What do you typically think of when you hear the word casino? Chances are that the first things to come to mind are slots and blackjack. You may have also thought about poker and craps. All of those are common games available at most casinos. But have you ever considered the lesser-known gambling games? In Las Vegas, some casinos feature games that are different but still provide plenty of entertainment and betting opportunities. In this article, we will look at six unique casino games that are played in Nevada casinos.
European Roulette
Okay, you have very likely seen or played roulette. But did you know that two different wheels exist for the game depending on the type of roulette game you are playing? Typically, the average Vegas casino offers American roulette. This is the wheel that contains two green spots (numbers 0 and 00) in addition to all the normal black and red numbers. European Roulette has just a single green spot, the number 0. The house edge in European roulette is also considerably less than in the American version. Plus, there is something called the even-money rule, thanks to the 0. This means you won’t lose your money on your bet and get a second chance to win it all back provided you win the next spin.
Mines
Mines is a lot like the old Minesweeper video arcade game. You start with a grid of tiles and you have to uncover some of them. Under many of the tiles is a multiplier. The idea of the game is to uncover anything other than a mine because if you do, you lose. The main difference between Mines and the classic Minesweeper game is that you have complete control in Mines. That is to say, you get to choose how many mines you include, what size bet to make, and if you bet correctly, you could win up to a million dollars. The main game area for Mines is a 5 by 5 grid of tiles and bets can be anything between 10 cents and $250. Follow this site for more about Mines games.
Casino War
Any casual card player will have played the game of War at one time or another. However, Casino War is a variation of that popular game that is only available at Vegas casinos or online. This game uses the basic concept of whoever gets the highest card wins. The card values are the same as in the game of Poker, with Aces high. Jokers are higher if used. The casino version of War requires six decks and after placing bets, a dealer deals a single card to two players. The player with the highest card wins unless the dealer gets a high card. If the high card of the dealer matches that of a player, the round ends in a tie. The player can choose to surrender, which takes away half of the bet or go to War to try to double the bet.
Sic Bo
This is an ancient Chinese table game that is similar to Craps. However, in Sic Bo, the dealer rolls all three dice that are used in the game. The dealer starts the game by putting the three dice in the chest, shaking it, then revealing what the winning combo has to be in this round. As for betting options, Sic Bo offers eight different ones ranging from odd, big, small, specific double, and any triple to specific triple, totals, and even. The gameplay is fast and often frenzied so you have to pay attention to keep up with the action. Also, given the age of this game, it has several other names in Vegas casinos including Big and Small, Dai Siu, and Tai Sai. The game mechanics are the same in these different variations of the name of the game.
Wheel of Fortune
No, this is not the popular television program. However, there is a bit of a similarity to that and this very simple Vegas casino game. Essentially, all you do is place a wager on the symbol on the wheel that you think the pointer the wheel spins under will land on. If you predict correctly, you win a prize. There is no other trick to it. This game has more than one name including Big Six Wheel. It is beginning to trend on live dealer casino sites throughout Nevada and is just starting to make appearances at other casino sites online in other parts of the world. Considering how easy it is to play, it should become a standard for beginners and a mainstay for seasoned gamblers wherever it is played.
British Pontoon
This is a variation of the well-known casino game of Pontoon. Pontoon happens to also be known as Spanish 21, which is a variation of Blackjack. Got that? British Pontoon has a banker who deals two cards face-down to each player and himself/herself. After placing bets, players take turns revealing cards. The banker is last and if there is no Pontoon, the banker continues to deal cards face-up until the banker goes bust with more than 21, creates a 5-card trick, or totals 21 with four or fewer cards. There are some variations of this game where betting and Nevada house rules differ but the basic gameplay remains the same where 21 is considered a pontoon.
Final Thoughts
Nevada is the biggest gambling region in the United States. It got that way with casinos that offer not just the regular games you would expect to find, but by also including some of the casino games that are not normally considered to be prime places for gamblers to be. However, as it turns out, even the lesser-known casino games have attracted a great deal of attention from all types of gamblers. The next time you visit a Vegas casino, why not try something a little different for a change? You may discover that you are better at Sic Bo than Craps or enjoy European Roulette more than the American version.
