Outside Bets

The outside bets on a roulette board are simply the bets that reside 'outside' of the main playing area of 38 (yes, sometimes 37) numbers. There are no winning outside bets for 0 or 00 results. This is what gives the casino the majority of its house edge; people love to play the outside bets because they often seem like a 50/50 chance, when in fact they are slightly less than a 50/50 chance.

Red or Black - You can choose to bet on the outcome either being a red number, or a black number. Place this bet right in the area with the words 'red' or 'black' in them, which should be easy to reach from beside the table. Don't fall into the classic mind trick of assuming that if 5 blacks were spun, there is a better than 50% chance the sixth spin will be red. This is not logical and the reason why is described in more detail on the roulette system page. The Red/Black bet is paid even money, meaning if you bet $5, you win $5.

Odd or Even- Similar to the Red/Black bet, this even money bet is based on whether the number will be odd or even. Since 0 does not count as either, there are 36 numbers, an even count between odd and even. Place this bet by putting your chips in the middle of the square marked 'even' or the square marked 'odd', which will usually reside on either side of the black / red betting area.

Low or high - This bet lets you predict whether you think the next number to come up will be part of the range from 1 to 18, or part of the range from 19 to 36. This is an even money bet. To place this bet put your chips in the boxes with the associated number range printed in them.

Columns - At one end of the set of 38 numbers are boxes with the words '2 to 1' written in them. Each box is part of a column of numbers (if you extend a line up the body of the inside of the betting area) If a number from within the column you are betting on comes up you win, and you're paid 2 to 1.

Dozens - a bet very similar to the columns bet, dozens lets you place a bet on either the first dozen numbers (1-12), the second dozen (13-24), or the third dozen (25-36) To place this bet find the rectangular areas located in between the first outside bets (red/black, odd/even, etc) and the inside board spread. These will usually be labeled with the words 1st 12, 2nd 12, and 3rd 12. The bet pays 2 to 1.

Surrender

If, after viewing your original two cards and the dealer's up card, you feel that your chances of winning the hand are not good, you will have the option to "surrender" the hand. If you choose to surrender, you will automatically lose half of your original wager; the other half will be returned to you. Play of the hand will cease, and the deck will be reshuffled.

NOTE: If the dealer was dealt a Blackjack, the "surrender" option will not be available.

Double Down If, after viewing your original two cards and the dealer's up card, you feel that your chances of winning the hand are good you can choose to double the amount of your original wager. You will be dealt exactly one additional card and play will pass to the dealer.

Split

If you are dealt two cards of the same value (8-8, A-A, 10-K, etc.), you may choose to split the cards into two separate hands. An additional wager equal to your original wager will be placed next to the additional hand.

A second card will be dealt to the first of the split hands. This hand will be played out, with all the normal options available (surrender, double down, etc.) When you have finished playing the first hand, the other split hand will then be dealt a second card and played out as usual.

NOTES: Only one split is allowed per deal.
NOTES: A split-hand Blackjack will pay off at 1:1 instead of 3:2

Insurance

Whenever the dealer's up card is an ace, the insurance option will be available. When you buy insurance, you are insuring yourself against the possibility that the dealer has a blackjack. Insurance is an additional wager equal to half of your original bet.

If the dealer has a Blackjack, the insurance will pay off at 2:1. Your original bet will be lost, unless you also have a Blackjack, in which case the hand will push.

If the dealer does not have a Blackjack, you will lose the insurance wager and the hand will be played out as usual.

Slot machines are actual free-standing "machines" easily identified by their spinning reels and pull handles. The concept is simple, drop in some coins, pull the handle and hope the reel symbols line up. Different symbols win different amounts, and there's usually a jackpot available to be won.Slot machines are a total game of chance. There are no rules to learn, and the outcome is totally random. The ease of play, the potential huge payoffs, the noise and the excitement level around the slot area all contribute to a high entertainment value for some.Slot machines come in a variety of forms with diverse symbols on the wheels and numerous payout systems. Slot machines can have from three to five reels/wheels and one to five payoff lines. In all of them the basic idea is the same, to line up particular symbols on the payout line. The less likely a combination is to occur, the greater the payoff.The most basic slot machines require you to bet one coin (a fixed amount such as a dollar), they have only three reels, only one payout line, and pay a multiple of the bet coins value (e.g. Three cherries on the payout line will result in a payout 300 times the bet coins value) The player inserts the coin and pulls a handle (or presses a button on the front panel) and waits for the wheels to stop on the payout line to see if, and how much they have won (the payout symbols and payoff values are posted on the front of the machine) The more complex machines accept more than one coin (up to five), can have up to five wheels, and many also have up to five payout lines (three across and two diagonal)