Craps: Roll the dice and hear the crowd roar in the most boisterous game on the floor; see Chapter 8.
Poker: It’s just like your neighborhood game, except you never have to shuffle; see Chapter 6.
Roulette: Pick a number, place your bet, and then watch the spinning wheel go round and round; see Chapter 9.
But most table games are designed for moderate bettors. The loud, boisterous call of a lively crowd gathered around the craps table calls out to players tempted to leave the boredom and repetition of the slots, and that’s no accident. The intimate nature of the poker table beckons would-be strategists, while the smoky haze surrounding a blackjack game cries out to the novice with its lack of intimidation.
The bar: Quiet escape — or not?
Most casinos have a bar that’s central to the main action. A large casino may offer numerous bars or lounges interspersed throughout the floor, each with a unique theme and aesthetic. Some feature live music, and others are simply service bars where you can take a quick pit stop away from the flow of traffic. But it’s hard to escape the games. Even the quieter watering holes come complete with video poker machines built into the bar and are placed in the midst of the lively pits.
SPORTS BOOKS: WHERE YOU CAN CHEER FOR A HORSE OR A HOME RUN
Twenty states have legalized sports gambling, and by the time you read this, there will be more. Visit a casino in one of these states, and you’re likely to find an attached sports book. In smaller casinos, the sports book may be nothing more than a counter with a tote board hung behind it. But the larger casinos have super-sized rooms full of amenities designed for anyone willing to put their money where their mouth is. Every inch of wall space is used inside a sports book. Dozens of megasized, high-definition monitors show games as they’re played, and digital displays listing the current odds, scores, and available bets for the day cover the walls.
The newer places, such as the Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, really roll out the red carpet for bettors. Their sports book features leather sofas, couches, and chairs that are so comfortable, you could fall asleep there. Before you doze off, read Chapter 15, which tells you everything you need to know about sports betting, from deciphering the odds to placing a bet and (hopefully!) to cashing in.
Not ready to place a bet just yet? No problem. The sports books are open to everyone. And if big ball games don’t excite you, there’s always horse (and dog) racing because most places simulcast horse racing (and sometimes dog racing) from tracks all around the country. If you don’t know an exacta from a trifecta, read Chapter 16 for more about betting on horses.
Cashing out: Heading to the cashier’s cage
The cashier’s cage is where you exchange your chips hard cash. If you’ve played any automated games, this is where you’d take your cash-out tickets as well. A few big casinos allow you to cash in your sports betting tickets at the cage if the sports book is closed. Where do you buy chips? At the gaming tables themselves.
Every casino has cashier’s cages — the larger the casino, the more cages you find. If the slot machines and gaming tables are the arteries that circulate a casino’s input and output, the cashier’s cage is the heart that pumps the casino’s lifeblood: money. Highly trained and supremely trusted casino employees handle more cash each shift than most people see in a lifetime.
Cashier’s cages are easy to find. Casinos typically locate them along the sides of the rooms to allow the more valuable floor space for games. Here, much like at a bank, one or more tellers deal with the public through a window.
CASINO CASHIERS: BEHIND BARS NO MORE
In the old days, the cashier’s cage earned its moniker because it was, as the name implies, behind bars. Today’s technology and construction make the modern cashier’s cage much more inviting, providing maximum security without looking like Fort Knox. You can usually find casino cashiers in the core of the casino layout, as far from any exit as possible, which means the casino’s money is more secure. This location also offers a beneficial side effect that casinos are happy to take advantage of. Their centrality means the cashier’s cage is often in the lion’s den of the most enticing betting areas, tempting many recent winners to recycle their bills by turning them right back into chips at a nearby table.
Meeting the Casino’s Cast of Characters
A vast and sometimes complicated hierarchy of employees with a variety of titles, responsibilities, and even different styles of dress populates a casino. These workers simultaneously cater to the needs of the guests and the casino owners. No matter who they are, the casino employees all have one goal in common: to provide you with ample opportunities to try your luck against the unevenly stacked house odds.
Casino employees are usually pleasant, professional, and well-trained people. (After all, if you’re treated with courtesy and respect, you’re more likely to stay — and spend — longer.) In this section, you’ll meet a cast of characters and learn their unique roles. With this knowledge, you’re better equipped to take advantage of their services — to your advantage.