Casino establishments are some of the most fun places on earth. They provide you with an ample variety of games of chance, such as slots, roulette, blackjack, craps, keno, baccarat, poker, and many others. The etymology of the word casino is traced back to Italy and it once denoted something as simple as a villa or a summerhouse, or even a social club.
Over time, the word casino became associated with various pleasurable activities and not least various games of chance. In expanding the meaning of the word, many modern-day designed to combine their gambling operations with other recreational activities for tourists and holidaymakers looking to escape the mundane.
Today, casinos have plenty to offer on their casino floors. The gaming facilities are attached to prime dining and beverage facilities along with performance venues where pop, rock, jazz, and many other artists come to perform for guests. There is a lot to see and do in a casino, and it’s often not limited to the gaming facilities.
What Can You Find on a Casino Floor?
Casinos in places such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City feature thousands of slots. The biggest ones often have thousands of slot machines along with hundreds of table games. Some of these tables will be put in discreet private rooms where high roller or VIP customers can have quiet sessions by themselves and a select company of other players. There are several main groups of experiences you can find on-site on the casino gaming floor.
Slot Machines
Slot machines are easily the most popular form of entertainment a casino has to offer. There are more than 900,000 slot machines installed in the United States at the present day, and their numbers are increasing, despite some venues shutting down and some of the machines becoming obsolete.
Slot machines have a decent lifespan, from anything from five to seven years, and they are maintained regularly to ensure that you get the best possible experience. These games, unlike other games of chances, are present in every casino in the United States, and possibly the world.
It would not be much of a casino if there were slot machines to be found on-site. The biggest jackpot in a casino was paid by a slot machine, the Megabucks slot in the Excalibur in Las Vegas back in 2003. The lucky person walked away with $39.7 million. So yes, you will find hundreds if not thousands of slots available on a casino floor.
Blackjack
The United States offers thousands of blackjack tables and while they are not as dominant as slots, they are always packed. Blackjack is a game of chance that allows you to use skill and game understanding to try and beat the house. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of players, are tempted to try their hand at blackjack not just in the United States but also around the world.
Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos have no objection to you counting cards, but if you prove too good, you may be asked to leave, so keep this in mind. Dana White often brags about his blackjack skills and claims he has beaten several casinos in his time and continues to take them to the cleaners.
Of course, whether this is true is hard to verify although White did get banned from the Palms Casino in 2014, supposedly for winning $2 million, and the casino is not too sure how he did it. Blackjack is one of those games where you will keep the casino on its toes.
Baccarat
Baccarat is another famous game that you will find on casino floors. There is a good reason for that. In places like Macau, baccarat is often all the rage with VIP and high roller players converging on the special administrative region to place down big wagers.
Well, Las Vegas and other casinos across the United States are just as attractive to gamblers who seek to play high stakes baccarat. But the casinos do not always win. Phil Ivey, a famous poker player, managed to win nearly $10 million playing at the Borgata. The amount was so outrageous that the casino had to ask Ivey to leave.
Later, a lawsuit was launched against him for using “edge sorting.” The case, while settled behind closed doors, raised the profile of the game by quite a bit. But this is not all there is about baccarat. The game is a lot of fun, offers very straightforward gameplay, and is tons of fun to try.
Baccarat is a casino staple that you would not want to miss out on if you are looking to improve your grasp and understanding.
Other Table Games
There are tons of other table games to explore at casinos as well. Some, such as Casino War will be a little more niche, but you are likely to always find games such as Craps and Keno which are other popular dice options.
While they are still a little less popular than, say, blackjack, these games are an important part of the casino ecosystem and they are likely to be found on the floors of your favorite casinos, and the biggest properties in AC or The Strip!
Poker
Poker is a category of its own. Casinos will have instances of video poker, which is another popular game, but the United States is home to the biggest live poker events in the world. As such, you can expect to find a ton of worthwhile games, such as Texas Hold’em, Omaha, and others.
Nearly all of the 1,000 commercial casinos and hundreds of tribal casinos in the United States run daily and weekly poker events and games. The World Series of Poker is played out of Las Vegas as well, and entering a casino without expecting to find poker tables is very unlikely in the 21st century.
What Amenities Are There at Casinos?
Casinos have long figured that attracting people just for gambling is a bit of a gamble. After all, you can get people to gamble if they are there in the first place, but not everyone is tempted by the idea of taking a flight to just play at the slots or blackjack tables.
That is why casinos have evolved into casino resorts, including hotel rooms and other amenities. Wining and dining, entertainment and business are all part of the deal now, and entire families are happy to make the trip to these places.
Wine & Dine
Naturally, good food goes into making a casino a truly worthwhile experience. That is why Michelin star restaurants are already present in many of the available Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos. These properties are a prime example of what a good dining experience should be all about and you can expect to find these at casinos.
Entertainment, Music, and Recreation
Casinos secure the best leisurely experiences money can buy and this often comes in the form of exclusive performances by prominent music stars, circus troops, stand-up comedians, and more. Casinos are almost associated with entertainment these days and not just in terms of gambling. You can visit a casino resort, gamble recreationally and then attend a live concert or performance.
Business Spaces
Business spaces are an important part of the experience as they bring high rollers into Las Vegas. They are a great way to attract entrepreneurs and Fortune 500 company executives who don’t mind spending money. Chinese, Australian, European, and American millionaires, and billionaires come to Las Vegas to meet up, but they often hit the gaming floors as well.
The Inside of a Casino Resort Is a World of Its Own
Casino resorts have evolved, and they are nearly indistinguishable from the slightly seedy establishments they once were back in the day. They are echelons of safety and entertainment and have made it possible to enjoy a well-rounded experience that transcends traditional gambling and is an important part of one’s holiday. Casinos focus on gambling a lot, but they are hardly just about that these days.
