Page 135 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

GA MBLING IN LAS VEGAS  133

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
which operate all across issued with an electronic-strip assumption behind basic strategy
Nevada. A software engineer plastic loyalty card that can be is that the dealer’s second card
won $39 million, the highest used for slot machines and table will be a ten and that the next
payout ever, on a machine at games. The more money a gambler card in the shoe will also be a ten.
the Excalibur Hotel spends, the greater the rewards. This is because there are more
in 2003. The majority Some cards can be used at several tens in the deck than any other
of machines are different resorts in Las Vegas. card (there are 96 tens in six decks).
now coinless and
use prepaid Tips
electronic cards, but Blackjack • In basic strategy if the dealer’s
there are a few coin This card game is one of the most top card is a “bad” card (from 2 to
machines left in the popular games on the floor; 6), then the player should stand
Casino loyalty down town casinos. casino blackjack tables offer from 12 up and not risk taking
card There are also high- minimum bet games from $2 to another card. This is because the
roller slots, which $500. The aim is to get as close to dealer has to get to 17, so it is
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
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
subsequent bets. Monitoring hitting 16 or less and standing table. Do this when you have
your display of credits will help with 17 or more. This is important aces and eights.
keep track of how much you are
spending. If your original stake
was 10 quarters, and you win
30, using credits allows you to
decide to walk away when the
credit display is down to 20,
leaving you 10 quarters up on
the game.
• Choose to play at the busier
banks of machines, as rows of
unoccupied machines could
mean that they are not paying
out well.
• Get Player Club cards at each
casino you visit. All the casinos
have clubs that offer a range of
incentives to get you to play, stay,
dine, and more with them; these A winning hand on a blackjack table at Circus Circus (see p121)

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