The Controversial Question Man asked:
im going to vegas as part of a trip to the west coast…i will be there for 5 days…i was looking for a book on gambling that includes most of the games…texas hold’em, craps, blackjack, roulette and slots…i was checking out “las vegas for dummies” or “gambling for dummies”….any suggestions?
Catherine
im going to vegas as part of a trip to the west coast…i will be there for 5 days…i was looking for a book on gambling that includes most of the games…texas hold’em, craps, blackjack, roulette and slots…i was checking out “las vegas for dummies” or “gambling for dummies”….any suggestions?
Catherine
Leon
Well, since you don’t know about casino games, I would suggest that you play either the roulette or blackjack. The reason is they’re simpler and easier to win if you have luck.
Here’s what you should do at the roulette table:-
1. Just play the red or black bets which pays 1 for 1 only.
Should you bet on black with eg. 3 chips and any black number, eg. 8 is called, you win 3 chips. It’s the same for reds too. However, you’ll lose the bet when red or 0 numbers appear, if your bet is on black.
2. On the blackjack table, you’ll have to beat the banker in points of up to 21 in order to win the bet. Payment is the same 1 for 1. But when you have 2 cards that says blackjack (an Ace with a Picture 0r 10-card) you win 1 for 1.5 times.
However, if you double your bet on two cards, eg 4 and 7, 2 and 9 or 6 and 5, and draws a third card of 10, K, Q, J, you reached the highest score of 21 points which you have won, if the banker doesn’t reached 21 points or he’s busted (exceed 21 points).
Keep in mind not to play too long. If you’re winning, it’s okay, but when you’re losing, stop playing. This will minimise your loses. Always keep a cool mind and don’t be distracted by others playing near you. Don’t be greedy when you win enough, otherwise you may lose all if you don’t stop. Good Luck!
Suzanne
You are on the right track. Buy a book about gambling, pick the games that sound the best to you, and learn the rules and how to use the best strategy to play any game before you go.
Practice at home as much as may be possible. Try to play the games that offer the lowest house edge such as Blackjack or Craps.
And be sure to use a Money Management system! Here is an example of one:
While you are in Las Vegas be sure to get a players card at any casino where you gamble. These cards provide Comps (freebies) based on how much you play or bet, and can provide you with some great gifts, free meals, or even some cash back!
And here is a link on how to make the most of those cards!
For some casinos you can even get your card before you go, here are the two most popular plans that cover some bigger groups of casinos.
Good luck when you go.
Stephanie
I’d just go to inetbet.com, download the online casino, and play in practice mode (Don’t deposit for real or you might blow your vacation budget, even highly experienced gamblers lose :p)
In each game, there is a ‘help’ button that will show you the rules of the game, and more or less what to do.
Roulette is the ultimate game because you get to choose your risk vs. reward with every spin - individual slot machines are locked in at a certain RTP (return to player or payout percentage) and can vary greatly one to the other in volitility. (occasional big wins or lots of tiny ‘wins’) And blackjack takes a perfect strategy and a bit of luck to win. With most other games somewhere in between.
Money management is the key to making sure you can play as long as you want to - and that alone can be the difference in whether it was a ‘good’ trip or not
As long as you don’t gamble more than you can truly afford to lose, and you get to play as long as you want, you’ll have a great time. If you hit a jackpot, that’s just icing on the cake 
Marilyn
All the different games and rules can definitely be confusing, so reading up can definitely help! But I don’t think buying a book is really necessary when there are some really useful (and free!) resources all over the internet - just try searching around. is a good place to start!
Also, I’d second the suggestion to try a few games for free online. That same website has a few good suggestions for online casinos, and you can play for free in most of them if you don’t want to risk your money before arriving in Vegas.
So, yeah, read a bit, try a few games out, and you’ll have a much better time when you reach the real thing! Have fun!