The game-play of roulette is rather uncomplicated, but one must be a bit familiar with roulette rules before placing any sophisticated bets. In addition to roulette rules, this page addresses proper etiquette around the table, and gives a walkthrough so you know exactly what to do. The first thing you should know is how the table minimum works. If you are playing at a table with a $5 minimum, you are required to place $5 on each of your outside bets, and/or a total of at least $5 on your inside bets (inside and outside bets are explained in a second) So if you play black/red, odd/even or high/low, you must place the table minimum for each and every bet. On the other hand, you could place 5 $1 bets on 5 completely different inside bets (specific numbers or combinations of numbers) Before you get confused, standard North American roulette rules have the table use different chips than other table games at the casino. Each player is assigned a different color of chip, letting the dealer differentiate bets and match them to the right players. These chips are worthless at the other tables in the casino, so don't bother trying to stack them up under your blackjack chips or anything silly like that. The roulette dealer will exchange your game chips for regular chips when you are finished playing. You usually have to give some indication to the dealer as to what value of chip denomination you want to be provided with. For a $5 minimum table, you will usually have a minimum value of $1 on roulette chips. Judge this based on your average bet and whether or not you like to split things up a lot. Again, so you don't get confused, when you get your roulette chips they will not be marked with a denomination, you choose it, and all of the chips will reflect that worth (the dealer keeps track of this by associating the amount and color with a 'lammer') Roulette doesn't move at a quick pace, it's for a more relaxed crowd than you're likely to find at the craps table. Roulette rules kind of necessitate this sluggishness, as making all of the bets is what slows things down. When you're at the point that you want to place your bet, don't be concerned about someone else having already taken your bet, chips can share bets thanks to the colors. Roulette rules give you lots of time to set your bet, and can even keep doing so after the wheel has been spun, just don't try it after the dealer waves his hands over the table (if there are any new players the dealer will most likely say 'no more bets' out-loud too) Once the ball has found its pocket, the dealer will call out the winning number and place a clear marker on that number's spot on the table layout. The dealer then sweeps the table clean and the winner is paid. Wait until the dealer says 'place your bets' before putting any chips down for the next spin.

There are many choices of games when it comes to playing video poker. You can play All American, Bonus Poker, Deuces Wild, Double Bonus Poker, Jacks or Better, Joker's Wild, and many others. Although the games are generally the same, you should note that the payout schedule can differ for each variation. In order to have as close to 100% payback, you need to use the correct playing strategy for each type of game. By far the most popular video poker game is Jacks or Better as it has a payout of 99.5%. This is an excellent return for an easier game which allows you to gain the experience and knowledge to move on to the other more complicated games.

Below is a summary of the more popular Video Poker games. Read up on the ones that interest you the most and start playing!

Deuces Wild

In this game, the standard 52-card deck is used, with all four deuces (2's) designated as wild cards. Because of the added bonus of the four deuce wild cards, the minimum rank for a winning hand is three of a kind. Never discard a deuce in a Deuces Wild game.

Jacks or Better

This is the best game to begin with when starting to play video poker. In fact, it is a good all-around machine to play at any time. You can identify a good-paying machine by reviewing the full house and flush payouts on the first column on the payout chart. On a 9/6 machine you will be paid nine counts for a full house and six for a flush.

It is important to remember not to play the low payout 7/5 machines as the house odds are just too high.

The next factor to look for is the royal flush payout. You want to play on non-progressive machines that award at least 4,000 counts for a royal flush. This means that if you play the maximum five coins and get a royal flush, you will get 4,000 coins back.

The royal flush payout is the bonus that makes video poker a winner. If you can't or won't play the maximum coins on a given video poker machine because of its cost, go to a machine with a lower denomination.

Joker's Wild

This game is played with the standard 52-card deck, with a joker thrown in as a wild card. This wild card can be used as a substitute for any other card or can be used to create a five of a kind. The machine will automatically compute the best hand when a joker is present, usually about 10% of the time. Because of the added bonus of the wild card, the minimum rank for a wining hand is two pair.

King of the Decks

In this game, five decks of the standard 52-card decks are used. If you get five kinds of clubs, you will win the progressive jackpot. Because of the added bonus of the increased number of potential pairs, the minimum ranks for a winning hand is two pair. Games with more than one deck will always reduce the player's odds, so consider other games before playing King of the Decks.

Progressive Machines

These machines typically have a lower payout for a full house and flush; however, this can be overcome if the progressive jackpot is high enough. On a $.25 machine, if the jackpot is above $2,240, it's worthwhile to play. If it's below the $2,240 level, go back to the standard 9/6 machines. On progressive 9/6 Jacks or Better machines when the jackpot raises above 6,500 coins, the payback reaches a 100% return making this an excellent machine to play.

Today the largest group of casino players are playing slots. It wasn't always this way, as late as the mid-seventies slots were not thought of serious games of chance. They were often played by the female companions of male table players, husbands were often seen giving their wives money to play the slots with while they went off to play the more serious table games. In those days a "respectable" table player wouldn't be caught playing the slots.The original slot machines were mechanical devices and some cheats tried various ways to beat the house. People tried everything from the use of magnets to drilling a hole through the side of the machines, all in an attempt to influence the mechanism. There was even a legal method discovered by a few that involved a style of pulling the handle that controlled the drop of one or more of the reels. This increased the players odds greatly, and caused the casino operators some concern until a method was devised to remove this advantage. The manufacturers have kept modifying and refining the machines to keep the games honest. Today the vast majority of slot machines are electronic and computer controlled so that outside manipulating of the machines by cheaters is now just a part of slot machine history.It was the introduction and rapid acceptance of video games that changed the slot machine forever, the casino operators developed a new line of electronic slot machines, ones that offered vivid graphics and exciting sound effects. The casino operators also added further refinements such as connecting several machines together and taking a small percentage of every play and adding it to a jackpot total. If no one hits the jackpot for some time it can grow into a huge amount, and although the odds are small it will payoff and one lucky player will win big. These "jackpots" also helped to increase slot popularity to where it is today.Today slots are the most popular form of casino gambling, with up to 40% of casino revenue originating from these "one armed bandits".

• Low pair and low pair: Split unless holding a king or better, then play two pair in the back.
• Low pair and medium pair: Split unless holding a king or better, then play two pair in the back.
• Low pair and high pair: Split unless holding an ace, then play two pair in the back.
• Medium pair and medium pair: Split unless holding an ace, then play two pair in the back.
• Medium pair and high pair: Always split.
• High pair and high pair: Always split.
• Pair of aces and any other pair: Always split.

• Three pair: Always play highest pair in front.
• Three of a kind: Always play three of a kind in back unless they are aces, then play a pair of aces in back and one ace in front.
• Three of a kind twice: Always play highest pair in front.
• Straights, flushes, straight flushes, and royal flush:
  • With no pair: When choosing whether to play a straight, flush, or straight flush play the category which will allow the highest two cards in front.
  • With 6th or 7th card: Play the lower straight or flush in the back to place the highest cards in front.
  • With one pair: Play pair in the front only if a straight, flush, or straight can be played in the back.
  • With two pair: Use two pair rule.
  • With three pair: Use three pair rule.
  • With three of a kind: Play pair in front.
  • With full house: Use full house rule.
• Full house: Always split unless the pair is twos and you have an ace and a king to play in the front.
• Full house with three of a kind and two pairs: Play the highest pair in front.
• Full house with three of a kind twice: Always play the highest pair in front.
• Play according to the rank of the four of a kind:
  • 2 through 6: Always keep together.
  • 7 through 10: Split unless a king or better can be played in front.
  • Jack through king: Split unless an ace can be played in front.
  • Aces: Always split.
• Four of a kind and a pair: Play pair in front.
• Four of a kind and three of a kind: Play pair in front from the three of a kind.
• Five aces: Split aces and play three aces in back and two aces in front unless you have a pair of kings, then play five aces in back and kings in front.