Most Popular Casino Games

There is a whole new generation of casino games out there. A casino gambler twenty-five years ago would not even recognize some of the most popular casino games of the moment. Some wouldn't have been possible a generation ago. New technologies have made current favorites like progressive slots and video poker possible in the first place.

Certain casino games have developed alongside trends in American leisure time. Caribbean stud poker developed on the Caribbean cruise ship tour. As ship cruises have become more popular, casinos have seen an increase in gamblers wanting to play Caribbean stud poker.

Other games have come to American casinos due to globalism and a subsequent blending of gaming cultures. Pai Gow Poker is based on a Chinese game using dominos. Though the game is exotic to many American eyes, it has shown a steady growth in popularity in the last ten years. In the future, one can expect to see other such "foreign" games find their way onto casino floors from time to time.

But certain old standards retain a cherished place in the casino. Craps is still the most exciting place to be on most casino floors. I doubt that Pai Gow Poker will ever attract an audience the way the frenetic action of a good craps table does.

Whatever your choice in games of chance, the casino offers more options now than it ever has before. Here's a look at some of the trendy casino games of the moment.

PROGRESSIVE SLOT MACHINES

Progressive slot machines were not possible a generation ago. The size of the jackpots remained low due to the limitations of the mechanical slot machine. But with the widespread use of random number generators and interlinked video slots, the slots industry changed. Most slots players would say the industry has changed for the better.

Before the number generator, slot machines were limited by the mechanics of the 20-number reel. Larger reels simply wouldn't fit in a slot machine. A number generator and slots video frees up a slot machine designer to add more numbers on a reel--and add more real. Large progressive jackpots are the result, where the increase of the jackpots are exponential. In the past, a top slots payoffs might have been a few thousand dollars. Now, progressive jackpots are numbered in the hundreds of thousands--sometimes even in the low millions.

VIDEO POKER

A close cousin of the video slot machine is video poker. Like progressive slots, video poker machines use a random number generator to run a fast-paced game. Like the slots machines, the payoffs in video poker have increased exponentially in the last twenty years.

Video poker is a favorite with some professional gamblers. If played correctly, video poker can have a house edge as low as 0.50%. When you combine the low house edge with a progressive jackpot, it is no wonder that some casinos these days feature more video poker machines than video slot machines. Between the comps programs and casino promotions, you can even wind up with a positive expectation on a video poker game.

CARIBBEAN STUD POKER

As the name implies, Caribbean Stud poker originated in the islands of the Caribbean. Caribbean Stud made its way into the gambling rooms of the cruise ship lines, so it was only a matter of time before American casinos decided they could make a dime off of the game. The fact the game has a 5% house edge makes Caribbean Stud a favorite with casino managers.

Many Caribbean Stud players enjoy the camaraderie around the table. The game pits each player against the dealer. Since up to seven players can play at any table, the laid back style of Caribbean Stud poker fosters a sense of togetherness among its players. For people who enjoy visiting a casino to converse with its other patrons, Caribbean Stud poker is a natural choice in games.

PAI GOW POKER

Pai Gow Poker originated in Asia as a game played with dominos. Elements of Pai Gow combined with poker to create a unique Hi-Lo type experience. Players are dealt seven cards, which the gambler uses to create seperate five card and two card hands. The double wager aspect of Pai Gow Poker adds a complexity to the game that many casino goers enjoy.

But Pai Gow Poker is enjoyed by players for many of the same reasons Caribbean Stud Poker is enjoyed. Pai Gow is played at an easy place, where all the players at the table are encouraged to enjoy one another's company. In fact, many casinos allow Pai Gow players to advise one another on the best hands to play.

A GAMBLERS PARADISE

So whether you enjoy a private game like progressive slot machines or video poker, or you prefer a community game like Caribbean Stud or Pai Gow Poker, there are popular casino games these days for every type of gambler. Of course, the old style players may prefer the hustle and bustle of a good craps game to the more laid back favorites othat seem to populate the casino today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/140792

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Casino Games of Skill and Chance

In any casino, there are games that are purely random, where each event is completely independent of any other events, much like the tossing of a coin. These are called games of chance and include games like roulette, craps, slots, keno, and bingo. The probability of the outcome of these events will always remain constant, no matter how many times the event might occur. For instance, the toss of the dice or the pull of a slot arm cannot be influenced by anything that has happened before, and neither does it affect anything that will come after. The probability of each of these events is exactly the same every single time the event happens.

What does this mean to you, as a player? Simply put, there is nothing that you can do (other than to cheat) that will alter the outcome. That means that the smart move would be to understand what the odds are of any "event" and then place your wagers based on these probabilities. For example, if you are playing craps, you know that you have an 11% chance to throw a 2, 3, or 12; however, the probability of throwing a 7 is 17%. Therefore, when you are rolling out in craps, you have a greater chance of hitting a 7 than you do of "crapping out" with a 2, 3, or 12. Therefore, you will have a better chance of winning on a bet placed on the pass line than you would when placing a bet on a "crap" spot.

There are always going to be anomalies that will show up in any game, and that is when those "streaks" will surface. Please don't try to look for any patterns in these streaks, since they are still just random outcomes with odds that don't change. It is pure luck that the number 7 is rolled 5 times in a row, or that the color red shows up 10 consecutive times on the roulette wheel. There is no "sure-fire" system that con beat a game of chance, no matter how logical it may look at the time. Remember, the only logic in a game of chance is that the probability of any particular outcome in an event will never alter!

Unlike a game of chance, your knowledge and proficiency will greatly improve your odds of winning in a game of skill. Games like blackjack, poker, video poker, or sports betting can all be considered games of skill. You will find that as you gain knowledge and experience in these games, then you will become a more proficient player and your chances to win increase in the long run. For example, in the game of blackjack, understanding and following basic strategy rules will give you a better chance of winning. Likewise, you will win more at the poker table once you have gained some experience and wisdom in betting and strategy.

While there is always a certain amount of luck involved, knowing and understanding the difference between games of chance and those of skill will greatly increase your awareness. You will make better decisions on when and how to wager, which will ultimately give you the best possible chance that you need to be a winner. Good luck to you!

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Epiphone Casino Review - Vintage Class

If you need a particular, versatile instrument for blues, rock, or jazz, the Epiphone Casino is a sure thing.

It's effortless to think that guitar makers like Fender and Gibson have always been the top-selling musical instruments they are now, but that's in reality not the case. Believe it or not, for many years Epiphone really dominated the electric guitar universe, thanks mainly to a group of young musicians from Liverpool (the Beatles, in case you don't know your music history really well).

George and John were not the only guitarists who could be seen playing Epiphone Casinos. The Casino's fresh, dynamic tones could be found in tons of concerts and recordings. Though it's improbable you'll be able to pick up a real 1960's Casino, you can grab a current reissue model that is worth a look. Here are just a few of the details of the current model.

Features

Regarding its construction, the top, sides, and back are all made of a laminated maple. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard is rosewood and has 22 frets on a 24 3/4" scale. The nut is a comfortable 1.68." The Casino boasts 2 Alnico V P-90 vintage-style pickups with a trademark tune-o-matic bridge and trapeze tailpiece. Parallelogram inlays and body-neck binding with chrome hardware complete the cosmetic adornments.

Performance

As you test a new Epiphone Casino, you'll in all probability observe at least a couple of things. First things first. The Casino is very lightweight, owing to its semi-hollow design. If you're used to playing a Les Paul, the Casino feels like a feather by comparison.

The second thing you'll likely notice is the sound itself. "Crisp" is probably the best adjective I can use to describe it. It doesn't have the usual Gibson or Fender tone, but that's not a bad thing. It's unique, its own animal.

We were really satisfied with the tones we got from the Epiphone Casino. It can get some outstanding clean or classic rock tones, but don't anticipate any "Iron Maiden" licks to sound authentic. The P90 pickups have some great tones, even if they're not hum-cancelling (but they're not really noisy anyway).

When we first played the Casino, we discovered it needed a fast setup. After we adjusted the bridge and neck, the Casino played very well. The neck especially is really comfortable.

If you're blessed enough to buy a new Epiphone Casino, don't be astounded if you start rattling off some of your favored Beatles' tunes. We played our Epiphone through a new Vox AC-15 and were very encouraged with the warm, rich sounds we got.

The Bottom Line

Since the street cost is only around $599 (much less if you can find it used), it's difficult to find grounds not to pick up an Epiphone Casino today. If you need a particular, versatile instrument for blues, rock, or jazz, the Epiphone Casino is a sure thing.

Name of Gear: Epiphone Casino
List Price: $1,042.00
Manufacturer Info: The Epiphone Company; epiphone.com
Pros: Classic blues and rock sound; visually appealing; light; good bargain
Cons: Weak factory setup

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