Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Slots to Tables & Back
Your slot club card works even when you're playing at the tables. But you have to
speak up. Give your card to the dealer, and the casino will track what your aver-
age bet is and multiply it by the amount of time you're playing. Be advised how-
ever, that many casinos (especially on the Strip) will not rate your play unless you
consistently bet a minimum amount on each hand (often $25). If you're unsure,
you can always ask the pit boss whether betting minimums apply.
which is the French pronunciation for the Italian game. It translates as “zero,”
which is the value given to the face cards and “10.” Bets in this game can be
high—$150 to $15,000 or more, as the casinos are trying to attract a high-rolling
crowd. Still, anyone can play, and because it's a game based primarily on luck, not
skill (the dealer must follow a firm set of rules, and the only decision players make
is whether to bet on the bank or the player).
But if you must know more: The baccarat table is large, with room for three
dealers and 12 to 14 players. Though players all bet, only one hand is played at a
time. This is a community game, so people bet on hands that are not their own,
meaning they wager either on the bank, or the single player that the bank is up
against. Players can also bet on a tie, but the house advantage on that bet is
14.4%, so it's not recommended.
Eight decks of cards are used at a time. Two cards are dealt to the player who has
the largest wager against the bank, and two are dealt to the bank. Whoever gets a
number closer to nine without going over, wins. When the number reaches the dou-
ble digits, only the digit on the right side actually counts. For example, if a “9” and
a “5” are dealt, the total is 14, but since only the digit on the right side counts, the
total is actually four. The best a player can hope for is to get a natural 9, meaning a
“9” dealt with the first two cards (4 and 5). As mentioned, the dealer follows
detailed rules, and aside from betting, the only other role that players have is to deal
the cards when the shoe is passed to them. The shoe makes its way around the table
counterclockwise. If a player doesn't want to deal, he or she can pass.
Because the rules of the game dictate that the banker's hand wins more than
the player's, players who win off the banker's hand must pay a 5% commission.
Again, the dealer keeps track of these, so you won't have to bother doing the cal-
culations (the commission is charged either at the start of a new game or when
you leave the table).
Mini baccarat differs only in that it's played at a smaller table; betting mini-
mums are lower; games tend to move more quickly; the game itself has a less for-
mal air; and players don't deal the cards, the dealer does.
