Blackjack Most people assume that playing Blackjack is all about scoring 21. This is not the case when playing in a casino. Your only objective is to beat the dealer, it doesn't matter whether you hand is worth 21 or 12, as long as you win. All wins pay evens except Blackjack, which pays 3/2 (1.5:1) Your main weapon is the fact that, in most casino rules, the dealer must hit on 16 or below and the dealer must stand on 17 or above. Armed with this knowledge it is possible to formulate a strategy based the value of the dealer's open card. Let's use an example: You have been dealt an 8 and a 5. The dealer's open card is a 5. You may think that a hand of 13 is no good to you but you'd be wrong! Don't forget that the dealer must hit on all scores of 16 or less and 16 is now the maximum score the dealer can have. You stand, the dealer turns over his card to reveal a 10. He has a hand worth 15, normally enough to beat you but because of the casino rules, he has to hit. He hits and draws a 10, he busts and you win with a hand worth 13. Played properly, Blackjack can realise very high percentage returns.

Nobody knows where the game of poker originated and there are lots of theories. The game played in the United States was made from several other card games. The Chinese played cards in 900AD and the Persian game of 'as nas' was a game of 25 cards and five suits. Most of the dictionaries and game historians say that it comes from an eighteenth-century French game, poque. This was stated to be using the first deck consisting of suits made from spades, diamonds, clubs, and hearts. the true origins of the game still remains shrouded in mystery. The history of the game in the United States is a much easier story to follow it seems to have originated from New Orleans and spread along the riverboats that travelled the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. By 1835 poker had become the number one cheating game on the riverboats though it was still quite a different game from the modern day version. During the civil war modifications such as stud poker, the draw, and the straight became popular. Poker was very popular about this time and it was more like the game we have today. During the Wild West period of United States history, a saloon with a Poker table could be found in just about every town. Unlike other casino card games, poker is a game in which players play against each other and not against the house. Poker has many variations, although the rules of play and strategy differ, the hierarchy of winning hands remains the same. Today Poker is the most played card game in the world and has grown into a major sporting event with tournaments taking place constantly throughout the year and large prizes available as Poker grows in popularity and strength.

1 - Red Or Black This bet is very simple, you predict if the number the ball lands on is going to be red or black. Odds are 1:1.
2 - 1-18 Or 19-24 Predict if the number the balls lands on will be in the lower half (numbers 1 to 18) or the upper half (19 to 30) If 0 or 00 shows up then you lose no matter what half you have picked. The odds are 1:1.
3 - Odd Or Even Choose whether you think the number will be odd or even. 00 and 0 do not count. The odds are 1:1.
4 - 1st 12, 2nd 12 or 3rd 12 The numbers are split into 3 sets of 12 and you choose which section the number will be in. 0 and 00 are not included in the bet. Odds are 2:1.
5 - Column 12's The same as the above but the 12 are going downwards so they are not in order. Also pays 2:1.
6 - Number Bet A chip is placed on one number so the only chance of winning is if that number comes out. Odds are 35:1, the highest paying bet.
7 - Corner Bet Chips placed where the corners of 4 numbers meet so if one of the 4 numbers surrounding your chip shows up, you win. Odds are 8:1.
8 - Between Two Numbers The chip is placed on the center of the line in between two numbers. If one of the numbers show up you win. Odds are 17:1.
9 - Two Row Bet Placing the chip here covers two rows of numbers. For example, a chip placed where number 9 is would cover numbers 22 through to 27. Has to be placed on the right hand side on the line between the two rows you would like. Odds are 5:1.
10 - One Row Bet This bet covers three numbers, for instance if you placed a chip where number 10 is on the diagram you would be betting on numbers 19, 20 and 21. Odds are 11:1.
11 - 5 Number Bet The only place to make a 5 number bet on the board. This bet covers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3. The odds are 6:1.