Gambling

Gaming

Ladies come to a fun city like Las Vegas for many reasons. Some of you don’t gamble at all, some go full swing 24/7, and others may want to try but don’t know “the ropes.” This article may not be of much interest to all of you seasoned gamblers but for amateurs or novices this advice should be more than helpful. Even though gambling may seem like a “free-for-all” to the casual observer, it has etiquette and rules just like other games. Newcomers need to learn how to play before they partake.

Gaming in General

The house has the advantage: There’s an old saying in Vegas “They didn’t build these magnificent casinos on winners!” It may sound somewhat trite, but it’s the brutal truth. The odds are ALWAYS in the favor of the house. One may have a sporadic win or even a great week of gaming but in the long run the casino always wins.

Only play what you can afford to lose:  Don’t bet the rent money thinking that you “feel lucky” or “are going to hit it big.” Bring discretionary dollars to Vegas and leave the rent money at home.

Play in sessions: Divide your gambling money into daily sessions and leave the rest in the room safe. If you decide to break into the safe anyway, you usually have like a half mile walk to your room to think about it. If you are not doing well in one venue take a break to eat, nap, walk, or simply visit another location. Frenzied gamblers who stay at one table or at one machine thinking “it’s got to hit sooner or later” most generally lose.

Think about your stash: Be safe! Keep your purse on your body at all times and don’t leave money or tickets in machines. Keep gaming chips neat and put some in your pocket periodically if you are winning. If you win a large amount of money take it to your room safe.

Check your emotions: Don’t gamble when you are angry, tired, too drunk, depressed, or all four! Gaming should be a fun time of entertainment—not torture. If you’re not in the right mood take a walk or go to bed!
Research: Decide on the games you want to play before you come to Vegas and research them. Get a computer program and learn the rules. If you want to learn something when you’re here, many casinos have free lessons for some of the games—just ask at the player’s club or at a table.

Player’s Clubs: Always join the player’s clubs. You might as well get credit and promos for your play no matter how small. We know people that play penny machines who get offered promos.

Don’t listen to everyone: We can’t tell you how many times we’ve observed a husband “instructing” a wife on how to play video poker who knows nothing about what he is doing! Playing wrong can be very costly. Do your own research on how to play so you don’t have to take bad advice. Conversely, stay away from giving others advice—this is not a good idea! If someone asks us how to play our standard answer is: “This is what I do, but you do whatever you want.”

Play where you are comfortable: You can win or lose anywhere! If you have a grumpy bartender, slow service, too much smoke or cold air blowing down your back, move on! There are plenty of places to gamble here—find one where you are in your comfort zone.

Smoking in casinos: If you are a smoker, casinos in Las Vegas will be a mecca for you. Generally, you can smoke anywhere but in elevators and restaurants. If you are a non smoker it can be a challenge at times.  This is the way we see it—if you are a smoker try to be courteous. If you are not smoking don’t plop down at the bar next to someone with 3 packs of cigarettes piled up and a full ashtray in front of them. They will not quit for you no matter how much you wave your hand at their smoke. Most people playing at the bars are smokers so you must deal with that or play elsewhere. Some casinos now offer no smoking sections.

Gambling Etiquette

Slot Machines
If you are big smoker try not to sit between 2 non smokers if possible. Take a minute to see what is going on and pick a machine where others around you can be comfortable as well.

Don’t try to save or play 3 machines at once in a crowded casino. Although it may be possible to get away with this at a slow time, you most surely will not during busy times—be prepared to be confronted. Some machines even have signs on them that say: one machine per person during busy times.

If you are sitting at a machine at a bar and not playing it be prepared for someone to “bump” you who wants to gamble. Many times this happens at popular venues during sporting events. We’ve also seen “milkers” (people who want free drinks but only want to gamble one quarter every half hour) being asked to start playing or give up their seat. At the bars you will be expected to play at a reasonable rate in order to drink for “free.”  On the floor, no one is paying that much attention.

Many times people want to keep playing a certain machine but have to leave to find the restroom, cash in tickets, or whatever and they have no one there to guard their machine for them during their break. What many players do at this point is cover the screen with a napkin, put a bucket on the seat, or tip up the chair or stool. When you approach an area to play and see something like this be aware that someone is probably coming back to play THAT machine and they will not be thrilled to see you sitting there. You could do it anyway and risk a confrontation but why bother when you’re there to have fun. Find another machine—there are plenty of them to choose from. You will especially see machines being saved like this at the bars because these seats are at a premium. If you go barging up and sit down at a “saved” machine don’t be angry when you are asked to move.

If you are playing a machine and someone starts bothering you or becoming obnoxious you are entitled to ask security to relocate the person. This action is for someone REALLY obnoxious and maybe super drunk who just won’t go to bed and leave you alone. If you’re sitting at the bar, a good bartender will be aware of the overzealous partier and give him (it’s usually a HIM) a warning. If the harassment persists the bartender will usually call security for you. If the person is just someone you don’t like or want to talk to it is best just to relocate yourself to another seat where you can be more comfortable.

We hear many people coming up to the bars asking for cigarettes. Here is the low down on cigarettes at the bar: most of them don’t have cigarettes! Even if you are a heavy gambler and the bartender offers to comp you some smokes, he or she usually has to walk to a vending machine somewhere to get them.  These days only heavy gamblers and/or heavy tippers can expect to get a cigarette comp. If you sit down and throw a couple of quarters in the machine, order a drink and then demand a pack of cigarettes be prepared to be told to take a hike to the gift shop where cigarettes are almost $10 a pack. Most of the big smokers we know just bring a carton with them from home and load up their purse every day.

Tables

Table games all have their own rules of course, but these are some general rules to remember for most games.

First, realize that you must CONCENTRATE when playing table games. If you simply want to socialize or otherwise goof off with your friends go find a lounge somewhere. You will aggravate everyone else at the table including the dealer if you are not paying attention and they have to wait. If you have a group of six or eight ladies that are novices and want to play blackjack for instance, look for an EMPTY table(preferably at a slow time) with a friendly looking dealer. Tell him or her that you are all new at the game and would he/she help your group through the pace of the game. The dealer will be a little more relaxed in a situation like this and most likely will be helpful.

There can be some very serious gamblers with a lot of money at stake playing table games. If you don’t know anything about the game learn it FIRST before you try to mix in with serious gamblers. Also, check out the table minimum before you sit down and start tossing around dollar chips at a $100 minimum table!

Chips and everything about chips is taken very seriously at gaming tables. There are times to touch them and times to leave your hands off. For the most part you will catch on to this with the different games. Also, dealers don’t want you reaching for anything below the table or making any moves that could be suspicious as cheating. You must keep track of your chips and the easiest way to do that is to keep them neatly stacked. Memorize what denominations are what color so you don’t accidentally bet the wrong amount. When your stack gets too big put some away in your pocket or bag. Professional thieves are looking for tipsy players who don’t keep track of their chips.

There are “hands off” rules for touching cards, chips, or dice in table games. Usually hands off rules apply to when a round of play is in progress. There is no changing your mind on a bet or a play once a round has started. You can pass on a round or two if you want to collect your thoughts.

House Advantages for the Most Popular Games

Baccarat 1.17% to 1.36%–slow paced and easy to learn.
Blackjack 0.5% to 5.9% (generally)—steady paced, must learn to play correctly.
Craps 1.4% to 17% for “sucker” bets—fast paced, raucous, and not the easiest to learn.
Keno 20% to 35%–very slow paced and easy to learn
Roulette 5.26% to 7.89% on wheels with double zero—fairly fast paced and fairly easy to learn.
Slots 1% to 25%–the pace is as you set it, very easy to learn.
Video Poker 1% to 12%–the pace is as you set it, hard to learn to play perfectly, easy to learn the basics
Wheel of Fortune (table game) 11% to 24%–such a bad bet don’t even bother to play it!