Punto Banco

Playing Baccarat

Baccarat or Punto Banco is usually played in a separate casino area. The playing table is about the size of a craps table with three casino dealers and up to 12 or 14 players. There are just two principal bets to make: banker or player - Banco or Punto, plus the rarely used Standoff. Some casinos let the players deal the cards in turn and others have a casino dealer to deal the cards.

Each player, including the player dealing, may bet on either Punto or Banco but it is customary for the dealer to bet on Banco. Players may opt not to deal, passing the 'Shoe' to the next player. The shoe remains with one player as long as the Bank wins. If Punto wins, the shoe passes on to the next player. Two hands are dealt and you bet which one will win, or that they will tie. It is just like betting on Black or Red at roulette, and the payoff is even money, 1:1 (except for the standoff, which pays 8-1 or 9-1). The only difference between the Banco and Punto bet is a win on Banco will cost you 5% commission or tax levied by the casino - the in-built advantage. The reason for taxing the Banco is because it has been established that over an 8-deck cards play on average the Banco will win three to four hands more than the Punto. Each hand consists of a minimum of two and a maximum of three cards. The person dealing will put two cards, face down, tucked under the shoe, and give the player with the largest bet on Punto the other two cards, face down. The Punto player then looks at the cards and gives them back to the player who is dealing. Then the player who is dealing will turn over the cards of both hands while one of the casino dealers will announce the results and the winner. If either hand has a total of 8 or 9 (nine is the highest), then it is called a 'Natural' and no more cards are dealt. If it is not a natural, then depending on the value of each hand the casino dealer may instruct the card dealer to deal a third card. The decision when to deal a third card follows precise set rules used by all casinos. Once dealing is completed, the hand with the highest count wins. The paying casino dealers will collect the losing bets first and then pay the winning ones. The player who actually deals the cards is not responsible for the payouts. He is just like any other player, playing against the casino.

Baccarat Rules

Baccarat is played from a six-deck or an eight-deck shoe. All face cards and 10s have no value. Cards less than 10 are counted at face value, Aces are worth 1. Suits don't matter. Only single digit values are valid. Any count that reaches a double digit drops the left digit. 15 is counted as 5 and 25 is also counted as 5. To start, the players bet either on Banco or Punto or Standoff. The card dealer gives two cards each; first to the player and then the banker. The object of the game is to bet on the hand that you think will have the highest total value. A third card may be dealt to either or both the player (Punto) and the bank (Banco) based on the following three-card-rules. It is not necessary to learn these rules to play, they are compulsory decisions and therefore automatic. Only on rare occasions a mistake is made: Player's third-card-rule

• If either the player or the bank have a total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards no further cards are drawn. The resulting hand is called a natural and the hand is over.
  
• If the player's total is less than or equal to 5 the player's hand draws a third card.
  
• If the player does not draw a third card, then the bank's hand stands on 6 or more and takes a third card on a total of 5 or less. If the player does take a third card then the Bank's third-card-rule below will determine if the bank takes a third card.
  

• If the bank's total is 2 or less then bank draws a card, regardless of what the players third card is.
  
• If the banks total is 3 then the bank draws a third card unless the players third card was an 8.
  
• If the banks total is 4 then the bank draws a third card unless the players third card was a 0, 1, 8, or 9.
  
• If the banks total is 5 then the bank draws a third card if the players third card was 4, 5, 6, or 7.
  
• If the banks total is 6 then the bank draws a third card if the players third card was a 6 or 7.
  
• If the banks total is 7 then the bank stands.
  

Slot Machines are Slots

Slot Machines

Slot machines were introduced around the turn of the century, and their popularity increases daily. For many players, playing slots is still the most enjoyable and relaxing form of gambling.

These so called 'one-armed bandits' can be found in every casino, with a variety of models and coin denominations to please every player, including mechanical, electromechanical video, and the new touch-screen versions. With one touch of the screen, you can change from poker to slots. There are three to nine reels, criss-crosses, multiples, progressives, and specialty machines such as 21, Keno, Video Poker, Poker Bingo, and Video Horse Racing and Dog Racing. My favorite is the $.25 wheel of fortune slot machine with reels.

There are many different slot machine games. Jackpot size, combinations, symbols, size and number of coins allowed in each play vary as well. Included in these games are the popular Video Poker games. Modern slot machines are completely electronic. Symbol combinations come up randomly and machines are pre-programmed to return a certain percentage to the players.

Slots account for a good portion of a casino's action and winnings. They are simple to use, inexpensive to maintain, and require little or no skill to play.

To the player, a slot machine returns on average between 85% and 98%. The average casino advantage is calculated to be around 9%.

Slot Machines in California

In California, most of the slot machines print tickets and take paper money.

Poker Texas Holdem Hi-Low Split

Texas Holdem Hi-Low Split

Two cards (hole cards) are dealt to each player, one at a time, face down, in rotation. This is followed by the first round of betting. A player may check, bet, call, raise or fold. Three cards (the flop) are then dealt face up in the middle of the table as community cards (board cards) and the second round of betting occurs. The fourth community card is dealt face up (the turn), followed by the third round of betting. The final community card (the river) is dealt face up and followed by the fourth (final) round of betting.

At showdown, a player must use a combination of exactly two hole cards in their hand and three of the five community cards from the board to determine their best five-card high and five-card low poker hand. The highest and qualifying lowest (8 or better) five-card poker hands split the pot. If no low hand qualifies with an 8 or better, the highest five-card poker hand wins the entire pot. In the event of a tie, the portion of the pot that was tied will be equally split.

Poker Three Card

Three Card

Three card poker is a combination of poker and special hands. The player may bet on either one, both, and in different amounts. Both games are based on hands consisting of three cards. The special hands are a simple game in which you get three cards and are paid according to their value from a high pair to a straight flush.

Ante and Play is the form of Poker

Play begins with a wager on ante. After the poker player views his three cards he may either raise by putting an equal bet on play or fold and lose the ante bet. If the player folds he also loses the special bet if one was made, however this should not be any sacrifice because if the special bet paid anything the player shouldn't fold.

If the player does rise then he goes against the dealer's hand. The dealer needs at least a queen high to qualify. Below are the possible outcomes and their payoff:

Dealer does not qualify: Ante wins 1 to 1, play bet is returned

Dealer qualifies and player beats dealer: Both play and ante win 1 to 1

Dealer qualifies and dealer beats player: Both Play and ante lose

Dealer qualifies and dealer ties player: Both Play and ante push

Punto Banco

Playing Baccarat

Baccarat or Punto Banco is usually played in a separate casino area. The playing table is about the size of a craps table with three casino dealers and up to 12 or 14 players. There are just two principal bets to make: banker or player - Banco or Punto, plus the rarely used Standoff. Some casinos let the players deal the cards in turn and others have a casino dealer to deal the cards.

Each player, including the player dealing, may bet on either Punto or Banco but it is customary for the dealer to bet on Banco. Players may opt not to deal, passing the 'Shoe' to the next player. The shoe remains with one player as long as the Bank wins. If Punto wins, the shoe passes on to the next player. Two hands are dealt and you bet which one will win, or that they will tie. It is just like betting on Black or Red at roulette, and the payoff is even money, 1:1 (except for the standoff, which pays 8-1 or 9-1). The only difference between the Banco and Punto bet is a win on Banco will cost you 5% commission or tax levied by the casino - the in-built advantage. The reason for taxing the Banco is because it has been established that over an 8-deck cards play on average the Banco will win three to four hands more than the Punto. Each hand consists of a minimum of two and a maximum of three cards. The person dealing will put two cards, face down, tucked under the shoe, and give the player with the largest bet on Punto the other two cards, face down. The Punto player then looks at the cards and gives them back to the player who is dealing. Then the player who is dealing will turn over the cards of both hands while one of the casino dealers will announce the results and the winner. If either hand has a total of 8 or 9 (nine is the highest), then it is called a 'Natural' and no more cards are dealt. If it is not a natural, then depending on the value of each hand the casino dealer may instruct the card dealer to deal a third card. The decision when to deal a third card follows precise set rules used by all casinos. Once dealing is completed, the hand with the highest count wins. The paying casino dealers will collect the losing bets first and then pay the winning ones. The player who actually deals the cards is not responsible for the payouts. He is just like any other player, playing against the casino.

Baccarat Rules

Baccarat is played from a six-deck or an eight-deck shoe. All face cards and 10s have no value. Cards less than 10 are counted at face value, Aces are worth 1. Suits don't matter. Only single digit values are valid. Any count that reaches a double digit drops the left digit. 15 is counted as 5 and 25 is also counted as 5. To start, the players bet either on Banco or Punto or Standoff. The card dealer gives two cards each; first to the player and then the banker. The object of the game is to bet on the hand that you think will have the highest total value. A third card may be dealt to either or both the player (Punto) and the bank (Banco) based on the following three-card-rules. It is not necessary to learn these rules to play, they are compulsory decisions and therefore automatic. Only on rare occasions a mistake is made: Player's third-card-rule

• If either the player or the bank have a total of 8 or 9 on the first two cards no further cards are drawn. The resulting hand is called a natural and the hand is over.
  
• If the player's total is less than or equal to 5 the player's hand draws a third card.
  
• If the player does not draw a third card, then the bank's hand stands on 6 or more and takes a third card on a total of 5 or less. If the player does take a third card then the Bank's third-card-rule below will determine if the bank takes a third card.
  

• If the bank's total is 2 or less then bank draws a card, regardless of what the players third card is.
  
• If the banks total is 3 then the bank draws a third card unless the players third card was an 8.
  
• If the banks total is 4 then the bank draws a third card unless the players third card was a 0, 1, 8, or 9.
  
• If the banks total is 5 then the bank draws a third card if the players third card was 4, 5, 6, or 7.
  
• If the banks total is 6 then the bank draws a third card if the players third card was a 6 or 7.
  
• If the banks total is 7 then the bank stands.
  

Slot Machines are Slots

Slot Machines

Slot machines were introduced around the turn of the century, and their popularity increases daily. For many players, playing slots is still the most enjoyable and relaxing form of gambling.

These so called 'one-armed bandits' can be found in every casino, with a variety of models and coin denominations to please every player, including mechanical, electromechanical video, and the new touch-screen versions. With one touch of the screen, you can change from poker to slots. There are three to nine reels, criss-crosses, multiples, progressives, and specialty machines such as 21, Keno, Video Poker, Poker Bingo, and Video Horse Racing and Dog Racing. My favorite is the $.25 wheel of fortune slot machine with reels.

There are many different slot machine games. Jackpot size, combinations, symbols, size and number of coins allowed in each play vary as well. Included in these games are the popular Video Poker games. Modern slot machines are completely electronic. Symbol combinations come up randomly and machines are pre-programmed to return a certain percentage to the players.

Slots account for a good portion of a casino's action and winnings. They are simple to use, inexpensive to maintain, and require little or no skill to play.

To the player, a slot machine returns on average between 85% and 98%. The average casino advantage is calculated to be around 9%.

Slot Machines in California

In California, most of the slot machines print tickets and take paper money.

Bingo at the Casino

Playing Bingo

Bingo is played in halls and casinos. Bingo rules and payouts and play variations vary from place to place. Bingo brochures detailing particular games, rules and payouts are usually available at each respective location.

Basically, players buy cards with numbers on them in a 5 x 5 grid corresponding to the five letters in the word B-I-N-G-O. Numbers such as B-2 or 0-68 are then drawn at random (out of a possible 75) until one player completes a 'Bingo' line with five numbers in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on one of their cards and wins the prize.

The numbers are announced quickly, so you must pay careful attention to the numbers that are called and mark them quickly and accurately on your bingo cards. The caller keeps calling numbers until one or more players claim BINGO. Then the game stops and the numbers are verified. If there is a winner, the prize is awarded and a new bingo game begins with new cards. If there is more than one winner, the prize is split among all the winners.

In Las Vegas many variations including 'Letter X', 'Six Pack', 'Coverall' and 'Indian Style Papoose' Bingo are offered. Additionally, some places offer special progressive payouts as high as $10,000.