Las Vegas Gambling Information

Certain factors can help you best determine which slot machines you would like to play on to get the most out of your money   The key things to look for on a slot machine are:

Objective

Get a higher point value than the dealer without going over 21.

Point Values

Card point values are as follows:

• An Ace can either be 1 point or 11 points
• 2 through 9 have the point value of the card itself (Example: A card showing 3 would be 3 points)
• 10, Jack, Queen and King are all worth 10 points each

Each player starts with two cards.  The point values for the cards are added together to get a starting point value.  Any combination of an Ace with a 10, Jack, Queen or King is called a natural blackjack and will automatically win.

Types of Bets

With blackjack, there are multiple types of bets that can be made:

• Player Bet: Bet on your own hand.
• Insurance: Optional bet when the dealer’s face up card is an ace. Pays 2:1 for dealer Blackjack.
• Surrender: If you don’t believe you will win you can surrender half of your bet and keep the other half.
• Split: When dealt two cards with the same face value, the cards can be split into two separate hands if desired. The bet amount will need to be doubled if the hand is split.
• Double Down: If you believe you will win you can increase your bet by as much as the original bet amount. When doubling down you will only get one more card from the dealer.

Rules of Play

Each player places a bet and then the dealer deals two cards face up to each player and two cards (one face up and one face down) to the dealer. Play then proceeds as follows:

• Player has a Blackjack, dealer does not:  Player wins 3:2 or 6:5 on their original bet amount (Player win on a blackjack is based off of table payout rules. If unsure of payout ask dealer if it is a 3:2 or 6:5 table. 3:2 has a larger payout for a Blackjack.)
• Player has a Blackjack, dealer also has a Blackjack: The game is a tie (push) and the player gets to keep their bet
• Player does not have a Blackjack, dealer has a Blackjack:  Player loses their bet
• Neither the player nor the dealer has a blackjack:
  • The player assesses if they want to make any special bets and place those bets if desired
  • The player can then choose to stay with their current hand (stand) or request an additional card (hit)
  • The player can continue to hit if needed until they are ready to stand or until they go over 21 (bust). If the player busts then they lose their bet.
  • If the player does not bust and decides to stand with their current cards then play passes to the next player
  • Once all players either stand or go bust, play then passes to the dealer
  • The dealer will turn over the card that is face down. The dealer will continue to hit until his point value is 17 or greater
  • Winning and losing bets are determined as follows:
    • If the dealer busts, all players that did not bust will be paid 1:1 on their bet
    • If the dealer does not bust then all players that had a higher point value than the dealer will be paid 1:1 on their bet. All players that had a lower point value than the dealer will lose their bet.

Blackjack Strategy Cards

Blackjack Strategy cards are also available from major online retailers and third party websites.  These cards help determine when it is best to continue betting or when to stand.  Most casinos will allow you to use them but there may be certain restrictions on their use (cannot be laid on the table, etc.)

Basic Rules

The game starts with one or more players placing a bet on the Pass Line and the puck in the “Off” position.

Dice go around the table clockwise from player to player. Players rolling dice are called “Shooters”.

After bets are place on the Pass Line, the shooter throws the come out roll. Results of the roll are as follows:

• If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, bets on the Pass Line are paid even money and the game ends.
• If the shooter rolls a 2, 3 or 12, bets on the Pass Line are taken by the dealer and the game ends.
• If the shooter rolls any other number then that number becomes the “point”. The puck is moved to the “On” position and placed on the “point” value on the table. Refer to the section below for more information on play when the puck is in the “On” position.

Game play while puck is “On”

Before the next roll, backup bets are allowed on the pass line as follows:

• Players can backup their pass line bet 3 times if the “point” is 4 or 10. (Example: A bet of $5 can be increased by an additional $15)
• Players can backup their pass line bet 4 times if the “point” is 5 or 9. (Example: A bet of $5 can be increased by an additional $20)
• Players can backup their pass line bet 5 times if the “point” is 6 or 8. (Example: A bet of $5 can be increased by an additional $25)

Before each roll before the game ends, the following bets are allowed:

• Come Bets: Players will lose this bet if the next roll is a 2, 3 or 12. Players will win even money if the next roll is a 7 or 11. For all other values, the “Come” bet is placed on the “point” and players can back it up (using the guidelines above) before the next roll.

Play continues until the shooter rolls either the “point” or a 7. Results of the roll are as follows:

• If the shooter rolls a 7, all Pass Line and “point” bets are lost. “Come” bets are paid even money. The game ends and the puck is moved to the “Off” position.
• If the shooter rolls the initial “point” then all Pass Line bets are paid even money. The game ends and the puck is moved to the “Off” position.
• If the shooter rolls an 11, “Come” bets are paid even money and play continues.
• If the shooter rolls a “point” that is not the initial “point”, all players that have a bet on that “point” are paid even money. Play then continues.
• For all other rolls, play continues.

Additional Bets

Field Bet: This bet can be made before any roll and is placed in the “Field” area of the table. If the shooter rolls a 3, 4, 9, 10 or 11 then the player wins even money. If the shooter rolls a 2 then the player is paid double. If the shooter rolls a 12 then the player is paid triple. For all other rolls, the bet is lost.

Place Bet: This bet can be made before any roll but is typically done before the point is established. It is made by placing the bet on the number at the top of the table. With this bet, players are betting that the number they put their bet on will be rolled before a 7 is rolled. A winning bet on 4 or 10 will pay 9:5. A winning bet on 5 or 9 will pay 7:5 and a winning bet on 6 or 8 will pay 7:6.

Buy Bet: Similar to a Place Bet but the player pays a 5% commission (come casinos only take this on a win) and wins are paid based on true odds (2:1 for 4 or 10, 3:2 for 5 or 9 and 6:5 on 6 or 8).

Propositional Bet: This bet can be made before any roll. The bet is placed in the correct section in the center of the table. The player is betting that a 2, 3, 7, 11 or 12 will be rolled next. Winning odds vary from casino to casino. Refer to the table in the casino to see payouts. NOTE: A “Craps” bet is betting that the shooter will roll a 2, 3 or 12.

Don’t Pass Line: This bet can be made while the puck is in the “Off” position and is the opposte of a Pass Line bet. If the first roll is a 7 or 11 then the bet is lost. If the first roll is a 2 or 3 then the player is paid even money. If the first roll is a 12 then the bet is a push (no win, no loss).

Don’t Come Bet: This bet can be made while the puck is in the “On” position and is the opposite of a Come bet. The player is betting that a “point” value will not be rolled before a 7 is rolled.

Hardways Bet: This bet can be made before any roll and is placed in the correct section in the center of the table. The player is betting that a pair of 2’s, 3’s, 4’s or 5’s will be rolled next. Winning odds vary from casino to casino. Refer to the table in the casino to see payouts.

Objective

Get as close as possible to 9 points.

Card Point Values

Individual Cards:

• A = 1 point
• 2-9 = point value of the card
• 10, J, Q, K = 0 points

Multiple Cards:

• If Card A + Card B is greater than 10 then subtract 10 for the card total
• If Card A + Card B is less than 10 then that value is the card total

Special Card Combinations

There are two special card combinations:

• 8 + 10 = Natural 8 (second strongest hand)
• 9 + 10 = Natural 9 (strongest hand)

Types of Bets

There are three types of bets:

• Bet on the banker
• Bet on the player
• Bet on a tie

Rules of Play

Each player places a bet and then the dealer draws two cards for the dealer and two cards for each player.

Each player takes turns reviewing and revealing the cards they were dealt.

Point values are calculated:

• If either player or banker has an 8 or a 9 then play is terminated and a winner is announced
• If neither the player nor the banker has an 8 or a 9 then play continues as follows:
  • Player:
    • If the player has between 0-5 then the player draws a third card
    • If the player has 6 or 7 then the player stands
  • Banker:
    • If the player did not draw a third card then the banker would use the same player rules for determining whether to draw a card or not
    • If the player drew a third card then the banker will do as follows:
      • Banker total = 2 or less, banker draws a card
      • Banker total = 3, banker draws a card unless the player’s third card was an 8
      • Banker total = 4, banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 2-7
      • Banker total = 5, banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 4-7
      • Banker total = 6, banker draws a third card if the player’s third card was 6 or 7
      • Banker total = 7, banker stands

After all final points are calculated, a winner is announced.

All losing bets will be collected and all winning bets will be paid (1:1 on Player bets, 95% on dealer bets).

Guidelines and Recommendations:

Before gambling, be sure to review the following guidelines and recommendations as well as the types of bets that can be made:

• There are two types of roulette wheels used in casinos. To have better odds, look for a roulette wheel that just has one zero space on the wheel.
• Every player will be provided with a certain color of chips so they can easily identify their own chips.
• Chips can be whatever value you want them to be worth. Buttons are used by the dealer to know how much each players chips are worth.
• Cash in your chips before you leave the table. They cannot be cashed out anywhere else in the casino.
• Players can make bets (see types of bets below) anytime after the dealer removes the winning marker and before the dealer waves their hand over the table.
• Anytime you win at roulette, your original bet stays where it is. If you do not want the same bet on the next spin you will need to remove your chips.

Types of Bets

Outside Bets: These are bets that are in any of the boxes outside of the numbers. These bets pay as follows:

• 1-18: Even money
• Even: Even money
• Red: Even money
• Black: Even money
• Odd: Even money
• 19-36: Even money
• 1st 12: 2:1
• 2nd 12: 2:1
• 3rd 12: 2:1
• A column of twelve numbers: 2:1

Inside Bets: These are bets that are placed in the number area. These bets pay as follows:

• 6 number bet (Two rows of three numbers each): 5:1
• Corner bet (Placed on the corner of four numbers): 8:1
• 3 number bet (A single row of three numbers): 11:1
• Split bet (Placed on the line between two numbers): 17:1
• Straight up bet (Placed on a single number): 35:1