Introduction

Roulette was introduced in the United States by French immigrants. Since then, it has become an incredibly popular game. It first appeared in Italy in the 17th century before becoming popular in Monaco in the 19th century. Roulette was banned in the US during prohibition and was only reintroduced in 1931 in the Nevada casinos. The game has received worldwide acclaim with the most popular variants being the European and American versions.

 

The roulette wheel is made up of three components:

• Roulette wheel

The bowl and wheelhead, which is the flat rotating part of the cylinder; the ball track, where the ball travels; and the frets, which are the pocket separators of the roulette wheel. The frets define a series of boxes that alternate between red and black, and decrease the proximity of even/odd and high/low numbers. For the European roulette wheel, there are 37 boxes numbered from 0 to 36, in red or black , except for the 0 which is in green. For the American roulette wheel, the boxes are numbered from 0 to 36, in red or black, except for the 0 and the 00, which are in green.

• The game table

The game table, or roulette table, is where the players place their bets. The table is organized in boxes placed in an order that correspond to the colored frets of the roulette wheel. To make a bet, the player simply has to place their chips on a square on the table or on a line between the boxes. Each type of roulette table has additional boxes that represent several different types of bets, such as the even box, which groups all the even numbers, the red box, which groups all the red numbers, etc.

• The croupier

The croupier runs the game. They toss the ball, spin the roulette, monitor players’ bets and distribute the profits. They also announce the different parts of the game using the following phrases:
Place your bets: when the payments are distributed for the revious game, the croupier makes this announcement to players that betting is open.
All bets are off: when the croupier tosses the ball.
No more bets: called when bets are closed and the ball approaches its stop.
No spin: called when the spin is invalid and the ball does not complete its course, such as when the ball rolls off the wheel.
Finally, the croupier will announce where the ball lands, or the winning result, “18 red, even and low,” as well as the winning bets of the players in descending order, “street bet, split bet, straight up,” for example.
Nothing on the number: called when no player has won the spin.

Goal of the game

Roulette is the most accessible table game as well as one of the most emotional. Every game of roulette offers fast and massive winnings. For example, a single bet on a specific number can have a financial gain of 35 times the value of the bet placed.The way the game works is very simple: the croupier throws a ball into the wheel with its 37 or 38 boxes depending on the version; the player places a bet based on a prediction on which number the ball will land, and indicates this on the corresponding spot on the table.

Game sequence

“ Place your bets! ”

In roulette, the player tries to guess which number the ball will land on by placing one or several chips on the corresponding boxes on the roulette table. Roulette generally takes place in three parts, regardless of the variant:

• Placing bets : When the players hear, “place your bets,” They must place their chips on the table.

“All bets are off!”

Once the bets are placed, the game moves fast.

• Closing of the bets: the croupier announces, “No more bets! to close betting.
• Payouts: when the ball stops on a box, the croupier announces the number, collects losing bets and pays the winning bets.

 

Online roulette has very similar options to a live game of roulette:

• Spin : Select spin to start the game.

• Clear : Withdraw your bets by selecting clear.

• Repeat : repeat the bet used in a previous game.

• Help : find out the rules and additional information of the specific roulette game.

• Special Bets : select this to access some unique bets.

Bets

There are different ways to bet such as betting on a number or on a combination of numbers.

Inside Bets

Inside bets are placed in the center of the table layout, or the number zone, on individual numbers or on specific combinations of numbers.

• Straight Bet : bet on a single number .
• Split Bet : bet on 2 numbers by placing your chip on an intersecting line.
• Street Bet : bet on 3 numbers in the same line by placing the chip on the outer corner of the line.
• Corner Bet : bet on 4 numbers by placing the chip at the intersection of four numbers.
• Five Number Bet : bet on the numbers 0, 00, 1, 2 and 3 at the same time. Only available in American roulette.
• Six Line Bet : bet on 6 numbers by placing the chip at the intersection of two lines.

Outside Bets

Outside bets are placed outside the numbered grid of the roulette layout.

• Red or Black: bet is placed on all red or all black numbers.
• Even or Odd(Pair / Impair in French): bet is placed on all even or odd numbers.
• Low or High(Manque / Passe in French): bet is placed on the low numbers, 1 to 18, or the high numbers, 19 to 36.
• Column Bet: bet is placed on the box representing the numbers within the corresponding column.
• Dozen Bet: bet is placed in the box that includes 12 numbers (i.e. 1 to 12, 13 to 24, 25 to 36).

Winnings

The odds of winning are much larger in American roulette compared to the milder winnings in European roulette.

Bet	Side	Probability (European)	Probability (American)
Low / High	1 to 1	48.6%	47.4%
Even / Odd	1 to 1	48.6%	47.4%
Red / Black	1 to 1	48.6%	47.4%
Column	2 to 1	32.4%	31.6%
Dozen	2 to 1	32.4%	31.6%
Five Number	5 to 1	16.2%	15.8%
Six Line	6 to 1	Not available	13.2%
Corner	8 to 1	10.8%	10.5%
Street	11 to 1	8.1%	7.9%
Split	17 to 1	5.4%	5.3
Straight	35 to 1	2.7%	2.6%

Advice to players

• Find the version that works best for you.
• Roulette is a very popular casino game, where the number of variations has decreased over time. However, there are still many options to choose from, so place your bets and find out which version of roulette is your favorite.
• Use your winnings to play.
• Roulette is an exciting game and can cause risky behavior. Set limits so it doesn’t get out of control.
• Tip: outside bets pay less, but chances of winning over time are significantly higher.

Introduction

Blackjack was introduced to North America by French immigrants. They brought the game from France, where it is believed to have been created in the country's gambling houses in the beginning of the 18th century. Initially called "21”, Blackjack has been enjoyed worldwide since the beginning of the 20th century with different versions of the rules. In 1931, casinos in Vegas helped to develop the popularity of Blackjack by seducing players to the game in their "operation: seduction." This offered players a bonus of 10 to 1 for a 21-point hand that included a jack of spades and an ace. Blackjack has often been in the news, and subsequently various films, due to infamous players involved in card counting cases. However, this method is no longer possible. Blackjack is not only an exciting game but has a fascinating history that continues to thrill fans worldwide.

 

Blackjack typically hosts up to seven players. The game table is made up of several components:

• The croupier, or the dealer, hosts the game and is placed in front of the players.
• The bank is placed in front of the dealer and holds the chips distributed or collected after players’ victory or defeat.
• The dealer’s shoe is also placed in front of the dealer and holds all the cards dealt during the game. Today, it is a machine that also shuffles the cards automatically.
• The table has seven betting spots for players where the dealer deals the cards and where the players can place bets.

Originally, only one deck of 52 cards was used. But once people discovered that players could count cards, gambling houses added multiple decks. Blackjack is now played with multiple decks of cards, all located in the dealer’s shoe and shuffled after every round of play.

Goal of the game

In Blackjack, the goal of the game is simple: the player must try to beat the bank. Each player, including the dealer, must obtain a 21-point hand with a minimum number of cards. During the course of a game, the player is allowed to request additional cards in order to reach 21-points. These are added to the two initial cards dealt.

If the player exceeds 21 points, the hand is called a “bust.” This results in a loss on the bet made.

If the player does not bust, the hand remains in play. The player, including the bank, with the hand closest to 21-points is declared the winner of the game.

Value of the cards

• Cards ranging from 2 to 10 have the same value as the card number (i.e. an 8 is worth 8 points).
• The face cards (jack, queen, king) are worth 10 points.
• The ace is worth either 1 or 11 points based on the player’s choice.

A “blackjack” hand consists of the two initial cards dealt: one is an ace, and the other is a face card or a 10.

Game procedure

“Place your bets!”

Once players place their bets, the game begins.

“No more bets!”

Once the game begins, the dealer deals an open card to each player and then one face down for the dealer. The dealer then deals a second round of cards, all face up. The players, therefore, have two open cards, and the dealer has one face down and one open. Once all participants have two cards, the players can then take action. The player can request one or more additional cards to try to reach 21. If the player exceeds 21-points, then they lose the game. If the player decides to stand their hand, or stop drawing cards, then the dealer moves onto the next player.

 

Once all players are served, the dealer takes care of their own hand. The dealer’s final hand determines the result of the game.

• The dealer generally draws cards equal to or lower than 16 and stands at 17 points.
• If the dealer exceeds 21 points, the bank loses and the players that haven’t exceeded 21 points win.
• If the dealer is close to 21, the players with a hand higher than the dealer’s but not exceeding 21 win.
• In the event of a tie, no wins or losses are declared.

 

The following are some of the actions that players can do:

• Hit: the player requests an additional card.
• Stand: the players stays with their hand.
• Double down: the player can double his (or her) bet and receive only one additional card.
• Split: If the player has a pair, then they can double their bet in split the pair into two different hands, which in effect doubles the bet with the new hand that has been created. The dealer then deals an additional card to both players’ hands.

 

Some versions of blackjack have other actions:

Surrender: The player is allowed to give up their hand after receiving their two initial cards. If this action is made, the player recovers half their bet. However, if a player draws an additional card, then the option is no longer available.

Insurance: If the dealer’s first card is an ace, then the player is allowed to make an insurance bet. This is a side bet that the dealer has a 10-point card for the face down card and thus a blackjack. The player wagers half the value of the initial bet. If the dealer does have a 10-point card on the second card and gets a blackjack, then the player will lose the hand but the insurance bet pays 2 to 1 so the player breaks even.

Winnings

• A winning hand pays 1 to 1 on the value of the initial bet.
• In the event of a tie, the player retains their initial bet, without gain or loss.
• Blackjack begins with a 3 to 2 ratio on the initial bet.
• An insurance bet pays 2 to 1 on the bet.

Strategy Chart

Since there are so many different versions of blackjack, there really is no universal strategy that can be used. However, you can review the strategy chart below, based on rules of classic blackjack, to get tips on how to maximize your playing experience depending on the hand that you and the bank have.

Specific rules

Soft and Hard hands

A soft hand is when the hand contains an ace, which can have a value of 1 or 11. The soft hand becomes a hard hand when the additional card drawn forces the ace to be a 1 so that the hand does not exceed 21 points. The ace loses it's flexibility in order to keep the player from having a bust. A soft hand often becomes a hard hand after additional cards are drawn.

The bank draws at 16, stands at 17

The dealer will deal an additional card if the result of the initial hand is less than 17. If it is greater than 17, then the dealer will stand. However, some versions allow the dealer to hit at 17 if they have a soft hand. It's important to review the rules of the particular version of blackjack that you are playing beforehand.

Blackjack overpowers a 21-point hand

Blackjack is a 21-point hand that consists of two cards: an ace and a 10 point card. This hand is stronger than the other 21-point hands consisting of three or more cards.

Advice to players

Avoid insurance bets

Many experts agree that it is better to lose your bet by playing certain other risky strategies than to place an insurance bet. The insurance bet is not profitable.

Make smart choices

Blackjack is not a game of pure chance. The strategies that you use will help determine the game result. You can use our strategy chart below to help you make the best possible decisions. Review the information, memorize it or keep it with you while you're playing a game of classic blackjack. Doing this will help you make smarter choices.

Play versions of blackjack with the better rules

The rules of the different versions of blackjack can differ from one table to the next. If you're a beginner, pay attention to the basic rules and patterns of the game until you master the mechanics. Some variants have rules that give an advantage to the dealer.

• Avoid versions where the dealer can hit at 17.

• Review the payouts: some versions pay 6 to 5 instead of 3 to 2.

• Play versions with fewer decks.

Introduction

The history of baccarat is unclear and its origins are disputed. In Italy, where baccarat means ‘zero,’ the origins of the game are linked to Roman cults that rolled dice to determine the fate of future priestesses (an 8 or 9 granted them a title; a 6 or 7 allowed them to return to normal life; and a 5 or less sentenced them to death).

In Spain, there is a version of baccarat called “Punto Banco.” And in France, there is a version called “Chemin de Fer” which is still played to this day.

 

While baccarat has several things in common with the rules of blackjack, the game play today has a much clearer and more recent origin. According to several sources, the game was first offered by gambling houses on the French Riviera. At the end of the 19th century, French immigrants then exported the game to the United States, where it achieved great success in the gambling houses of Nevada after prohibition ended. Baccarat is also one of the most popular casino games in Asia today, as we have seen in certain spy films like the legendary scene in James Bond 007 when he confronts Doctor No.

Goal of the game

The goal in baccarat is to guess who will get a total closest to 9, which is the ideal score. You can either bet on the player, on the banker, or a tie between the two.

Value of the cards

Add the value of each card to get a total between 0 and 9. Here are the values of each card:

• Aces equal 1 point.
• 10 and face cards (jacks, queens, kings) equal 0.
• 2 to 9 equal their numerical value.

 

In baccarat, only the numerical value of each card is important. The color/symbol (hearts, spades, clubs, diamonds) of each card is irrelevant. It is possible to get a total that exceeds 10 points. For example, a hand that consists of a 7 and an 8 will add up to 15 points. If this happens, the 10 is dropped and the value of the hand becomes 5. The same goes for a hand totaling 11, 12, 13, which become 1, 2, 3, etc. Only the single digit value after the 1 (or 2) is taken into account.

Game procedure

“ Place your bets! ”

The player must place their bet before the cards are distributed. The betting options:

• Player victory: obtains hand closest to 9.
• Banker victory: obtains hand closest to 9.
• Tie between the player and the banker: when both have an identical result.

The game begins when all the bets have been made.

“ No more bets! ”

Once the game begins, the dealer deals the cards one by one starting with the player and then the banker. When both have at least two cards, the dealer stops. If one of the hands equals 8 or 9 points, the game ends. The hand with the score closest to nine wins.

If a hand is equal to or less than five, an additional card is drawn. See the table below for more information:

Rule of the third card to the player

Player's hand	Dealer's action
0-1-2-3-4-5	The player draws a third card.
6-7	The player stands; no hit.
8-9	A natural; no hit.

Rules for the third card to the bank

Banker's hand	The banker hits if the score of the player’s hand is:	The banker does not hit if the score of the player’s hand is:
0-1-2	The bank draws a third card.
3	0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9	8
4	2-3-4-5-6-7	0-1-8-9
5	4-5-6-7	0-1-2-3-8-9
6	6-7	0-1-2-3-4-5-8-9
7	The bank stands; no hit.
8-9	Natural; no one hits.

The hands are compared once all the cards have been dealt. The one with the score closest to nine wins. When the player and the banker tie, there is no winner and a tie is declared.

Winnings

In Baccarat, payouts are made as follows:

• Bets made on the player’s hand are paid 1 to 1. Bet is doubled.
• Bets made on the banker’s hand are paid 0.95 to 1 (bank takes a 5% commission).
• Bets on a tie are paid 8 to 1.

In the event of a tie, bets made on the player and on the banker remain at play.

Of course, the more a bet pays, the less there is a chance of winning:

• For every bet placed on the banker, the house has a 1.4% advantage. With a 1 to 1 odds, therefore, the chances of a banker victory are slightly greater.
• Bets on the player earn more, but victory for the player is less likely. The player wins 44.62% of the time but loses in 45.85% of cases.
• Betting on a tie can be very lucrative, but the probability of a tie occurring is far lower. There is a 1 in 30 chance of winning a bet on a tie.

Learn which bets are risky and which are not based on their probabilities, and then play accordingly.

Advice to players

Begin with small bets to understand the rules of baccarat

Are you still unclear about the third card rule? Want to learn more about the game procedures? Do you have an idea about a strategy to help you win massive gains? Before you dive in, make sure you understand the basic rules and principles of baccarat. Start by betting small or play online for free until you get comfortable. It is important to get information and to practice before you start playing riskier bets.

Find your preferred version

There are several versions of baccarat where the house advantage is not as high as in other versions. But first, you must master the rules of classic baccarat. Once you have done this, you will be able to dive deeper into the many other versions of the game in order to discover your style of play the best suits you and increases your chances of winning.

Stay in control

Before playing, we recommend you set limits and budgets that you will stick to! If you set your own limits, you can control your behavior in relation to the game, which will prevent you from getting out of hand and making bad decisions. Setting the budget and sticking to it will keep you level-headed. Pasino.ch has control and configuration options to help you with this in the Responsible Gaming section.