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Going to the casino for the first time. (1 Viewer)

Jon_Gregory

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Ok, me and my wife are going to Biloxi, MS with another couple to gamble for the first time. I know that there are some casino buffs out there. I don't have a huge amount to spend, and I want to make it last. I am a perfectionist when it comes to everything I do, so I like to study things before I embark on such an adventure. What kind of Advice do you got. I really don't want to play slots. I have studied blackjack till my head hurts and I am really good at some serious garage poker games (Texas hold-em). I like to have a say in how my money is spent instead of just pulling a lever or pushing a button.

Give me all the advice you got. I am going to have fun and I am going knowing that I will spend money not win any. If I win, great, but that is not why we are going. This is spendable vacation money. So no, you should spend it elsewhere type advice. What are some good tips for first time casino goers?

Update:

Went this weekend and had a blast. See last post below.
 

Lew Crippen

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Of the casino games roulette and craps offer the best odds. You only have a say as to what you bet. Craps might appeal a bit more, as you get to roll the dice from time to time. It is also a bit more emotional as some shooters don’t like bets against them.

Blackjack has good odds and you get to play. This might be the most satisfying from your perspective.

Poker is good, if you are good. No way to estimate the odds, as it depends on the skill level of the other players at the table. I have no clue as to the skill level at Biloxi, but in any game for much money you would no doubt get taken to the cleaners (based on playing at home).

OTOH poker for modest stakes might fit you very well. Of course I don’t know what happens or who plays in the garage, but this might be your skill level.

Blackjack is probably the best choice if you want to be conservative and lose at a slow rate (and you might win on the day or the weekend).

You could lose more quickly at poker, but if you are a good player, you have a better chance of actually winning.
 

Patrick Sun

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I couldn't quite get the hang of limit holdem games when I played in Biloxi a couple of years ago. I like no-limit holdem better. Too many people hang around to the river in limit holdem games, so bluffing isn't as big a weapon as it is in no-limit since you are limited to what you can bet on each round of bets, and I suffered a few suck-outs that I wasn't all that pleased with.

I think I played at Casino Magic, or the casino next to that one for poker room play. There are sign-up sheets if you like to play tournament style no-limit holdem, and Omaha, but you had to get there about 4-5 hours early to sign-up, otherwise, you'd get shut out of the tournament. The blinds go up pretty fast in these tournaments, so you have to build a nice size stack in order to survive late into the tournaments.
 

Don Solosan

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If you are going to play the slots, choose machines that are near the entrances or in high-traffic areas. The folks in charge like people walking in to hear that ching-ching-ching! of coins dropping into the tray -- makes 'em feel like they're in a place where people are winning. Those machines are programmed to pay out at 110-115% or so. The machines around blackjack tables are programmed much less, say 75% payout, because blackjack players don't like the noise.
 

Adam.Heckman

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Dec 9, 2003
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It's true about the 'limit' holdem games, people will 'chase' more in them.
I just came back from the indian casino up here in new england, foxwoods. I sat down at a 2/4 limit holdem game and doubled my hundred dollars. My first time at an actual poker table, although I'm 23 and played poker since middle school. I'd say that it's definately fun and seems like it could really fit your bill because you want some amount of 'control' when you gamble. Also, blackjack is great, and you said that you've studied how to play. That's got the BEST odds for winning, in fact, if you get a whole table of people that know how to bet, the odds might actually go 1% in your favor.

Have fun and be smart. Take it easy.
 

LewB

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I have to disagree about Roulette having 'good odds'. A roulette game that uses '0' and '00' pays 36-1 if your number comes up, problem is that there are 38 numbers.
So, look for a game with only the '0'.
Blackjack and craps have the lowest house edge. Stick with 'basic strategy' on blackjack. You can buy a card with the strategy on it for a couple of bucks at most casinos. Just make sure you do exactly what it says, no seat-of-the-pants guessing. Stay away from games where they only use 1 deck of cards, as those games usually only pay 6:5 on blackjack instead of 3:2. Craps is fun, but the money can go quick. Play pass line and come bets, and ALWAYS put up odds on your bets (there is basically 0 house percentage on the odds bet).
Always sign up for a players card. Without it, you will have no chance of getting 'comped' (free stuff). Never bring more money than you can afford to lose. Be prepared to lose it all. Have fun. Oh yeah, stay away from the slots !!! Slot players get the best comps of all the casino patrons ! The reason ? Your comps are based on your average bet x the amount of time you play x the house percentage of the game. You'd be surprised to know that a $1 slot player is more valued as a customer than a $10 blackjack player. They put more $ at risk over time(only takes a few seconds to spin the reels) than a table player !
 

Jeff Gatie

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Sorry, no machine is programmed to pay out over 100%, this is a myth. First of all, paying out over 100% is a net loss for a casino and no casino would have their busiest machines giving out more money than they take in. Second of all, it is illegal in most states to "seed" certain machines.
 

Jon_Gregory

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Thanks for all the advice. I think I am going to stick to mostly blackjack. I have already printed out a strategy card and think I have memorized most of it. If I don't loose all my money there, I may slip on over and catch a poker tournament or something. I will let my wife do the slots and get the comps.

We are staying at the Palace Casino there in Biloxi. It was the only casino to have rooms with 1 month advance booking. This town packs out quick on weekends. Haven't heard to much about it, just that it's a nice hotel.
 

RichP

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Limit Hold'Em is a very different game than No Limit, in fact I would say Limit requires more pure Poker skill than No Limit does. There's not much skill involved in pushing your entire stack in pre-flop or making gargantuan raises, but in limit you really have to know how to bet properly and understand how to bet for value and most importantly you have to know when you're beat and when to drop out of hands.

Limit Hold'Em is my primary game and I've done extremely well over the last few years at it. It takes far more patience to play than NL which is what I think turns so many amateur Poker players off, because they see the heavily edited for TV Poker tourneys and think that's what it's like in real life, when the truth is the exact opposite.

If you like Poker, I think Limit Hold'em is the purest of all Poker games, followed closely by Pot-Limit Omaha.
 

Shane Martin

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The games that seem to pay the best overall to me seem to be the following:

Blackjack
Craps - never understood the game but my father wins alot at it.
Video Poker
Let it Ride.

I played some Let it Ride on a cruise ship and did well. Craps is quite good too if you know how to play. My father has won alot at it and I know several folks that have done SUPER WELL at the craps table.

but yes get a players card.
 

Todd K

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Try the slots just for fun, but nothing more. Those machines and the roulette tables are just random luck. No skill required.

Your poker tables, blackjack tables, and even craps are a lot more fun, because you can increase your chances of winning by playing right. I think blackjack is the greatest casino game ever. Poker takes too long and craps can go south real quick if the dice don't go your way, but each hand of blackjack is a new chance to win!

If you want to try for some random luck, double your bets from time to time. If you get lucky, you can get ahead. If you stick with the minimum bet every time, you usually end up breaking even or getting nickel and dimed to death. Plus, it's you against the dealer, and no one else. Nothing like the thrill of celebrating with your fellow players when the dealer busts because he is forced by the rules to draw a card.
 

Patrick Sun

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And there's nothing like playing at a table where the idiot takes the dealer's bust card by not "playing by the odds".

(I know, just leave that table and find another, but still it burns when someone else is losing your money in this manner.)
 

LewB

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Been there and done that. I can honestly say that the worst blackjack players are the ones in vegas. Thankfully, the 'bad' players are usually chastised by the other players in Atlantic City and the Connecticut casinos. Problem is that it's a 2 way street. These clowns have made me money also. You just seem to remember the times that they cost you money. That is why I'm starting to appreciate craps. Anyone can throw the dice. You make your money with the kinds of bets you make.
 

Todd K

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Yes, it is a two-way street. The best dealers are the ones who are on your side (they have rules to follow not matter what happens, it's in their best interest to help you so they can get some nice tips). If you get a friendly table, the dealer would caution an amateur not to take the dealer's bust cart if he shouldn't be hitting.

I also hate dealers who deal too fast. I hate having my money taken away from me before I even know what happened.
 

Patrick Sun

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I will say, I do like the dealers who deal the cards from their non-dealing shoulder, looks kinda cool.
 

Stevan Lay

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I disagree entirely. Higher stakes requires more precision decisions. Poker is about whom makes the least mistakes... $10, $20 bucks to call or be in a drawing hand requires little thought process and allows you to make more errors in your judgement.

If you want to limit the house (casino) odds, I hear that Baccarat and craps are "fair" games.

I try to avoid Blackjack for the reason that the house has the higher advantage and you are also dependent on other players drawing your hand.
 

Karl_Luph

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I've only been to a few casinos in Louisiana, passed on the poker tables, even the small stakes games can add up by the time everybody's through bluffing.I Mainly just enjoyed the quarter slots,sure you usually lose your money, but it is fun and every so often you hit some kind of winner ,so you win some,lose some. If you really want to take it easy, go for the nickel slots, I had a blast for about 3 hours one night, and hey,if you can't afford to just throw away a couple of hundred dollars ,don't go.Next time I'll try Baccarat, that looks like fun and you get to bet whatever you feel like. One thing's for certain,entertainment always cost money. :)
 

Ted Lee

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:emoji_thumbsup:

as long as you have that attitude, i say try all the games you can and see which one you like. personally, i've always liked blackjack since it's about the only game i can actually follow/understand. :) craps is just too complicated for me. roulette is kinda fun, if you bet odd/even at least you have a 50/50 chance of winning (at least if iirc).

just remember the *golden* rule: don't bet more then you can afford to lose.

for me, that's usually about 40 bucks. :D
 

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