struggle with this issue.

Conclusion

People will likely continue using the terms gambling addiction and problem gambling interchangeably forever. After all, these terms are relatively close in meaning.

As you can see, though, they do feature differences. Gambling addicts place bets out of compulsion and don’t have a second thought about what they’re doing.

Problem gamblers, meanwhile, are aware that they shouldn’t be betting so much. However, they continue gambling too much for one reason or another.

Neither issue is healthy. Anybody who thinks they have a gambling problem or addiction should seek outside help. Likewise, those who know a problem or compulsive gambler should try convincing them to get help.

Throughout history, casinos have taken on a number of different appearances. One thing is certain though – whether operating illegally in a dark basement or under the bright lights of Las Vegas, the appeal of possibly hitting it big has kept them in business for hundreds of years.

As gambling grew in popularity during the mid-1900s, the ultra-luxurious casinos we know today began popping up all over the globe. Today, they’re nothing short of a man-made paradise, with a few slot machines scattered about.

In this article, I’ll briefly describe the top six most opulent and extravagant casinos in the world.

1 – Marina Bay Sands (Singapore)

You’d likely recognize this iconic structure if you were to see a photo. To paint the picture, it looks like a boat suspended hundreds of feet above the ground supported by three massive towers. It truly is a sight to behold.

Aside from its striking appearance, the casino itself has a number of unique features that make it a destination for tourists across the globe. The most notable is probably the luxury hotel and rooftop infinity pool that provides breathtaking views of Singapore.

If you aren’t interested in taking a swim in the clouds, there are plenty of other amenities to keep you entertained during your stay. You can enjoy the usual attractions such as the huge casino with more than 2,300 real money slots and a mind-boggling 500 gambling tables. Or, if education is more your thing, the ArtScience museum is part of the resort as well.

If you’re looking for an international casino to put on the bucket list, Marina Bay Sands is truly one of the most amazing structures out there.

2 – Sun City (South Africa)

Most people don’t associate exotic animals with casinos, but Sun City in South Africa is changing all of that. Nestled in the beautiful landscape is an adult’s paradise that has everything you could ever ask for in a vacation.

Some other notable attractions at Sun City include a massive wave pool and a world-class golf course. And if your bankroll needs a workout, head down to the casino which has hundreds of slot machines and dozens of table games so you’ll always be able to find your lucky game.

If “African Safari” and “International Gambling Trip” are both on your list – knock them out in one place with a visit to Sun City.

3 – Bellagio (Las Vegas)

Of course Vegas was going to show up on the list! When looking at the most luxurious locations Sin City has to offer, the Bellagio in Las Vegas does not disappoint.

The first thing most visitors will notice about the hotel casino is the massive 8-acre pond/lake structure that features dancing fountains and a dazzling light show. Each night, hundreds of tourists stop by and watch as the streams of water follow along with music in what can only be described as an all-water ballet.

Once you take a step inside, you’re transported into a truly luxurious establishment that has all the trappings of a legendary resort. Built for visitors with exquisite taste, the grounds feature conservatory and botanical gardens, and even a gallery of fine art (if you’re into that kind of thing).

On the gambling side of things, the Bellagio has a reputation for being the place to play when it comes to notable poker players. In fact, many of the world’s top players refer to the casino as “The Office” due to its high limits. It’s not uncommon for a pot to include more than $1 million.

If you don’t have those kind of deep pockets, not to worry – there are plenty of other gambling attractions that could help you find your way to the main table some day in the future.

The bottom line is that if you’re someone who takes pride in enjoying the finer things in life, this establishment should be exactly what you’re looking for in a casino hotel.

4 – Casino de Monte Carlo (Monaco)

The Bellagio might be known as a high-roller destination, but there is one place that takes things to a completely different level.

Casino de Monte Carlo, located in Monaco, is arguably the most exclusive casino in the entire world.

You’ve probably seen this casino in a James Bond film, or perhaps “Ocean’s Twelve.” It’s incorporation into popular culture is easy to understand if you took a look inside the grounds. Lush gardens can be found throughout the property, marbled floors lined with massive pillars lead you in the main hall, and the gaming floor is nothing short of ornate.

Sure, you might have to save up for a decade to afford the trip, but if you can make it happen you’ll have something to brag to your gambling buddies about for the rest of your life.

5 – The Venetian (Macao)

The first thing that you’ll notice about the Venetian in Macao is its sheer size. The second largest casino in the entire world, it boasts 3,000 rooms and more than 550,000 square feet of gambling space.

If you’re an avid slot machine fan, you won’t find a better place anywhere on the globe. The most recent count has the number of machines up to 6,000. If table games are more your speed, pull up a chair at one of the more than 800 tables on the floor.

If gambling isn’t getting your juices flowing, there’s a 15,000 seat arena that hosts entertainment and sporting events on a regular basis.

If you’re thinking that the name of this casino sounds familiar, you’d be correct! Its sister casino, also named the Venetian, can be found in Las Vegas. The two have some features in common such as the canals, complete with gondolas, that guests can ride on to get the true “Venice” experience.

6 – The Kurhaus of Baden-Baden (Germany)

If you’re taking the lady along on your gambling trip, consider reserving a room the Kurhaus of Baden-Baden. This German casino, resort, and spa was built 200 years ago and has remained one of the most extravagant destinations in the world ever since.

What sets it apart from the others on the list? Most notably, the casino hasn’t always been the main attraction. This location is known not just as a spa-casino, but rather an entire “spa-town.”

Baden-Baden, which literally means bathing, has a number of beautiful salt-water baths that can be found throughout the city. One might argue that this place could be considered the relaxation capital of the world.

If you’re looking for a little more excitement than relaxation, the town also offers world-class snow skiing in the winter, as well as a beautiful golf course nearby.

For those looking for a less-conventional casino resort experience, The Kurhaus has everything you could ever ask for in a getaway.

Conclusion

Beauty, opulence, and extravagance are words that can be used to the casinos described above, and they’re an amazing destination for anyone who can appreciate the intersection of architecture and entertainment.

They certainly don’t make for a cheap vacation, but a visit to any one of these six casinos is sure to be an unforgettable experience. The best part is that there’s always a chance your good luck on the gambling floor could help take a bite of the costs associated with a trip to any of these places.

With that being said, remember there’s a reason they were able to afford all the glitz and glamour.

After the legalization of recreational marijuana in Nevada, it was only a matter of time before Las Vegas saw an influx of vendors for the well-known psychoactive drug.

Now that Las Vegas is filled with cannabis stores, many gamblers have found themselves smoking or consuming marijuana or edibles before gambling. This is a practice that at best is foolish and, at worst, can cost you some serious cash.

Here are several reasons why consuming marijuana before gambling is a bad idea.

Marijuana Slows Reaction Time

One of the biggest reasons why it’s not a good idea to consume marijuana in any form before gambling is the effect it will have on your reaction time.

Marijuana is well-known to affect reaction time, but you might be asking yourself, why does my reaction time matter in a casino? It’s a good question, and it has a right answer. Gambling in many forms requires you to move quickly and make fast decisions for a simple reason. It’s because you’re often playing with other people.

Let’s look at an example. Imagine that you’re playing craps for real money . Everyone around you has had maybe a drink or two at best, which means they’re paying attention to every roll of the dice. When bets are being made, they’re usually being made quickly. It’s a fast-paced game. And because everyone is playing together, they’re all counting on you to make your bets at the same speed they’re making their own.

That means they expect you to not only know the game and its ins and outs, but they also expect you to make your bets quickly.

If you don’t, you’re going to be the most hated guy at the table (unless you’re making a lot of don’t pass bets at the same time, which will make you even more unpopular).

Now, imagine that you’re taking your sweet time deciding what to bet because you’ve consumed too much marijuana, and your reaction times are slowed. You’re struggling to understand what’s going on and what the outcomes of each roll are.

But you still want to make your bets. You always want to participate. Everyone else is drinking a little, so they’re in a jovial mood, but also a party mood. They want fast-paced fun, and they want it now. And yet, here you are slowing their roll. You can see how this would go poorly for you. You’re a buzzkill, and that might lead to you feeling uncomfortable, to say the least.

Annoying Other Gamblers

Let’s look at another example. Suppose you walk into the casino to make some money playing poker. You sit down at the table to play some Texas Hold’em, waiting for the button to pass to you.

When you get the first hand, it takes you a while to realize the value of what you’re holding and make a decision on what to bet. Everyone who’s having a beer or three is wondering what’s taking so long. They’re already annoyed at the new guy.

But you keep being slow. You keep taking your time on every bet. Everyone else already has their bets planned out the moment the cards hit the table. They’re ready to reevaluate when other bets are made.

Let’s say you came to the casino to play some blackjack. You sit down at an empty table where it’s just you and the dealer. You’re trying to play quickly so that you can make some decent money per hour because you’ve practiced your betting strategy, your playing strategy, and card counting.

But because your reaction times are slowed, you’re finding that you have to really think for a while before you’re able to decide how you want to play or how you want to bet. You’re taking your time counting the cards. Maybe you’re confused and can’t quite count the cards the way you want to.

See the problem? No matter how you slice it, it’s not going to work out well to smoke or consume marijuana then try to gamble. You’re either self-sabotaging, or you’re outright annoying people.

The Cannabis and Gambling Industry Aren’t Exactly Friends

A continuous problem in the world of state-legalized recreational marijuana is the fact that it remains illegal at the federal level. Although many are advocating for the federal government to legalize marijuana at the federal level, it seems unlikely for the decriminalization of marijuana to occur in the near future.

You’re probably wondering why this matters. I can tell you that you only have to look at all the instances of federal raids on both medical and recreational marijuana dispensaries to understand that federal enforcement is still happening and is still a concern.

A consequence of the drug’s illegality at the federal level is that banks are hesitant to work with dispensaries because of the laws concerning money laundering and drugs. The banks are concerned that they could be considered to have laundered “drug money” if they work with these dispensaries, so they have consistently refused to work with cannabis businesses.

You can probably see where this is going. The gambling industry isn’t happy about all the marijuana shops that have sprung around Las Vegas. Many of these shops are right on the street outside the big casinos on the Strip.

Casinos are wary, to say the least, of having marijuana anywhere on their premises. It’s possible they can lose their gaming license.

While there are marijuana-friendly hotels in Las Vegas, you can’t just smoke anywhere inside a casino. The laws concerning marijuana consumption require you to be on private property.

If your room reeks of marijuana, you may be kicked out of the premises or possibly arrested and fined. Vegas casinos take this very seriously.

Marijuana Clouds Your Judgment

Even if you’ve consumed marijuana outside of a casino then gone inside to gamble, you run into another problem that is probably far worse than slow reaction times—problems with your judgment.

You could probably get away with playing a game of pure chance like roulette. Still, any casino games that requires skill, like blackjack or poker, is going to be much more challenging to play successfully with marijuana in your system.

Games like blackjack require careful judgment and a good memory. Marijuana can affect short-term memory, which is a critical piece of memory if you’re going to count cards, but it also affects your ability to make good decisions.

The wrong decision could cost you at the blackjack or poker tables.

Marijuana Causes Confusion Even in Low Doses

Another problem is not just bad judgment but complete confusion. Even at low doses, marijuana can cause confusion, depending on the individual. Confusion, even in front of a slot machine, can be a severe problem.

For example, imagine that you’re at the blackjack table, and the dealer has an ace showing. Perhaps insurance is offered, but you become confused about your own hand because you have ace nine. You end up making the wrong decision and lose some serious money.

You can see the same thing happening at the poker table. You become confused about the ranking of your poker hand and make the wrong bet, only to find out that you actually should have folded.

Conclusion

The best way to avoid the problems of mixing gambling with marijuana is to not consume marijuana at all. And if you’re already taking advantage of the free drinks on the casino floor, then it may be best to think twice about smoking or consuming edibles.

Do you have experience consuming marijuana while gambling? Do you agree or disagree with this article? Let me know in the comments.

Throughout the course of history, casinos have existed in a number of different locations ranging from underground, discreet back rooms, to massive hotels and resorts.

Still some gaming establishments have been erected in even more unusual places that make them stand out from the rest. Whether it was due to a strange gambling law or just a reason to be different, these establishments have visitors in awe of their unique qualities.

In this article, I’ll list 10 of the most interesting casinos that were built in the strangest of places.

The Puddle (Rivers Casino – Des Plaines, Illinois)

To state the obvious, governments have been enacting somewhat, for lack of a better word, stupid, gambling laws since the beginning of time. As they look to find ways to receive the financial kickbacks that a casino can provide, sometimes the legal language makes little to no sense.

One such example of this can be seen in the ‘Casino Built on a Puddle’ in Illinois. Why a puddle, you ask? Well, at the time of its creation, the law in Illinois stated that only riverboat casinos were legal. To get around this law in a creative way, the owner constructed a small pit of water to build the casino on in order to “abide” by the legislation.

In my opinion, the best part of the whole situation is the name of the establishment: Rivers Casino.

Although I have to assume that the government leaders were not thrilled, visitors have to appreciate a good legal loophole when they see one.

Airport Casino (The Holland Casino – Amsterdam Schiphol Airport)

Airports do not have the reputation of being a place that most people would choose to hang out if given the choice. However, one Amsterdam airport is looking to change all that by giving folks a reason to stick around long after their flights have landed.

While the casino might not have the full floor of games, you’d be hard-pressed to find a more entertaining place to be during a delayed flight. Come to think of it, it’s almost surprising that more airports haven’t cultivated this business opportunity.

On the Rails (X-Train Casino – LA to Las Vegas)

If you’re on the way to Las Vegas, there’s only one way to get in the mood during your travel. Start gambling en route to Sin City via the X-Train!

The luxury train, which began operating in 2011, allows travelers to get their gambling fix in during the roughly 5-hour trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. In addition to the games, the train cars also include a sports bar and restaurant.

For anyone looking to recover their lost funds on the way home, we can only hope that things work out in your favor.

And in the Sky! (AirJet Airplanes)

Can’t wait until you get there? Just like the X-Train, the AirJet casino concept is giving gamblers the opportunity to grow their bankroll before checking in for the weekend.

Now, obviously fitting a full casino floor on a little tube in the sky isn’t exactly going to be practical, but there are more than enough games to keep you occupied until touch down. Not to mention, the luxury aircraft has plenty of other amenities that will help you enjoy your flight.

VR (Still in Development)

This one might not exist just yet, but it’s in development right now and is worth taking note of for the future.

If you’re already a fan of using online casinos, this would simply be the next step up from what you’re used to. It goes beyond just the gaming experience and provides a true feeling of “being there” even when you’re not.

While they aren’t very common today, many industry experts think VR casinos are the future.

Spooky Casino (Bally’s – Las Vegas)

For all the folklore surrounding the industry, some casinos have to be haunted, right?

While there’s no way to technically prove that Bally’s Casino in Las Vegas is haunted, the stories are enough to get your heart rate going. Its reputation for being haunted stems from the fact that it was constructed upon the grounds of a casino that burned down in the 1980s.

The blaze resulted in the deaths of many patrons and some say that their souls never fully left. Although it’s a luxurious casino now, visitors have reported seeing ghosts, spirits, and other unexplainable phenomena during their stay.

If you’re looking to add a little fright to your Vegas visit, this is the place to go.

The Lower Level (The Basement Casino – North Cadbury Court)

Some casinos have a beautiful view of surrounding areas…and then there’s the Basement Casino in North Cadbury Court.

Players enjoy high stakes, low ceilings, and even a separate poker room that gives you the feel of an underground (both literally and figuratively) gambling experience that you won’t soon forget.

Underground Casino (Desert Cave Hotel – Australia)

When you hear people refer to Australia as “down under,” this casino certainly lives up to the billing. The Desert Cave Hotel was built deep underground in the rocks of the outback’s desert, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a more unique casino experience.

It has all the games you’d expect from a regular casino and one of the most notable interiors of any casino you’ll find anywhere.

Gaming Behind Bars (State Prison, Nevada)

Gambling is certainly not unheard of in prisons across the world. I mean, they do have quite a bit of time to kill.

How did that experiment work out? Surprisingly well actually! Prisoners were able to play games from blackjack to craps, and could even place a wager on sports events. It was thought the somewhat-regulated nature of the casino eliminated the need for the violence associated with underground gambling operations.

Ice Cold Casino (Base Esperanza – Antarctica)

Perhaps the most difficult casino on this list to enjoy, the gaming establishment set up at Base Esperanza in Antarctica provides entertainment for those who have made the trek to one of the most remote destinations on planet Earth.

Who is responsible for building such a thing? The answer would be the Argentinian research team, whom I imagine found the endless, freezing temperatures a bit of a drag.

If at any point you make the trip to the world’s least-inhabited content, I hope you pay this place a visit and test your luck.

Conclusion

There you have it – the list of some of the most unique gambling establishments in the entire world! Now that you’ve read about casinos located deep in the ground to high in the sky, it’s time to plan your next gambling trip and start checking off the list.

Regardless of where you go, if you choose any of the locations I’ve laid out here, you’re sure to have one of the most memorable gambling experiences of your lifetime.

Online bingo has become quite popular for multiple reasons, including its convenience, large game variety, and bonuses. Regarding the latter, you can look forward to different types of bonuses.

Many sites offer a deposit bonus as soon as you fund your account. These deals match a percentage of your first deposit.

An even more-popular offer is a bingo no deposit bonus. The latter is notable because it gives you a chance to win free money.

Few things are free in the online bingo world. That said, you’ll definitely want to learn more about no deposit bonuses in this guide.

Basics of a No Deposit Bonus

Many online bingo bonuses require you to make a deposit. If they site’s minimum deposit is $10, then you’ll need to fund your account with at least $10 to qualify for an offer.

Of course, these deals are worthwhile if you’ll be playing internet bingo anyways. But they also force you to assume some risk.

A no deposit offer differs in this regard. It doesn’t require you to deposit anything to qualify. You simply need to complete registration to get a bonus.

Here’s an example:

Online bingo rooms don’t let you withdraw no deposit funds immediately. Otherwise, they’d see a slew of players registering just to get free money.

However, bingo sites do give you an opportunity to collect free money after meeting terms and conditions. I’ll cover more on the terms behind these deals later.

How Do You Get Bingo No Deposit Bonuses?

If you’re brand new to no deposit offers, you may need some help in this department. The following steps will help you get your bonus with no hassles.

Step 1: Find a Site With a No Deposit Offer

Unfortunately, most bingo sites don’t offer no deposit bonuses. This fact comes as a little surprise when considering that internet bingo rooms aren’t known for their generosity.

Nevertheless, you can still find no deposit deals by spending time looking for them. Many bingo no deposit bonuses range in value from $10 to $20.

Of course, just because a bingo site features a no deposit offer doesn’t mean that you should rush to play. Instead, you might consider reading reviews on different sites that offer these deals. This way, you’ll know if a bingo room is worth playing at beyond the bonus.

Step 2: Register for an Account

Online bingo rooms require you to sign up before playing. They feature signup prompts on their homepage to help you get started as quickly as possible.

The registration process asks for basic information, such as the following:

When finished with registration, you need to agree to the bingo operator’s terms and conditions. You finish by submitting your account for approval, which should come instantly.

Step 3: Enter the Appropriate Bonus Code

Many bingo sites with no deposit bonuses require you to enter a bonus code during registration. This code informs the operator which deal you want to qualify for.

The registration form should clearly indicate where you enter such codes. After inputting the code and signing up for account, you’ll qualify for the relevant no deposit bonus.

Meet Terms and Conditions Before Cashing Out

Again, bingo operators don’t let you take no deposit funds and run. They expect you to play for the money before making a withdrawal.

These sites require you to satisfy terms and conditions first. Here are common terms that you’ll come across in the bingo world:

These are just general terms that you’ll come across in the bingo industry. You should always read bonus terms and conditions at the specific site you’re dealing with. Doing so ensures that you don’t miss any terms that could jeopardize your deal.

Pros & Cons of Bingo No Deposit Bonuses

Pros

You can get off to a great start at a new bingo room by taking advantage of casino bonuses. The latter provides a unique opportunity to earn money without spending anything.

You simply need to sign up for an account and use the proper bonus code to qualify. Afterward, you must meet rollover and other T&Cs before withdrawing the money.

Here’s an example on satisfying rollover:

No deposit bonuses provide a straightforward process. You should have little trouble completing registration and qualifying for available offers.

Perhaps the best part about a no deposit offer is that you assume no financial risk. Even if you fail to earn any money from a deal, you walk away having risked none of your own funds.

Cons

Some bingo players look at no deposit deals as free money. However, these offers aren’t technically free cash until terms and conditions have been met.

Sometimes, you may satisfy rollover only to find that you don’t have enough funds for the minimum cashout. In this case, you need to deposit just to meet the minimum withdrawal and get your meager winnings.

This aspect leads to another downside in that your chances of winning big with no deposit bonuses are slim. Even if you do win big, your earnings are capped.

Is a Bingo No Deposit Bonus Worth the Trouble?

Not everything regarding bingo no deposit offers is perfect. You actually have to earn the money by satisfying each term.

Even when you do meet T&Cs, you probably won’t walk away with significant winnings. Therefore, you may wonder if it’s even worth pursuing these deals.

Your situation will dictate whether no deposit offers are ultimately worth the time. If you’re a low roller who’s looking for free cash, then you should definitely go for as many of these deals as possible.

A no deposit bonus doesn’t require you to do anything other than register and play. If you manage to satisfy rollover and other terms, you’ll collect free funds.

On the other hand, you might be a mid or high roller who’s looking to play for serious prizes, right away. In this case, you might not bother with a tiny no deposit deal.

Assuming you’re like many other bingo players, then you play for low stakes and have a limited budget. That said, you should certainly consider no deposit offers.

What Other Types of Bingo Bonuses Are Available?

No deposit deals aren’t the only way to score free money through online bingo. In fact, the following offers are actually much more common.

Deposit Bonus

A bingo deposit bonus matches a percentage of your deposit up to a certain amount. Here’s an example:

The catch with deposit offers is that you need to fund your account and risk money when meeting T&Cs. The upside, though, is that you stand to earn more cash on average through these deals.

Reload Bonus

A reload bonus is simply a deposit bonus that’s available to existing customers. In contrast to a welcome deposit offer, which is only available to new players, it gives existing players an opportunity to earn extra money.

Cashback

Many bingo rooms feature VIP programs that see you accumulate loyalty points. You can exchange these points for cashback.

The latter allows you to recoup some of the money you spend playing different kinds of bingo games. You might even receive a higher cashback rate by moving up in a loyalty program.

Conclusion

Bingo no deposit bonuses are simple to understand. You can get started with them just by signing up for an account and using the relevant bonus code.

Afterward, you need to understand and satisfy the T&Cs. Anything you have left over from these bonuses is yours to keep or cash out (if it meets the minimum withdrawal).

You probably won’t win much, if anything, from a bingo no deposit bonus. Then again, you always stand the chance of netting a significant payout and boosting your bankroll.

Not only is New Zealand one of the most beautiful places in the entire world, but it’s also home to a unique gambling culture.

The tale of gambling history and where New Zealand gambling culture is today is a compelling one, to say the least. It involves the influence of European settlers intermixed with the culture of indigenous New Zealanders.

Here are three significant facts about the history and current gambling climate in New Zealand.

Europeans Brought Horse Racing and Gambling to New Zealand

When European settlers landed in New Zealand, they brought with them their love for horse betting and playing cards.

In 1835, at Bay Islands, the first bets were made on a horse race in New Zealand. Early horse races in New Zealand were held at the military garrison in Auckland. Meetings were held by soldiers at Onehunga and Auckland where they used their own horses to race while officers played the role of officials at these events.

January 5^th, 1841 marks the date of a meeting at Epsom that was held by citizens of Manukau and Auckland. Between 1842 and 1849, officers of the militia controlled the races at Auckland. Also, in January of 1841, the first anniversary of Wellington was celebrated and a hurdle race took place on day 3 of the anniversary celebration. Henry Petre won this race riding his own horse named Calmuc Tartar.

On October 20^th of 1842, there was a meeting on Peyton Beach that ended with Calmuc Tartar losing to an imported horse named Figaro. This was a 10-guinea sweepstake run that was over a mile and a half.

At the first anniversary of the settlement of Nelson, there was a hurdle race that was significant in the establishment of horse racing in New Zealand. Four miles from Nelson, there was a horse racing course in Stoke where Thoroughbreds were imported for breeding and racing. The first race at this course took place on February 3^rd, 1845.

Another significant event was a meeting in Wanganui that took place on December 28^th, 1848, where militia officers organized a big horse race which was also significant to the introduction of horse racing in New Zealand.

On July 12^th, 1883, the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club set up a subcommittee which consisted of Captain W.R. Russell (who became the very first president of the Racing Conference), C.B. Winter, and R.U. Burke.

The objective of the subcommittee was to establish the New Zealand Racing Association, which would put uniform rules in place. Turf registration, registration of colors, and the publishing of a race calendar were also suggestions made by this subcommittee.

The 1980s Were a Pivotal Time for the Gambling Industry in New Zealand

Economic reforms in the 1980s led to a period of liberalization of regulatory and marketing regimes.

During this period, restraints on gambling were lifted and thus, the stage was set for the beginnings of a booming gambling industry in New Zealand.

The first electronic gambling machines were introduced to New Zealand in 1991. These caught on rather quickly and were very popular at places with liquor licenses such as clubs and bars.

In that first year alone, these machines made up about 19% of the gambling spent in New Zealand. Although this all seems well and good, it led to gambling becoming a normalized part of modern life in New Zealand, which led to an uptick of problem gamblers among the populace.

Up to this point, mainly older men made up the portion of the population that could be called problem gamblers. However, during this time of lifting restrictions, New Zealand began to see younger citizens and women start to develop patterns of problem gambling.

So, people were seeking help and treatment for their addiction and services that address problem gambling. Programs were funded through an organization known as the Problem Gambling Committee. They also track how many people use these services.

In this way, they are able to assess the severity of problem gambling in New Zealand. In recent years, it seems more older individuals are gambling away their life savings on the use of electronic gaming machines.

Also, in the 1980s, lotteries were introduced in New Zealand. And, in 1987, the New Zealand Lotteries Commission was established. Aside from the original lotto, New Zealand now has daily keno, a lotto variant by the name of Big Wednesday and Instant Kiwi scratch cards.

Starting in 2008, Lotto tickets could be bought via the internet. Lotto continues to be very popular and a part of daily life in modern New Zealand.

There Are Currently Six Land-Based Casinos in New Zealand

Just like many other places around the world, online gambling is on the rise in New Zealand.

Sure, online gambling is extremely convenient and allows you to play some fun casino games in the luxury of your own home on your personal computer or mobile device. But no matter how good the graphics are on a particular online casino, you are never going to get the experience a real live casino gives you.

Land-based casinos are pretty new in New Zealand, and there are currently only six of them; however, you can be assured that they are top-notch.

SKYCITY Entertainment Group owns most of these casinos and has been a major player in the gambling industry of New Zealand since 1996. They cater to Asian tourists, as they make up the majority of gamblers that come to New Zealand looking to try their luck inside a real casino.

The very first casino to open in New Zealand was Christchurch Casino in 1994. Close to Christchurch Airport, the Christchurch Casino is open 24 hours a day and is home to the New Zealand Poker Championships.

In the city of Dunedin is the Dunedin Casino. This is a pretty small casino but nonetheless provides top-notch service. There are close to 200 slot machines and great table games which include baccarat, Tai Sai, roulette, and a money wheel.

Another 24-hour casino is SKYCITY Auckland which is located at the bottom of the SKYCITY Hotel in Auckland. With eight bars and nine restaurants, the SKYCITY Auckland also has two hotels that feature more than 300 rooms. Within this casino complex is also a swimming pool, a theatre, a health club, and a convention center.

On the gambling floor, there are over 1500 slot machine games and over 100 table games that include roulette, poker, blackjack, and baccarat. SKYCITY Auckland was actually the second casino built in New Zealand.

SKYCITY Queenstown is open from noon to 4 AM daily. Along with 12 table games and over 80 slot machines, there is also a hotel and an excellent restaurant at SKYCITY Queenstown. This was the fourth casino to be opened in New Zealand.

In Hamilton, you will find the SKYCITY Hamilton that is open from Sunday to Wednesday, 9 AM to 3 AM. For extended gaming action, they’re open 9 AM to 5 AM from Thursday to Saturday. As far as games go, there is an 80-seat bingo hall, over 20 table games, and over 300 slot machines. SKYCITY Hamilton resides within Hamilton’s Riverside Entertainment Centre and also features a 10-lane bowling alley.

Conclusion

Whether you want to visit great casinos or just simply play real money slots (also known as “pokies”), New Zealand has no shortage of options when it comes to gambling.

New Zealanders love to gamble and as the world of online gambling gains popularity, New Zealand will have to find ways in which it can be successfully be regulated.

As of now, New Zealanders are gambling online via sites that are not based in the country.

Did you enjoy reading about the history and current gambling climate in New Zealand? If so, let me know in the comments below.

Like other businesses, casinos are enforcing various policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. For starters, they’re operating at limited capacity to help stop the virus from spreading.

Casinos also require gamblers to wear masks on the gambling floor. Facemasks are supposed to prevent people from spreading the coronavirus through the air.

But if you’ve ever had to wear a mask at work or elsewhere for prolonged time periods, you know how irritating they can be. You may even wonder if masks have health consequences.

After all, it’s harder to breathe through cloth than without it. You might also worry about the fact that you could be taking in recycled air as well.

Assuming there are health consequences, will they impact your gambling results and make you lose money? I’ll answer this question by looking at two sides of the equation along with if masks ultimately hurt your gambling.

Some Experts Claim That Wearing Masks Have No Consequences

A popular circulating opinion regarding masks is that they cause you to get less oxygen and breathe in extra carbon dioxide (CO2). This thought makes sense when considering that cloth restricts both inhaling and exhaling to some degree.

According to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), though, none of these beliefs are true. You’re not going to breathe dangerous levels of CO2 or pass out at the casino table from a lack of oxygen.

“Prolonged use of any face mask, including the N95 respirator, has not been shown to cause carbon dioxide toxicity or lack of adequate oxygen in healthy people,” the VUMC explains.

The only time that you truly need to worry during long gambling sessions with a mask is if you have a pre-existing condition.

“For some persons with severe chronic lung disease, wearing a mask may make breathing more difficult,” the website notes, “but not because of CO2 retention.

Remember, many nurses and doctors wear mask for long periods throughout the day. They wouldn’t do so if masks caused them to get lightheaded and potentially mess up during a surgery.

Based on this view, you don’t really need to worry about playing poorly in the casino just because you’re wearing a mask. Instead, some health experts suggest that you’ll be just fine.

Others Claim that Masks Can Cause Problems

I’ve presented one side of the story on playing at land-based casinos with a mask on. But not every medical professional agrees that you’ll be perfectly okay when wearing masks for prolonged time periods.

Antonio I. Lazzarion, an MD and Epidemiologist at the University College London, warns the public that a mask can eventually lead to infection.

“Wearing a face mask makes the exhaled air go into the eyes,” says Lazzarion. “This generates an uncomfortable feeling and an impulse to touch your eyes. If your hands are contaminated, you are infecting yourself.”

But one thing you may not be able to avoid is the breathing difficulties that face masks cause. This is especially true if you have a medical condition.

“For people with COPD (causes decreased airflow in people), face masks are in fact intolerable to wear as they worsen their breathlessness,” Lazzarion points out.

“Moreover, a fraction of carbon dioxide previously exhaled is inhaled at each respiratory cycle. Those two phenomena increase breathing frequency and deepness, and hence they increase the amount of inhaled and exhaled air.”

A person with COPD or any other breathing problem not only puts themselves at risk by wearing a mask. They also increase the risk that others will contract the virus through their increased inhaled and exhaled air.

Will a Mask Ultimately Affect Your Gambling Skills?

The first thing that you should ask yourself regarding gambling with a mask on is if you have a medical condition. If so, then you’re going to struggle at the slot machines and tables.

As indicated by both VUMC and Dr. Lazzarion, a mask makes breathing more difficult. Furthermore, it intensifies the ill effects of your condition. It can even cause you to infect more people if you have COVID-19.

That said, you should definitely stay away from brick-and-mortar casinos for the time being. Otherwise, you’re going to suffer more breathing troubles and have difficulty focusing on the games at hand.

In contrast, you don’t need to worry about a mask if you’re perfectly healthy. You may find the cloth to be restrictive or even irritating, but you’ll still get enough oxygen to the brain.

Of course, even healthy individuals may hate the discomfort and thought of wearing a mask. In these cases, you could be impacted psychologically and do worse in the casino.

As long as this isn’t the case, though, you’ll be perfectly fine when gambling at brick-and-mortar establishment. Rumors that masks cause you to breathe in too much recycled CO2 are just that—rumors.

What to Do If You Hate Wearing a Mask or Have a Medical Condition

If you’re among the majority of gamblers who don’t suffer from a breathing problem, then you should have no trouble gambling at land-based casinos.

On the other hand, you want to seek out alternative options if you have a medical condition and/or simply hate breathing through cloth. Here are some other options available outside of brick-and-mortar venues.

Play Online Casino Games

Online casinos have served as a suitable alternative to land-based casinos for well over two decades. They give you the opportunity to play slots and virtual table games from basically anywhere.

Internet casinos are even more popular thanks to the rise of smartphones. Now, you can quickly pull your phone out of your pocket and play games.

The average online casino features hundreds of slots along with plenty of table games too. That said, you’ll have no shortage of options when playing at gaming sites.

As an added bonus, you don’t even need to risk money right away. Instead, you can register for an account and begin enjoying free online casino games.

This gives you an opportunity to try the game selection before actually making a deposit. After all, you don’t want to go through a lengthy deposit process, only to discover that you’re not a big fan of a particular site.

Play Live Dealer Casino Games

Perhaps regular internet casino games don’t satisfy your gaming urge. If so, you might want to visit the live dealer gaming section of an online casino.

A live casino offers the closest thing to social interaction that you’ll experience online. It streams action from a land-based gaming studio to your smartphone or computer.

Therefore, you get to enjoy the sights and sounds of a casino atmosphere without leaving home. You can also look forward to chatting with the dealer and fellow gamblers through the chat box.

If you’re looking to test the live dealer gaming waters, you can often times pick up a free bet after depositing. A free bet gives you a chance to win back losses stemming from your first (losing) live wager.

Enjoy Cards with Friends Safely

One more option involves getting together with some buddies and playing cards. Assuming you have friends who enjoy poker and aren’t worried about social distancing, then you can gamble live from home.

Sure, sitting at your kitchen table may not inspire visions of the Bellagio. But you may have even more fun since your friends will be involved.

The best part is that no employees will be enforcing social distancing or mask policies. Instead, your friend group sets the rules—or lack thereof.

Conclusion

A mask won’t directly affect your gambling skills, because it doesn’t usually have any negative health consequences. Therefore, you don’t need to worry about losing more money due to masks.

The only times that you really have to worry is if you have a breathing problem (e.g. COPD) or are irritated by a mask. A breathing condition may cause a panic attack or even leave you requiring medical assistance.

The irritation can occur through exhaled air going into your eyes. A mask could also simply be uncomfortable and create a psychological barrier between gambling success.

In summary, you’ll probably do just fine when playing at land-based casinos during the pandemic. However, you should also consider alternatives if you’re affected by a mask in any way.

What’s the difference between rich gamblers and poor gamblers?

And what’s the difference between people who build wealth when they’re gambling and people who get poorer while gambling?

This post looks at that difference so you can decide which category you fall into.

It’s Hard to Get Rich Gambling

I used to own a bookstore, and I like to tell people the secret to winding up with a small fortune after owning a bookstore for five years:

Start with a larger fortune.

The same humor applies toward most gamblers and most gambling.

If you’re the average recreational gambler, you’re going to lose money over time. That’s just how it works, regardless of whether you’re a casino gambler, a poker player, a sports bettor, or all three.

But even if you’re that rarest of breeds – an advantage gambler – it’s easy to go broke as a gambler.

The experts gave Donald Trump only a 30% probability of winning the 2016 presidential election, but if you bet on Hillary Clinton, you saw what a run of bad luck really means.

The same holds true for any sporting event you can think of. There’s an upset every Sunday.

If your bankroll is small, you stand the risk of going broke even if the odds are in your favor all the time. It just takes a short string of bad luck to lose all your money.

That’s why it’s easier for rich people to get ahead as advantage gamblers – they have enough money to avoid going broke before their long-term mathematical advantage kicks in.

Rich Gamblers Get Different Treatment From the Casinos

If you want an eye-opening account of what it’s like to be a rich gambler in a casino, check out a book called Whale Hunt in the Desert: The Secret Las Vegas Of Superhost Steve Cyr by Deke Castleman.

It’s the story of Steve Cyr, the most revered casino host in Las Vegas. As a casino host, he caters to the biggest whales – the richest gamblers. You’ll be amazed at the kind of treatment big gamblers get at the casino compared to the rank and file working class gamblers like you and I get.

Unlike many of the books I recommend, Whale Hunt in the Desert doesn’t offer you any kinds of tips to make you a better gambler who wins more often. It’s just a look into the side of the business that makes literally almost anything available to casino gamblers who are willing to bet life-changing sums of money on a single hand of blackjack or a single roll of the dice in craps.

It Is Possible to Get Rich Gambling

You can get rich gambling in different ways. The easiest but least likely way is to get really lucky and win the lottery or hit a progressive jackpot. The problem with that approach is that you’re more likely to get struck by lightning than you are to win the lottery or a progressive jackpot. Most people who play regularly their entire lives just lose the money they’re wagering on such games.

Most professional gamblers might as well be actuaries or accountants for all the excitement they get out of their chosen profession.

And I have some friends I’m close with who are accountants. Lively, exciting people they are not.

How to Get Rich Counting Cards in Blackjack

One of the only casino games where you can get an edge over the casino is blackjack.

But it’s not enough to just play every hand correctly. That’s a good first step, but you need more than just the mathematically best way to play every hand in every situation.

That’s called being a “basic strategy” player, and it minimizes the house edge.

But it doesn’t eliminate the house edge or put the math in your favor.

To get a mathematical edge at blackjack, you need some kind of advantage play technique. The most common way to get an edge at blackjack is to learn how to count cards.

That adds up.

The more you’re able to wager per hand, the faster you can make your fortune in blackjack by counting cards.

But you need a big enough bankroll that you can avoid going broke because of a streak of bad luck before your edge kicks in.

You can learn to count cards from any number of books on the subject. Look for something by Sanford Wong or Arnold Snyder. It’s easier than you think, and no, you don’t need to memorize an entire deck of cards. (Even that’s easier than most people think. It just requires some focus and attention.)

How to Get Rich by Becoming an Expert Poker Player

Most real money poker players wildly overestimate how good they are at playing. If you truly want to get rich playing poker, you need to start by keeping careful records of how much you’re winning and/or losing in the long run.

I read somewhere that you know you’re a serious poker player when you start keeping written records. That’s easy. Just by a spiral notebook, write down what you started with at the beginning of each session, how long you played, and how much you wound up with. You can subtract one from the other to find out how much you won or lost.

And you can divide the amount of time you spent at the table by your loss or your win and calculate your win or loss rate per hour.

In the short run, this won’t accurately reflect how good you are at poker.

But as you gain data, you’ll start to see a long-term pattern for how much you’re winning or losing per hour.

There’s more to playing winning poker than just keeping records, though.

That’s critical, but there’s a lot more to learn.

You should constantly be reading books about how to improve and watching videos. You might consider investing in some coaching or mentoring, too.

95% of the player at the table are losing money in the long run.

If you want to be profitable – if you want to be in the top 5% — you’re going to have to put in the effort.

How to Get Rich as a Sports Bettor

I suspect that the 95% to 5% ratio of losing sports bettors to winning sports bettors is also accurate. I’m not as sure about that number as I am the poker number, but I am convinced that most sports bettors are losing money in the long run.

How do you turn that around and become a winning sports bettor?

If you have the discipline to only take those bets you think are mathematically in your favor, you’re well on your way to profitability already.

The other trick is to come up with some strategies and systems for choosing winners that will overcome the book’s vig. You need to win 52.4% of your bets just to break even because of the vig.

51% won’t cut it.

You’re still losing money at that rate.

Getting Into the Biz

Of course, the surest way to get rich as a gambler is to own the casino. You don’t have to worry much about the odds being in your favor when you own the casino because that’s how the games are designed.

Owning a big Las Vegas casino is beyond the means of most people, though. But even if you only own a gas station or a neighborhood bar, casino style gambling is something you can offer.

Just be wary of the gambling regulations where you live.

I’m in Texas, and every bar and convenience store in the state has slot machines, but none of them are operating entirely legally. They seem to get away with it, but it will be a drag when that ends.

Other states are probably more draconian in their enforcement of gambling regulations.

This doesn’t mean you can’t get rich from the gambling business unless you own your own business.

You can also go to work in a casino in various capacities and get rich the old-fashioned way – keep your expenses below your income and save the difference.

After that, the power of compound interest will make you rich.

You just have to wait.

Conclusion

If you want to be a rich gambler, it helps to start off being wealthy in the first place.

If you want to make your fortune gambling, blackjack, poker, or sports betting is the way to go.

But 95% of the gamblers who play those games lose money.

Gambling isn’t an easy or sure route to riches, but it can be a lot of fun.

My goal with this post is to enable you to understand the psychology of gambling well enough that you can start taking control of your gambling hobby. The idea is to become a winner, and that starts in the mind. I’m convinced that almost everyone has a winner inside, and the trick is to find the code to unlock that winner.

And my hope is that this post will set you off down the road to awakening the winner within.

Winning at Gambling Is About Good Habits Versus Bad Habits

Consistency is everything.

I’ve written before about the differences between gambling with a positive expectation versus gambling with a negative expectation, but here’s the deal:

This means if you’re an expert poker player, and you need a change of pace, don’t go blowing your money at the roulette table. If you need a change of pace, learn to count cards and go win money at the blackjack table instead.

It does you no good to book five small winning sessions if you just blow it on your 6^th gambling session.

Your State of Mind Has to Do With Your Behavior and Decisions

I’m not as big a believer in trying to manage your state of mind as some success gurus like Tony Robbins are. Robbins seems to think you should try to control your mental state all the time, learning to associate painful emotions with stuff you don’t want to do and feel-good emotions with stuff you do want to do.

I’ve also done a lot of work with a therapist who says there’s no such thing as a negative emotion. I know what she means, but I still don’t enjoy grief.

Cognitive behavioral therapy works from the supposition that if you change your thoughts, your behaviors will change, too. After all, before you do anything, you have some kind of thought that leads you to that decision.

How does all this apply to gambling?

Mostly it just means you should pay attention to your state of mind when you’re embarking on a gambling session. If you’re feeling depressed or tired, maybe you shouldn’t be at the blackjack table. It’s easier to make a bad decision when you’re in a bad state of mind.

You might be able to psyche yourself up occasionally, but it might also be good to just feel your feelings and avoid gambling when you’re feeling bad.

Winners at Gambling Play by Their Own Rules

I don’t mean you get to make up the rules to blackjack as you go along.

Instead, I’m suggesting that you have your own rules for your behavior in gambling situations.

Here’s an example:

My friend Drunk Gary has a rule when he’s playing blackjack for real money. When he has a hunch, he listens to it. A lot of gamblers have that rule.

I have a different rule when I play blackjack. I ignore all my hunches and stick with basic strategy.

You might have a rule that you only play blackjack when a single-deck version is available, and you deviate from basic strategy whenever the count says that it’s appropriate. (I’m not talking about Count Dracula, here – I’m talking about people who count cards. The count is just a measure of how many high cards are left in the deck.)

Other people have rules they follow for how much money they’re willing to lose before calling it a day, while others have win goals that signal that it’s time to quit. I know some gamblers who stay in a game as long as the math is positive expectation for them. They only quit when they’re too tired to continue to win money.

Raise Your Standards Everywhere in Your Gambling Life

It’s easy to have low standards as a gambler. For example, you might think it’s no big deal to put $100 into a slot machine once in a while.

That’s not a winning decision, though.

Real gambling winners only make positive expectation bets, and you can’t get a positive expectation on a slot machine no matter what you’ve read on the internet.

That little $100 losing session is the kind of leak you need to plug if you’re really going to win at gambling consistently.

You also want to raise your standards for what kinds of bets you’re willing to make. If you insists on only gambling when the odds are in your favor, you’ll eventually become a winner just because of the math behind the games.

Here’s an example:

Drunk Gary loves to play blackjack, and he visits a casino in Las Vegas that offers $5 blackjack. But this game has a 6/5 payout for a natural. Gary doesn’t care. He just wants to stay in action.

On the other hand, I refuse to play ANY blackjack game with a 6/5 payout. My standards are higher than that. I’d rather not play than play such an inferior game.

Changing that payout adds 1.5% to the house edge, which makes any edge you might get counting cards null and void.

Losing Is Painful, and Winning Is Pleasurable

Losers just like being in action. They don’t associate losing with pain or winning with pleasure.

That’s an important distinction to make. You’ll see “slot zombies” losing money hand over fist enjoying (if you can call it that) a day in front of the one-armed bandits.

But I have a more important distinction for you:

If you get all your chips in the middle of the table before the flop when you have pocket aces, you’ve done great – even if you lose the hand.

That’s because you’ve made a good decision that will result in long-term winnings.

You just have to stay in the game long enough.

Winning Consistently Requires a Big Commitment

Imagine never playing real money slots again.

Does that sound like a big commitment?

Now imagine spending 40 hours a month reading poker books for the next year.

That’s a big commitment, too, right?

These are the kinds of commitments winning gamblers make as a matter of course throughout the year.

You must become committed to learning how to make sensible decisions consistently.

Then you have to become so dedicated to doing so that you never make bad decisions when gambling.

That’s a commitment that makes marriage pale in comparison.

Winning at Gambling Isn’t About Luck

When casinos that are part of a publicly-traded company discuss earnings, they don’t have the option of explaining that they just had a run of bad luck during the last quarter. They must justify their earnings based on how they’ve managed the business.

Casinos are consistently profitable for two reasons:

Being a winning gambler – at least doing so consistently – means finding a way to flip that mathematical edge in your favor.

Getting lucky just isn’t good enough unless you get lucky once early in your gambling career and quit forever.

Einstein said that compound interest is the most powerful force in the universe, but when it comes to gambling, expectation is the most powerful force in the universe.

The two are closely related, anyway.

If you can remember that luck happens but isn’t what makes you a winner, you stand a chance at winning in the casino.

Conclusion

How do you awaken the winner within?

You need to examine your belief systems about gambling and change them.

When those belief systems change, your behavior will change, too.

Winners take different actions from losers, and you want to learn how to take those actions and do so consistently.

South Africa has a rich history that is full of ups and downs. As far as gambling is concerned, it has been mostly restricted or outlawed all together until recent years.

With the gambling world treading new ground because of the rising popularity of online gambling, South Africa is in on the action without missing a beat.

Here are three interesting facts about the history and current gambling climate in South Africa that you might want to know.

1 – Restrictions on Gambling in South Africa Since 1673

Since 1673, there have been serious restrictions on any sort of gambling in South Africa.

South Africa’s Gambling Act of 1965 completely eliminated all forms of gambling with the exception of making bets on horse racing.

However, in 1965, leaders of the Bophuthatswana, Ciskei, Transkei, and Venda tribes decided to permit casino gambling in their territories. Then, the leaders of the Bantustan signed the first casino-related contract in South Africa with Holiday Inn and Southern Sun.

In 1983, Sol Kerzner, an owner of the Southern Sun company, sold his shares and set up the casino enterprise of Sun International. Within the next seven years, Sol Kerzner gained control of all 18 homeland gambling licenses.

How the Southern Sun company was going to be taxed became of paramount importance to local South African leaders. Once Sol Kerzner decided to accept the terms of a very steep tax, Sun International was recognized as the top gambling company in South Africa.

In fact, it was the only gambling company in South Africa, thus, creating a monopoly, as Sun International became the only legal gambling enterprise in South Africa. Sun International was highly criticized for bringing in many workers from Europe to man their casinos instead of hiring South Africans to do the job. They did however eventually employ more South Africans.

And in 1994, Democratic reforms were enacted and gambling as a whole was legalized. The National Gambling Act in 1996 forged a path for a national lottery and licensed casinos. In 2004, another Gambling Act came into existence that repealed the 1996 Gambling Act and in 2008, The National Gambling Amendment Act was introduced.

So, as you see, the development of gambling in South Africa is rather recent.

2 – The National South African Lottery Is Extremely Popular

On March 11^th, 2000, South Africa introduced its National Lottery. On the first day tickets were available, more than 800,000 were sold. The National Lottery was operated by Uthingo.

In November of 2003, a supplementary weekly lottery was introduced in addition to the weekly draw that started in March of 2000. The Lotto Plus game was able to be purchased on a primary ticket for a fee of one South African Rand.

Starting in 2007, the Gidani consortium was chosen to be the operator of the National Lottery for seven years. After some legal back and forth, and after the Gidani consortium losing this status for a few months, they were again awarded it in September of 2007.

Ticket sales resumed in October of 2007 and within the first three hours, 200,000 tickets were sold. The traditional Lotto in South Africa is much like other places around the globe.

Playing the lottery involves choosing six numbers ranging from 1 to 52 and a “Quick Pick” option is available for players that don’t want to think about choosing numbers. Five of 52 numbered balls are chosen during the lottery and, in addition to these balls, a bonus ball is drawn. However, this bonus ball only affects the outcome of a player who has matched all of the previous five selected numbers.

Players that match at least three balls will win some money and if a player matches more than three, the amount of money that a player wins increases.

If multiple players match all six numbers, then they split the jackpot evenly. If all six numbers are not matched by any individual, then the jackpot amount is added to the jackpot of the next lottery drawing. Wednesdays and Saturdays are when the draws take place.

In recent years, the game has been changed so players can now pick main numbers between 1 and 50. Another recent change was that if players only matched the PowerBall, they would now win something. At the inception of the game, just having a PowerBall match awarded the player nothing.

On November 28^th of 2015, PowerBall PLUS came into existence, which gives players an additional chance to win. EAZiWIN are digital scratch-off cards offered by the National Lottery, offering another way for players to try their luck at a lotto game.

3 – Casinos for Every Budget Are Available

Whether you are a high roller or not, South Africa has a casino for you. Let’s take a look at three casinos in South Africa; one for high rollers, one for the person on a medium-sized budget, and a low-budget option.

Within Pilanesberg National Park is the Cascades Casino Resort. Within the resort is the Sun City Casino, and it is open 24 hours a day. With more than 40 table games and around 1,000 slots, this 5,000-square-foot casino is one of the most beautiful casinos in the world.

MVG is the loyalty club available at the Sun City Casino. Being a member of this club gets you access to a private poker room, various table games, and high roller slots in the VIP Lounge.

With 243 guest rooms, each guest can enjoy a whirlpool tub in their bathroom and also the convenience of a kitchenette. As a guest of the hotel, you will also get access to a gym, a pool complex, and a nightclub.

This casino has more table games than any other casino in all of Africa as well as one of the best poker rooms in existence, and it is open around the clock. Omaha and Texas Hold ‘em are the most common forms of poker played there.

You will want to book a room in advance as there are only around 170 of them available and they usually get booked months in advance.

Some of the great restaurant options include Jackson Hall, Hanover Street, Alibama Sports Bar, Food Court at GrandWest Casino, The Coffee Shop, Bella Gina, Bukhara, Silver Dollar Spur at GrandWest Casino and Entertainment World, and Quarterdeck Restaurant among others.

The Emerald Resort and Casino is perfect for those on a low budget. Rooms go for about $70 USD a night, and even though this casino is not as expensive as the others, you will still have an excellent gaming experience.

Even though the casino floor is only 32,000 square feet, there are many gaming options available within this space. With 600 gaming machines, 21 casino table games, and a poker room, you will have no problem finding a game that tickles your fancy.

You can take a river cruise or go on a mini safari at the River Resort facility that is on-site. Houseboats can also be rented right next to this location on the beautiful Vaal River.

Conclusion

South Africa is a very interesting place, and their gambling culture has developed rather quickly and is actually considered a gambling hotspot by tourists from all over the world. South Africa is also filled with great food, culture, and nightlife that is truly unforgettable.

The gambling industry has helped the economy of South Africa and increased the quality of life of its citizens by providing workers a new stream of revenue within the dozens of casinos, sportsbooks, and lottery outposts that continue to spread across the country.

Did you enjoy reading about the history and current gambling climate in South Africa? If so, let me know in the comments.

Of all of the different gambling options available, blackjack is unique. Many games have been developed that are similar to blackjack, but none of them offer the combination of things that make blackjack the best choice for every casino gambler.

Everyone can learn how to play blackjack. The rules are simple, and blackjack games are available almost everywhere that you can gamble. You can also quickly learn how to use good strategy, and if you’re willing to put in some effort, you can even learn how to gamble with an edge.

Here are five reasons why blackjack is the only gambling game you should ever play.

1 – Simple Strategy Anyone Can Use

Casino games take your money. They’re designed to fool you into thinking that you can win, and sometimes, you do win. But in the long run, they take your money.

This doesn’t mean that you should be happy about losing. In fact, you should do everything in your power to lose as little as possible when you play casino games.

The first thing to look at when you’re playing any casino game is if there’s a strategy or set of strategies that you can use to give yourself a better chance to win. This is one of the main reasons why blackjack is the only gambling game you should play at casinos. You’re going to learn another important reason why blackjack is the best game in one of the sections found below.

Did you know that blackjack has a simple strategy that you can use to improve your chances of winning every time you play? This is usually called “basic strategy,” and it’s not the most simple strategy if you have to figure it out yourself.

But the reason why blackjack strategy is simple is because you don’t have to figure it out for yourself. All you have to do is use a strategy card. And these are readily available. You can just print one off the internet. Or you can also find apps on your phone that help you memorize basic blackjack strategy.

Once you have a strategy card, you simply check it every time you play a blackjack hand and do what it says. When you use the best strategy, you’re reducing the house edge as far as possible, which improves your chance to win. A strategy card alone isn’t enough to overcome the house edge, but it’s the best way to get started.

2 – Simple Rule Structure

Blackjack has simple rules and all of the possible rule variations are easy to understand. This makes it easy to learn for new gamblers, and it only takes a few minutes before you learn how to play like a pro.

The main rules to understand involve doubling down and splitting. Your strategy card tells you when you should double down and when you need to split, so you don’t have to worry about when to do them.

What is helpful to know is how blackjack rule variations change your chances to win. Each rule change either helps you win or helps the casino win.

You don’t have to worry too much about the rules until you learn how to get an edge. This is covered in the fifth section on this page.

The one rule that you must always pay attention to is how much a blackjack pays. Only play at tables that pay 3 to 2 or better for a blackjack. Any other table is not worth playing, no matter what.

Learn what each of the available blackjack rules means and how they work, then learn more about how each rule changes the house edge. After that, all you have to do is find tables with a good mix of rules and focus on memorizing your strategy card.

3 – Game Availability

Other than slot machines, blackjack is the most popular game in the casino. This means that almost every casino in the world that offers table games will offer blackjack. In addition, you can log into any online casino and play real money blackjack right off the bat.

You’re never going to go to a regular casino and not have the option to play blackjack. At this point, it’s just impossible. But this doesn’t mean that you should always play blackjack. If you’re in a casino and they only offer blackjack tables that pay 6 to 5 for a blackjack, you should probably leave and find a better casino.

As you gain experience playing the game, learn more about the rules, and play at more casinos, you can develop a list of the best places to play. The games offering the best rules are where you want to play most of the time.

You should also find an online casino or two that have good blackjack games so that you can play when you can’t go to a land-based casino. The only problem with playing blackjack online is you can’t get an edge. You can learn more about this before you finish reading this page.

4 – Almost Unlimited Resources

If you want to learn more about blackjack, there are unlimited resources available. You can find thousands and thousands of pages about blackjack online that are available for free. You can also buy many good books about blackjack at your local bookstore or online, at places like Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Software programs are available for your computer, too. And these programs teach you how to play, how to use strategy, and how to count cards. You can learn as much as you want about blackjack. All it takes is time and effort.

I enjoy reading, so I have a large library of blackjack books and read many online articles about the game. But if you don’t enjoy reading, you can watch videos that teach you the same thing or get an app or two to help you learn what you need to know.

5 – Anyone Can Get an Edge If They Do the Work

This is the number one reason why blackjack is the only game you should play. The fact is that anyone can learn how to gamble with an edge playing blackjack. Most people are never going to do what it takes to reach this point, but you have an opportunity to make money instead of lose it when you gamble.

If you’ve never heard of card counting, it’s a strategy you can learn how to use when you play blackjack. When you learn how to do it well enough, you turn the tables on the casino. Instead of playing against a house edge, you start playing with an edge over the house.

If you have heard about counting cards and haven’t tried to do it, the good news is that it isn’t as hard as you think. Almost everyone who has tried to learn how to count cards and didn’t give up too soon has learned how to do it.

The most common myth about counting cards is that you have to remember every card that’s been played. This is 100% false. All you have to do is keep a ratio of low and high cards as they’re played, and there are simple systems that help you do this.

It takes 20 or 30 hours of work to get good enough to count cards and win, then you improve even more the longer you work at it. Isn’t it worth spending 20 to 30 hours to learn how to win when you’re gambling?

The best way to get started is to read some online articles about card counting and/or pick up a few books about the subject. The only thing standing between you and gambling profits is a little bit of work. Don’t pass up the opportunity.

Conclusion

Blackjack is the only gambling game you ever need to play because it’s simple to play, easy to learn the best strategy, widely available, and if you’re willing to do the work, you can get an edge. I can’t think of another gambling option that offers all of these things.

I recommend learning as much as you can about counting cards. It’s not as easy as learning basic strategy, but you can learn how to do it. This is the only way to get an edge over the casino for most people. Why wouldn’t you give it a try if it meant you could stop losing when you gamble?

If you compare your chances to games like slot machines, where there’s no skill involved and you can’t change your luck, blackjack is easily the best casino game around.

Hotel Sacher Salzburg is one of the nicest and highest regarded hotels in Europe and is absolutely a place you need to visit if you plan on gambling in Europe.

The famous Hotel Sacher Salzburg was built between 1863 and 1866 by the master builder Carl Freiherr as an Austrian court hotel.

From the moment its doors opened in 1866, the hotel gained a high level of popularity among people with high positions, such as members of ruling houses, high clergymen, nobleman, and artists, all of whom became guests within the hotel’s first year of being open.

Let’s dive into Hotel Sacher Salzburg and see what all the hype is about.

What Salzburg Is Like

Salzburg is an Austrian city on the border of Germany with beautiful views of the Eastern Alps. The city is divided by the Salzach River, with medieval and baroque buildings of the residential and pedestrian Altstadt (Old City) on its left bank, while facing the 19th-century Neustadt (New City) on its right.

Gambling in general is legal in Austria, while being more or less strictly regulated.

Austria is the home of thousands of sports betting cafes, online gaming clubs, and bars with slot machines that have developed significantly in the last 15 years in almost every major community in Austria.

With the casino industry in Salzburg comes some of the most luxurious hotels in Europe, of which Hotel Sacher Salzburg is one.

History

The famous Hotel Sacher Salzburg was built between 1863 and 1866 by the master builder Carl Freiherr as an Austrian court hotel.

The birth of the Salzburg Festival caused the “Austrian court” to become more or less the official social center of the festival.

Three major Austrian stars had a major part in the Salzburg Festival and hence became frequent clients for Hotel Sacher Salzburg. The three stars of the festival were Max Reinhardt, Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Richard Strauss. The artists would eventually live next door and act as heads of the European and overseas society.

In 1988, Hotel Sacher Salzburg was purchased by the Gürtler family. The family would embark on a mission to refurbish the entire hotel, from the rooms to the restaurants.

All the rooms were decorated and equipped with rare artistic treasures—the hotel’s style was further developed from these decorations.

Today the hotel absolutely feels modern and refurbished and offers what is easily one of the most comfortable and enchanting experiences in all of Austria. There simply is no hotel quite like this one in the entire world.

Staying at Hotel Sacher Salzburg

Looking over the last 150 years, Hotel Sacher Salzburg has maintained a love for tradition but has also done an exceptional job keeping up with the times and ensuring that guests feel like they’re getting the absolute highest quality experience possible.

If you decide to make this historical hotel your hotel of choice while staying in Salzburg, you can expect all of the quality amenities that you would expect from a 5-star luxury hotel—and don’t worry, the staff all speak English.

The starter package for different room choices begins with the Deluxe Rooms.

The space takes up about 320 feet and is decked out with valuable pieces of artwork and antiques. The next room option available at Hotel Sacher Salzburg is the Junior Suite.

In this historic hotel, you’ll find spacious and comfortable seating areas, amazing views, marble bathrooms, and heated floors—these are just some of the popular features that allow the Junior Suites to stand out.

The interior sits in a comfortable space of around 430 square feet, and the interiors are bright, elegant, and gorgeous. The views include the Salzach River that runs by the theater and the Salzburg theater itself, something you absolutely must visit while you’re there. The marble bathrooms in the Junior Suites come with separate bathrooms and showers.

If you’re looking for a superior form of luxury, then the Signature Suite is probably going to be a perfect choice for you during your vacation in Salzburg.

These 538 square ft rooms are perfect for a couple needing just one bedroom, while the two bedroom suites offer 969 square ft of space while coming with a seperate living area. If that’s not decadent, I don’t know what is!

The Presidential Suite is the finest way to stay at Hotel Sacher Salzburg. The room includes a bedroom and living room area along with a seperate parlor. The bright marble bathrooms and elegant decor in the Presidential Suites will leave you feeling like royalty or a CEO.

Restaurants & Bars

You’re definitely not going to need to worry about going hungry or thirsty while staying in this fine Austrian luxury hotel. There are several different restaurants and bars to choose from that will have everything from the modern and elegant to the local and homey.

Restaurant Zirbelzimmer is a popular spot where gourmet dining meets authentic and rustic charm. The restaurant has been preserved and feels the same as it did when its doors opened in 1866.

Overlooking the Salzach river, the Sacher kitchen team warmly welcomes its guests with a culinary experience that delivers heavy on local flavors.

You can enjoy Austrian classics as well as seasonal and refined creations by Executive Chef Michael Gahleitner, which have been awarded a Gault Millau toque.

If you want an even more traditional flavor, then I can promise that you’re gonna enjoy the Sacher Grill.

Executive Chef Michael Gahleitner blends traditional and beloved recipes with vision and creativity to delight and surprise his guests.

From the famous SalzBurger to the tasty Tafelspitz or the beloved Wiener Schnitzel, these wholesome dishes all come with a strong taste of Salzburg. Enjoy marvellous views of the Salzach River as you get comfortable sampling the savoury selections.

Walk into the Sacher Bar late at night to drink in the heart of Salzburg. Enjoy what they call a “pre-dinner apéritif” with elegant views of the Salzach River, all served with a twist of Sacher.

The venue adds well-designed and modern lighting with carefully selected furniture alongside some extremely classy cocktails for a setting that is both intimate and dramatic, making it perfect for a romantic evening or business gathering.

Café Sacher Salzburg

I share the same opinion with others that the Café Sacher Salzburg is the most romantic spot out of all  the food and beverage options at the hotel.

A trip to Salzberg isn’t complete without getting to spend the afternoon in an authentic Austrian coffee café. Come into the romantic coffee and treat café for breakfast to get your busy day started at the casinos in Salzburg.

You can also count on café Sacher serving lunch every day and enjoy some of the most delicious Sacher Torte for desert. If you’re not a desert fanatic, then let me fill you in.

Sacher Torte is a chocolate cake or torte of Austrian origin, invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 for the Prince Metternich in Vienna. It is one of the most famous Viennese culinary specialties.

It’s so delicious that it actually has its own National Holiday in the United States! December 5 is National Sacher Torte Day in the United States.

Hotel Amenities

The amenities of Hotel Sacher Salzberg are what you would expect when staying in one of the greatest hotels in all of Europe.

Aside from the typical amenities that come with each room, guests can relax and get their workout on in the Health Club inside the hotel.

Sacher Salzberg has its very own spa team that will make sure that you’re treated like European Royalty. The fitness center is open 24/7 and is free for all the guests of the hotel.

Conclusion

Staying at Hotel Sacher Salzberg is an amazing opportunity and one you should keep in mind the next time you are planning a casino trip.

Leave a comment in the section down below if you have thoughts about this or other hotels and casinos in Europe.

If you’re betting on a good time, the odds are good that you’re gonna find it down in New Orleans. Not only does New Orleans bring to the table some of the most fun and most unique pieces of Louisiana culture, as well as America’s best French-Cajun cuisine, it is also a city where gambling has been popular for decades.

People have been gambling in New Orleans much longer than it’s actually been legal, which didn’t happen until the 1990s. Because of the state not ever allowing it (seriously, they didn’t allow any gambling of any sort for a long, long time—I guess that’s just how the dice rolls), it just got more and more popular within the underground gambling community of New Orleans.

There are plenty of awesome casino resorts in Louisiana, and you’ll find many in New Orleans. You can choose from destination such as Boomtown Casino and Harrah’s to the Fair Ground Race Course and Slots. I can assure you that alongside the casino life comes many other fun and amazing things to see and do while visiting New Orleans.

Here are some of the most fun things to do in New Orleans in 2020.

1 – Choose From Dozens of Private Tours

Maybe you want to explore the history or haunts of New Orleans. Yes, New Orleans is supposedly haunted, and I don’t just mean in a few places. The entire city is practically haunted in one way or another if you believe the tales. Or if you prefer shopping, swamps, food, or just want to have some fun, there’s a tour for you that even locals would recommend.

Build an intimate relationship and connection with the city by learning a little bit more about its history and culture. To outsiders, the French Quarter can resemble a gorgeous puzzle. It includes over 100 blocks of wrought iron balconies, pastel-colored walls, and secret gardens. It’s one of the oldest cities in the United States and is filled to the brim with stories and histories that go back hundreds of years.

The famous Vieux Carre is one you shouldn’t miss, and the tour has its own specialized guides. Each guide possesses expert knowledge of all sorts, such as Creole cuisine, spirited cocktails, and antebellum architecture, just to name a few. They can tell some pretty creepy stories of voodoo and vampires and help visitors understand the city’s colorful past.

Mardi Gras Mambo Tours (owned by MGMT) has captured the essence of what makes New Orleans truly enchanted. It explores mystic art, cuisine, and spirits (alcohol and ghost forms). Their goal is to bring visitors together to have a blast while learning about the city at the same time.

They specialize in hosting some of the most unique events New Orleans has to offer. The Mardi Gras Mambo Tour is an open bar cocktail tour that is kid-friendly and entertaining for the whole family. You’ll visit Mardi Gras World and the Seven Three Distilling Company during the tour, and you can take the shuttle during the tour.

One of the most exciting ghost tours is A Ghost Hunting Adventure at The Haunted Mortuary, bringing something to the table that is very different from what you’re used to. During this experience, you’ll have to use the tools of professional ghost hunters in the ongoing investigations of one of the most haunted mansions in America.

2 – The National WWII Museum

The National WWII Museum is the top-rated tourist destination in New Orleans and sits at #2 in the US. Witness an unforgettable way to learn about World War II, from industrial efforts on the home front to the combat experience of American service members abroad.

Offering an incredible and exciting blend of the overarching stories of the war combined with the personal stories of the soldiers, the Museum features exhibits, multimedia experiences, and a collection of artifacts and oral histories.

As a visitor, you’ll learn more about how the war started and concluded, as each exhibit helps you experience the history of the war. There’s even an opportunity to tour and ride on a restored PT-boat. And there are tours behind the scenes to handle real artifacts from the war, as well as a collection of restored tanks, planes, and more!

30% of its visitors have indicated that the museum was the #1 reason why they even visited New Orleans!

3 – NOLA Tropical Winery (Beyond The Grape)

The NOLA Tropical Winery brings you a unique retail store and wine bar that offers non-traditional, award-winning wines. The original location in New Orleans is known as NOLA Tropical Winery and is absolutely worth the visit if you are a wine connoisseur.

Inspired by the fruit wines made in the Deep South, all of the tropical wines are award-winning, delectable drinks that don’t include grapes. The folks at Nola Tropical Winery are proud to bring back tradition to the capital of food and enchantment.

They have all of the wines you could possibly want and are unequaled in taste, clarity, and versatility. There are over 40 different varieties, ranging from white to red, and dry to sweet. The wines at Nola Tropical Winery are made of hand-picked berries and tropical fruits. They’ve been awarded multiple medals and international competitions.

For the wine lovers out there who love to gamble, but also want to get a taste of what Southern wines in New Orleans are all about, this is a place that you’re definitely going to want to make time for.

There’s Plenty More to See

You don’t need to worry about running out of things to do while gambling in Louisiana. There is such an abundant, rich culture with over 300 years of history to be found in New Orleans, providing the locals and visitors with plentiful sightseeing.

If you’ve visited New Orleans and have a few places that stood out to you that you’d like to mention, please drop a comment in the section below!

Here’s the thing about casino gambling for most people:

In the long run, it’s an expense.

It’s NOT a revenue stream.

Sure, some people get lucky and hit a progressive jackpot early in their casino gambling career. And some people learn how to count cards and get an edge over the casino

But, for the average casino gambler, playing casino games costs money.

The purpose of this post is to look at how much money casino gambling costs and whether it’s worth it.

The Concept of Negative Expectation

With almost no exceptions, every bet on every casino game is a negative expectation bet. This is a mathematical expression that refers to whether a bet is expected to win money or lose money. A bet that’s expected to win money is a positive expectation bet, and a bet that’s expected to lose money is a negative expectation bet.

And “expected” has a specific, mathematical meaning, too.

Here’s an example:

If you have a 47.37% probability of winning a unit and a 52.63% probability of losing a unit, you’re facing a negative expectation bet. Over time, you’ll have some wins and losses, but in the long run, you’re going to lose money.

The House Edge Is How Casinos Measure That Expectation

The casino house edge is a statistical average of how much you’re expected to lose per bet. It’s expressed as a percentage.

For example, if I tell you that the house edge for a game is 5%, then I’m saying that in the long run, you’ll lose an average of 5% of every bet you make. If you’re betting $100 per bet on the game, you’re going to lose an average of $5 per bet.

But that’s an average.

On any individual bet, or even over a short number of bets, you will almost certainly see wild deviations from the expectation.

The casino doesn’t care about this. That’s just luck. Mathematicians call it standard deviation.

The casino relies on a mathematical phenomenon called the Law of Large Numbers. That’s the idea that as you get more trials in, your actual results will start to look more like the mathematically expected results.

For most games in the casino, the house edge is a known factor.

You can look it up on any of multiple websites, and it’s also listed in better gambling books.

Smart Casino Gamblers Think in Terms of Entertainment Value

For me, the most important concept in casino gambling is the idea that gambling is fun and should be considered an entertainment expense. You should think of it that way. When you do, it becomes easier to decide whether it’s worth it.

That’s why 20% of the gamblers who go into the casino on any given day walk away with winnings in their pockets. The casino doesn’t mind this at all. After all, when 80% of the gamblers in your casino lose every day, you’re going to make plenty of profit.

But still, if you’re asking yourself whether a casino game is worth it, it’s nice to know the mathematically expected cost of playing that game.

It’s easy to calculate, too.

I cover that in this next section.

How to Calculate the Expected Cost of a Gambling Activity

The cost per hour for any casino game can be estimated if you know the following three pieces of information:

You just multiply those three factors together, and voila, you have the estimated cost per hour of playing that game.

Here’s an example:

You’re playing real money slots. You can assume that the house edge is 7%. You’re betting $3 per spin, and you’re making 500 spins per hour.

7% X $3 per spin X 500 spins per hour = $105/hour

Of course, you don’t know for certain what the house edge is on a slot machine game. It can vary widely from game to game and from casino to casino.

But it’s almost always at least 5%.

At the airport, it might be as high as 25%.

The question to ask yourself is whether you’re getting $105/hour worth of entertainment from playing that game. If the answer is no, walk away.

Let’s look at another example:

You’re playing blackjack (with perfect basic strategy). The house edge is 0.5%, and you’re betting $10 per hand. You’re playing 100 hands per hour.

0.5% X $10 per hand X 100 hands/hour = $5/hour

You’ll notice a couple of things.

One is that the house advantage in blackjack is dramatically lower than it is for slot machines. This is true even if you make some mistakes, but you might get closer to 2.5% if you play badly.

You’ll also notice that in this example, you’re betting over 3X as much per bet.

Finally, you’re making FAR fewer bets per hour at the blackjack table.

That all combines to make blackjack a game that only costs you $5 per hour to play.

You can ask yourself a couple of questions now:

These aren’t the only factors in deciding whether casino gambling is worth it, but they are IMPORTANT factors.

What Kind of Gambling Do You Enjoy?

I think most of my readers will agree that casino gambling offers enough entertainment value that it’s worth it. If you’re one of the ones who decides it’s NOT worth it, you have my blessing.

Some gamblers like low volatility games. I have a buddy like that. He wants to win even money slightly less than half the time. He’s okay with losing even money slightly more than half the time. He spends a lot of time placing outside bets at the roulette table.

I have another buddy who prefers volatile slot machines. He’s only interested in winning jackpots. He’s willing to have plenty of losing sessions and lose slot machine pull after slot machine pull as long as he occasionally gets a big win of 100X or 1000X his wager.

Don’t Fall Into the Trap of Overvaluing Comps

The casinos will offer you all kinds of “free” stuff to keep you gambling. Trust me on this – they’ve done the math to make sure that you’re going to lose more money than the free stuff is worth. In most cases, it’s far more in losses than in freebies.

Also, they’ve set up their point awards in such a way that you’re almost certain to lose at least $100 or $150 before getting enough points to earn the $45 meal.

The trickiest thing they do is have tiers to their rewards program. I have a buddy who falls for this every time. He wants the upgraded room stay and the free rounds of golf, even though he could pay for both with less than he has to gamble to get to that third tier.

I like to think about the tiers in the VIP program as being similar to gaining levels in Dungeons and Dragons. And that’s one of the aspects of the game that make it so popular.

How Much of Your Budget Can You Use for Entertainment?

Earlier I suggested comparing casino games based on their projected hourly loss to decide which ones are worth playing and which aren’t.

But I also think you should compare the costs of other kinds of entertainment with casino gambling costs.

What does it cost to go to the movies per hour?

Could you buy a board game or video game system for the family and get more value per hour from it?

What about reading books? On a per hour basis, books might be the most affordable form of entertainment possible.

Finally, consider whether you’re meeting your financial responsibilities the way you want to. I’d suggest that if your bills are getting paid late, you might not be able to afford gambling at a casino.

Conclusion

Is casino gambling worth it?

That’s a decision you’ll need to make for yourself.

The best thing I can do for you is give you a new lens to think about that decision through. Educated decisions are better than making such decisions blindly.

Anyone can win a casino game. All you need to do to win is to play. The trick is making a profit.

After all, if you stick with the even money bets at the roulette table, you’ll win 47.37% of the time.

But with a winning percentage like that, you’re guaranteed to lose money over time.

In fact, if you play long enough, you’ll lose all your money just because of the math.

Here’s how to win casino games and influence probabilities like a champ.

You can’t influence anything you don’t understand. Well, you can, but you won’t know if you’ve influenced it in one direction or the other, and you won’t be able to tell by how much, either.

This is why a basic understanding of probability is essential for anyone who wants to win casino games and influence probabilities.

For example, the probability of getting heads when you flip a normal coin is 1/2. You have two total possibilities, both of which are equally likely, and only one of them is the “winning” possibility.

If you convert that fraction to odds format, you’re looking at one to one odds, or “even” odds.

This becomes important in gambling because you can compare payout odds to the odds of winning to determine how much of an edge the casino (or you) have.

Understanding the Concept of the Casino House Edge

The casino house edge is a statistical measurement of the difference between the odds of winning and the payout odds. Casinos always pay out at odds lower than the odds of winning, and that’s how they win in the long run. The bigger the difference is, the faster they win your money.

Roulette is my favorite illustration. Suppose you bet on red. What’s the probability of winning that bet?

You have 18 red numbers on a roulette wheel, 18 black numbers, and two green numbers.

So, you have 18 ways to win versus 20 ways to lose.

The bet pays off at even money, one to one odds, even though the odds of winning one to 0.9.

The difference is the casino house edge.

Suppose you bet $100 on 38 spins of the wheel, and you see statistically perfect results. You’ll win $1800 and lose $2000 for a net loss of $200.

Average that out over 38 spins, and you’ll get an average loss per spin of $5.26.

That’s 5.26% of the $100 you bet each time, which means the house edge is 5.26%.

You can think of the house edge as being like a tax that the casino charges you to play the game, but it’s a tax that’s applied randomly in such a manner that it only shows up over the long run.

Choose One Bet Over Another Based on the Casino House Edge

Generally, a bet with a higher house edge is worse than a bet with a lower house edge.

This seems obvious, but in case you’re missing the point, let’s compare the house edge of two games – blackjack and roulette.

This means that when you bet $100 on a hand of blackjack, your projected loss is only 50 cents.

But if you bet $100 on a spin of the roulette wheel, your projected loss is $5.26.

One game costs 10X as much as the other game – at least as measured on a per bet basis.

Other factors matter, too, like volatility and rate of play, but assuming those are the same, you should always go for the bet with the lowest house edge you can find.

Factors That Affect How Much You Can Expect to Win or Lose

Volatility just represents how big the swings are between losing and winning.

Some games have different volatilities depending on which bets you’re placing. For example, in roulette, even-money bets have low volatility. You’ll lose a little more than half the time, and you’ll win a little less than half the time, and you’ll always be going up or down a single betting unit.

But if you bet on a single number at roulette, you’re going to see more volatile results. You’ll lose most of the time, but when you do win, you’ll see a bigger win. A single number bet in roulette only wins once every 38 spins on average, but when it does, you win 35 to one on your money.

This same concept applies to other games, but it gets more complex. For example, a slot machine that pays off a 1000 for one jackpot once every 1500 spins is even more volatile, but it might be less volatile based on how many smaller wins you get along the way.

The other factor to think about is how much money you’re putting into action per hour.

When you’re playing blackjack at a table with three other people, you’re probably going to see 100 hands per hour. If you’re betting $5 per hand, you’re putting $500 per hour into action. This means you’re looking at an average projected loss per hour of $2.50.

If you’re playing roulette at a busy table, you might only see 30 spins of the wheel per hour. If you’re betting $5 per spin, you’re only putting $150 per hour into action. Even though you’re going to lose 5.26% of that, or $7.89, you’re not losing 10X what you’d lose per hour playing blackjack.

The difference is the rate of play.

This, by the way, is one of the reasons slot machines are so profitable for the casino and such an awful bet for the casino gambler. An average slot machine player spins the reels 500 to 600 times per hour.

Even if that slot machine gambler is only betting $1 per spin, she’s putting as much money into action per hour as the blackjack player in the previous example.

And she’s facing a house edge of at least 5% and maybe as much as 25%.

Flip the Odds in Your Favor

If casino games sound hopeless right now, I’ve done a good job explaining how they work. And you’ve done a good job of understanding how they work.

But fear not.

There’s hope.

You can find techniques and strategies that will get you an edge over the casino. These are called “advantage gambling techniques.”

The most famous advantage gambling technique is probably card counting in blackjack. It’s easier than you think, too.

Some people think you might have to memorize which cards have already been played and extrapolate what’s still in the deck to count cards, but the reality is far simpler.

When you’re counting cards in blackjack, you’re just tracking and estimating the ratio of high cards (aces and tens) to low cards in the deck. The high cards are advantageous to the player because they increase your probability of getting a “natural” or “blackjack,” which pays off at three to two odds.

In other words, if you bet $100 and get a two-card hand worth 21 points, you win $150 instead of $100.

With proportionally more aces and tens in the deck, your probability of getting such a hand goes up.

If you raise your bets in proportion to how much your advantage has grown, you can get a small edge over the casino.

A good card counter might have an edge of 1% over the casino, which doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re betting enough over a long period, it adds up fast.

For example, if you’re betting $100 per hand on average, you’re looking at winning a dollar per hand.

If you’re at a table where you’re getting 100 hands per hour, you’re looking at averaging $100 an hour in winnings.

Of course, you need a bankroll large enough to withstand any possible losing streaks, but you can get an edge at blackjack.

Gaining an Edge Over Other Casino Games

Counting cards in blackjack is only one example of advantage gambling techniques. It’s beyond the scope of a single blog post to list all possible ways to win casino games and influence probabilities.

Some topics that might warrant further examination on your part, though, might include dice control in craps or edge sorting in baccarat or blackjack. Dealer tells is another way of getting an edge at blackjack. You might even still be able to find a biased roulette wheel.

Conclusion

For the most part, the average gambler will always lose in the long run.

But you should strive to be above average.

If you do the right things with the right mindset – which includes an understanding of the math – you can win casino games and influence probabilities.

It might seem like it’s all about the numbers, but casinos use a number of psychological tricks to keep gamblers from gaining an edge. The good news? If you recognize them you can start to level the playing field.

Manipulation is fair game when it comes to gambling. Since the first casino opened way back in 1638, there has been a struggle between player and house – unsurprisingly, the house is generally the winner.

In this article, I’ll get into some of the mental games that often go unnoticed. This knowledge won’t guarantee a winning trip, but it certainly won’t hurt either.

1 – The Casino Layout

Most people don’t give a second thought to the way land based casinos are laid out. At first glance, nothing seems unusual about it. However, there is much more at play than you might recognize.

For starters, the place is typically laid out like a labyrinth. In order to find what you’re looking for you’re going to have to pass through a number of other games that are covered in bright colors and flashing lights that basically say, “Come take a chance on me.”

In addition, essential stops like the ATM, cash-out machine, and restrooms are usually not so easy to get to. This is intentional, as the longer you spend wandering around the more likely you are to explore new games.

The next time you visit a casino, try to find one “landmark” feature that you can readily and easily recognize. Chances are it’s going to be harder than you think. Casino designers don’t necessarily try to make it feel like you’re always lost, but rather that anywhere you decide to play feels comfortable.

Garish slot machines are found in just about every corner of the establishment so that a quick game is never out of reach. Even the blackjack tables are laid out in such a way that the casino can gently nudge you in the direction of the games that you’re most likely to play, and also most likely to lose.

If you’re ever gambling at a new place and are constantly feeling like you’re lost, you certainly are not alone. Just remember that finding your way to the bathroom doesn’t need to be a reason to spend more money.

2 – The Time of Day

If you were dropped into a casino with no watch or phone, you’d never know what time it is – this is by design.

Casinos everywhere purposefully do everything in their power to make time stop. The goal is to get players in a “zone” where there are no reminders that time is indeed flying by why they’re sitting at the roulette wheel or slot machine.

Generally speaking, the more time people spend at the casino, the more money they’re going to lose. The absence of clocks or windows makes it so that the only measure of whether to stay or leave is the state of one’s bankroll.

If you aren’t careful you can easily fall into the trap of finding yourself in a trancelike state that won’t allow you to step away. To combat this phenomenon, try setting an alarm on your phone or watch and take frequent breaks.

Remember, if you’ve won money, that means it might be time to call it a day. Even a modest win is better than trying to hit it big and slowly draining your financial resources in the process.

3 – Cashless

Just like swiping a credit card, when you play at a casino it can be very easy to forget just how much money you’re using to gamble.

Unfortunately, there’s really no way to get around it. This is why it’s even more important that you go into the gaming establishment with a set amount of money that you’re going to use that day. My recommendation would be to physically go in with cash to be converted to digital currency or chips. That way you won’t be tempted to reload your casino bankroll while you’re playing.

4 – Comps

What’s wrong with free stuff?! In this case, the answer is that it’s not necessarily free if you’ve had to spend a whole bunch of money to get it. The kickbacks that casinos provide, known as “casino comps” or complimentary items, are often reserved for those who have already paid their fair share to the house.

If you’re a frequent player at a specific casino, it’s fine to work towards getting a free night in a hotel room at the resort or free food and drinks. With that being said, if you’re trying to get these rewards after a weekend, you’re probably going to end up betting far too much.

The goal of a casino visit is to leave with more money than you came in with. If you’re more concerned with earning that free luxury suite upgrade, it’s going to much less expensive to just pay for it upfront than to try to get it by spending enough for the comp.

5 – The Jackpot Effect

It might not be a technical term, but I think it’s time to put some title on what I’ll refer to as the “jackpot effect.”

What I’m referring to is those bright lights and jubilant sounds that emanate from a machine when someone hits a big jackpot. Nearly everyone in the casino hears it, and the obvious reaction is undoubtedly, “If they won it, so can I!”

Yes, it is true that jackpots happen and some lucky gamblers have his or her day made in a matter of seconds. But it’s crucial to recognize that these shows of success aren’t typical, and the fanfare is meant to seduce you into chasing after the jackpot yourself.

Remember that when you witness a jackpot you’re only hearing the successful side of the machine. What is much less noticeable is the silence or groans that signify the disappointment of coming up empty after a half hour of button pushing.

6 – Near Wins

Whether it’s playing real money slots, video poker, or any other type of machine-oriented game, you’re likely to come close to hitting the jackpot many times. This isn’t random.

Gaming programmers are notorious for creating a system where you always feel like one more spin could have you rolling in cash. Unfortunately, getting 2 out of 3 or 4 out of 5 when it comes to hitting it big really doesn’t count for anything.

This one really does hit deep in players’ psychological, subconscious minds.

The bottom line is that whether you get 99% of what you need for a jackpot or 1% of what you need, the overall result is the same. Just because you’re “almost there” doesn’t mean anything, and can lead to unrealistic expectations.

Conclusion

While this isn’t an exhaustive list of all the ways casinos make money off gamblers, it’s a good place to start.

The best way to avoid falling victim to these tricks I’ve laid out above is to simply recognize them and remind yourself that things aren’t always what they seem. Casinos play on your emotions, so staying even-keeled is crucial to being a good gambler.

As a basic guide for dealing with the casino’s psychological tactics, keep a close eye on your bankroll, take frequent breaks, and remind yourself that it’s okay to walk away.

Believe it or not, Las Vegas is not the only city in the US that can provide you and your friends with a memorable gambling trip. While other places may not have the same reputation, or quite frankly the temptation, of Sin City, they can be plenty of fun nonetheless.

If you aren’t an experienced gambler, knowing exactly where to go can be difficult. It doesn’t help that with today’s relaxed gambling laws, you have more options than ever before.

In this article, I’ll lay out what you (and your group) should consider before planning a non-Vegas gambling trip.

1 – Choose the Location Wisely

Okay, this first one is pretty obvious. Without a location in mind, there really isn’t much of a trip.

The first question you should be asking when you and your buddies try to make a decision should be whether your destination is international or in the United States.

From the Caribbean, to South Africa, Macau, and more, there are plenty of places to choose from, all offering their own special perks. These foreign destinations will undoubtedly offer some sort of cultural experience. But the costs are going to be significant, and the trip will have to be more than just a weekend.

If you’re serious about gambling, have a deep bankroll, and want to take the trip of a lifetime, international is going to be the way to go. However, for this article, I’m going to focus more on the gambling sites at home in the US.

When it comes to non-Vegas locations within the US, the cultural aspect of a trip to Singapore might be lost, but there are other things to take into account. For example, are you and your group going to want to do other activities besides gambling such as golf? Or are you simply going to stick around the casino for the majority of the time?

When it comes to the question above, the good news is that most big casinos have golf courses (not all, though, so look before booking) attached, with means you won’t have to go far to spread the fun around. Additionally, not all courses are of the same quality, so if your trip is going to be equal parts gambling and golf, you might want to look at reviews on the quality of the golf courses there.

Some locations that have become extremely popular in the US over the past couple years are Harrah’s in Lake Tahoe, Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City
(of course Atlantic City was going to make the list), and Resort World Casino New York City in Queens.

All of the above offer unique experiences that are very different from each other, so do a little research before you decide which aspects of the trip you’ll value most. For example, some of the resorts are near major cities if you’re looking to hit the town, while others are out in their own territory, which could be perfect if you’re looking to get away.

2 – Itinerary

It’s not fun, and it may have annoyed you with your dad growing up, but the itinerary is a crucial part of the perfect gambling trip. It’s especially important when you aren’t going to Vegas, where the default plan is to bounce around as many casinos, clubs, and entertainment venues as possible.

As mentioned in the section above, the best US casino resorts are packed with activities. Aside from gambling, which will presumably take up a decent amount of your time, you’ll likely have access to golf, high-quality restaurants, entertaining shows, concerts, excursions off the resort, and much more.

Take it from someone who has been on plenty of trips that lacked a plan, you just don’t have the time to put it together last minute. A little bit of game-planning may very well be the difference between experiencing a number of different things and simply losing all your money between the bar and the blackjack table.

So, what would an example of a resort itinerary look like? Here’s one you could use if you’re planning on getting the most out of all the resort’s offerings:

Obviously, that’s a full day, but you might as well take advantage of everything that is right at your fingertips when visiting a world-class resort!

The bottom line is that you can decide for yourself which activities you want to include on the list. The most important thing is simply that you have some kind of plan. It’s fine to keep it flexible depending on your mood.

3 – Decide Which Games You’re Going to Play

This one isn’t necessarily specific to the concept of a “non-Vegas” trip, but it’s still important to consider on any gambling getaway.

Similar to the need to have a plan for the day as a whole, you need to do some light preparation for your trip to the casino in and of itself. It doesn’t have to be extensive, but determine which games you’re going to focus on, establish your bankroll, and decide how long you’re going to play.

For many, real money blackjack is going to be the game of choice. For others, slots might take up most of the time on the casino floor. Either way, it’s important to do a little research beforehand to make sure you’re up-to-date on the latest tips to give yourself the best chance to win.

It should be noted that although slots are some of the most popular attractions on the floor, they typically have some of the worst odds you’ll find. Check out this list to view a selection of some more favorable games.

In the end, the games you choose will likely be personal preference. Just know that some games are more likely to make you money (or result in fewer losses) than others.

4 – Comps

If you’re going to spend one afternoon at your local casino, comps probably aren’t going to be a huge thing you need to be thinking about. However, if you’re going to be spending an entire weekend (and potential more in the future), you should definitely research which places are the most generous.

At the lowest level, it might be a gaming card that gives you a free $20 credit when you sign up. At their most significant, comps might be awarded as free nights in a hotel room, discounts on dinner, and much more.

Each casino has its own specific criteria for what will help you qualify for certain comps. This means that if you’re after some of these coveted freebies, it can be beneficial to inquire on various websites, or even ask booking staff directly.

As you probably assume, the more you spend, the more likely you are to get rewarded. With that being said, there are plenty of things you can do to curry favor with the house and work toward getting comps without spending a fortune.

Conclusion

Just about every gambler is going to make the pilgrimage to Vegas at one time or another. Although it’s hard to beat, for those looking for a more laidback experience, there are plenty of options available that don’t come with the excess of Las Vegas.

No matter what you’re into, there’s likely to be a casino resort experience out there that can satisfy your idea of the perfect gambling trip.

Baseball fans have Fenway and Wrigley, basketball and boxing fans have Madison Square Garden, but when it comes to gambling, which places can definitely claim their spot on the bucket list?

You might be surprised to find out that the list of must-see casinos aren’t can’t simply be crossed off with one trip to Vegas. Plenty of locations around the world have legendary gaming establishments that all gamblers need to visit at least once in their lives.

In this article, I’ll outline some of the casinos that are more than worth the money for a weekend trip.

1 – Casino di Venezia

Sure, it’s going to cost you more than a few good hands of blackjack to get over there, but if you have the financial means, Casino di Venezia has to be at the top of the list.

This casino, which is the first ever on record, has stood in Venice, Italy for almost 400 years. The project was completed in 1638, when the world of gambling was still like the Wild West.  Unfortunately, the casino no longer has its original property and was moved to a nearby palace in 1950.

However, it still maintains its original mystique with a combination of historic beauty and modern trappings that you would expect from a functioning casino.

For lovers of history, European casinos, and of course, gambling, there’s no other place that should be more widely sought after than Casino di Venezia.

2 – Casino de Monte-Carlo

You’ve probably attended a “Monte Carlo” party once or twice throughout your life – but even that won’t get you ready for the real thing. Breathtaking in both its opulence and historical value, the Monte Carlo Casino is more than just a gaming establishment.

Whereas a regular casino might include one or two buildings, Monte Carlo is an entire gambling and entertainment complex that can be found in the country of Monaco. Interestingly enough, the citizens that inhabit Monaco aren’t actually allowed to visit the gaming rooms.

Who did this benefit? The house, of course! Each time the ball settled on black, throngs of gamblers rushed to place bets on red, which had to eventually come up. In the end, millions of dollars were lost and the casino enjoyed one of its best days ever.

A final interesting thing to note is that Casino de Monte-Carlo was the primary source of income for the Monaco economy until very recently.

3 – Hard Rock Casino

The Hard Rock Casino is one of the most notable brands in the hospitality industry in the history of the U.S. Its guitar logo, the reputation for good times, and the endless nights of entertainment have helped to grow it into somewhat mythological status.

Recently, the Atlantic City Hard Rock finished a major renovation that greatly expanded the gambling floor to a level that is seldom seen elsewhere…even in Las Vegas. It goes without saying that a trip to Atlantic City is hard to beat for hardcore gamblers, but even new players can appreciate all the additional entertainment offered by Hard Rock.

4 – The Venetian Macau

If extravagance is your thing, you need to add The Venetian Macau to your list of “must-see” casinos.

But first, a history lesson: Macau had been a Portuguese colony for more than 200 years before being transferred back to China in 1999. This doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the casino itself, but it is an interesting piece of context if you plan on visiting the site for yourself.

As for the specifics, the 550,000 square foot gambling area is second-to-none. In addition, the casino has the same Venice canal style replicas as its sister casino in Las Vegas. On the gambling side, there are more than 3,000 slots and 750 table games with a square footage of nearly 10.8 million.

If gambling isn’t your thing, there are endless other attractions and luxuries to keep you occupied. Restaurants feature cuisine from around the world, garden swimming pools help you stay cool, and world-class spas will have you feeling refreshed by the time you check out.

5 – Caesar’s Palace

Finally, Las Vegas makes the list!

Anyone who’s ever visited Sin City knows that Caesar’s Palace is a site to behold. Opened more than half-a-century ago, the casino remains one of the most visited on the strip…and for good reason.

Not only is Caesar’s Palace home to one of the best casinos you’ll find in Vegas, but the numerous other attractions make it a one-of-a-kind spot to see for yourself. First, you can’t help but notice the amazing water features that surround the building.

The fountain shows, which combine light and water routines, are unforgettable and take place on a nightly basis. In addition, Caesar’s Palace has a 50,000 sq. ft. baths and spa area, with luxury shopping also available in another area.

All in all, if you’re going to make the trip to Vegas, don’t leave until you’ve spent at least an hour exploring all the Caesar’s Palace has to offer its guests.

6 – Casino de Charlevoix

Don’t worry, checking into this classically-designed casino doesn’t require a spelling test, although if it did, many people would be in trouble.

Casino de Charlevoix, located in Quebec in the eastern part of Canada, opened in 1994. By the standards of today’s modern, and massive, buildings, this one is relatively modest…that’s exactly why I decided to include it on the list.

For one, its size is much smaller…or as they would like to call it, “intimate.” To be honest, the quaint setting against a lush green backdrop makes it hard to disagree with this label.

The attached hotel has just 405 rooms, and the casino has only 20 gaming tables. However, two outdoor pools that are hot all year long and a 27-hole golf course more than make up for its lack of size.

All in all, if you’re looking for a getaway that won’t be overwhelming, Casino de Charlevoix is a relaxing and enjoyable destination.

7 – Sun City Casino Resort

Looking for something a little more…exotic? Sun City Casino Resort in South Africa is the place to go!

While it might feel a little bit like a Vegas-style establishment, make no mistake about it, things are much wilder. The first thing that stands out its location. It’s quite literally located in the middle of the African wilderness.

Because of the apartheid policies of the 1970’s, when the casino opened in 1979 it was in a designated area for majority black populations where the laws were much more lax. This made it quickly grow into a place that attracted gamblers from tall over the world.

It has the usual amenities of a casino with a couple very notable exceptions. First, safaris are offered by the resort. Second, it even has its very own private game reserve.

This is truly one place on the list that can be enjoyed by both those who prefer luxury comforts and wild adventures.

Conclusion

Casinos always have their own unique environment that sets them apart from others in the industry. As this list shows, some take it further than others.

Even if you aren’t going to be able to check all of them off the list, there’s something in here that nearly everyone can enjoy, even if you aren’t a huge gambler.

Blackjack is one of the most popular casino games in the United States. The game is simple to understand, has some of the best odds of all table games, and is entertaining for gamblers who simply enjoy playing cards. In the age of the internet and the rise of online casinos, it has never been more comfortable and more convenient to play.

However, there exists a polarizing question that different sects of gamblers tend to disagree about: the differences between online and in-person blackjack. Newer gamblers may find their way onto an online casino, notice it features blackjack, and feel compelled to play a game.

It’s understandable to gravitate to games you feel comfortable playing. However, if you’re wavering between staying home to play blackjack or traveling to a casino to gamble, there are several factors you should consider. Here are seven reasons why blackjack at a brick and mortar casino trumps its online counterpart.

1 ‒ There’s Too Much Variance Online

All across the internet, you’ll find various real money online casinos. There’s almost too many to track at this point, making it challenging to distinguish one casino from another. Not only is there a plethora of options for aspiring gamblers, but there are also several different forms of the game on most of these websites.

Then, gamblers must figure out which games they plan to play.

Certain online casinos have a list of various games to play, and it’s easy to pick the wrong form of blackjack. If you’re a seasoned gambler, the jargon is commonplace, but you might find yourself confused with the influx of information for those breaking onto the scene. If you choose a less reputable casino or a variety of blackjack you’re unfamiliar with, you could lose your bankroll at a rapid pace.

2 ‒ Online Blackjack Is Inconsistent

If you frequent popular message boards and internet forums, you probably read theories of online casinos being rigged to take money from gamblers. While there have been a few instances of casinos being caught cheating, most online casinos are reputable, licensed institutions.

The beauty of blackjack is its simplicity and a house edge that typically resides below 1%. However, the edge among online casinos can vary. That is primarily due to the inconsistent nature of blackjack and the change in rules between different online casinos.

These disparities exist in the payout amount, the number of decks your online casino of choice uses, and whether the casino allows you to split your hand or double. Another variable is whether or not the casino uses live dealers. While most online casinos are reputable and legitimate businesses, it’s always preferable to have a human element when it comes to dealing cards.

3 ‒ Community Is Key

In my opinion, one of the best facets of gambling is the communal aspect of the casinos. My favorite memories involving gambling come at tables, surrounded by fellow gamblers with the same goals in mind. The gambling experience just doesn’t feel the same if you’re sitting in front of a computer screen.

This point is somewhat subjective because some gamblers might find casinos to be overwhelming. Overstimulation is a common problem at casinos given that most are filled with television screens, bars, loud music, and of course, other gamblers. However, I feel like online blackjack is a watered-down version of blackjack that can be played at casinos.

If you find yourself easily distracted, online blackjack might be your best bet. But if you can tune out the world and focus on the game at hand, then there truly is no comparison between the two forms of blackjack. The sense of community and camaraderie around a blackjack table makes the experience much more enjoyable than sitting in your home office clicking a mouse.

4 ‒ You Learn Best by Playing With Others

The best way to learn the gambling ropes is to play with other gamblers who have been doing it for a while. I’m not saying every single bit of information you gather at a table is going to be worth remembering. But by taking every piece of advice with a grain of salt, and vetting out the occasional misinformation, you’ll be able to pick up the game quickly.

An added benefit of going to the casino for newer gamblers is a live, in-person dealer. Dealers are an excellent resource for you and should be used as such. Anytime you find yourself up a creek or unsure of subsequent moves, merely asking the dealer for advice can help you navigate your way around challenging situations.

5 ‒ Convenience Isn’t Always Best

A primary argument in support of gambling with online casinos is that it’s insanely convenient in comparison to traveling to a casino. Do you know what else is convenient? Grabbing a couple of burgers off the dollar menu at your local fast-food chain. But will those burgers offer as much satisfaction as a porterhouse from your favorite steakhouse? Absolutely not!

I’m biased because blackjack is among my favorite table games at the casino, but there’s nothing like laying down your stack of money at the blackjack tables before spending hours playing cards.

I see no issue in playing online blackjack for little to no money if you’re looking for some quick, easy entertainment. But if you’re contemplating spending your bankroll on online blackjack, I’d recommend considering traveling to the closest casino instead.

6 ‒ Fast Pace Can Lead to Consecutive Losses

Newer gamblers often struggle with an inability to manage their bankroll properly. Money spends fast at the casino, especially if you’re not prepared for what to expect or how table games work. One of the saving graces of in-person blackjack is that its consistent pace and the human element of a dealer and other players allows you to gather yourself and catch your breath between hands.

Depending on the online casino in question, it’s incredibly easy to blow through money in the blink of an eye. I’ll admit that I’ve lost a fair amount of money in a matter of minutes playing online blackjack. For whatever reason, I find it easier to control your pace of play at a table compared to on the computer.

If the losses begin to pile up, it can also be tough to tear yourself away from the game. This is true for both types of blackjack. But if you can take a step back for a few minutes, it’s just as easy to log back into your computer and keep gambling. Conversely, once you leave the tables and depart the casino, your gambling night is over.

7 ‒ In-Person Blackjack Is More Entertaining

Some gamblers go to the casino to have fun, others go to win money, and in turn, have fun. At the heart of casinos, entertainment is key. If you’re not enjoying yourself in some capacity, then gambling might not be for you.

Gambling online, while convenient, just doesn’t compare to gambling at a casino.

Newer gamblers who have never played blackjack at legitimate brick and mortar casinos should heed this advice. The combination of all the elements of a casino makes it a spectacle to behold.

Conclusion

There’s only one correct answer in the age-old debate of whether you should play blackjack online or in person. In all seriousness, if you prefer to gamble online after trying out both, then go right ahead. Gambling is a personal experience and should be enjoyed however you see fit, especially if you’re gambling profitability.

Having said that, if you’re on the fence about which form of blackjack you prefer and live somewhat close to a casino, then it’s time to give casino blackjack a try. Online blackjack can be inconsistent in the odds, rules, and varieties, especially given the sheer volume of online casinos.

New players should find themselves learning the ins and outs of the game quickly if they choose to gamble in person. You might think of it as a baptism by fire, but most players and dealers are quick to offer advice to newer gamblers attempting to hone their abilities. If you’re searching for a middle ground, perhaps live dealer casinos and live dealer blackjack would best suit you and your needs. Try it all out and see what works for you!

Ed Thorp, the father of card counting, is a professor of mathematics who was the first to prove that the casino could be beaten in blackjack. Other blackjack players had used rudimentary techniques to take advantage of the 3 to 2 payout for a blackjack, but he was the first to make it into a rigorous strategy that works reliably.

He gambled in casinos throughout the country especially in Reno, Tahoe, and Vegas.

And he did all this in the mid-1960s.

But Thorp didn’t just beat blackjack – he also gambled (and won at) games like baccarat and roulette.

There’s much you can learn about the subtle art of casino gambling from such a man, and this post goes into detail about five of those lessons.

Beating Blackjack Might Be More Science Than Art

Even that might not be entirely accurate. After all, blackjack is just a math problem. Once you’ve solved the math problem, the rest is execution.

Of course, the execution is where beating blackjack becomes more of an art form.

If you want to learn how to count cards, you can find plenty of good resources online, but I suggest starting with a good blackjack book like Blackbelt in Blackjack by Arnold Snyder. He compares counting cards to a martial art – which isn’t a bad comparison.

The art of being a successful card counter has several aspects. Counting cards is just one of them. Avoiding casino scrutiny is another big one. Building and maintaining a bankroll is another.

Making serious money at the blackjack tables is rarely an individual endeavor. For one thing, coming up with a bankroll big enough for serious card counting is beyond a lot of people. Investors are common.

Advanced techniques in card counting require dealing with a team, too. This means having confederates (not dealers) on the casino floor with you. Getting along with a team of advantage gamblers is an art all by itself.

Becoming a Comp Wizard Is Another Related Casino Art Form

One of the best books I ever read about casino gambling was Comp City by Max Rubin. In it, he explains how to become a “comp wizard.”

One of the interesting things about being a comp wizard is that part of the approach is radically different from being an advantage player. Card counters do their best to go unnoticed in the casino. If the casino figures out what card counters are up to, they’ll run them off their blackjack games. Sometimes they’ll even ban them from the casino altogether.

But comp wizards want the casino to notice their play. They also want the pit bosses to overestimate how much they’re gambling so that they will over-reward them with casino comps. Being loud and noticeable is part and parcel of being a comp wizard.

The approach to this is simple enough:

You master basic strategy blackjack and are rigorous about game selection so that you’re only playing blackjack games where the house has almost no edge to speak of. This means finding games with favorable rules and playing PERFECT cards.

Casinos award comps based on their average hold at a blackjack game. Since most gambler don’t use basic strategy or misuse it, the casino often sees an actual edge of between 2% and 4%. They calculate comps based on this average.

But if you’re playing with perfect basic strategy at the right table, you might only face an edge of 0.3% or so.

For example, if you leave the table for a few minutes to visit the restroom, the casino is still clocking you as if you were sitting there.

If you superstitiously decide to sit out a hand or two because of a gut feeling, you’re also reducing the number of hands you’re playing per hour.

These techniques combine with perfect basic strategy to minimize your average hourly losses while simultaneously convincing the casino that you’re putting more money into action than you really are.

This means the comps you get are worth more than you lost, making you a comp wizard.

But How Do You Beat Roulette?

I don’t think it’s practical to try to beat roulette today, but understanding the mathematical principles behind how men like Thorp beat roulette back in the day can make you a more artful gambler.

The first thing to understand is how the house makes money from roulette. The assumption is that every number has an equal probability of coming up on a spin. Since there are 38 numbers on a standard wheel, you’re looking at a probability for any specific number coming up of 1/38. That’s the same thing as 37 to 1 odds.

But the bet pays off at 35 to 1 odds, which means that over 38 spins, the casino will win 37 units compared to the 35 units you win.

What if the roulette wheel were somehow imperfect, though?

What if a specific set of numbers on the roulette wheel came up a little more often than 1/38 of the time, while other numbers come up a little less than 1/38 of the time?

The casino would still make the same profit unless a player noticed the difference.

For example, suppose one number comes up 1/34 of the time, while another number comes up 1/42 of the time.

If you bet on the 33 to 1 shot, over time, you’d see a profit. You’d collect 35 units in winnings for every 33 units you lost.

To find such a discrepancy, you’d need to spend some time “clocking” the roulette wheel’s results. The more results you record and analyze, the more confident you can be that you’ve found a biased wheel.

Unfortunately, most casinos use state of the art roulette wheels that have true odds. They change out these wheels before the machinery starts wearing out. And they also switch out wheels from table to table during slow periods to make clocking their wheels impossible.

Beating roulette sounds cool, but it’s practically impossible in today’s casino environment.

Gambling With Reckless Abandon Can Be Fun, Too

I’ve written before about the best way to double your money in the casino. It’s just a matter of making one big bet on a nearly 50/50 shot. It’s a foolish thing to do with your money, but if you’re a gambler, it sure does make your odds of doubling your money improve.

This is called a “maximum boldness” strategy. William Bergstrom went down in history for using this strategy when gambling in Las Vegas. I hesitate to call it “artful,” but it’s another example of how understanding a basic mathematical principle can be useful for a gambler.

Here’s the premise:

Roulette is the classic example.

If you bet $100 on black, you have a 47.37% probability of doubling your money. You’ll either double your money or lose all your money.

But if you bet $50 on black twice, you must win twice to double your money.

You’ll win twice in a row only 47.37% X 47.37% of the time, or 22.42% of the time.

You’ll lose twice in a row 27.7% of the time.

The rest of the time, you’ll lose one bet and win one bet, which will cause you to break even.

Knowing What You’re Doing on the Casino Floor Can Seem Magical

One of my favorite things to do on a date is to take a woman who hasn’t spent a lot of time at the casino gambling and teach her how to play the table games. Most of the time, she won’t have any trouble figuring out how to play slot machines.

But knowing how to play the table games can seem like magic to someone with no experience.

Of course, most casino table games are intentionally designed to be easy for a newcomer to play. This doesn’t meant that such games are easy to play well.

And, of course, the game that’s most fun in the casino anyway is craps, and that’s not an easy game to pick up quickly if you’re completely new to casino gambling. It’s worth it to learn how to play craps, though.

Also, blackjack is an easy game to play, but playing the game well requires mastery of basic strategy. That’s something fun to show off and to teach, too.

Conclusion

There’s so much more to say about being able to gamble in a casino with finesse, but no one wants to read a 100,000 word blog post.

Those are the 5 best tips I can think of about how to become a more artful casino gambler, though.

The coronavirus has changed how land-based casinos operate in many ways. First off, gambling establishments now require players to wear a mask when they’re on the gaming floor.

Secondly, players must maintain proper distancing from each other. Guidelines suggest that gamblers sit with at least one slot machine or table game seat in between them.

But one of the lesser-known changes that’s taking place in casinos is the rise of electronic gaming. Electronic terminals have become much more popular in brick-and-mortar casinos ever since COVID-19 hit.

The increased popularity of real money online casinos during COVID-19 was entirely expected. After all, many gamblers feel like staying home so they have less chance to catch the virus.

However, the rising popularity of electronic games wasn’t as expected. I’ll discuss more on this phenomenon below along with reasons for why people are looking past live table games towards the machines.

More People Are Playing Electronic Table Games

Casinos provide electronic terminals as an alternative to regular table games. These games allow players to gamble in relative isolation just like with slot machines.

Electronic gaming had already earned its spot on casino floors. But more and more people are playing these machines than ever before today.

According to Vegas Inc, game developer Scientific Games has seen demand for their electronic table games triple since COVID-19 hit in March. Most of this demand is centered on dealer-assisted setups, which feature a single dealer who serves up to 250 terminals.

Station Casinos previously shunned the idea of widespread electronic gaming across its properties. The company has since changed its tune, though, with the coronavirus still persisting. They’ve now installed terminals at all of their Las Vegas properties.

Why Electronic Games Over Live Tables Games?

Under normal circumstances, many gamblers prefer live table games over the electronic versions. The primary reason why they visit land-based casinos in the first place is for a social experience.

Terminals don’t offer the same social atmosphere as tables. But during the COVID-19 era, they do a feature some very specific benefits, including those covered below.

Easier For Players to Social Distance

As mentioned before, many casinos require players to remain at least one seat apart. Even with this precautionary measure, though, gamblers may be close enough to spread the coronavirus.

Electronic terminals are even further apart. Therefore, gamblers don’t need to worry as much about catching the virus when they stay at their machine.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that one is completely COVID-proof when playing electronic games. But they can at least lower their chances of getting the virus when sticking to the machines.

Less Labor Needed

Casinos are stuck in a bad spot right now. On one front, they’re coming off of being shut down and trying to make a comeback financially.

The same process is necessary for electronic machines as well. Employees need to sanitize each game and ensure that it’s clean for the next player.

However, casinos don’t need to employ dealers to run these games. Instead, the players themselves operate the machines.

Of course, dealer-assisted electronic gaming does feature at least one croupier. But the same dealer can serve up to 250 machines at once.

Potential to Attract Millennial Gamblers

Millennials aren’t attracted to the same type of casino games as previous generations. Specifically, most millennials don’t spend much time playing slots.

However, young gamers do enjoy playing table games. They especially like skill-based games like blackjack, Caribbean stud, and three-card poker.

That said, electronic gaming already appeals to millennials due to the fact that it’s based on table games. It offers even more appeal when considering that it runs through machines.

An older gambler may be intimidated by a new type of gambling machine. Younger players, though, have spent much of a lives on devices like smartphones and tablets. They’re perfectly comfortable transitioning to new gaming terminals.

Casinos Can Be Profitable with Lower Stakes

Brick-and-mortar casinos typically feature minimum bets ranging from $10 to $25. Compare this to online casinos, which allow you to play baccarat, blackjack, and other games for just $1 per hand.

Electronic terminals alleviate these costs to some degree. Again, only one dealer is needed to run the game for an entire bank of machines.

Therefore, operators don’t have to charge as much for minimum wagers. They can require players to risk a dollar or less and still make plenty of money.

The option is always available to bet more if you feel like doing so. But the key advantage is that you don’t have to risk as much as with regular land-based tables.

Has Electronic Gaming Truly Arrived?

Electronic terminals have been around for a while. Brick-and-mortar casinos feature both dealer-assisted and solo electronic gaming such as roulette and craps.

Again, this type of gambling serves as a nice alternative to regular table games. But it’s never come close to taking over the table sector.

However, the coronavirus is making this type of gaming more popular. Gamblers are choosing machines over tables for multiple reasons:

I wouldn’t say that the electronic gambling era has truly arrived. Instead, it’s merely been given more rise thanks to COVID-19.

It will still remain a viable part of the casino market—perhaps even more so—once the coronavirus wanes. But it’s not going to completely replace live table games. The latter offers special aspects that can’t be mimicked by anything else in the casino.

However, electronic terminals might gain a little more space on floors following the pandemic. More people will feel comfortable playing these machines, which will, in turn, make them slightly more popular long term.

How Can You Get Started with Electronic Table Games?

After reading this, you may be considering whether electronic table games are worth your time. You might be especially interested due to the current pandemic.

If you haven’t played electric terminals in land-based casinos before, then you may appreciate some tips on doing so. Here are the steps for getting started with these games.

Step 1: Insert Your Money

You begin by inserting your cash into a machine just like with a slot machine. Each terminal has a bill acceptor that’s similar to a slot. You’ll see the credits come up on your touchscreen.

Step 2: Selection Your Chip Denomination

Each terminal and casino can differ in terms of what chip denominations they offer. Generally speaking, though, you’ll be able to use chips worth $0.25, $1, $5, $10, $25, and/or $100.

Step 3: Use the Touchscreen to Place Bets

You’ll see a digital table game setup on your touchscreen. You push the different options on this screen to place bets and decide on actions (like in blackjack).

Step 4: Confirm Your Bets

The dealer only gives you to long to make decisions—just like with live gambling tables. Therefore, you need to place bets within a reasonable amount of time. Once satisfied with your selections, select the “Bet” button to confirm everything.

Step 5: Re-bet or Start Over

The dealer will play out the round to determine results. Your bet will be paid (if successful) electronically afterward. At this point, you can either re-bet with the previous choice(s) or start over and pick a new wager.

Conclusion

Electronic gaming didn’t arrive yesterday. It’s been available in land-based casinos for quite some time. However, it has picked up steam in recent months due to the coronavirus.

Some gamblers are apprehensive to sit in close proximity to other players due to COVID. Terminals make for suitable alternatives due to their distance from each other.

If you’re worried about catching the virus in land-based casinos, then you might consider electronic gaming. It may not be exactly like live table games, but it still provides an opportunity to enjoy exciting gambling action.

Gambling is almost exclusively done in the evening and is usually associated with fun, a little drinking, and a lot of laughter. It’s not something the vast majority of people take seriously, and it’s not something that would ever be done in the morning.

But unlike drinking, which when done in the morning would be heavily frowned upon, there are many professional gamblers who make a living at casinos.

For these serious gamblers, finding the right time to gamble is critical. Just like any job, a regular schedule of work is going to be important for success.

That’s why I recommend you do what the pros do and gamble in the morning instead of at night. Here’s why.

1 – You’re Going to Be Sharper Mentally

I think above everything else, I’m going to tell you in this article that this is the most crucial reason to gamble in the morning—you’re going to be sharper mentally.

This is huge. Playing something like real money blackjack, and trying to walk away with more than you walked in with by counting cards, is something that requires a great deal of focus and concentration.

For most people, the time of the day when they’re at their peak mentally is going to be a few hours after they wake up.

Now I’m not saying you need to wake up at the crack of dawn and start gambling, or that you need to gamble the moment you wake up—I’m just saying you need to avoid waiting until night time to start playing.

Think about it like this—if this was your job, would you wait to go to work at 6 p.m. if you woke up at 7 a.m.? Of course, you wouldn’t. You’d be lucky if you made it past 10 p.m.

It makes far more sense to gamble during the day when you’re fresh, you’ve had your coffee and breakfast, and your mind is at its peak.

Remember, you’re not clocking in or out here, so if your goal is to gamble professionally, no one is saying you have to get up at 5 a.m. to achieve that goal. You can wait until the time is right for you—when you’d wake up normally.

There’s another excellent reason why you should always gamble in the morning.

2 – You’re Less Likely to Drink

Another good reason you want to gamble in the morning is that you’re going to be much less likely to drink.

If you want to treat this like a job and be serious about gambling, you need to treat it the same way you would a real job.

Would you drink on the job? Of course not.

Even the worst workers who might actually drink on the job are at least going to wait until the end of the day to do so, right? I hope so, anyway.

If you gamble at night, you’re going to be tempted to have a drink or three, and as the night goes on, you might make gambling mistakes by drinking far more than you intended to drink.

Now, of course, there’s always going to be someone out there who is going to tell you that they’re a better gambler after they’ve had a few drinks, but the reality is that this kind of thinking is nonsense for most people.

You wouldn’t tell your boss that a few drinks at 10 a.m. will make you better at combing through complex spreadsheets, so why would it be okay for gambling?

The problem is that drinking and gambling are closely associated in the mind of the public because of movies and TV and the general idea that gambling is something done to relax and take it easy.

For the pro gambler, this mindset has to go. Gambling is going to be best done in the morning when you’re going to be sober, steady, and ready to concentrate.

3 – You Won’t Be Up All Night and Become Tired the Next Day

For almost everyone, staying up all night isn’t natural. Your circadian rhythm is designed to wake you up in the morning and let you sleep through the night.

If you break that cycle, you break it at both ends. When you stay up late, your mental acuity goes down because your body is ready to sleep, even if you aren’t.

If you gamble at night, let’s say you’re feeling good and that you’re on top of your game. You’re playing poker, for example. You’re reading your opponents right, and you’re getting some fantastic luck.

What happens? You develop an unhealthy casino habit of playing until 3 or 4 in the morning. When you wake up the next day, you’re exhausted, but because you’re trying to make this a full-time job, you need to get back to the tables and play some blackjack.

So you find yourself suddenly struggling. You’re so tired that you’re making bad bets and just aren’t paying attention.

Sure, it can be hard to find a poker tournament that is going on all morning, but they certainly exist. That being said, casinos are open all night generally. They have no problem with you coming through at 8 a.m. and spending money, especially if you’re tired and throwing your money away.

Be smart—Gamble in the morning.

4 – You’ll Beat the Casino Crowds

I think this might be a more critical reason to gamble in the morning than any others. I don’t know about you, but I can’t exactly concentrate well when I’m surrounded by people who are all drinking, laughing, and carrying on.

The crowds at casinos can become enormous, and with there being tons of slot machines around, there’s noise and lights that serve as constant distractions while you’re trying to make some money.

When I work, I need to be able to focus. I need to close out the outside world and work just on the task at hand.

Now sure, there are plenty of jobs that inherently have a lot of distractions, but gambling doesn’t have to be one of them—if you gamble in the morning.

There’s going to be a sweet spot during the morning where everyone who is up late pa