How Casinos Make Money: The Handle, House Edge - More, what does casino table games mean.

What does casino table games mean

New casino sites to play real money

For the bottom line, the casino win is the net dollars retained by the casino after all bets are paid. This can be a negative amount - any time the players win more than the casino holds. The hold percentage is the relationship of the casino win to the drop. Casinos make a profit by offering games of chance where the average payouts are lower than the income produced by the overall wagers. Exactly how this is accomplished and the terms used in producing casino records and income are explained below.

How casinos make money: the handle, house edge & more

Casinos make a profit by offering games of chance where the average payouts are lower than the income produced by the overall wagers. Exactly how this is accomplished and the terms used in producing casino records and income are explained below.

The handle

Regardless of what type of casino gambling is offered, the most important term for any gaming operator is the handle. The handle is the total amount of money bet. At a game like craps, all of the bets made on a table contribute to the handle, whether the bets win or lose, are made with cash or chips and are paid even money for bets like the pass line or 30-1 for bets like two and 12.

Players often confuse the handle (total bets) with the drop. For a casino, the drop is the money (or credit) exchanged for chips. At a game like blackjack, the total drop is what is found in the metal drop box attached to the table that all bills and markers (credit slips) are dropped in to. On occasion, the term handle is used interchangeably with the term drop.

House edge

The statistical advantage that the casino has in each game, and each bet, is called the house edge. This theoretical advantage the casino holds over the player on any single bet is what makes the game gambling, for the outcome is unknown, and regardless of who holds the edge, either party may win at any one time.

For the bottom line, the casino win is the net dollars retained by the casino after all bets are paid. This can be a negative amount - any time the players win more than the casino holds. The hold percentage is the relationship of the casino win to the drop.

If a slot machine has $100 inserted into it during a day and pays out $80, the casino win is $20. However, the hold percentage is based on total bets. If it is a $1 per spin machine and the machine recorded 1000 spins, then $1000 was wagered. Winning a total of $20 means the hold percentage is just $20/$1000 or 2/100 which is 2-percent.

Explaining the hold percentage

The hold percentage is better explained on a roulette table with a zero and double zero - the typical american wheel. On this game, the casino has a house edge of 5.26 percent. However, at the end of a shift, the game is likely to win close to 20 percent of the drop. For every $100 in the drop box, the house will likely have a hold percentage of 20 percent. This is because a player is likely to make many bets, over and over, each time against a house edge of 5.26 percent. They win some, they lose some and eventually lose what they were willing to risk on this particular table.

Factors influencing casino handle

The most important influence on casino handle is what is referred to as "time on device." regardless of what is bet, if there are no players, there is no handle and no profit. Casinos maximize their income when they find ways to increase not just their house edge, but the average bet and the amount of time each gaming device (table spot or slot machine) is in action.

As a business model, the overall handle is a product of capacity of use, game speed, and average bet. This is why all players club comps are based on your average bet and the hours played, not on how much you win or lose!

A casino with 1000 slot machines is only successful if they are in constant use. However, the utilization of game space and betting minimums at table games can be deceiving. This is why it is rare to see a blackjack game with a low $2 or $5 minimum, even if players are wandering around wanting to play that amount while there are several $25 tables with no players.

This phenomenon is best explained by the math produced for expected win per hour at a blackjack table. With six players betting $2 per hand, a dealer can get out 375 hands to the players. The total wagers (excluding double downs and splits) will equal $750 and the house expects to win 2 percent, or $15. However, just a single player at a $25 table will produce $4125 in bets per hour where the house expects to win 2 percent and a total of $82.

Obviously, the $25 game will be dead at times, but that single player easily makes up the difference, and if all the tables have low limits and there are no seats available for the big better then the house is losing out.

So, some decisions at your local casino are made for player comfort to extend the amount of time played, and some decisions are made simply based on casino income, as with any business. The above example also probably illustrates pretty well why a $5 blackjack player can only expect to earn about 30-cents per hour in comp value from their play.

The casino expects the player to get 60 hands per hour, so their total bets per hour ​equal $120. Using the same 2 percent house edge, the casino will retain about $2.40 from their play. Giving back 30-cents equals a comp value of 12.5 percent, which is pretty good. Most casinos hold the line between 10 and 15 percent.

Your guide to understanding casino earnings

How to decipher what drop, rolling chip, and other gaming terms really mean.

When looking at earnings from gaming companies, trying to figure out what all of the numbers mean can be confusing. Revenue and net income are easy enough, but luck plays a role and companies throw out terms like "rolling chips" and "drop" like they're everyday terms. So, let's take a look at what those numbers mean and how they impact earnings reports.

How the house works
there are generally three categories in any earnings reports: mass market play, VIP play, and slots. Mass market is simple enough: it's the average person who walks into a casino and puts money down at a table or into a slot machine. VIP players play on credit and use what are called rolling chips. Slots are just that -- slot machines. Here's what the terms and numbers mean.

Image source: getty images.

Slots
before we dive into the all-important vips, let's start with slots. Not every company reports the same data, but full disclosure would include the following.

• Slot handle: the amount wagered at a slot machine.


• Slot hold %: the percentage of the slot handle that is won by the casino.


• Slot win: the casino's win, which flows to the revenue line of the income statement.

Below I have two examples, one from las vegas sands' (NYSE:LVS) venetian macau and the other from wynn resorts' (NASDAQ:WYNN) las vegas operations. Note that all numbers in this article are from third-quarter 2012 because not all companies have reported fourth-quarter results.

Source: quarterly SEC filings.

You can see that hold percentage in the venetian macau was lower than that at wynn las vegas, a typical difference between las vegas and macau. Las vegas sands' U.S. Properties experienced a higher hold percentage, likely due to lower-odds penny and nickel slots.

To put these numbers into some perspective, MGM resorts (NYSE:MGM) expects slot hold percentage to be 7.5% to 8.5%, so both of the percentages above are lower than MGM expects every quarter.

Mass-market table games
when you walk up to a blackjack table in las vegas and you hand the dealer a $100 bill for chips, they put that money into a drop box. This is what is known as the "drop," "table game drop," or sometimes "non-rolling chip drop." the corresponding casino win is the amount left over when you cash out your chips at the cashier. Win is usually expressed as a percent of drop, which also corresponds to revenue.

Below are mass market drop numbers from three casinos in macau, including melco crown's (NASDAQ:MLCO) city of dreams. I've also included the expected win percentage for companies that publish such data.

Source: quarterly earnings releases.

Think about these win percentages next time you enter a casino. The numbers say you'll only walk out with about 70% of what you put down at a table.

Where the big bucks are made
in recent years, investors have become focused on rolling chip drop, or VIP play in macau's casinos.

When VIP players come into a casino, they don't set $1 million on the table and ask for chips; they play on credit. Usually this is done with a junket, a company that will borrow a player's money and collect a cut of their losses from the casino. In macau, junkets sometimes operate their own rooms, but no matter the arrangement, VIP players use rolling chips, which can't be cashed out directly for cash -- you have to gamble them.

Rolling chip drop or volume is the amount of rolling chips wagered and dropped at the table (like cash is dropped). Winnings are paid out in cash-equivalent chips. A casino records revenue based on how much of the rolling chip play is lost. Here are a few examples.

Source: quarterly earnings releases.

With VIP play accounting for a vast majority of casino revenue in macau, you can see why this win percentage can create very volatile earnings from quarter to quarter.

When reading gaming earnings, remember that rolling chip drop is the same as volume or turnover. Different companies use different terms, but they mean the same thing.

How to use this data
even the small sample I've provided above can be used by investors. You can see that wynn resorts generates a large amount of revenue from VIP tables and the venetian generates far less. On the flip side, the venetian is a huge mass market location, as is city of dreams, whereas wynn macau is not.

Over the past year we've seen VIP play in macau slow and mass market play pick up. This is why these two companies have seen earnings grow more than wynn resorts. These detailed numbers tell the story.

Making things difficult
not all companies report the same numbers, and some don't report much of anything at all. While most companies in macau report a fair amount of data about gaming trends, MGM resorts doesn't reveal much data about its operations. Caesars entertainment (NASDAQ:CZR) doesn't report much detail at all, not even about its largest las vegas operations.

On the flip side, las vegas sands is the most transparent, providing VIP, mass, and slot volume and win percentages at each of its casinos. Hopefully this overview will help next time you see all of these numbers in a company's earnings report.

Casino table games — what to know before playing them?

Playing casino games is a very popular type of entertainment enjoyed by millions of people worldwide.

Playing casino games is a very popular type of entertainment enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Essentially, casino games are sorted into two main categories — slots and table games. Although slots are purely games of chance, table games in casinos require some skills that can improve the odds.

Everyone who wants to play table games can do it either by going to a land-based casino or accessing an online casino platform. In fact, online casinos have become so popular that some of them offer bitcoin games, meaning you can use this cryptocurrency as a payment method.

Regardless of what you prefer, there are a couple of things you need to take into account before embarking on a casino journey. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular table games and useful tips and tricks related to them.

Roulette — no strategy beats the house

The game of roulette is quite simple. All you have to do is select a type of bet and wait for the ball to land on a certain number on the roulette wheel. There are basically two types of bets – inside and outside bets. Inside bets are numbers and the outside ones are options such as odd/even, red/black, 1-8/19-36, and more.

What many novice roulette players don’t know is that there are some roulette strategies such as the martingale strategy or the D’alembert strategy. These are not made to help you increase your chances but to help you manage your bankroll when playing roulette. Therefore, feel free to explore these and see how they are going to change your roulette experience.

Blackjack — it’s all about strategy chart

Many agree that blackjack is perhaps one of the most popular table games in casinos. One of the reasons for that is that this game has the lowest house edge compared to other games. If you play your cards right, the house edge can be as low as 1%. However, what does it mean to play your cards right?

Essentially, every card combination in blackjack has the best combination of moves a player needs to make in order to keep the house edge as low as possible. In other words, if you stick to the strategy chart and always do what is proposed in it, you will have a great time playing this game.

On the other hand, you shouldn’t forget that blackjack is still a game of chance and not a game of skill, so there will be bad days as well as good ones, regardless of how good you are at applying the strategy.

Baccarat — avoid tie bet

In the game of baccarat, you get to bet on who will win the next bet. Three possible options are the banker (the dealer), the player, and the tie. However, statistically speaking, betting on the tie increases the house edge of this game a lot. According to many baccarat professionals, you should always bet on the banker, as they have a slightly better chance to win when compared to the player.

To sum up, the three games presented above are the most popular casino table games nowadays, if we exclude various poker games. Speaking of variety, all three of these come in several variations that have slightly different rules.

Therefore, it would be wise to check out all the differences when choosing an ‘alternative’ type of roulette, blackjack, or baccarat. That way, you’ll find optimal strategies for playing them.

By cultmtl

Latest

Reconciliation, but only if it’s hassle-free and on our terms

Many non-indigenous canadians have dropped their masks in the wake of recent protests, and their true faces are not pretty.

What to do in montreal today: tuesday, march 3

The top events happening in the city, daily.

RANT LINE™

514-271-7268 (RANT) on your mobile? Click to call!

Casino pit bosses

Did you ever wonder what a casino pit boss does? The job can look very easy if you are observing from a blackjack table and, it can look pretty tough when you see the pit boss frantically changing cards, answering the phone, getting yelled at by an upset gambler, throwing out a drunk, and filling out a lot of paperwork on the pit podium. What's the scoop you might wonder?

Pit boss responsibilities

The job has changed greatly over the years. The pit boss was originally the casino manager or one of the managers. Today's "pit boss" may be responsible for watching a few table games, running a pit of a dozen games, or running several pits of table games and all the floor supervisors who are watching games and dealers in those pits. The job is still one of the most sought-after of all casino jobs.

Sometimes the suits who watch several pits are called pit managers. Regardless, the job starts with the ability to watch the dealers for errors and ensure that proper procedures are followed, payoffs are handled correctly, and guests are treated properly.

Floor supervisors will be in direct and constant contact with the dealers and guests. The pit boss will oversee the pit and the paperwork involved.

Paperwork includes player rating sheets, table game inventory sheets, table (chip) fill and credit slips, shift reports, MTL and CTR documents, and any other items required by the US title 31 banking regulations. In nevada, these were originally called reg. 6-G, but the banking regulations have now taken precedence.

Player disputes

Due to player or dealer errors, there will occasionally be disputes on table games. The pit boss may be called as a final authority regarding disagreements or requests. A thorough understanding of all table game rules and regulations is a must for the job of pit boss. Extended disputes may require the presence of the casino manager or manager on duty, and the casino regulatory agency or gaming control board.

In addition to casino floor management such as credit, surveillance, game protection, comps and the pencil (daily dealer table scheduling and staffing), pit bosses are responsible for myriad office paperwork jobs.

Paperwork

The paperwork required to run a large casino's table games department is considerable. Pit bosses and floor supervisors are often responsible for handling dealer schedules, shift changes, personal time off, vacations, and regular scheduling. Dealer and floor supervisor coaching and reviews are standard, as well as training in guest interaction, coaching, game protection, and floor paperwork like guest and table wins and losses and proper procedures for fills, credits, and table inventory.

Card counting, cheating, and scams are also on the training schedule so supervisors understand what to look for and how to combat problems.

Daily shift reports for shift managers may also need to be prepared, but the after-hours paperwork is usually quick. A standard eight-hour shift usually includes three or four short breaks; one of which is at least half an hour for a meal period.

Pay scale

Pit bosses are usually paid more than box men who watch crap games and floor supervisors. When pit boss duties include most of the duties listed above, the position will often start at approximately $24 per hour. Some pit bosses receive an envelope, which is a tiny cut of dealer takes, regardless of whether the dealers go for their own or split their tips with other dealers.

Don't worry if this isn't for you, there are a lot of different casino jobs!

Casino terms lingo & jargon at gamerisms

Casino terms lingo and jargon defines the language spoken by casino players worldwide. Part 2 of this series continues the glossary of casino terminology.
We created this all inclusive series for people to understand the unique words and phrases used by

passionate players for their real money games. The casino terms published here will educate both newbies and veteran players alike.
New players can impress their game-playing friends, while veterans are sure to find some distinctive casino gamerisms where they can exclaim, I did not know that!

Casino players are about to learn about casino jargon often heard at the tables, slots and sports books.
Most of these casino terms have a long history and will surely add a unique quality to your next casino experience. These are general casino terms only.

For players who want to explore their favorite games, there are 8 other casino gamerisms units at this site.
They are blackjack, poker, slots, video poker, roulette, craps, bingo and sportsbetting.

Each of the glossaries presents casino terms, rules, graphics and an introduction to include strategy tips.
Links for these casino money games are provided below. Be sure to check out our page on how to find the best casinos online to win money.

Casino terms lingo & jargon: A-C

• Action: term for play on the casino floor including table games and slots. A full service casino will also offer sportsbetting and bingo. Either way, casino players can count on plenty of action.


• Aggregate limit: refers to the casinos’ total payout liability for any casino game.


• Aggregate winnings: terms for total winnings.


• All or nothing: refers to a keno ticket where the payout occurs only when all picked numbers are drawn or alternatively, none of the picked numbers are revealed.


• Automat club or videomat casino: encompasses a gambling venue like an arcade, bingo hall or slot hall that provides automatic games where there is not a necessity for a casino operator. Examples: slot video machines or horseracing.
  


• Bankroll: term for total funds available to support betting action.


• Barber pole: jargon used for more than one denomination/color in a stack of chips.


• Bet: term for a wager on a casino game.


• Betting limits: set by the casino, the minimum and maximum monies that players can bet.


• Black book: in nevada, a directory of players who are banned from entering the casinos.


• Buck: lingo for a $100 bet.


• Bug: slang for the joker card.
  


• Buy-in: monies converted to casino chips before playing casino games.


• Cage: refers to the location of the friendly casino cashiers.


• Capping: cheating at the tables by placing additional chips on top of the original bet once the game round has begun.


• Card sharp: expert card player, found at the money games like poker, blackjack and baccarat.


• Card washing: term for procedure of shuffling the cards where the cards are placed face down on the table by the dealer and ‘sloshed around’ like a washing machine before dealing a new game.
  


• Carpet joints: casino terms referring to 5 star luxury casinos.


• Case bet: a player’s bet that includes all remaining chips on the table or all in.


• Cashier’s cage: term for casino cash area where you redeem your chips. May you visit often.
  


• Casino: origin of the word refers to a public music and dance hall.


• Casino advantage: casino or house edge when playing the games, usually reported as a percentage. Example: the casino advantage for double-zero roulette is 5.26%.


• Chase: after losing, casino players will attempt to get back monies with additional bets.


• Cheques: the historical, correct term used in reference to playing chips.


• Chips: round discs with designated currency denominations and colors that are played instead of real money. Obvious tip here--they are real money!


• Chip tray: holds the chips stock placed nearby the dealer—another case of real money.


• Coat-tail: jargon for using the same betting strategy/techniques as a winning player hoping for same results.


• Cold: term for a player, craps table or slot machine that is no longer on a winning streak.


• Coloring up: when you take those five-dollar chips and exchange for larger denominations, possibly hundred-dollar chips, then you are coloring-up.


• Comp: as in freebie or points, these are the dining, beverage, hotel rooms and benefits received by casino players based on their wagering and time played. See listing of US mega club cards for several properties under letter U in this casino terms glossary.


• Cracking the nut: casino lingo for a net profit after all gambling expenses deducted.


• Credits: 1 credit is equal to 1 cash unit. Example: 1=a quarter or 1=a dollar.


• Crossfire: the dealers chatting it up about everything else but the live game in front of them.


• Croupier: it is french, mon ami, for the dealer of the gaming table.
  

Casino terms lingo & jargon: D-F

• D'alembert system: a bankroll strategy of adding one unit after a losing bet while one unit is deducted after a winning bet.


• Dime: casino jargon for betting $1,000.


• Dirty money: the losing bets gathered by the dealer.


• Discard tray: term for the tray placed on the dealer’s right where the played cards or discards are stacked. Game examples are baccarat, blackjack and poker.


• Dollar bet: lingo for a $100 bet.


• Double or nothing: wager that pays out the original bet or even-money.


• Down to the felt: busted or broke in casino terms.


• Drop: amount of monies lost by players or casinos.


• Drop box: located at a gaming table, it holds all cash, markers and chips.


• Edge: advantage over the casino or other player.


• Eighty-six or 86: you are outta there, man. Casino rules allow the exclusion and/or eviction of undesirable gamblers.


• Eye in the sky: watches the action as the casino staff surveys the floor.


• Face cards: casino jargon for kings, queens or jacks.


• Firing: casino lingo for betting large amounts at money games.


• Fish: losing player.


• Flat betting: a method of betting wherein the player bets the same amount each time, neither raising nor lowering. Not known as a wise strategy.
  


• Flea: irritating player who has high expectations for casino comps and benefits while not deserved.


• Foreign: these are cheques from another casino.


• Front money: cash/checks deposited to establish credit for play.

Casino terms lingo & jargon: G-H

• George: casino jargon for a generous tipper both to table dealers and other casino employees.


• Grind: this term is used for playing it out on a consistent basis at the tables. This player is ‘grinding’ out planned bets based on knowledgeable probabilities of the game.


• Handicapper: player who does the research beforehand to make knowledgeable bets. This data includes statistics, news, weather and injuries at sportsbetting.


• Handle: total amount of money bet at money games.


• High roller: big time bettor in casino terms.


• Hold: betting monies that are placed in the designated gaming table slots. The dollar value is generally stated as a percentage.


• Holding your own: casino player who is staying on an even keel or breaking even.


• Honeymoon period: also known as beginners luck or winning phase, this term refers to those players who begin their casino experience with a winning streak.


• Hot: a winning player—congrats to you!


• House: refers to the venue, be it a casino property, bingo hall or online website where casino games are played. The owners/operators are also known as the house.


• House edge: refers to the casino advantage on table games and slot machines, usually improved by paying less than the odds
  
  
  

casino terms lingo & jargon J-O

• Jackpot: a big time win, often at progressive slot machines.


• Juice: lingo for the commission received by the house. See vig. Or vigorish.
  


• Junket: casino comp trips generally for VIP players and cardholders. Usually include air, hotel, dining
  entertainment and other free amenities. Players in turn agree to play and pay a minimum deposit in advance to the sponsoring casino.
  


• Laying or taking odds: laying odds can result in receiving less than the amount bet if odds are favorable. Taking the odds occurs when originally betting less than the winning payout received.


• Layout: displayed at table games where bet descriptions are printed on the felt or cloth.


• Load up: casino lingo for playing max coins/spin at slots or video poker.


• Marker: player IOU approved by the casino for betting/wagering at the money games.


• Martingale: a wagering system where the player doubles up after every loss.
  Not highly recommended.
  


• Maximum bet: highest allowed wager at table games or maximum coins/spin at slots.


• Mechanic: term used for a dice/card cheat who utilizes sleight of hand while playing.


• Net winnings: total payout minus your bets placed.


• Nickel: casino jargon for betting $500. At money games.


• Odds: possibility of a player win as determined by the casino, usually calculated as a %.


• On tilt: in casino terms refers to player(s) reacting to a losing bet with wild play afterwards.


• Overlay: casino lingo for a player advantage bet
  

more about casinos online

Casino pit bosses

Did you ever wonder what a casino pit boss does? The job can look very easy if you are observing from a blackjack table and, it can look pretty tough when you see the pit boss frantically changing cards, answering the phone, getting yelled at by an upset gambler, throwing out a drunk, and filling out a lot of paperwork on the pit podium. What's the scoop you might wonder?

Pit boss responsibilities

The job has changed greatly over the years. The pit boss was originally the casino manager or one of the managers. Today's "pit boss" may be responsible for watching a few table games, running a pit of a dozen games, or running several pits of table games and all the floor supervisors who are watching games and dealers in those pits. The job is still one of the most sought-after of all casino jobs.

Sometimes the suits who watch several pits are called pit managers. Regardless, the job starts with the ability to watch the dealers for errors and ensure that proper procedures are followed, payoffs are handled correctly, and guests are treated properly.

Floor supervisors will be in direct and constant contact with the dealers and guests. The pit boss will oversee the pit and the paperwork involved.

Paperwork includes player rating sheets, table game inventory sheets, table (chip) fill and credit slips, shift reports, MTL and CTR documents, and any other items required by the US title 31 banking regulations. In nevada, these were originally called reg. 6-G, but the banking regulations have now taken precedence.

Player disputes

Due to player or dealer errors, there will occasionally be disputes on table games. The pit boss may be called as a final authority regarding disagreements or requests. A thorough understanding of all table game rules and regulations is a must for the job of pit boss. Extended disputes may require the presence of the casino manager or manager on duty, and the casino regulatory agency or gaming control board.

In addition to casino floor management such as credit, surveillance, game protection, comps and the pencil (daily dealer table scheduling and staffing), pit bosses are responsible for myriad office paperwork jobs.

Paperwork

The paperwork required to run a large casino's table games department is considerable. Pit bosses and floor supervisors are often responsible for handling dealer schedules, shift changes, personal time off, vacations, and regular scheduling. Dealer and floor supervisor coaching and reviews are standard, as well as training in guest interaction, coaching, game protection, and floor paperwork like guest and table wins and losses and proper procedures for fills, credits, and table inventory.

Card counting, cheating, and scams are also on the training schedule so supervisors understand what to look for and how to combat problems.

Daily shift reports for shift managers may also need to be prepared, but the after-hours paperwork is usually quick. A standard eight-hour shift usually includes three or four short breaks; one of which is at least half an hour for a meal period.

Pay scale

Pit bosses are usually paid more than box men who watch crap games and floor supervisors. When pit boss duties include most of the duties listed above, the position will often start at approximately $24 per hour. Some pit bosses receive an envelope, which is a tiny cut of dealer takes, regardless of whether the dealers go for their own or split their tips with other dealers.

Don't worry if this isn't for you, there are a lot of different casino jobs!

Table games

Rivers casino philadelphia offers the best casino game payouts and incredible game selection. Choose from several table games all under one roof. From blackjack to ultimate texas hold’em and everything in between, rivers has it all. Keep your hot streak alive when you can easily move from one casino game to the next. The thrill never ends on our wide selection of table games complete with exciting side wagers.

If you are in the philadelphia area and are looking for something fun and entertaining, check out rivers casino philadelphia today!

GET IN ON THE GAME: as part of the transition to rivers casino philadelphia, all chips and gaming tokens were replaced. For your convenience, you can exchange the discontinued chips and gaming tokens for cash at the cashier’s cage anytime before thursday, april 30, 2020. After this date, all chips and gaming tokens will be retired and have no cash value.

Craps

Play the ultimate casino game, craps, at rivers casino philadelphia!

3 card poker

3 card poker is fun, fast paced and easy to learn.

Roulette

Take your place at the table to play this casino classic.

Blackjack

Blackjack is easily the most popular game in the casino.

Spanish 21

Spanish 21 is an exciting variation of blackjack which combines the classic game with the multiple payoffs of a slot machine.

High card flush

High card flush is an exciting game for players of all levels.

EZ pai gow poker

EZ pai gow is dealt exactly the same as the standard pai gow poker game without modifying rivers’s “house ways” for setting hands.

Pai gow tiles

Stack those tiles and enjoy your sweet winnings!

Baccarat

The object of the game baccarat is to get to a point count closest to 9 on whichever of two possible hands the player wagers.

Mini/midi baccarat

The object of mini/midi baccarat is to get a point count closest to 9 on whichever of two possible hands the player wages.

EZ baccarat

EZ baccarat eliminates taking a 5% commission on all winning banker hands without modifying any of the existing drawing rules of the standard mini baccarat game.

Ultimate texas hold 'em

Ultimate texas hold'em is similar to traditional poker except it features head-to-head play against the dealer.

Asia poker

Asia poker is based on the ancient chinese game called “13” and combines poker with pai gow poker.

Mississippi stud poker

Mississippi stud is a five-card poker game that lets you bet up to 10 units on a single hand.

Poker

Rivers offers a wide variety of poker games including but not limited to texas hold’em, omaha-high, omaha-high-low split eight or better, seven card stud-high, seven card stud-low, seven card stud high-low split and seven card stud-high-low split eight or better.

Heads up hold 'em

Heads up hold’em is a texas hold’em variation designed for the table games player.

4-card poker

4-card poker is a game that features three ways to play against the dealer, against a pay table or both.

Stadium gaming

Check out our selection of stadium games including roulette, baccarat, and blackjack.

2019 rivers casino philadelphia. All rights reserved

Table games

You're sure to get lucky on our casino floor

Have a seat at one of our table games and try your hand at popular casino card games such as black jack, ultimate texas hold 'em and mississippi stud. Whether you're a novice or a serious game player, you're sure to get lucky on our casino floor.

The mirage has non-smoking tables available.

Join M life and earn amazing rewards, property perks and more for virtually every dollar you spend on slot and table play at any of the 15 MGM resorts international destinations. Log in or sign up today at mlife.Com

Blackjack

Considered the quintessential casino game, blackjack pits all players against the dealer. The object of the game is to have the two cards in your hand add up to more than the two cards in the dealerвђ™s hand вђ“ without exceeding 21. If you go over 21, you lose. Each number card is worth its numerical value, face cards are worth 10 and an ace is worth 1 or 11.

Baccarat

Baccarat (bahвђ™-ca-rah) is one of the easiest games to learn and offers some of the best odds in the casino. The вђњplayerвђќ and the вђњbankerвђќ each receive two cards with the object being to get a point total closest to 9. Just remember, face cards and tens have no value.

Craps

Craps is a fast-paced, action-packed game utilizing a pair of dice. Once players place their bets, one player known as the "shooter" throws the dice. All wagers must be placed before the shooter throws the dice. The dice are passed to another "shooter" when the shooter вђњ7 outsвђќ.

Pai gow poker

This intriguing game combines elements from the ancient chinese game of pai gow and the american game of poker. The object of pai gow is to make the two best poker hands. Players use a traditional deck of 52 playing cards plus one joker. The joker must be used as an ace or a wild card to complete a straight or a flush.

Roulette

The mirage offers both single zero and double zero roulette wheels. Players bet with colored roulette chips designated for each roulette table. The dollar value for each chip is determined at time of buy-in.

Let it ride poker

Based on the classic game of five card stud, let it ride lets you control two of three bets made on the game. Players place three equal bets on the table, then receive three cards, with two community cards being dealt as the game progresses. Instead of playing against the dealer or other players, you simply try to get a good poker hand by using your three cards and the two community cards.

Three card poker

Three card poker is two games in one, offering three ways to bet and fours ways to win. Players first make an ante bet and then each player and the dealer receive three cards. Players then make additional wagers or fold and forfeit the ante.

Crazy вђњ4вђќ poker & ultimate texas holdвђ™em

These are two unique and exciting variations of poker. Our dealers and casino hosts will gladly answer any questions you have about how to play them.

Casino war

This game is simply a classic. The player and dealer each receive one card. If your card is higher than the dealer's, you win.

Get with the program

M life rewards is the ultimate way to do what you love вђ“ and get rewarded for it. From hotel and entertainment to dining, spa and gaming, you can earn rewards for virtually every dollar you spend.

Casino gambling basics

Casino rules and customs

If your vision of casino players is james bond, in a tux, at monte carlo, forget it. American casinos do not enforce that kind of formality. Casual clothing and sportswear are most common, but you'll see everything from evening wear to T-shirts and jeans in the same casino. If some of your other preconceived notions about casinos are a little out of whack, here's a guide to what you should expect on the gambling floor.

A lot of casinos give free beverages to players. In many states it's illegal to give free alcoholic beverages to casino customers, so casinos in these jurisdictions charge for alcohol but usually give free soft drinks and coffee to playing customers. In either case, it's appropriate to tip the cocktail server -- a couple of quarters or a dollar will do.

Be sure you know the bet requirements at a particular slot machine or table game before you sit down. On slots or video poker, the denomination is either painted on the machine's glass or displayed on a video screen.

At table games, each table has a rectangular sign detailing minimum and maximum bets. Usually the signs are color-coded to correspond to the color of casino chips -- a white sign usually denotes a table with a $1 minimum bet, a red sign denotes a $5 minimum, a green sign denotes a $25 minimum, and a black sign denotes a $100 minimum, just as at most casinos $1 chips are white, $5 chips are red, $25 chips are green, and $100 chips are black. Do not take this system for granted, however; a few casinos have signs all of the same color or use different color coding. Read the sign before sitting down to play.

Table players change currency for casino chips at the tables. Place currency on the table layout and ask the dealer, "change, please." the dealer will give you the corresponding amount in chips and will push your money into a locked drop box.

When it comes time to leave, remember that the dealer does not have access to cash at the tables. To change your chips for cash, you must go to the casino cashier's booth. If you have a lot of smaller-denomination chips and wish to change for larger-denomination chips to make it easier to carry them to the cashier's booth, ask the dealer to "color up." he or she then will give you one green $25 chip for five red $5 chips, or a black $100 chip for twenty $5 chips, for example.

Slot players usually cash out by pushing a button to print out a bar-coded ticket. That ticket can be used in another machine or redeemed for cash at the cashier's cage or cash kiosk. A few machines still pay out in coins or tokens, but they are being rapidly replaced.

You'll sometimes find payoffs expressed as "chances-TO-1"; other times, especially in video poker, they are expressed as "chances-FOR-1." in roulette, for example, the payoff for hitting a single number is 35-to-1. The player's one-unit bet stays on the table until the outcome is determined. If the player wins, he or she wins 35 units and gets to keep the original bet for a total of 36 units. But in video poker, the payoff for three of a kind is usually 3-for-1. The player has already put one unit down the slot and that is gone; the player who hits three of a kind gets a total of three units back for the one that has been wagered.

Do not go into a casino with money you can't afford to lose. Even at games with house percentages of less than 1 percent, there will be times the player just can't win. The worst thing a player can do is to start chasing losses, gambling money needed elsewhere in an attempt to win back money that's already gone.

Remember, the house percentage is in effect on every spin of the roulette wheel or slot reels. No law of averages says you have to start winning just because you've been on a long losing streak. If you've been betting on "even" in roulette and odd numbers have shown up ten times in a row, the next spin is no more or less likely to be an even number than any other spin. Each trial is independent, and the house advantage still is 5.26 percent. Treat your gambling bankroll as an entertainment expense and budget accordingly. Set limits on losses and stick to them.

Once you've decided how much to budget for the day, play at a level appropriate to your bankroll. If you have $20 for a couple of hours in the casino, you can't afford to play $1 slots or $5 blackjack. You'll need to stick to quarter slots, and at that you risk being finished for the day in about 15 minutes.

In illinois, where such statistics are released by the illinois gaming board, the average casino customer loses about $100 in a typical day at the barge or boat. But you need to bring more than that with you. You need enough of a cushion to ride out the inevitable losing streaks that happen in any game.

Here are some recommended minimum bankrolls for a two-hour casino stay:

25-cent slots and video poker: $100

$5-per-spin roulette (even-money bets): $100

$5 best-method craps (pass and two-come bets with double odds): $500

$10-a-hand mini-baccarat (table minimums are usually higher than at other casino games): $200

This is not to suggest that you should expect to lose $200 if you play mini-baccarat for a couple of hours. Your average outcome will be in the range of $10 to $20 in losses, and sometimes you'll walk away a winner.

The final bit of etiquette you should learn before you hit the casino is knowing when to expect a comp from the casino and when you should tip your dealer. Both of these sensitive subjects will be covered in the next section.

For more information about casino gambling, try the following links:

• To see all of our articles on poker rules and advice, go to our main article on how to play poker.


• Among the most popular games in casinos are video poker games. Pull up a chair and learn how to play video poker.


• If you'd like to pass by the games of chance, you'll want a hefty bankroll and a knowledge of how to play poker in a casino.


• Hang on to some of your money with these helpful poker betting tips.

What does casino table games mean

A
action - the amount of money wagered (put into action) by a player during an entire playing session.
Active player - in poker, one who is still in play.
Add-on - in poker, the facility to buy additional chips in tournaments.
Aggregate limit - total payout liability of a casino during any one game.
Aggregate winnings - cumulative or total winnings.
All-in (also known as "going all-in") - in cardroom poker, to call with (to bet) all your chips. If another player bets more chips than you have in a no limit game, you can go all-in and stake your total stack against an equivalent amount of your opponent's stack.
All or nothing - in keno, a ticket that only pays if either all picked numbers are drawn or none of the picked numbers are drawn.
Ante - in card games, a bet required to begin a hand. The initial compulsory bet before you receive your cards in casino stud poker.
Arcade casino - see "automat club" below
arm - A term used in the game of craps to denote a player who is so skilled at throwing the dice that they are able to alter the conventional odds of the game. Such a player is said to be 'an arm'. Whether or not such individuals actually exist or are simply the product of game legend is debatable. However, it is worth noting that the casino craps dealers are very adamant about the dice being thrown against the far wall of the table to ensure a completely random outcome.
Automat club - also known as videomat casino, arcade casino, slot hall, is a gambling hall that offers automatic games that do not require a casino operator. Examples: slot/video machines, electronic touch-bet roulette, electronic derby horse racing, etc. They are normally open 24 hours or from 10am daily, entry is free, no registration required, the dress code is casual, and there is an in-house bar or snack bar.

B
baccarat - also called punto banco and chemin de fer (similar to baccarat but requires skill). A table game using 6 or 8 decks of cards which does not require skill. See baccarat on this site.
Banca francesa - literally means french bank, is a dice game common in portuguese casinos. The game is played with three dice on a large table. In a way it is similar to the card game punto banco or baccarat. There are only three types of bets you can place: "big" or "small" or "aces". Big is when the total points of the three dice is 14, 15 or 16. Small is when the total points of the three dice is 5, 6 or 7. Aces is when the total points of the three dice is 3 (one dot per dice). The dealer will be re-rolling the dice until one of these results shows up. Big and small both pay even money while aces pays 61 to 1.
Banker - in card games, the dealer. In some card games, each player becomes a banker/dealer in turn.
Bankroll - also known as 'roll' or 'wad' (colloquial). It pertains to the total money that either the player or the casino has on hand to back their wagering activities. A player's bankroll can be classified as existing on several different levels. At the highest level it pertains to all money specifically set aside to support all gambling activities. A subset of this bankroll is the players traveling bankroll, or the amount of money carried along to support gambling on a particular trip. The traveling bankroll can be further divided into a specific lesser amounts for each day of the trip, or into even smaller amounts called table sitting or session playing stakes which predetermine how much will be risked during any given session or table sitting. These different types of bankrolls often figure into the overall money management strategy the player uses to keep control over their gambling cash activity.
Barred - same as banned. Not allowed to enter the casino premises permanently.
Beef - A dispute or claim involving a player and his bookmaker or a casino dealer. A dispute over the outcome of a bet. A problematic situation involving a bet.
Example of usage: in many casinos, putting paper currency on the pass line (craps game) indicates to the dealer that the cash is betting, and when the dice roll turning a losing outcome, you have got little recourse and are at the mercy of the person manning the box convincing him that you wanted to exchange the money into chips. If the dealer takes the bank note you dropped in front of you on the layout as a lost bet, but NOT on any of the other possible wagers, then you have a legitimate beef. The casino film recording can be reviewed but that does not immunize you for your failure to tell the dealer you want chips in exchange for your currency.
Beginners luck - in gambling, new players often are on a winning streak when they start gambling. Also known as the "honeymoon period".
Bet - wager.
Betting limits - in a table game, the minimum and maximum amounts of money that a player can wager on one bet. You cannot wager less than the minimum or more than the maximum amount posted. Some casinos, in special cases, may extend the maximum limit at a table on request by the player.
Bingo - bingo is a prize game played in halls. Basically, players buy cards with numbers on them in a 5 x 5 grid corresponding to the five letters in the word B-I-N-G-O. Numbers such as B-2 or 0-68 are then drawn at random (out of a possible 75 in american bingo, and 90 in british and australian bingo) until one player completes a 'bingo' line with five numbers in a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on one of their cards and wins the prize. Bingo rules and payouts and play variations vary from place to place.
Black book - the list of undesirable people who are forbidden to enter any casino in nevada.
Blind bet - in poker, a bet posted without the player sees any of his/her cards.
Blinds - A forced bet in hold'em poker.
Brit brag - A 3-card poker game, with variations. Has many combinations and options open to the player.
Bonus - money that could be given to you for free for various reasons such as when signing up to an online casino.
Boule (la boule) - originally referred to as the "little game", boule is basically a simplified version of roulette, popular in french casinos. The game features a table and a wheel with only 9 numbers and 3 different colours on which you can bet. The wheel is spun and a small rubber ball bounces around the wheel before settling into one of the coloured holes to determine the outcome. The game is simple and fast.
Boxing - in horse racing, a single ticket comprised of more than one parlay.
Break-even point - the break-even point is the point at which if you played forever, the bets you made would approximately equal the payoffs you would receive.
Brick - A card that appears not to help a player's poker hand. A 'blank' in 7-card stud poker.
Britbrag - A poker game with a three-card hand played against the casino, also known as 3-card casino brag and 3-card poker.
Buck - A $100 wager.
Bug - A joker.
Bump - to raise.
Burn cards - remove cards from the top of the deck, not to be dealt, and place them in the discard tray after a shuffle and cut.
Buy in, buy-in - converting cash into chips. The amount of cash used to purchase casino chips before entering a table game: blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, etc.

C
call - in poker, to call is to match the current bet.
Camouflage - anything a skilled gambler does to conceal their activities from the casino. Camouflage can include mixing in playing and betting behavior that mimics typical gamblers, or using disguises, appearing to be drunk, or any number of other possible ploys intended to throw the casino's scrutiny off.
Capping - referred to capping of bets. Placing extra chips on top of initial bet after the deal has begun. It is a serious form of cheating by a player.
Card counting - used in blackjack game. Recording (in memory) played cards (usually high cards) so as to establish a conditional probability advantage on the remaining cards against the dealer.
Card sharp - A person who is an expert at cards.
Card washing - A card shuffling technique where the dealer spreads the cards on the table face down and then proceeds to mix them around with his hands flat in a face-washing-like action before gathering them up and performing a more normal shuffle. Card washing is intended to remove any consistencies in the sequencing among the cards that new decks of cards have, or that were produced in play prior to the present shuffle. In standard table poker the cards are washed after every hand before they are subjected to a more conventional shuffling. In blackjack and baccarat, the the cards are washed when old decks are taken out of play and fresh new decks brought in to replace them.
Caribbean stud poker - also called 'casino stud poker', A casino table game based on the standard 5-card stud poker game played on a blackjack-type table. Some casinos also offer a progressive jackpot paid to high ranking hands. This table game is played with one deck of cards.
Carousel - A group of slot machines that are positioned in a ring, enabling a change person (to change bank-notes into coins) to stand in the center.
Carpet joint - US slang for a luxury gambling casino.
Case money - emergency money.
Cashcheck - A feature used by some online casinos software that allows you to review your financial transaction history.
Cashier’s cage - the casino cash desk for cashing in the chips.
Casino - the word "casino" initially meant a public music and dance hall. By the second half of the 19th century casinos developed into a place with gambling halls. The best example of a casino as a gambling location is monte carlo in monaco. Casino monte carlo was opened in 1863 and since that time it has been an important source of revenue for the small state of monaco.
Casino advantage - the edge that the house (casino) has over the players.
Casino hold'em poker - A card game based on texas hold'em poker, the difference is that players bet against the house (the casino) rather than against other players.
Casino rate - A reduced hotel-room rate (price) that the casinos offer to good customers.
Catch - in keno, to catch a number means that a number you have marked on your keno ticket has been drawn.
Chase - having lost money on a bet, 'chasing' is having another bet simply to try and get back the loss.
Check - in casino gambling, a check is another term for a chip. In poker, a player can 'check' in order to stay in the game but not bet.
Chemin de fer - (french) A table game using 6 or 8 decks of cards, similar to baccarat but requires skill. See chemin de fer on this site.
Chip, chips - round plastic discs. Casinos require that you use chips for betting. They are purchased at the gaming tables and exchanged at the cashier's booth or cage.
Chip tray - the tray in front of a dealer that holds that table’s inventory of chips.
Chips - round tokens that are used on casino gaming tables in lieu of cash.
Coat-tail - bet the same numbers as someone who is winning at the moment.
Cold - A player on a losing streak, or a slot machine that is not paying out.
Color up - when a player exchanges smaller denomination chips for larger denomination chips.
Combination way ticket - in keno, a ticket in which groups of numbers are bet several different ways, allowing the player to spread money over more combinations.
Comps - complimentary gifts given by the casino to entice players to gamble. Typical comps include free hotel room, meals and beverages.
Copy - in pai-gow poker, when a player and the banker have the same two-card hand, or the same five-card hand. The banker wins all copies.
Cracking the nut - making enough money on a gambling venture to cover all expenses plus a reasonable net profit.
Craps - casino dice table-game.
Credit - in online casinos, wagers are expressed in credits. 1 credit equals to 1 unit.
Credit button - in slot machines or video machines, the button that allows players to bank coins in the form of credits.
Crossroader - an old term used to denote a cheat originated in the old west practice of cheating at saloons located at crossroads. The term is still used today for casino cheats.
Croupier - french word for dealer, used in the games of baccarat and roulette.
CSM - continuous shuffling machines, introduced by casinos as an anti card counters in blackjack.
Cut - in card games following a shuffle before the start of a new round of play, when the dealer or player divides a deck into two parts and inverts them, using a cut card (see below).
Cut card - A faceless card of different color, usually red or black, that is used to cut a deck of cards.

D
D'alembert system - A staking plan where one unit is added for a losing bet and one deducted for a winning bet.
Deal - to give out the cards during a card game.
Deposit - A payment you make usually to online casinos using a credit card, a web wallet or one of the online payment systems, in order to play casino games for real.
Deuce - A two in dice.
Dice - two identical numbered cubes. (see die below)
die - singular for dice, a cube with numbers on each side, 1 to 6.
Dime bet - A $1,000 wager.
Discard tray - A tray on the dealer’s right side that holds all the cards that have been played or discarded in card games like baccarat, blackjack and poker.
Dollar bet - A $100 wager.
Dolly - unlike the french roulette where the croupier simply points with the stick on the winning number on the table, in the american roulette the croupier uses a marker made of wood or plastic and places it on the table in the square of the winning number. The score marker is called 'dolly' because it has the outline that looks like a doll. Its functionality is primarily to help the players know the winning number until all winnings are paid.
Double or nothing - an even-money bet. A bet that pays off exactly the amount wagered.
Doubling down - A betting option in blackjack where the player's opening two-card hand is turned face up and player's original wager is doubled. The player is then dealt one additional card only, to complete the hand. In the event that the player beats the dealer's hand or the dealer busts, then the player wins twice the amount of their original wager. If the player loses, then the player loses twice the amount of their original wager.
Doubling-up - the basis of some widely used systems. After a loss the player doubles the size of his previous bet hoping to win back the money lost and make a profit. Also known as the martingale system.
Down card - A face down card.
Down to the felt - totally out of money, broke.
Draw - relates to the poker games. Basically it means to draw a card (e.G. If you need a card to make a straight, you are on a 'straight draw' or are 'drawing to a straight'. In 'draw poker' game, it means the second round of cards that are dealt. The word draw has slightly different meanings in different contexts, although generally it has something to do with receiving more cards, with the hope of improving your hand. Draw games are games where at some point during the hand you are allowed to discard some or all of your cards, to be replaced from the deck. Drawing two is thus exchanging two of your cards. 'the draw' is the point during the game at which players may do this. By default, when someone asks you if you want to play some draw, they usually mean five card draw. In other poker games, drawing simply means staying in the game with the hope of improving your hand when more cards come. When you stay in a hand with the hope of improving, you are said to be 'on a draw'.
Drop - money lost.
Drop box - on a gaming table, the box that serves as a repository for cash, markers, and chips.

E
ecogra - (e-commerce online gaming regulation and assurance) ecogra provides player assurance and online casino regulation by ensuring that ecogra approved online casinos deliver an honest and professional service. Ecogra's seal, displayed on the homepage of approved sites, shows that the casino and poker room operator is committed to player protection, fair gaming and responsible conduct.
Edge - an advantage over an opponent.
Encryption - A software security measure taken by online casinos to ensure that online transactions are safe from hackers.
En prison - (french word) the stake left on the table in roulette for another spin after backing an 'even-money' bet and the outcome was zero or double zero. It is like a bonus, offered in some casinos.
Even money bet - A bet with odds of 1:1. A bet that pays you back the same amount that you wagered, plus your original wager.
Expected win rate - in slot machines, the percentage on the total amount of money wagered that you can expect to win back over time.
Eye in the sky - slang for video surveillance cameras used by casinos, usually placed on the ceiling above the gaming area.
Face cards - the jack, queen, and king of any suit of cards.

F
ficheur - in the american roulette each player gets chips with different colours so that they do not mix. The croupiers have at their disposal a sophisticated mechanism, also known as ficheur, which is able to mechanically separate coloured chips making them always readily available to use.
Fifth street - in seven-card stud, the third round of betting is called fifth street because players have five cards. In texas hold‘em poker, fifth street is the fifth card on board and the final round of betting.
Fill - in poker, to draw a card that makes a five-card hand (straight, flush, full house, straight flush).
Fill up - in poker, to fill a full house.
Finales - A type of group bets on numbers ending with the same digit. Examples: final 7 means bet on the numbers 7, 17 and 27 (three chips). Final 2 means bet on the numbers 2, 12, 22 and 32 (four chips).
Finale schnaps - in french roulette, an order given to the croupier to place a bet on numbers 11, 22 and 33.
Firing - betting a lot. A player who is firing is wagering large sums.
First base - at the blackjack table, the position on the far left of the dealer is considered to be first base and is the first position dealt with.
Fish - A player who loses money. (it is said that "if you can't spot the fish at the table, YOU are the fish.) see also "shark".
Flash - A type of no-download casino software where you can play instantly.
Flat betting - A way of betting where the same amount is bet on each wager. For example, if a player always bets $10 on each hand or spin and never raised or lowered their bet, they would be said to be flat betting.
Flat top - A slot machine whose jackpot is always a fixed amount, as opposed to a progressive.
Flea - an annoying person who wants something for nothing. One who expects to be comped for a small wager.
Flop - in poker games, such as hold'em and omaha, where five community cards are dealt. The first three of these cards are dealt all at once, face up, and are called the flop. Games with a flop can be called flop games.
Foul - in pai-gow poker, a hand is fouled when the two-card low hand is set higher than the five-card high hand, or when the hands are set with the wrong number of cards. A fouled hand is a losing hand.
Fourth street - in seven-card stud poker, the second round of betting is called fourth street because players have four cards. In texas hold‘em poker, fourth street is the fourth card on board and the third round of betting.
Front money - cash or bank checks/cheques deposited with the casino to establish credit for a player who bets against that money.

Great gambling information site

Use the " main menu " on the right margin to explore this site. This is a comprehensive online gambling information site with advice on winning, how to gamble, betting strategies, world casinos directory, the best online casinos, and lots of gamblers information and resources.

Topics covered include game rules, how to play, how to win, winning strategy, betting systems, gambling tips, glossary (terminology), on: blackjack (black jack), roulette, poker classic and variants including texas hold'em poker, craps (dice casino game), slots and videopoker (video poker), baccarat, keno, lotto/lottery, powerball, bingo, sports betting, horse racing, greyhound racing, and new games.

So, let's see, what we have: here are the math and probability of how casinos make a profit with definitions of key terms and how this leads to producing casino records and income. At what does casino table games mean