Current Events > Going to gamble at casino for first time ever. Tips?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Playing black jack in red dead redemption 2 to warm up lmao

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Find someone who wins a lot of money and slip a mickey in their drink.

Don't.

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Just make sure to limit yourself.

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Look for 9/6 JOB video poker.

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Go in with an amount of money youre willing to lose and nothing more. So, as an example Id bring in no more than $200 and thats all Id allow myself to use during my time there. If I make money, great. If I lose it all, thats fine too. I just look at it as a nights worth of entertainment and move on.

Always bet on black.

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Any time you sit at a table you have to introduce yourself like this.

"Allow myself to introduce... myself. My name is Richie Cunningham and this is my wife, Oprah."

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Wedge Antilles posted...

Just make sure to limit yourself.

This. Set aside a bit of cash to have fun with and stick to that budget. Also, know when to quit. You don't want to be the guy that lost all his winnings.
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BroodRyu posted...

Go in with an amount of money youre willing to lose and nothing more. So, as an example Id bring in no more than $200 and thats all Id allow myself to use during my time there. If I make money, great. If I lose it all, thats fine too. I just look at it as a nights worth of entertainment and move on.

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Depends on what you're wanting to get out of it.

Personally, I like to park it at a face-up Pai-Gow table and just chill there for hours on the same chips I bought in for, while getting free drinks (plus tipping the cocktail waitress).

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Dont sit at then slots, period.

Ive only been once, never going again. It was just giving my money away slowly.

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Set a budget.

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KILBOTz posted...

Dont sit at then slots, period.

Ive only been once, never going again. It was just giving my money away slowly.

It feels like those things are designed for people whose brains get triggered by the flashing lights and colors.

Im not saying their brains are about as advanced as a toddlers but ...

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divot1338 posted...

It feels like those things are designed for people whose brains get triggered by the flashing lights and colors.

Im not saying their brains are about as advanced as a toddlers but ...

IIRC, video poker is even more addictive. They program the lights, sounds etc. just to hook people.

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Put 100 on black

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honestly, i'm still too nervous to go to a table, even though i know how to and love gambling

i always end up at the video machines and they're awesome. i have a blast with them. especially that Craps machine with the giant dice.

anyway, just always expect to lose. if you win, it's a good time. but you're going to lose, so just have fun with it.

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Roulette
Start with $1
You're only 20x 50/50 spins away from


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BroodRyu posted...

Go in with an amount of money youre willing to lose and nothing more. So, as an example Id bring in no more than $200 and thats all Id allow myself to use during my time there. If I make money, great. If I lose it all, thats fine too. I just look at it as a nights worth of entertainment and move on.

Save this post and keep referring back to it, TC.

I tend to play slots and what I do is break my $100 into 3 20's 3 10's and then 2 5's. I'll play the 5s in the quarter machines and if I win, I cash out, then move on to $1 machines with the 10's and 20's, and look at as I have 6 chances and cash out whatever I win. I've won $300 on two 20's before ($600 total), and I usually come out winning +$100, so I've stuck with this strategy a while.

I hate penny slots and feel they rip you off. Dollar machines never fail me, especially playing 5 lines. Just wish one day I can get lucky and win on a max bet lol.

EDIT: Forgot this valuable detail when it comes to slots. Really study and look at the instructions. The best slots are the ones with multipliers and special reels (i.e. like the ones that will move and shift the reel, if you happen to hit one). Can't yell you how many times those shifting slots bailed my ass out and make a spin go from $0 to $50 with one lucky shift.

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Find the $5 black jack table, best odds at the lowest cost. You can literally take 5 minutes to read how to play the odds at black jack and at least maintain for the most part unless youre really unlucky. Just get fed free drinks and break even, thats my goal when i go to Vegas...and if you win some, great lol

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Play craps
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Video Poker that pays out on a pair of face cards or better typically has extremely favorable odds.

Slots are great ONLY if you can get super cheap slots (like nickel slots) and you just want to hang out, get free drinks, etc. For like $10 you can play nickel slots all day.

If you take the time to learn craps its probably the best game in the place to try and actually win money at. Study up on the concept of "Free Odds". The edge is still in favor of the house but it is *much* smaller than every other table game.

Counting cards in blackjack is the only way to have an edge on the house but you *will* get escorted off the property if they catch you. It isn't illegal but they have the right to refuse service to you, and will exercise it. You can still do it if you're smart, careful, and most importantly fast. Aside from card counting, blackjack also just has decent odds if your play is ideal.

Only play roulette if you want to meme. It has the worst odds of any traditional table game.

Avoid stuff like The Big Wheel and other gimmicky games you might not have heard of before. Those are all designed to suck up tourist money like a vacuum.

As many others have said, set a budget. But do one better than that. Literally only take your betting money onto the floor. Do not even take other cash or cards with you. Sometimes people get gambler's hysteria in the heat of the moment and do things they regret later. It is much more difficult to do that if your debit card is locked in your room/car.

Smart tip if you start getting ahead. Whatever your budget was? That's all the chips you keep on the table. If your budget was $200 and you get up to $210 then pull $10 off the table and put it in your pocket. DO NOT pull chips back out. Just every time you get above budget put the extra away. Only adjust your budget AFTER you've cashed out for a session. This is how you get ahead and stay ahead.
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Throw 5 dollars on 31 in roulette. Trust me

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When playing blackjack do the dealers use a regular deck?

so can I kinda estimate my odds to getting 21 by looking around the table or no?

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I second the black jack recommendation.

Fuck appearances too. Play at the cheapest table that's moderately hot. Get all the free drinks you can. Maybe get a free breakfast or a lobster buffet thrown in.

inb4 throw up in the desert outside Barstow.

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allot a certain amount that you want to lose, make it a decently high number tbh in the hundreds range like 200-500, and don't go over that.

black jack obviously has the highest chance of winning but its honestly boring. If you learn how to play craps that would be alot more fun and you won't hate yourself when you lose all your money the same way you would playing blackjack. i've also found that the wheel of fortunate slots ends up being really good for some reason. like I went once with a group of 6 friends, we all took turns on the wheel of fortunate and we literally all won money, one of the dudes won 2 grand, some won a few hundred, most won like $20-50 or so. It was pretty insane actually.

i would also say pace yourself. enjoy the games and drinks. the objective is not to win money, its to just have fun.

gna647 posted...

When playing blackjack do the dealers use a regular deck?

so can I kinda estimate my odds to getting 21 by looking around the table or no?

Most blackjack uses 6 or 8 decks specifically so you cant do this.

i would recommend taking a look at a strategy card, and printing one out to take with you if possible. There are a lot of common plays that people do in blackjack that are not to your advantage



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Bring a watch.

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oblivios posted...

Bring a watch.

Now that is good advice. You will never see a clock in a casino.

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fire_bolt posted...

Video Poker that pays out on a pair of face cards or better typically has extremely favorable odds.

Video poker is just a different kind of slot. All outcomes are pre-determined.
It doesn't matter how you play.
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SiO4 posted...

Video poker is just a different kind of slot. All outcomes are pre-determined.
It doesn't matter how you play.

This is not true

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Triple or nothing bruh.

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TheGoldenEel posted...

This is not true

Yes, it is. It might depend on the class of the casino.
But your average IGT video poker is predetermined.

As are all Slot spins, and bonus rounds...I might add.
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Blackjack is co-op against the dealer, not PvP with others at the table
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SiO4 posted...

Yes, it is. It might depend on the class of the casino.
But your average IGT video poker is predetermined.

As are all Slot spins, and bonus rounds...I might add.

Video poker uses an RNG to determine the cards that are dealt

yes, there are certain video poker machines that are class II and those are predetermined, but class III machines at a typical casino are not

Im fairly sure there are laws in place that prevent Class III video poker games from being rigged the way you are claiming

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TheGoldenEel posted...

Video poker uses an RNG to determine the cards that are dealt

yes, there are certain video poker machines that are class II and those are predetermined, but class III machines at a typical casino are not

Im fairly sure there are laws in place that prevent Class III video poker games from being rigged the way you are claiming

Ya I haven't delt with class III.
The next time you are one though test it out.
If it gives you two of a kind, give it back and see what you get in return.

In class II you will always get the same or something better.
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If you double up, cash out and leave.
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SiO4 posted...

If it gives you two of a kind, give it back and see what you get in return.

In class II you will always get the same or something better.

Yeah, this is true of class 2 machines. At least the ones I've toyed with. You can consistently kick out good hands and pull back good hands lol. Its super obvious they're rigged.
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fire_bolt posted...

Yeah, this is true of class 2 machines. At least the ones I've toyed with. You can consistently kick out good hands and pull back good hands lol. Its super obvious they're rigged.

That or the genie changes them.

I do wonder what Class III's do if the facility loses power, or if a game gets an error.
Some casinos have the balls to tell you malfunctions void all pays and plays.

But I know used to be able to call the cage an find the outcome of a bonus before anything was pressed...in a class II.

Still, if a class III is supposed to average out through out the facility, then there has to be some form of predetermination.
Not that I expect any gaming commission to look into anything unless it's losing them money.
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just Got back from casino

gave me $10 for free to use at the slots. Lost all of it

used $20 to buy in for black jack.
Pissed off the entire table because I hit on 14 when the dealer had a 3 and I busted with a king.

so everyone lost money because of my fault

kept my chin up and I kept playing. Doubled up and left with $40. So profited by $20. We didnt stay to play long, also the tension I caused at my table made me hesitant to play more

but now I know what to expect so Ill play smarter next time

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gna647 posted...

just Got back from casino

gave me $10 for free to use at the slots. Lost all of it

used $20 to buy in for black jack.
Pissed off the entire table because I hit on 14 when the dealer had a 3 and I busted with a king.

so everyone lost money because of my fault

kept my chin up and I kept playing. Doubled up and left with $40. So profited by $20. We didnt stay to play long, also the tension I caused at my table made me hesitant to play more

but now I know what to expect so Ill play smarter next time

It's the most toxic of toxic environments in the US, outside of US jails, and by only a small margin.
The more time you spend there the more it will suck your soul dry...you bank account come later.
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SiO4 posted...

It's the most toxic of toxic environments in the US, outside of US jails, and by only a small margin.
The more time you spend there the more it will suck your soul dry...you bank account come later.

Yeah, I got gambling out of my system for the most part years ago. I still enjoy card games, including black jack and poker but I enjoy them outside a casino nowadays.

I don't mind watching the action at the tables a little bit but I get far more enjoyment out of the shows (especially stand up and 'old school' music artists) and buffets.

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gna647 posted...

just Got back from casino

gave me $10 for free to use at the slots. Lost all of it

used $20 to buy in for black jack.
Pissed off the entire table because I hit on 14 when the dealer had a 3 and I busted with a king.

so everyone lost money because of my fault

kept my chin up and I kept playing. Doubled up and left with $40. So profited by $20. We didnt stay to play long, also the tension I caused at my table made me hesitant to play more

but now I know what to expect so Ill play smarter next time

Well, you learned something and came out $20 ahead. You may have pissed off the table but no hands were thrown at least. Consider the evening a small victory. Most people are lucky to break even.

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Here's what I always did for Blackjack
17 or higher: stand
12-16: Hit if Dealer has 7 or higher, otherwise Stand
10-11: Double Down unless Dealer has 10 or A, otherwise Hit
9 or less: Hit
2 A's: Split
2 8's: Split

It's not fully optimal, but it's easy to remember and I usually win out doing that >_>

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As a Las Vegan, Make sure you have fun but know your limit. I don't gamble much, like 3 times a year, but I only bring cash that I'm comfortable losing. Leave the wallet in your room. If it's a bad night, Once the cash is gone I go home. If it's a good night you have to be aware of when to stop. If you go up keep going but when you start to lose walk away. I have seen gambling ruin many lives but if you are responsible this won't be an issue. It's subjective, but Craps is often viewed as the most exciting game. Do not try to learn as you go. Learn the game before you go. I love craps but I love roulette more. Good luck.

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There's always some knucklehead at the table that will tell you how you should bet, but they always seem to be the ones losing tons of money if you pay attention to them. ignore them.

However, the dealers themselves usually have good advice sometimes. If you have questions and you're playing at a table by yourself, ask them. They'll usually help you out. Depending on the dealer obviously.

Never do those side bets at blackjack (ie: match dealer, start with 20). They pay out like x10, but the odds are NOT in that favor and you'll end up losing more money. Every dealer I've talked to always said to never do them and researching online said the same thing.


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