Games of Skill

Most casino games involve little or no skill on the part of the player. Even where players are able to make choices as to the kind of bets they make, the odds remain stacked against them. Some bets have a lower house edge but they all favor the house. While there are rare instances where a video poker game may return over 100% with perfect play and some blackjack games can be beaten by card counters, neither is common. That being said, skilled gamblers may be able to consistently win at a couple of casino games. The first example is poker. Since players compete against each other, better players will win in the long run. The house does take a percentage of the pot, called a rake, which makes consistent winning more difficult but not impossible. In addition to poker, most places offer a race and sports book where you can wager on horse races and various sporting events. Again, the casino does have an advantage because they do not offer a true even money bet, requiring you to wager $11 to win $10, but a truly skilled handicapper can beat the house. These two games of skill, in addition to video poker and blackjack, require a great deal of skill and discipline, not qualities possessed by most somewhat inebriated Vegas visitors. Being a professional gambler is hard work and I don’t want to work that hard on vacation. Tomorrow, a few pretty good games that don’t require a lot of skill.

Poker in the Back

Live poker isn’t what it was just a few years back, with wall to wall coverage on television and every dude imagining that he was one big run away from becoming the next big thing. Many of those make shift poker rooms that popped up in most every casino in town have now reverted to a more lucrative use. Still, most of the major hotels offer the game and many have daily tournaments. The entry fees and rules vary but, in general, this can be a pretty fun (and frugal) way to get your feet wet, kill some time, and maybe even win a few dollars. So dig out your shades and your funny hat and give it a try!