Casino Gambling For Dummies

Maximize your odds on the casino floor

Casinos are designed for distraction, so it helps to know a bit about when the odds are in your favor and when they’re not before you push a stack of chips onto a table. Professional blackjack player Kevin Blackwood and lifelong sports bettor Swain Scheps know a thing or two about casino gambling. In Casino Gambling For Dummies, these seasoned gaming veterans guide you through the essential strategies for walking out of the casino ahead of the game. They also show you the most common mistakes made by players, helping you avoid gambling risks while you enjoy what the gaming industry has to offer.

Learn to see past the flashing lights, decide how much you’re willing to wager, and find out how to enjoy yourself. In this book, you’ll also discover:

• Step-by-step walkthroughs of casino etiquette and the rules of common casino games, including poker and blackjack
• Explanations of video poker and slots and ways to avoid losing more than you’re comfortable with
• Explorations of online gambling, so you can enjoy the fun of a casino from the comfort of your home

The perfect guide for anyone looking for an easy introduction to the world of casino gaming, Casino Gambling For Dummies is also an essential resource for those seeking to improve their odds at blackjack, craps, video poker, slots, and other games.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Casino Gambling Basics: Everything You Need to Know to Start 7

Chapter 1: Casino Gambling 101: The Inside Scoop 9

Chapter 2: Taking a Quick Stroll Through the Casino 27

Chapter 3: Probability, Odds, and a Bit of Luck: What You Need to Succeed 41D

Chapter 4: Managing Your Money in a Casino 53

Part 2: Conquering the Table Games 71

Chapter 5: Minding Your Gambling Manners 73

Chapter 6: Will Bluff for Food: Poker 95

Chapter 7: The Easiest Game to Beat: Blackjack 121

Chapter 8: Rolling the Dice: Craps 143

Chapter 9: Spinning Wheel Goes Round n’ Round: Roulette 169

Chapter 10: Baccarat: Not Just For High-Rollers 189

Part 3: Beyond the Tables: Slots, Video Poker, Sports Betting, and More 205

Chapter 11: Tackling the “Riskier” Table Games 207

Chapter 12: Mastering the Slots 223

Chapter 13: Scoring Big in Video Poker 243

Chapter 14: Striking the Mother Lode: Keno and Bingo 261

Chapter 15: From the Cubs to the Bears: Sports Betting 279

Part 4: Taking Casino Gambling to a Different Level 307

Chapter 16: More than Just the Derby: Betting on Horse Racing 309

Chapter 17: Gambling Online and in the Comfort of Home 327

Chapter 18: The Wild World of Tournaments 339

Part 5: The Part of Tens 357

Chapter 19: Ten Cool Places to Gamble 359

Chapter 20: Ten Ways to Score Comps 367

Appendix A: Important Resources 373

Index 379

Kevin Blackwood is a highly successful blackjack and poker player. He has written for several gaming magazines and is the author of four gambling books.

Swain Scheps is a games enthusiast, numbers guru, sports betting expert and the author of Business Intelligence For Dummies and Sports Betting For Dummies.

Are you feeling lucky? Ante up with Dummies

Stepping into a casino for the first time can be exhilarating and intimidating. But knowing the rules of the games and your odds of winning can make your first venture into a casino a successful experience. Packed with expert insight from a pair of gambling gurus, this book shows you around the casino floor before you sit down for a game of blackjack, craps, baccarat, or three-card poker. Are the slots and video poker more your type? Get the latest info on automated games, along with the insider scoop on what’s happening in the race and sports books.

Inside…

• Navigating the casino floor
• Playing live games like blackjack and roulette
• Making the best bets in the casino
• Avoiding common mistakes
• Learning casino etiquette
• Venturing into the poker room
• Exploring online casinos