Video Poker History

Video poker emerged with the first PCs in the mid-1970s. In 1980s people started to notice that playing video poker on a machine is less intimidating than playing at a table and the popularity of the game rose. The first video poker was named Draw Poker and the lowest possible hand was two of pairs. When it was changed to Jacks or Better, the popularity of the game increased even more. Nowadays video poker is a standard casino floor game, and is also available online with hundreds of different variations and thousands pay tables.

Video Poker Rules

Video poker is very similar to a card game poker. The main difference is that players play against the machine, however the purpose of the game is the same - players have to get the highest winning hand. After placing the bet, by inserting a coin or a ticket, players will receive five cards. They have the opportunity to keep or replace those cards. Then the machine defines the winning combinations and pays the win depending on the pay table. The payouts are decided based on hand rarity, the game variation and other factors.

Basic Poker Hands

Royal Flush

Top five cards of the same suit:



Straight Flush

Five cards of the same suit in a sequence (Aces can play low in straight and straight flush), e.g.:


Four of a Kind

A hand that contains all four cards of one rank and any other card, e.g.:


Full House

A hand consisting of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank, e.g.:


Flush

A hand that contains five cards of the same suit that are not in sequence, e.g.:


Straight

A hand consisting of five cards in a sequence with at least two different suits, e.g.:

Three of a Kind

A hand that contains three cards of the same rank and two of a different rank (also not the same as each other), e.g.:

Two pair

A hand consisting of two cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank (matching each other, but different from the first pair) and one card of either rank, e.g.:

One pair

A hand that contains two cards of the same rank and three cards which are not of this rank and not the same as each other. Generally, in video poker the lowest pair worth anything is two Jacks:


Video Poker Variations & Strategy

A correct strategy increases players chance to win the game and earn good money. Nowadays, there are many video poker variations. In order to win players should understand their rules and strategy before playing.

Jacks or Better

The most common variation of video poker with a rather low variation. Just like the name suggests, the lowest card in this variation has to contain a pair of jacks or better. The basic strategy to play Jacks or Better involves these steps:

• Players should keep the hand if they get a Royal Flush, Straight or Four of a Kind;

• Players should draw one card to get the fifth, if they have four cards towards a Royal flush;

• Players should replace one card if they have four cards for a straight flush;

• If players have three of a kind or three cards to the above hands they should draw two cards;

• Players should draw one card if they have two pair or four cards to a flush;

• With a pair or two high cards such as jack, king, queen, or ace players should draw three cards.

Deuces Wild

One of the most popular video poker variation with wild cards. As the name suggests the cards with the value of two (deuces) in the deck can be substituted for any other card, for any rank, in any suit. This adds some new hands such as five of a kind, wild royal flush or four deuces. Below are some tips which can be helpful to win the game:

If players receive:

• Four Deuces - they should hold all five cards;

• Three Deuces – they should keep a wild royal flush and five-of-a-kind;

• Two Deuces - they should keep any four cards to a royal flush;

• One Deuce - they should keep all paying hands, with the exception of four cards to a royal flush.

No deuce means that players should:

• Keep all paying hands, except hold four cards to a royal flush;

• Keep a four-card straight flush;

• Keep a three-card to a royal flush;

• Keep any one pair;

• Keep a four-card flush;

• Keep a consecutive four-card straight;

• Keep three cards to a straight flush;

• Keep any two of tens, jacks, queens or kings, if they’re in the same suit.

Jokers Wild

Just like the name suggests, Joker Poker is played with a joker added to the deck. Joker functions as a wild card and can substitute any card in the deck, which adds new hands to the play, such as five of a kind or the wild royal flush. Additionally, depending on the variation the lowest paying hands are changed: Kings or Better, Aces or Better and Two Pair or Better. Two types of strategies can be distinguished here:

1) Strategy for hands that do not have the joker:

• If players are dealt four of a kind they should discard the fifth card in order to get a joker;

• If players are dealt four cards to a royal flush, to a straight flush, to a straight or to a flush they should discard the fifth card in order to receive the five card hand with or without a joker;

• If players are dealt three cards to a royal flush, to a straight flush, to a straight or to a flush they should discard the remaining two cards;

• If players are dealt three of a kind they should discard the remaining two cards;

• If players are dealt two pairs they should discard the fifth card in order to get a full house with or without a joker;

• Players should hold on to a pair, two cards to a royal flush and two cards to a straight flush and discard the remaining three cards;

• In all other cases players should discard all five cards;

2) Strategy for hands that have a joker:

• Players should keep the following four card combinations and discard the fifth card: four of a kind, four cards to a royal flush, four cards to a straight flush, four cards to a straight and four cards to a flush;

• Players should keep the following three card combinations and discard the remaining two cards: three of a kind and three cards to a straight flush;

• In all other cases players should keep the joker and discard the remaining four cards.

Roulette History

Roulette is a French game invented in the 18th century by Blaise Pascal, a crazy inventor who wanted to find the perpetual motion. After engineering a device in a form of a big wheel for his experiments, one of his friends came with an idea to use this device for gambling. The name itself means “little wheel” in French and it is one of the most popular casino games of chance. Roulette rules are not very difficult. We can distinguish two main types of Roulette: American roulette wheel and European roulette wheel. In 1842 roulette was played in the first Paris casino established by Francois and Luis Blanc. Luis and his brother François introduced the single 0 style roulette wheel in order to compete against other casinos offering the traditional wheel with single and double zero house pockets. They also founded the first casinos in Monte Carlo. The legend says that Luis and François sold a soul to devil for the secret of roulette because the total sum of all the numbers on roulette wheels equals 666. In United States roulette was introduced by French emigrants. American casinos were not satisfied with the amount of winnings in roulette. In order to make better profits they added double zero. This is the reason why European roulette is still the most popular roulette version.

European Roulette Table	American Roulette Table

The Play

To play the game players use chips to place bets on what numbers they think will come up. The chip are placed on a betting mat, their place depending on the type of bet the player wants to make. After all bets are made a dealer spins the roulette wheel in one direction and rolls a small ball in the opposite direction, which will fall into one of the slots containing the same numbers as on the mat.

American Roulette Rules

The betting area start with the 0 and 00 at the top of the layout and goes through numbers 1 to 36 to the end of the table. When either zero turns up, all bets (excluding a direct bet on the selected zero) are slot. This means that the odds are worse for the punter and the Casino's cut is increased. Because of that American Roulette is not really popular. Especially among online players who can easily access European Roulette in almost every online casino.

European Roulette Rules

There is only one 0 which means the punter's odds are a little better. Additionally, European roulette often uses the „en prison” and „la partage” rules which are really favourable to the players.

En Prison

This rule applies only to 1 to 1 bets. If a zero turn up on the roulette, you have two options:

- get back half of your bet; - imprison the bet, i.e. leave it on the table for the next spin. If zero turn up again, or a number that does not match the bet, you lose the whole bet, but if the results matches the bet, your money is returned.

La Partage

Similarly to en prison, la partake takes effect when a zero turns up, but this time you are not given a choice, but simply get back half of your bet.

It is really advisable to look for casinos that use these rules as they really favour the player.

Roulette Bets

Bet	Description	Odds	Probability (European)
Outside Bets
Even Odd Bet	Placed on fields „even” or „odd” and covers 18 numbers. Zero is not covered.	1 to 1	48.65%
Red Black Bet	Placed on fields „red” or „black” and covers 18 numbers. Zero is not covered.	1 to 1	48.65%
High Low Bet	Placed on fields „1-18” or „19-36” and covers 18 numbers.	1 to 1	48.65%
Dozen Bet	Placed on fields „1st 12”, „2nd 12”, or „3rd 12” and covers 12 numbers.	2 to 1	32.43%
Column Bet	Placed on field at the end of vertical column and covers all columns (12 numbers). Zero is not covered.	2 to 1	32.43%
Inside Bets
Six-Line Bet	Placed on the end of line between two rows. Bet covers the 6 numbers in two adjacent rows.	5 to 1	16.22%
Corner Bet	Placed on the common point of four adjacent numbers and covers all of them.	8 to 1	10.81%
Street    Bet	Placed on the end of row and covers this row (3 numbers).	11 to 1	8.11%
Split    Bet	Placed between two numbers and covers them.	17 to 1	5.41%
Straight Bet	Placed on a single number field and covers only one number.	35 to 1	2.70%

Additionally, if you are playing American Roulette, the following bet can be made:

Bet	Description	Odds	Probability(American)
Basket Bet	Placed on the corners of 0, 00 and the upper line of 2, it covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. This bet has a 7.89% house edge and is the worst odd you can possibly make.	6 to 1	13.16%

Roulette Strategy

There is no real strategy based on some mathematical equations that can be employed while playing a game of chance such as Roulette. Anyone that tries to sell some amazing betting systems and playing strategies is simply trying to rip people off their money.

Pai Gow History

Pai Gow is an old Chinese game. At the beginning it was played with tiles which were very similar to dominoes. Nowadays, this game is played with cards, which makes it very similar to poker. From many different types of Pai Gow, rules from the 19th century are the most common until today. At that time it was one of the most popular games in China, from where Chinese immigrants brought it to the United States in 1980’s. Initially, Paw Gow was seen in California, and then in 1987 it started to be one of the games offered by Las Vegas casinos.

Pai Gow Poker Rules

Pai Gow is played with one deck of 52 cards plus one joker. The joker functions as a wild card and can be used as an ace, or to complete a flush, a straight or a straight flush. To start the game, the player has to place the ante bet. After that, the player will receive seven cards which must be divided into two hands. The first hand consists of five cards and is called the behind hand. The second one contains two cards and is called the front hand. Players need to structure the best five card poker hand that is possible in a given situation. The values of five card hands are the same as in poker, with small differences, which will be noted below:

Five Aces

The highest ranked hand in Pai Gow, which contains 4 Aces and a Joker:



Royal Flush

Top five cards of the same suit:


Straight Flush

Five cards of the same suit in a sequence. The EXCEPTION from the usual poker values is that in most casinos the hand you see below is actually ranked second highest after Royal Flush:


Four of a Kind

A hand that contains all four cards of one rank and any other card, e.g.:


Full House

A hand consisting of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank, e.g.:


Flush

A hand that contains five cards of the same suit that are not in sequence, e.g.:


Straight

A hand consisting of five cards in a sequence with at least two different suits, e.g.:


Three of a Kind

A hand that contains three cards of the same rank and two of a different rank (also not the same as each other), e.g.:


Two pair

A hands consisting of two cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank (matching each other, but different from the first pair) and one card of either rank, e.g.:


One pair

A hand that contains tow cards of the same rank and three cards which are not of this rank and not the same as each other, e.g.:


No pair

A hand that does not meet any of the above requirements. The only meaningful card in the hand is the highest card since the hand can still win in a showdown with another no-pair hand. Example of a no-pair hand:


Arranging the hands

The player has to arrange his/her cards is such a manner that the behind hand is higher than the front hand.

Playing sequence

After arranging their cards players place their two hands face down. When everyone is ready, the dealer’s cards are exposed and he also arranges then in 2 hands. At this point all players’ cards are exposed. The results are determined by comparing the player’s behind hand with the dealer’s behind hand and the player’s front hand with the dealer’s front hand. The following results are possible:

- If the player wins with both hands the dealer pays out the player’s stake;

- If the player wins with one hand and the dealer with one hand no money changes hands (a “push”);

- If the dealer wins with both hands he/she wins the player’s stake;

- If either hand is tied then the dealer wins that particular hand, i.e. if both hands are tied, or the dealer wins one hand and the other is tied then the dealer wins. Finally, if the player wins one hand and the other is a tie then it is a push.

Pai Gow Poker Glossary

Co-banking – the player can also works as the banker during a game. This is not always available in casinos;

Copies - also means tie. The bet is given to the banker with a tie;

Dragon Hand - this is an extra hand offered to the empty chair at a table. Some casinos allow for the dragon hand to be played by a player;

Behind Hand - this is a five card hand in Pai Gow;

Front Hand - the two card hand that is in front of the five card hand;

High Card - this highest card in the hand;

High Hand - see Behind Hand;

Low Hand – see Front.

Baccarat History

Baccarat is a card game invented in Italy in 1492. The game was based on an old Etruscan ritual of the nine gods, who prayed to a blond virgin waiting for her to throw a nine-sided die. The result of the die decided her fate. If an eight or a nine was thrown, she would become the priestess. If she threw a six or seven, she would be banned from any further religious activities. If she threw any number less than six, she would walk into the sea. The first name of that game was Baccarat, however after traveling for centuries through countries and continents, it was acquiring different names, rules and variations. Today players can find three popular versions of Baccarat: the French variation is chemin de fer and it became very popular in England, where they changed the rules and name of the game to „European baccarat, punto banco (otherwise called „North American baccarat”) and baccarat banque (or „à deux tableaux”). While punto banco is purely a game of change where no strategy or skill can be used, baccarat chemin de fer and baccarat banque allow players to make choices, which means skill is involved. Although a few rules have been changed in every country, the style has remained the same. It has kept its elegance and is still one of the most attractive games to the high rollers and individuals with high social standings in every society. Nowadays, players can play Baccarat in every casino.

Baccarat Rules

Punto banco

The most popular type of baccarat game. Punto banco is played using a shoe containing shuffled cards from 4, 6 or 8 decks. Two hands of two cards are dealt (player and bank) and the players have to decide which will win in a match-up. The winner is the hand closest to a total of nine.

Cards value

 = 1

 through  = value equals their number, e.g. 2 is worth 2 points

 = 0

If the total value of the hand is in double figure ten is removed, e.g.  and  is treated as 6.

Playing the game

In order to bet players place chips on the designated boxes in front of them - punto, banco or egalité (a tie). After that, the player in the first seat takes the shoe and deals four cards to the dealer who places them as follows: the first card to the player, second to the bank, third to the player and final to the bank. The following rules apply to the hands after that:

Player (punto):

- if the hand is worth 0 to 5, a third card is drawn;

- if the hand is worth 6 or 7, it stands, if 8 or 9 it is 'natural' and no more cards will be dealt to you.

Bank (banco):

- if the hand is worth 3 to 3, regardless of the player's hand the bank draws a third card;

- if the hand is worth 4 and the player's hand is worth from 2 to 7, the bank draws a third card;

- if the hand is worth 5 and the player's hand is 4 to 7, the bank draws a third card;

- if the hand is worth 6 and the player's hand is 6 to 7, the bank draws a third card BUT only if the player's total was made within three cards (if it was bade with only two cards the bank stands);

- if the hand is worth 7 the bank must stand;

- if the hand is worth 8 to 9 both player and bank stand.

At this point you either have a winning hand or a draw. Bets put on punto are paid out 1 to 1, while bets on banco are paid at 1 to 1, but you need to pay a 5% commission back to the casino, which is collected at the end of the whole play (not after the particular hand). Winning egalité (draw) bet is paid 8 to 1.

Punto Banco Strategy

Punto banco is a game of chance and there is hardly any strategy involved. The only way to increase your chances is to bet on banco, as it only has a 1.01% house advantage, in comparison to punto which is 1.29% advantage, or the disadvantageous egalité which has a 15.75% house advantage.

Chemin de Fer Baccarat

It is the French version of Baccarat. In English “Chemin de Fer” means railway or railroad. Similarly to punto banco, the goal is to achieve a hand with the value closest to nine and two hands are dealt (bank and player). Cards values are the same (Aces are worth 1, 2's to 9's their own value, while 10's and face cards are worth 0). Despite the fact that the rules are usually the same, some differences can be distinguished between Chemin de Fer and the American Baccarat. In Chemin de Fer players can stand or draw on the five, while in the American Baccarat they must have five or less in order to receive the third card. This gives players the chance to actually make a choice. Remember that while the first 2 cards are dealt face down, the third card will be dealt face up. Notice that in Chemin de Fer the players are the ones that deal cards. The casino will earn its money from a 5 percent commission from the winning wager. If the player doesn't want the role they can pass it on to another player.

Baccarat Banque

Baccarat banque is popular in France and other European countries. Its rules are unique and at first might seem more complex than other variations. Let's have a look at some of the basic rules to see the difference:

- Baccarat banque is played with 3 decks of cards;

- similarly to Chemin De Fer, the banker role is given to the players, but it does not rotate among them;

- three hands are dealt: two player hands and one banker hand. One player hand is dealt on the left side of the table and one on the other side, the banker hand is dealt in the middle;

- players can bet only on player hands, and the banker only on banker hand. Players have to bet on the hand on their side of the table, if they want to bet on both player hands they have to place their chips in the middle of the table;

- wagers places on player hands can’t exceed the banker's wager, e.g. if the dealer wagers $1000, then 2 players can wager $500;

- players can „go bank”, i.e. challenge the banker to bust him. In order to do that the player's bet must be equal to the banker's bet (player has to either bet full on one hand or bet on two hands). If the player beats the dealer their roles are reversed and he takes the banker's seat. If the player fails to beat the dealer three times in a row he/she can no longer „go bank”;

- the drawing rules are the same as in Chemin De Fer, however baccarat rules tend to differ greatly from casino to casino, so make sure to check them before you start playing.

Baccarat Glossary

Banker Bet - a bet places on the banker hand;

Baccarat en Banque – one of Baccarat's variations;

Bankroll - this is the amount of money the player brings to the table to bet;

Coup – this word means a round in Baccarat;

Croupier – another name for dealer;

Chemin-de-fer - it is a variation of the Baccarat;

Cheval - Depending on the Baccarat game players have a rule that allows them to have two hands. If the player wins both hands then the round goes to them. If only one hand is won this is considered a tie;

High Roller - it is a person that makes very big bets;

Le Grande - it is a hand with a total of 9, called a „natural hand”;

Mini-baccarat - it is a version of Baccarat that can be found in smaller casinos;

Muck - this is the discard pile of all cards, even those hands that have been folded;

Natural – a natural hand is worth 8 or 9 from the two starting cards;

Palette - this is a tool used by the Croupier to move the cards around the table;

Punto Banco - it is another term for Baccarat;

Punto - this is a term used to describe the player;

Petite – it is a hand worth 8 points;

Shooter - this means the bank in Baccarat;

Standoff - this is a tie, meaning the player and dealer have the same total for their hands;

Caribbean Stud History

Usually, it is difficult to determine the history of thousand year’s old card games originated in China. In the case of Caribbean Stud historians don’t have such problems. This game was first played in Caribbean and on a cruise in the Caribbean, passengers of which brought it to America. It is one of the hardest games to win because of odds which do not favor players much and are in the favor of house. However the rules are very easy to learn. Because of the growing popularity of the game among US players, it was introduced to the land casinos. The progressive jackpot and fantastic bonuses were added to the game to make it more attractive for players. At the beginning there were different hands like 3 of a kind and a pair known as Flux. The name was later changed into flush and remains the same until today. In 18th century some players introduced Bluff in order to make the game more interesting. Notice that Caribbean Stud is still one of the most difficult games for players. In 18th century when the game was brought to United States by French people a lot of terms were changed to English to make the game understandable for Americans. Nowadays, players are able to play Caribbean Stud online.

Caribbean Stud Rules

Caribbean Stud Poker is a card game played with one deck. To start, the player must place an ante bet. Players also have the option to participate in the progressive jackpot. In order to do so they have to place a chip in the slot, which activates the progressive jackpot light for the specific seat and the current hand of play. This has to be done before the dealer makes the „No more bets” announcement. The player and the dealer will receive five cards. All of the players' cards are face down but the last card in the dealer hand is face up. Upon seeing the face up card, the player can look at his own cards and has to make the decision to fold or stay in the game. After deciding to stay in the game the player must place his raise, which is an additional wager that equals double the ante. The rest of the dealer hand will be revealed after all players make their decisions. If the dealer's hand contains a king and an ace or forms a pair or any higher poker hand he qualifies (plays). Then the dealer compares his hand with the hands of players, starting from his right. If the dealer's hand qualifies then players whose hands beat the dealer win both the ante and the raise bets. If the dealer's hand doesn't qualify only the ante bet get paid, while the raise bet return to their players unpaid. Some of the most important rules in Caribbean Stud include:

- players play only one hand;

- players that want to play the Progressive Jackpot have to make sure to insert their $1 wager into the slot;

- no communication regarding hands is allowed between players and the dealer;

- incorrect amount of cards handed out to the player results in a dead hand or push only for that specific player;

- the dealer can deal an additional card to complete his hand if he is dealt four cards, but any other misdeals to the dealer result in all hands becoming void and reshuffling;

- the five cards belonging to the players need to be in dealer's view full time. After examining his/her cards and placing them face down, players are not allowed to touch their cards again;

- exposure of a hole card before the dealer announces „No more bets” results in all hands becoming void.

If your hands beats the dealer's qualified hand you win 1 to 1 on the ante plus the following on your bet (these are the usual rates, but they may vary):

Hand	Payout
Royal Flush	100:1
Straight Flush	50:1
Four of a Kind	20:1
Full House	7:1
Flush	5:1
Straight	4:1
Three of a Kind	3:1
Two Pair	2:1
Pair	1:1
Ace/King	1:1

Hands

From the highest ranked to the lowest:

Royal Flush

Top five cards of the same suit:



Straight Flush

Five cards of the same suit in a sequence (Aces can play low in straight and straight flush), e.g.:


Four of a Kind

A hand that contains all four cards of one rank and any other card, e.g.:


Full House

A hand consisting of three matching cards of one rank and two matching cards of another rank, e.g.:


Flush

A hand that contains five cards of the same suit that are not in sequence, e.g.:


Straight

A hand consisting of five cards in a sequence with at least two different suits, e.g.:


Three of a Kind

A hand that contains three cards of the same rank and two of a different rank (also not the same as each other), e.g.:


Two pair

A hands consisting of two cards of the same rank and two cards of another rank (matching each other, but different from the first pair) and one card of either rank, e.g.:


One pair

A hand that contains tow cards of the same rank and three cards which are not of this rank and not the same as each other, e.g.:


High card

Also called no-pair hand, it is a hand that does not meet any of the above requirements. The only meaningful card in the hand is the highest card since the hand can still win in a showdown with another no-pair hand. Example of a no-pair hand:


Caribbean Stud Glossary

Ace-King - the lowest hand that will win the game.

Ante - a bet which has to be placed before any hands are dealt.

Fold - instead of staying in the game players can close the hand, and discard it on the table top. This is done when it is the players’ turn to bet.

Hierarchy of Hands - a hand has a certain rank that starts from high to low. This is the rank system which player must go by to determine the winner. The Royal flush is the high hand in this scheme.

Payout Table –the amount possible to win if the player has the better hand.

Progressive Jackpot - a separate bet in which player wins more based on the hands being played.

Progressive Jackpot Box – this is the box in progressive jackpot where the player will place the bet he wants to wager.

Push – In any game that the player has a tie, it is usually referred to as a push. The player gets the ante bet back, without winnings.

Keno History

The history of can be a little bit confusing because of the multitude of different stories concerning its origin. It is believed that Keno started in China around 200 BC. Interestingly, according to the legend Keno saved an ancient Chinese city during the war and the game popularity helped to raise funds for the Great Wall. Keno was also used to help the Chinese children learn easier and faster. This game was introduced in the United States by Chinese immigrants. They came to the West in the purpose of building the railroads and mines in the US in the 19th century. During this period gambling was illegal in China so players had to hide from the police when they wanted to play. Nowadays, Keno is a very popular game and players can find many types of tickets. There are also various options and different house edges to contend with.

Keno Rules

Keno is the game which is very similar to bingo and lottery. From a circular glass enclosure containing 80 numbered (from 1 to 80) balls 20 are drawn randomly. Players use a blank Keno form containing 80 selection boxes and mark numbers to make a wager. There are different types of tickets depending on the payout the player can gain. In most online Keno games you can set a five cent bet, however in the land based casino the player is obligated to bet a dollar for a ticket. The house edge in Keno is around 30%, while the chance of getting one number to win on the ticket is very low and equals 0.25%.

Keno Strategy

Keno depends mostly on luck so there is no any successful strategy. In this game the player cannot predict the winning numbers in the given round because the result is a truly random process. When player chooses five numbers on a ticket, they have the same chances of winning any of the five prizes, for every number has the same possibility of being drawn. However, if the player bets at least 10 numbers, it is more likely that at least one of these numbers will be correct. The strategy can be based only on the player’s ability to predict.

Keno Glossary

Aggregate Limit - A casino is going to be responsible for a certain amount of money when Keno is being played - the aggregate limit.

Balls - Like bingo you have numbered round objects printed with the winning numbers. They are labeled 1 through 80.

Bankroll - the funds a player will wager during the Keno or any other game.

Bet - the funds taken from the bankroll that the player will make on a round of Keno.

Combination Ticket - This ticket has more than one type of wager you can place on it.

Draw - numbers that will result during one Keno round.

Free Play - Keno normally requires some form of a wager, but in free play you are able to try the game and learn the rules before you play for real money.

Hit – when a number you selected appears on one or more of the numbered balls drawn during the game.

House Edge - This is the probability of the house winning. In other words, through statistics a numerical value is given to tell you how often the house wins and the advantage they have. In Keno it is usually twenty to thirty percent.

Payoff - your winnings in the Keno game.

Progressive Jackpot - Some Keno games have a jackpot that increases progressively as you play until it is won by a player with the right numbers.

Random Number Generator - the tool used to pick the numbers during the Keno round. It guarantees all results to be truly random and as similar to the land based casino as possible.

Split Ticket - This is another type of ticket in which you need to play a group of numbers in a separate area.

Ticket - A form on which you choose the numbers to bet on.

Wager - another term for bet.

Way Ticket - This ticket allows for more than one bet.

Bingo History

Bingo is a game of chance in which players match randomly drawn numbers with numbers on pre-printed 5×5 matrices. Usually, the game is concluded when the first person obtains a specific pattern from the drawn numbers, at which point they are required to shout „Bingo!”. Contemporarily the number of Bingo variations has grown exponentially and the different patterns that can be used to play are almost unlimited.

United Kingdoms and Australia

In comparison to 5×5 card U.K. and Australia consist of three lines and nine columns. They come in books containing ten pages with 10 cards, each of a different colour: Violet, Yellow, Pink, Grey, Orange, Blue, Red and White, Gold, Lime. Sometimes they are also sold as „Flyers” - single sheets containing 6 cards.

Electronic Bingo

Thanks to advancing technology bingo has become popular as a game played on handheld bingo computers. Such devices have tracking mechanisms that make sure that players will not miss a bingo, even if they play with multiple cards. Using this device, players enter the numbers called by the caller and the computer automatically checks and marks all the cards with this number. Bingo computers can hold even up to 200 cards per game, although some places can limit the number of cards that you can play at the same time.

Online Bingo

Online bingo sites use Random Number Generators (RNG) instead of balls. RNG is an application that is supposed to generate number sequences without patterns. To play Bingo online you need to visit a site offering online Bingo services and either play immediately thanks to Flash-based games or download and install free software.

 Basic Bingo patterns

Blackout
Lines
Squares
U's
T's

Sic Bo History

Sic Bo is also known as tai sai, dai siu, big and small or hi-lo, the game name varying from country to country. Sic Bo is a Chinese game of chance played with three dice which is very popular in Asia. The Chinese immigrants brought it to the United States in 20th century. It may not be a profitable game, but it provides a lot of fun. Nowadays, in addition to several of the North American Casinos, the game is available online.

Sic Bo Rules

 Sic Bo is an ancient Chinese game which consists of three dice and a table. To start the game, the player has to place the chip he wants to bet on the table in the special area. There are 8 different ways the player can bet (payout is given using the table in the image above):

1) Three of a Kind – betting on one number that has to appear on all three dice. As there are 216 (6 x 6 x 6) dice combinations and only one can give you a three of a kind, the chances to win with this bet are really slim, but the pay is usually really big (in this case payout is 180 to 1).

 2) Two of a Kind – betting on one number that has to appear on two out of the three dice. There are 12 ways to make this combination and the chance to win is 5.82%.

3) Any Three of a Kind – betting than any number from 1 to 6 will appear on all thee dice. The probability is around 2.78% and the payout is 30 to 1.

4) Small – betting that the sum of the three dice will be equal to 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 (this excludes Three of a Kind). The payout is 1 to 1.

 5) Big - exactly the same as Small, but the sum has to be equal to 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17.

6) Sum of three - betting on a specific sum of the three dice (from 4 to 17). The payout presents as follows:

7) Duo - betting on two different numbers that have to appear on at least two dice. The payout is 6 to 1 and the possible combinations are:

 8) One of a Kind - betting on a single number that has to appear on one, two or three dice. If it appears on one the payout is 1 to 1, on two 2 to 1 and on three 3 to 1:

Sic Bo Strategy

Sic Bo is a game with no successful strategy. Player must only predict the final outcome of rolling the dice which is completely random and out of player’s control. The Small and Big Bets are the least risky for the players. With a Single Number Bet the player is able to gain the higher payout, however the possibility of winning is much lower. The specific Triple has the highest payout of all, but players have to remember that it is highly unlikely to get the same three numbers.

Sic Bo Glossary

Tai Sai or Dai Siu – the literal translation of Tai Sai or Dai Siu is Big Small. Sic Bo is the usual name for the game Tai Sai or Dai Siu. The game has three dice that are shaken in a cup or basket.

Spin - the action of the dice being shaken in the basket or cup. Player cannot spin unless they've placed a wager on the Sic Bo table.

Re-Bet - in this case players would be placing the same wager value on the same betting area of the table for the next round as they did on the previous round.

Clear - this procedure cancels all bets previously placed.

Chips - chips are used to make bets. The chips are of different values depending on what the player wants to play. If the player plays this game online he should just click the denomination and bet.

Layout - this is the actual grid of the table. It shows the different bets that players are allowed to make.

History

The history of Blackjack dates back to at least the 17th century. The first written reference to “21”, Blackjack’s precursor, can be found in one of Miguel de Cervantes short stories written between 1601 and 1602. Others credit the origins of Blackjack to French casinos around 1700 and the game called “Vingt-et-Un” (“twenty-one”). The official name of Blackjack comes from having the black of spades for the ace and the jack. The purpose of the game is to reach 21 points without going over. Blackjack came to the United States after the French Revolution. At that time the France government introduced a few laws against gambling while in the US this was a new game and such restrictions weren’t known. It was a perfect time for gamblers since they had the opportunity to discover tips on how to play and make a lot of money. Unfortunately, in the 19th century games like Blackjack became illegal in the United States. Individuals who loved to play that kind of games had to avoid the police and meet in secret places to gamble. However, in 1931 in Las Vegas gambling was legalized. This was a great moment to develop some strategies for winning. Some gamblers like Roger Baldwin, Edward Thorp, Julian Braun, Lawrence Revere and Ken Uston published their theories about effective gambling to the public. Because players started using card counting techniques and computer chips the casinos technology which is able to recognize cheaters. Nowadays, Blackjack is one of the most popular card games in the world and its lovers don’t need to go to casino to gamble, as it is easily available online.

Blackjack rules

Blackjack is a casino game which is played with from one to eight decks. The purpose of Blackjack is to get 21 points or the value as close to 21 as possible without going over. Each card has a different value. Cards from two to nine have a value equal to the one shown on the card. Tens, kings, queens, and jacks equal ten points. The ace can be counted as one or eleven, depending on what will be better for the player in a given card combination. In Blackjack players compete against the dealer. To start the game, players must place a stake on the table using special chips. Then they and the dealer are dealt two cards. Only one of dealers’ cards is uncovered. After that the player has to decide on their next step.

Card values in Blackjack

= depends on the face value of the card (e.g. two = 2 points)

 = all of these are worth 10

 = 1 or 11

Sample hands

 = Typical Blackjack (2 cards worth 21)

 = Soft Hand 7/17 (Soft 17)

 = with 10 Soft Hand becomes a Hard Hand (Hard 17)

Blackjack chips

Below are the official chip colors and their values used in most casinos:

 - peach chip = $0.25   - blue chip = $10   - purple chip = $500

 - white chip = $0.50 - $1   - yellow chip = $20   - orange chip = $1,000

 - pink chip = $2.50   - green chip = $25   - grey chip = $5,000

 - red chip = $5   - black chip = $100

The following moves are available to the player:

Stand – the player decides not to take any more cards;

If you want to signal the dealer wave your hand horizontally: 

Hit – the player decides to take another card from the dealer;

If you want to signal the dealer scrape your cards against the table: 

Double down – allows the player to double their bet after receiving the first two cards. After doubling down you can receive only one more card. Some casinos allow players to double after splitting;

To indicate that you want to double down, place additional chips next to the original bet and point with one finger: 

Split – when player’s first two cards have the same value they can split their hand into two separate hands and then play them independently by moving a second bet equal to the first into an area outside the betting area of the primary bet. The two hands are then played in turn;

If you want to split, place additional chips next to the original bet and make a V signal with your fingers: 

Surrender – the player can decide to surrender, at which point the house takes half of his bet and returns the other half to the player. Depending on the rules, surrender is not possible before a dealer check for blackjack.

There is no hand signal to surrender, you have to announce it verbally.

If the player has more than 21 points after getting additional cards, the player automatically busts and the dealer wins. However, if the player has 21 points or less then the dealer has to reveal the covered card and depending on his points he has to take more cards. Depending on house rules, the dealer must hit or stand on soft 17.

Blackjack variations

Blackjack has many more variations than other gambling games. The rules of the game can differ depending on the country or even the city. There are differences in the number of decks used in blackjack. There are also different rules as to when the player is allowed to double or split, or whether the dealer has to hit on a soft 17. Online casinos offer a lot more variation in this respect because of their innovative software. Before starting the game, players should check the information about the blackjack variation and its rules. Some of the variations include:

1) different number of decks - generally, fewer number of decks is better for the player;

2) dealer allowed to hit soft 17 - disadvantageous for the player;

3) double down allowed after splitting - used wisely presents an advantage for the player;

4) re-splitting of Aces allowed - gives player clear advantage;

5) no dealer hole card - to players disadvantage, the dealer doesn't deal a second hand for himself until players have played, which means they can lose the splits and doubles.

Blackjack variation rule affecting house edges

The house edge in blackjack is one of the lowest in comparison to other casino games. Casinos online provide a huge number of variations of blackjack. The players have to remember that blackjack rules can differ in every country, city or casino, as well as each game variation has different rules. Before starting the game, players should read the rules for the specific variation. They ought to focus their attention on how these rules increase or decrease the house edge. One of the most important differences between blackjack games is the number of decks used. Playing with eight decks instead of one can increase the house edge by 0.6%. Because of that most variants of blackjack use a larger number of decks. Another important rule is whether the dealer should stand or hit on a soft 17. The house edge will increase by 0.2% if the dealer decides to hit on a soft 17. There are also restrictions determining when a player can split his hand. If the player is allowed to split his hand only once the house edge increases by about 0.05%. Sometimes in blackjack the player cannot split aces. This situation causes the increase of house edge by about 0.06%. In some games players are not allowed to double if they split their hand. This limitation raises the house edge by about 0.15%.

Blackjack glossary

Anchor - This is the seat to the dealer's right, it will normally be the last seat taken. In other words if there are five chairs at the table and four are filled, the last chair on the right with a player is the anchor.

Banker - This is the person in charge of the betting and money. They collect the winnings and losses.

Bankroll - The bankroll is the amount you are gambling with at the table.

Basic Strategy - A strategy that you use to increase your advantage.

Blackjack - This is the name of the game as well as the objective. You need two cards offering a total of 21 to get the natural Blackjack.

Burn Cards - These are cards that are removed from the deck as the play continues; they are discarded.

Break - When you exceed the hand value of 21.

Bust - Another term for break.

Camouflage - In the case of gambling it is something you do to hide your activities from the casino. You may have disguises, act drunk or you may just mix up your behavior.

Card Counting - When you count cards you try to remember what cards have been played and discarded, to help you figure out the probability of the next card.

Card Sharp - This is an individual who is very handy with cards.

Cut - A method for splitting the deck and placing the cards back together.

Cut Card – A card used to cut the cards after a shuffle.

Deal - Handing out cards to those at the table in the appropriate manner.

Discard Tray - The place where discarded and played cards will be laid.

Double Down - To double down means you are going to place a second bet on the table based on the cards you have in your hand. After you double down you can receive only one more card. Only do this when you feel confident you can win the hand. You must be very good at this game and understand your options. The rules for doubling down will vary.

Draw - When you obtain another card, in Blackjack this is usually referred to as a hit.

Early Surrender - In Blackjack you may surrender your bet before the dealer checks for Blackjack.

Even Money - In Blackjack you can decide to take your pay if you are dealt a natural blackjack and the dealer is showing an ace. This means the dealer doesn't look at their cards and you get 1:1 ratio on the payout.

Face Cards - In a deck of cards you have 4 jacks, 4 queens, and 4 kings- these are considered the face cards.

Face Down Game - In this game one card is dealt face up and the next card is dealt face down, leaving some surprise as to your hand.

Face Up Game - In this game the cards will always be dealt face up.

First Base - First base is the first seat an individual sits in on the dealers left. You would be the first person to get a card.

Hard Hand - This is referred to as Hard Total as well. It is a hand without an ace, or an ace which can only receive the value of one.

Heads Up or Heads On - In this case you only have a dealer and one player at the table playing Blackjack.

Hit - This is when you take another card to help you towards the objective of 21.

Hole Card - The face down card the dealer gets is the hole card. In Poker such as stud or Texas Hold' em it is the card dealt face down to each player.

Insurance - Insurance on your bet is made if the dealer has an ace card face up. It is a secondary bet to the overall game in which you bet whether the dealer has a natural 21. You can win double if the dealer has a natural blackjack, but will lose if he does not.

Late Surrender - This is an option available in some games, only when the dealer doesn't have blackjack.

Natural - For Blackjack you need to have 21 total points. With a natural hand you are dealt 21 in two cards on the initial deal. For baccarat this is considered to be an 8 or 9 total.

Pat - This is an unbusted hand with at least 17 points. For poker it means you don't need any more cards.

Perfect Pairs - With blackjack it is possible to get dealt a pair, and you can place a side bet on this pair. You must decide if you are betting on the pair after the initial deal is over. In Blackjack, you can have a mixed pair, colored pair, or a perfect pair.

Plug - This refers to action with the decks. In blackjack you have a shoe full of cards. When the discarded cards are shuffled and placed back in the shoe there is a cut card that marks the place for where the cards are re-inserted. This tells where the deck needs to be reshuffled in some cases. When cards are added back into the deck other cards are removed. Play will stop when the cut card is reached so that reshuffling can occur. The inserted cards are called the 'Plug.'

Point Count - The net value of the card count at the end of the hand.

Preferential Shuffling - This happens when the cards remaining in the deck or shoe are favorable to the players.

Push - This is a tie, both the dealer and the player have the same total points. The player does not lose their bet or gain any winnings.

Running Count – The count you take from the start of the deck or shoe. At the end of each hand you update the running count by the point count.

Shiner - A device used to cheat by trying to see what the dealer's hole card is, often a mirror of sorts.

Shoe - This is a box used to hold the deck for dealing.

Shuffle - When the cards are mixed in a random fashion by the dealer.

Shuffle Up - this is when the dealer will shuffle before it is needed to stop any card counting.

Soft Hand - The ace will be counted as 11 in this hand, but can change to one if you need a hit.

Split Hand - When you have a pair you can split the cards to have two hands. A new wager or ante bet must be placed on the second hand to be played.

Spooking - This is considered cheating and is illegal. A person standing behind the dealer watches the game to peek at the dealer hole card and relays the information to the player.

Standing Hand - It is commonly referred to as stand, where you will hold on 17 and higher. You will not take another card.

Stand-off - Another word for push and tie, see also (Push).

Stand or Stay - You will not take another card.

Steaming - This defines a player's attitude after a streak of losing. Usually they are angry; it is also a term like 'going on tilt' for poker. You may be more off your game in an angered manner and take more risks.

Stiff Hand - In this type of hand you don't have much of a winning option. In other words you don't have enough to win, but you could bust if you take a hit. Usually this is 12 through 16 points for a hand.

Surrender - In this case you fold, but will get half your bet back. Tell Play - This term is based on the act of observing your opponent to see what they may have in their hand. In blackjack it means observing the dealer. Third Base - Another word for Anchor.

Tie - See Push or Standoff.

True Count - When counting cards this term applies to the adjusted amount of cards left in the deck that have yet to be played.

Upcard - This is the dealer's first card, dealt face up, so that players can see the options and whether they want to continue to play.