8 Popular Casino Games and Their Rules

The world of kingph casinos offers a thrilling array of games, each with its own unique rules and allure.¹ Whether you’re a seasoned player or just starting your casino adventure, understanding the basics of popular games is key to maximizing your enjoyment.² Here’s a breakdown of 8 popular casino games and their fundamental rules:

1. Blackjack (21):

• Objective: To have a hand total as close to 21 as possible without exceeding it, and to beat the dealer’s hand.
• Rules:
  • Players and the dealer receive two cards each. Players’ cards are usually face-up, while one of the dealer’s cards is face-down (the “hole card”).³
  • Card values: Number cards are worth their face value, face cards (King, Queen, Jack) are worth 10, and an Ace can be worth 1 or 11.⁴
  • Players take turns to “hit” (take another card) or “stand” (keep their current hand).⁵
  • If a player’s hand exceeds 21, they “bust” and lose.
  • After all players have acted, the dealer reveals their hole card and must hit on a total of 16 or less and stand on 17 or more.
  • The player wins if their hand is closer to 21 than the dealer’s without busting, or if the dealer busts.
  • A “blackjack” (an Ace and a 10-value card on the initial deal) pays out at higher odds.

2. European Roulette:

• Objective: To correctly predict which numbered pocket a small ball will land in on a spinning wheel.⁶
• Rules:
  • The European Roulette wheel has 37 pockets numbered 0 to 36.
  • Players place bets on a layout that corresponds to the numbers and colors (red or black) on the wheel.
  • Bets can be placed on individual numbers (straight up), groups of numbers (e.g., corners, streets), colors, or whether the number will be odd or even.⁷
  • Once all bets are placed, the dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball.⁸
  • When the ball comes to rest, winning bets are paid out according to the game’s paytable.

3. Baccarat:

• Objective: To bet on which of two hands, the “Player” or the “Banker,” will have a total closer to 9.
• Rules:
  • Two hands, the Player and the Banker, are dealt two cards each.
  • Card values: Number cards are worth their face value, face cards and 10s are worth 0, and Aces are worth 1.
  • If a hand’s total is more than 9, only the last digit is counted (e.g., a hand of 7 and 8 totaling 15 becomes 5).
  • There are specific rules that dictate whether a third card is dealt to either the Player or the Banker hand. Players typically don’t make these decisions.
  • Players bet on the Player hand winning, the Banker hand winning, or a Tie.
  • Payouts are usually even money for Player wins and slightly less for Banker wins (due to a commission). Ties typically have higher payouts.

4. Craps:

• Objective: To bet on the outcome of the roll of two dice.
• Rules:
  • One player, the “shooter,” rolls the dice. Other players bet on the outcome.
  • The first roll is the “come-out roll.” The most common bets are:
    • Pass Line: Wins on a 7 or 11, loses on a 2, 3, or 12.
    • Don’t Pass Line: Wins on a 2 or 3, loses on a 7 or 11, pushes on a 12.
  • If a point (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) is rolled on the come-out, the shooter continues to roll until they roll that point again (a “win” for Pass Line bets) or a 7 (a “loss” for Pass Line bets).
  • Craps has a wide variety of other bets with different odds and payouts.

5. Slots:

• Objective: To match symbols across paylines on spinning reels to win payouts.
• Rules:
  • Players insert money or tokens and press a button or pull a lever to spin the reels.
  • Each reel has various symbols, and the payout depends on the combination of symbols that land on active paylines.
  • Different slot machines have different numbers of reels, paylines, symbols, and payout structures.
  • Modern video slots often include bonus features like free spins, wild symbols, and scatter symbols that can increase winning opportunities.
  • Progressive jackpot slots offer a growing jackpot that can be won randomly or by hitting a specific symbol combination.

6. Video Poker:

• Objective: To make the best possible poker hand using five cards dealt on a video screen.
• Rules:
  • Players are dealt five cards and have the option to “hold” certain cards and “draw” new cards for the others in an attempt to improve their hand.
  • Payouts are based on the rank of the final hand, according to a paytable displayed on the machine. Popular variations include Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, and Bonus Poker.

7. Pai Gow Poker:

• Objective: To create two poker hands (a five-card “high hand” and a two-card “second-high hand”) that both rank higher than the dealer’s two hands.
• Rules:
  • Players and the dealer are dealt seven cards.
  • Players arrange their seven cards into the best possible five-card poker hand and the best possible two-card poker hand.
  • The five-card hand must rank higher than the two-card hand.
  • Standard poker hand rankings are used, with a few variations.
  • The Joker can be used as an Ace or to complete a straight or flush.
  • If both of the player’s hands rank higher than the dealer’s corresponding hands, the player wins.

8. Three Card Poker:

• Objective: To have a better three-card poker hand than the dealer.
• Rules:
  • Players make an “Ante” bet and can also place a “Pair Plus” side bet.
  • Both the player and the dealer receive three cards.
  • Players decide to “Play” (making an additional bet equal to the Ante) or “Fold” (forfeiting their Ante).
  • The dealer must have a Queen-high or better to “qualify.”
  • If the dealer qualifies and the player’s hand is better, the player wins even money on both the Ante and Play bets.
  • If the dealer doesn’t qualify, the player wins even money on the Ante and the Play bet pushes.
  • Pair Plus bets pay out based on the player’s three-card hand ranking, regardless of the dealer’s hand.

Understanding the rules of these popular casino games is your first step towards an enjoyable and potentially rewarding casino experience. Remember to play responsibly and within your limits!