and most of all, they know how to separate you from your money in order to grow their businesses and pay their shareholders.
And the average casino patrons? They are not likely to be professionals. These are the people thinking they can win their way to retirement just because they clean up in the neighborhood card night. They might be the ones on the cruise ship, communing with the universe about the optimal time of day to play the slots. Or they could be that bright young couple who went to Vegas just for the entertainment, and now when you talk to them, you see little roulette wheels spinning around where their pupils used to be.
The theme of this book is simple: A poorly prepared player — someone who doesn’t understand the games or the odds behind them — has virtually no chance to beat the house at its own game. Remember this fact: The Las Vegas Strip is an impressive stretch of elaborate resorts built one brick at a time from the losses of clueless sheep. The same story holds true for the casinos in Atlantic City, Kansas City, Chicago, and Tupelo, cruise ships, Native American reservations, riverboats, and every gaming establishment in between. Inexperience, intuition, and lucky guesses are poor guides in casino gambling.
But you don’t have to follow the flock to slaughter. This book arms you with the knowledge to turn casino odds in your favor. So, settle in, educate yourself, and get ready for a positive — even profitable — gambling experience.
About This Book
If you’re heading to a destination with a casino sometime soon, then this is the book for you. From blackjack to baccarat and from sports betting to slot strategies, prepare to receive the essential information you need to succeed and broaden your casino experience.
Casino games range in complexity and risk, so it’s critical that you choose the ones that match your brainpower commitment. For example, you should know that blackjack and poker require skill, while the average golden retriever is fully qualified to win at slots and keno. Feel free to gamble your dollars any way you want inside the casino. Bet big, bet small, play one game, or play them all. But the mission of this book is the same no matter what: steering you toward the best games and away from gimmicks and bad bets.
In addition to the nuts, bolts, and winning strategies of each casino game, there are important universal concepts, such as probability, money management, and the role of luck in gambling. Too many people neglect these dynamics. By mastering them, you improve your chances of winning.
Look. Casinos don’t have to be seen as evil empires of sin and vice. American casinos are well regulated and run fair games. But fair doesn’t mean you have a 50-50 chance to win. And it doesn’t mean they bend over backward to keep you away from dumb bets. Such information runs contrary to the primary goal of their business: to part you from your money. Reading Casino Gambling For Dummies is your act of defiance and your way of striking back at the empire. And as the ultimate poke in the eye to the evil empires, you might just come home a winner.
Each game of chance covered in this book comes with its own vocabulary — gambling jargon — that helps you become a successful player. For example, to play craps correctly, you must know what a field bet is and why you should avoid it. To make money at blackjack, you want to understand the terms double down and insurance.
Starting to sound like the first session of a foreign language course? Don’t worry; it’s much easier than you think. Look for the following conventions in this book to help you:
When a new gambling-specific word shows up, it will be italicized just before its definition.
The most important tips and warnings will have their own logos.
The appendix contains a helpful summary of resources you can use when you’re ready to go.
Bold text indicates keywords in bulleted lists or highlights the action parts of numbered lists.
What You’re Not to Read
If you only care about the games, you can skip the sidebars (framed in gray boxes) throughout the book. They serve as asides, anecdotes, or examples, but they aren’t critical to your understanding of the game. In many cases, however, they clarify the principles and tactics in that chapter.
Foolish Assumptions
People pick up this book when they’re gambling-curious or when their travel partner is a gambler and is tired of explaining how to count up a blackjack hand. Maybe this fits you to a tee, maybe it doesn’t, but here goes:
You’re preparing for an upcoming visit to a casino and want to understand the basics and correct protocol before entering that foreign world.
You may be familiar with most games, but you simply want some tips to improve your performance and skills.
You want to win when you gamble in a casino.
You also just want to have fun. (Sure, casino gambling is entertainment, but it’s a lot more fun when chips are flowing in your direction.)
Are you an expert who doesn’t really identify with these assumptions? Don’t worry. We’ll cover a few advanced tidbits for the more experienced gambler as well, so you don’t feel left out.
Icons Used in This Book
Icons are a signature feature of For Dummies books. They help draw your eye to specific types of information. And after you have read the book, the icons provide a great guide for a final review before hitting the casino.
Beyond the Book
Cheat Sheet: On the Cheat Sheet, which you can find by searching for this book’s title at www.dummies.com/, you’ll find the inside line on casinos, sports betting, horse racing, and much more. Start your transformation from Zach Galifianakis to Bugsy Siegel right here!
Where to Go from Here
The best place to begin is Part I because it sets up the remaining chapters. From there, just pick the chapters that appeal to you. Scan the table of contents or index and find the topics that interest you. Feel free to frolic — while everyone seeks the same destination, there are no rigid road maps
