Why do you need a casino games guide?
Everyone has favourite casino games but isn’t life boring if we do the same thing all the time? Our intent is to write a bit about most of the casino games and to discuss the practicalities that stand in the way of being a winner.
Casino games are always a game of chance but they ALL have a mathematical calculation where you can calculate the risks versus the rewards. You can determine the payout rates. With certain games you can even calculate the best way to play. Card games are a great example. 52 cards to choose from, you can see some that are face up, you know how many are in the hands of competitors. Thanks to the value of certain cards, you can even determine an exact strategy for which hand to play. Roulette, 36 numbers to choose from but some wheels have 2 sets of zero’s whereas others only have one. Some games of blackjack have different rules for the behavior of the bank. These definitely play a role in your strategy. We won’t go into great depth with poker but seriously, poker is the worst! You add the bluff to the equation and that rattles all sorts of cages. There are still certain hands that are more likely and calculations that will guide you to the best choice. Emotions are not great companions in a casino.
So, let’s talk casino games:
Baccarat
Baccarat is a really easy to play game but what it lacks in complexity it makes up with excitement. The player and the bank are each dealt 2 cards. You have a choice of three bets. The player wins, the bank wins, or a draw. The objective is to get a score as close to 9 for the value of the face cards. A draw is the least likely outcome and pays 9 to 1. The player usually pays out at even rates (you win 1 plus you get your 1 back). The bank also pays at even rates but charges a commission. The rules favour the bank slightly with the player having to draw cards if his total value lies at 0 – 5 value. The bank however gets to stand on 7, 8, or 9 and must draw a card if their hand equals 0, 1, or 2. The bank can otherwise react to the players hand which is why the bank is a more likely winner with a slightly lower return. Read our playing baccarat online guide.
Blackjack
Blackjack is another of those casino games that is not overly complex. Your objective is to get a hand value of 21. There are variants to the game and more importantly, the rules which the bank has to follow vary from casino to casino as well. These all play a role in your strategy. You definitely don’t want to draw a card and end up with a value of more than 21. This is called going bust. What makes the game interesting is that there are 20 different cards that represent the value of 10 in a deck. Drawing an ace is super awesome because an Ace counts as either 1 or as 11. Simply get one of those 20 cards with a 10 value and you cannot lose. The game gets even more interesting when you here that you can split a pair of cards into two separate hands. Think about this, split a pair of Aces and smile. You might just draw 2 cards of 10 value and have double the fun! There are strategies based on many factors though. Read our dedicated blackjack page to find out more about the game variants and the different strategies.
Craps
The very name of the game is confusing to us. What is craps? Well, it’s a game played with dice and boy are there rules. If you grew up playing craps then I imagine they would feel rather simple (because to an extent they are). It’s often a community type game with players being egged on by others to roll various outcomes. Our review page will give you more details but in effect, you can roll any number ranging from 2 (pair of 1’s) to 12 (pair of 6’s). The bets are arranged according to the numbers thrown. Of course, some numbers have way more opportunity to come up that others. Think about 7. You can throw 6+1 or 5+2 or 4+3… Now, think about 2 or 3… You see, some outcomes are less likely than others. To find out more, visit our craps page and get ready for excitement.
Keno
This kind of reminds me of Bingo given that it is totally random and based on numbers that are draw. It differs though because you can choose how many numbers you will bet on and your reward changes with the degree of likelihood of those numbers actually coming up. Getting 5 out of 5 numbers is way more difficult than getting 5 out of 10 numbers. Your reward will reflect this variance. You have a machine (or a PC program) that spits out balls. You have either chosen the numbers you picked or relied on a quick pick (random selection). Keno is a high risk and high reward program. Sure, choosing 15 straight numbers will pay out loads but the odds against this are staggering! Keno is not a game for those who cannot afford to throw money away! Read a bit more about keno here.
Table Poker – Let em Ride & Red Dog
The mere heading here tells all. There are various poker type games on offer. The rules differ (of course) but the essence of poker is retained. You know, a pair, two of a kind, and so forth.
- Let em Ride – A fun variation to the theme. The player is dealt 3 cards face up and the dealer has 2 cards face down. If the player chooses to simply move forward the dealer will show one of his cards but the player can also raise his stake to see the next card too. Another round where the player can raise or simply move forward will follow. Once the dealers’ last card is shown, the hand is evaluated according to normal poker hand returns.
- Pai Gow Poker – A much more thinking required here. Basically put you receive 7 cards as does the dealer. You need to make one 5 card hand and one 2 card hand. You then compare to the dealer. Beat both the dealers hands and win, win only one of the two hands and push (tie), or lose both hands and lose. The house takes a 5% commission if you win. The house also wins if you have identical hands.
Red Dog
Red Dog is a simple card game. You get dealt 2 cards. You get dealt a 3rd card which needs to be of a value between the first two cards. For example: You are dealt a Two and a Six. You win if your 3rd card is a value between two and six. The payout rate is determined by how difficult it is to draw the correct 3rd card. Finding a five if you drew a four and a six is way harder than finding a five if you drew a two and a nine.
Roulette
We all know a bit about roulette. Spin the wheel, roll the ball, and then wait for it to fall into a numbered groove. It is in the betting that you find the tricks. Payout rates differ depending on the likelihood of an event occurring. You get 35:1 for betting on a single number but you only get 1:1 for choosing either black or red. Many bet variations are available. Columns, Rows, Combinations… You also get two Roulette wheels. American and European. Try to find an European Roulette wheel. That will only have one 0 on it. An American Roulette wheel has an additional 00 on it. Your problem is that the extra 00 thins out the odds of winning any bet including black or red…
Video Poker
Oh wow, we are NOT going to try and list all the variants on this summary page. Suffice it to say that video poker is one of the most diverse games out there. You get wilds, you get multi-hand games, you even get programs (built into the casino back-end) that help you play towards perfect strategy. Deviate from the advice at your peril. Video Poker is a seriously statistical game. After all, 52 cards, 4 Aces, 4 Kings, etc… With a simple calculator you can assess your chances of hitting a certain hand. Then you can compare that likelihood to the reward. Would you chase a Royal Flush if you had 3 of a kind? No way… I know that is stupidly obvious but it is an example of what I mean.
Slots – Video Slots
Way back when a guy named Charles Fey created the first slot machine. The intent was to amuse the “ladies” back in the day while the gentlemen of the hour played poker and the like. Of course, those same gentlemen ended up loving the game every bit as much as the ladies. In fact, slots are the focal point of the casinos in Vegas… Slots have evolved though. Now you get video slots that have multiple rounds, themes like in the movies, bonuses, multipliers, wild symbols and more. You get jackpots that invite dreams, you get artwork that competes with the movies, you even get interactive video slots… Online slots tend to have a payout rate of over 90%. Don’t think that this means the chance of winning. What it means is that for every R100 you bet you are likely to be left with a bit more than R90 afterwards. You could win the jackpot but, as is the theme with this website, we want you to know that is VERY unlikely. Put differently, jackpot are paid out by the money that others have lost!
 |
Silver Sands CasinoSilver Sands Casino has simply loads of great video slots to play. Why not learn more about their video slots by using their free R200 offer? Remember, terms and conditions apply so if you do actually win and want to cash out, you need to have met those conditions. R200 free to try the games – Coupon Code BIGSSC |
| Click here to visit Silver Sands Casino |
Casino War
This literally is war. You and the casino (dealer) each draw one card. You bet on who’s card will be higher and get an even money return if you win. If you tie, you can go to war or fold and lose. You would raise the bet and both dealer and player receive several cards. If you win this round you win your money back plus the original bet. In event of a tie in the second round, the player wins.
Our Casino Game Guide Pages – Click to visit them
Baccarat Game Guide
Blackjack Game Guide
Craps Game Guide
Keno Game Guide
Table Poker Game Guide
Red Dog Game Guide
Roulette Game Guide
Video Poker Game Guide
Slots Game Guide
Casino War Game Guide