Gambling has been historically looked down upon as a negative activity because it can be addictive. But when done in moderation, it can serve as a fun way to reduce stress, keep your brain stimulated, and an occasional escape from your mundane routine. Admit it, those hours at the Blackjack table, when you feel a rush of excitement, there is nothing else that can bother you. So many choices we make daily are no better than well-thought-out gambles.
Las Vegas has had its fair share of a love-hate relationship with gambling. The early 20th century witnessed its evolution from a small railroad town with a population of only 800 in 1905 to a bustling tourist haven in the 1950s. Gambling is a big part of the quintessential Vegas experience. But trying your hands at the casino table can be a daunting experience, especially for someone who has never done it. There are etiquettes to be mindful of, gambling jargons to comprehend, and all this besides the actual rules of the game you are playing.
Here are some hacks that will set you up for a smooth and enjoyable experience as a first-time gambler in Vegas.
General Pro Tip: Always get a Player’s card before gambling at any casino
Many casinos on the Strip fall under one or the other umbrella Player’s Club, so you can use one card for several locations. However, smaller casinos, especially those not on the Strip, have their own Player’s Clubs. It might seem like a hassle at first, but it is so worth it. If you end up gambling a substantial amount, Player’s Cards can get you complimentary drinks, lunches, and concerts. At the very least, simply signing up for a card gets you some sort of free play credit, that you can redeem on slot machines or on a table game of your choice.
Know what you want to get out of your gambling experience:
What do you want to get out of your time at the casino? This is probably the most important question you should ask yourself. Here’s a good flow chart that you can follow:
Do you want to try the most popular and also the easiest option?
Play slots. You cannot miss them, they are ubiquitous on the casino floor. The sounds of people clapping and cheering when they hit a big win keep ringing all day and all night. This is the perfect game for beginners and requires no prior knowledge of any rules. You simply insert your bills into the machine to set up a credit in the machine. Then you hit away on the buttons based on what bets you want to place. Several kinds of slot machines also offer surprise bonuses and extra free plays which makes things even more exciting.
I recommend always betting the maximum or some amount closer to the maximum to increase your chances of winning big. Slot machines come in all kinds of themes and flavors, and you might have a tough time deciding which machine to pick. Game of Thrones fans will enjoy Westeros-themed machines, Marvel fans will probably flock to Avengers-themed machines, and so on. However, Vegas long-timers seem to suggest that themed slot machines tend to have a slightly lesser payout ratio over time. Some people will even tell you that you should pick a machine towards the corner or a machine that is ‘hot’ (has been on a winning streak). But the reality is all modern slot machines operate based on Random Number Generation algorithms, and there really is no such thing as a ‘hot’ machine. This means that a machine that has won 5 times in a row and a machine that has been losing for 10 days straight are equally likely to deliver a big win on the next spin.
It is important to note that slot machines have some of the worst odds in casino games, and it is extremely easy to burn through hundreds of dollars if you are not being mindful.
Pros: Most popular and easiest method of gambling, you insert your currency notes and start hitting buttons.
Cons: Easy to burn through a rather large wad of notes before you know it.
Do you want to make your money last the longest while still having fun? Play a table game.
I recommend Blackjack. Blackjack has one of the lowest house odds, which means, unlike slot machines, the casino does not have much of an advantage over you.
It is really easy to learn as well. Time for a quick primer! You play against the dealer and the goal is to get closer to 21, without going over. At the most basic level, you have only two decisions to make, whether to add a card to your hand, called taking a ‘hit’ or not doing so, called a ‘stand’. In addition to that, if you get two cards of the same rank, you can ‘split’ your hand into two hands with an additional bet. This means you are playing two hands simultaneously instead of one. Furthermore, if you think a third card added to your hand of the initial two cards will get you close to 21, you can ‘double down’, by doubling your bet. You hit a ‘Blackjack’ if your initial hand adds up to the perfect score of 21, you get 1.5 times your bet. Some casinos pay only 6:5 for Blackjack, stay away from these.
If you are a beginner and you want to make your bankroll last for a while, find Blackjack tables with the lowest minimums. $1 table minimums are perfect for getting the hang of things. If you win a hand, awesome! If you lose a hand, oh well, it is only a dollar lost. Table minimums in casinos are usually proportional to the hotel room rents. This means table games on the Strip will have a relatively high minimum. Blackjack tables in high-end resorts like The Venetian or The Bellagio are usually $50, with a very limited number of tables having a $15 minimum.
As of August 2022, here’s where you can find the lowest Blackjack table minimums:
- $1 table minimum: The Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino, Downtown Las Vegas
- $1 table minimum: Treasure Island on the Strip. They have a very interesting setup called Stadium Blackjack, where you have the dealer at the table, but you play at a booth on a screen placed right next to the table. This hybrid arrangement lets you make your hit/stand decisions in relative privacy, while also being in the thick of the action, especially if you get a booth close to the dealer. There are nearly 50 such booths, which is why the casino can afford such low minimums.
- $7.5 table minimum: Golden Nugget on Fremont Strip. This casino has a $5 table minimum but also requires you to place a $2.5 side bet on various outcomes of the game, effectively making it a $7.5 bet. Still under $10, perfect for beginners.
- $10 table minimum: Binions and Four Queens, both on Fremont Street.
Pros: Blackjack is the perfect balance of easy rules, a good amount of social interaction, and all-around fun and excitement.
Cons: If you cannot find a table with low minimums you can burn through a fair amount of cash, on a bad day.
ProTip: Learn Blackjack basic strategy if you have the time and the inclination, you can find several online resources for it. It’s the statistically proven method of minimizing the house odds. But do not let it take the fun away from your own decision-making process and risk-taking. I went in with a very basic grasp of basic strategy but found it to be a hit or miss. It’s a game of chance after all.
Are you in it for the free drinks?
Slot machines are most definitely the wrong answer in this case. If you are looking to score a few free drinks, while enjoying the fun atmosphere of the casino floor, make your way towards a table game. Roulette is a good idea, you can learn a few basic strategies to make your money last for some time. Another exciting place to be in is the Craps pit. Beginners can stick to playing ‘pass’ or ‘don’t pass’ bets. Blackjack is also a good bet if you pace yourself. Cocktail waitresses will stop by, take your order and bring you your poison of choice. Sip away and enjoy the electric energy of the casino floor, it is quite exhilarating. Don’t forget to tip your waitress.
Pros: This is a perfectly good way of enjoying your gambling experience. It is fun to interact with fellow players over drinks while celebrating each other’s wins.
Cons: None really, as long as you remember to drink responsibly and don’t wake up next to Mike Tyson’s tiger in your hotel room. Make sure you have all your teeth intact.
