Page 134 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

132  LAS VEGAS GA MBLING IN LAS VEGAS  133

GAMBLING IN LAS VEGAS The biggest payout is currently range from cash back to discounts because it is an essential part of
from the Mega bucks slots, on hotel rooms. Members are “basic strategy” blackjack. The
Despite its fame as an all-round adult long as possible. Free drinks are usually which operate all across issued with an electronic-strip assumption behind basic strategy
amusement park, Las Vegas remains brought around to gamblers, but it is not a Nevada. A software engineer plastic loyalty card that can be is that the dealer’s second card
famous for its casinos. Almost 43 million good idea to gamble without a clear head. won $39 million, the highest used for slot machines and table will be a ten and that the next
visitors come to the city every year and, on Before you start, decide on an amount that payout ever, on a machine at games. The more money a gambler card in the shoe will also be a ten.
This is because there are more
the Excalibur Hotel
spends, the greater the rewards.
average, each visitor who gambles spends you can afford to lose and be sure to stick in 2003. The majority Some cards can be used at several tens in the deck than any other
around $620 gambling. Do not come to it. of machines are different resorts in Las Vegas. card (there are 96 tens in six decks).
expecting to make your fortune; with a For a first timer, a casino can seem now coinless and
combined annual income from gambling daunting, but, with a basic understanding use prepaid Blackjack Tips
of almost $7 billion, the casinos appear to of the rules, most of the games are relatively electronic cards, but This card game is one of the most • In basic strategy if the dealer’s
top card is a “bad” card (from 2 to
there are a few coin
have the advantage. simple to play (see p134–5). Some hotels machines left in the popular games on the floor; 6), then the player should stand
The secret pleasure of gambling is the have gaming guides on their in-house TV Casino loyalty down town casinos. casino blackjack tables offer from 12 up and not risk taking
lure of the unknown – you never know channels, and Las Vegas’ visitor center card There are also high- minimum bet games from $2 to another card. This is because the
what the next card will be. Casinos know supplies printed guides. Several large roller slots, which $500. The aim is to get as close to dealer has to get to 17, so it is
this and aim to keep you playing for as casinos give free lessons at the tables. take anything from $10 to $500 21 without going over, and to most likely that he will go over
for a single play. beat the dealer. Cards are worth 21 when he hits his hand.
their numerical value, with all the • If the player has between 12
Tips face cards worth 10 and and 16 and the dealer’s first
• Usually located an ace worth 1 or 11. card is seven or higher, the
together, progressive Generally the dealer will player should gamble on
machines pay out at deal from a “shoe” (a drawing an extra card, as the
a certain limit. It is a box containing up to probability is that the dealer’s
good idea to ask an six decks of cards). Each other card is a ten, which beats
attendant what this player receives two a hand of under 17.
limit usually is, and cards face up, while the • If your first two cards add up to
when it was last hit. dealer’s second card is 10 or 11, then you can “double
If the jackpot hits at face down. Players down,” or bet the same amount
around $10,000, and must not touch the again. If you have a $5 chip on
the machines are cards and should use the table, then you add another,
displaying $9,000, this hand signals to indicate hoping to get a ten card,
could be a good time if they wish to take thereby reaching a winning
to start playing. another card, or “hit” total of 20 or 21 and doubling
• Always play the (scratch the table with your winnings. Be aware that
machine limit, their forefinger to you are only allowed one extra
because if you win, you receive another card) or card if you double down.
will be sure to receive Traditional slot not take a card, “stand” • Another betting option is to
the maximum amount. machine (wave a flat hand over split your hand. If you are dealt
• Wins on both types of their cards.) Once each two cards of the same value,
machine allow you to cash out player has decided to stand or hit you can choose to separate
The gaming floor of the New York New York Hotel and Casino (see p111) your win or else rack up credits, the 21 limit, the dealer turns over them into two hands, placing
which you can use for his second card and plays his hand, a second bet by the first on the
mistakes and will usually explain a bewildering variety of plays. subsequent bets. Monitoring hitting 16 or less and standing table. Do this when you have
General Information
the finer points of the games, There are basically two kinds your display of credits will help with 17 or more. This is important aces and eights.
Always carry ID if you are if asked. Head for the tables of slots: flat-top machines and keep track of how much you are
young-looking and tend to where players are talking and progressive machines. A flat-top spending. If your original stake
be carded in bars, because it is laughing. The chances are that machine has a range of fixed was 10 quarters, and you win
illegal to gamble under the age a row of glum faces means that payouts depending on different 30, using credits allows you to
of 21. Children are not welcome you may be in for an equally arrangements of winning decide to walk away when the
on the casino floor, which can dull gambling experience. symbols. There will usually be credit display is down to 20,
make it difficult for families a choice of stakes, from one leaving you 10 quarters up on
with children in some hotels Slot Machines to three coins, and if you hit a the game.
(see pp238–40). winning display, you will win • Choose to play at the busier
Be aware that if you are Slots of every kind dominate less for a one-coin stake than if banks of machines, as rows of
winning, it is casino etiquette Las Vegas casinos. The simple you play the limit. On progressive unoccupied machines could
to tip the dealers. It can also be one-armed bandit, where slots, you give up smaller mean that they are not paying
to your advantage to tip when pulling a handle spun the reels jackpots in exchange for out well.
you first sit down at a table, as and a win resulted from a row winning a progressive jackpot. • Get Player Club cards at each
it is always a good idea to get of cherries or some other icon, The payout on these machines casino you visit. All the casinos
the dealer on your side. Dealers has been largely superceded by increases as you play, and have clubs that offer a range of
can prevent inexperienced computerized push-button and the rising jackpot figure is incentives to get you to play, stay,
gamblers from making silly touchscreen machines offering displayed above each machine. dine, and more with them; these A winning hand on a blackjack table at Circus Circus (see p121)

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