A typical video poker machine holds a strong resemblance to a regular slot machine, and can be found in either a tabletop form or an upright desktop unit.

The machines come in denominations of nickels, quarters, dollars and sometimes five dollars. The majority of video poker games are based on five-card draw poker. In five-card draw, players are originally dealt five cards and can throw away any of them to try to improve their hand. New cards are dealt to replace the discarded ones, and the final five cards decide your fate.

Game Play

To begin play, determine the number of coins you are going to play and insert your money. Once you place your bet you push the deal button. After your five cards are dealt you will decide which cards that you would like to keep by pushing the hold button associated with that card.

After making your selections, double check to make certain that every card you would like to keep has the word hold either above or below it. Because one you place the deal button every card that you have chosen to discard (not hold) will be replaced with another card from the deck.

Instead of beating an opponent's hand as in normal table play, you can win when you hold any of the five-card combinations listed on that particular machines payout table. If your resulting hand holds a winning combination you will be credited according to the payout schedule.

General Tips

• Pay close attention to the all important "hold" button. Some people hit it too fast or not hard enough and a card meant to be held is discarded. Make sure all the cards you want to hold are held before pushing the draw button.
• Check each machine you play. Some have hold buttons, others discard buttons. Don't push any buttons before you understand what you're doing.
• Always look for machines that pay 9 to 1 for a full house (45 with 5 coins) and 6 to 1 for a flush (30 with 5 coins). However four-of-a-kind bonus machines if paying 7 or 8 to 1 for a full house (35 or 40 with 5 coins) and 5 to 1 for a flush (25 with 5 coins), such as four aces paying 80 to 1 (400 with 5 coins) and four 2s, 3s or 4s paying 40 to 1 (200 with 5 coins), are also acceptable. You need these high payouts to keep you playing, as the real key to hitting a royal is playing a large number of hands. Stay clear of machines that only pay 1 to 1 for two pair or don't pay for jacks or better. Although double bonus and double-double bonus machines can be good if you can get some four-of-a-kinds, otherwise with the two pair 1 to 1 payout, these machines will take your money quickly. Also stay clear of dueces wild machines as the payout is so low that unless you hit four dueces you won't be playing long.
• Pick a strategy and stick with it. Are you going for a big money Royal Flush, with the biggest payback but odds of 650,000 to 1? Or do you want to play a long time with the best payback? Conservative players would keep a pair, for instance, while others might break a pair if there was a chance for a Royal Flush.
• Never keep a "kicker" -- a high card in addition to a pair. The odds are against this strategy working out for you.
• Cash out your credits frequently.
• Seek out Jacks or better machines that pay 9 coins for a full house and six coins for a flush.
• Always bet the maximum amount of coins on a progressive machine to get the bonus for royal flushes.
• If you are a beginner, play on the lowest denomination machine until your level of expertise rises.
• Take your time to study every hand. Because you are playing against a machine, no one will intimidate you if your play is too slow.
• All hail the Jack! Some players don't realize the ace is not the most important card in the deck, but the Jack is. Holding the Jack over the ace gives you more opportunities of making more lucrative hands than an ace would.

Gaming Strategies

• Never keep a kicker with any pair. Holding a kicker to any pair reduces your return by 5%.
• Never draw four cards if you can draw three to a royal flush.
• Always keep five-card winning pat hands with on exception: if you can, draw one card to a royal.
• Don't break a flush even if you can draw one to a straight flush, but always break a flush to draw to a royal.
• Never break a straight to draw to a straight flush.
• Never draw five if you have a jack or better.
• Don't keep a ten for a four card draw.

Blackjack is one of the world's most widely played gambling card games. This casino favorite is commonly referred to as twenty-one or vingt-et-un. Despite disputing claims between the French and Italians, the actual origins of the game are unknown. What is known is that the game of blackjack can offer you your best chance at leaving the casino a winner.

Individual casino may have distinct rules and gaming practices, so the following should be considered as general guidelines. The blackjack table is staffed by a dealer who deals cards to each of the players, anywhere between 1-7, and themselves. Most casinos utilize a card-shuffler or card-dealing shoe, which will hold six-eight 52-card decks. While playing blackjack you may also notice another casino employee known as the pit boss, who will monitor play and help settle game disputes.

The Game

The primary objective is to obtain a hand totaling 21 points - when this is achieved within the first 2 cards dealt it is called a blackjack. If you do not get a 21 on the first two cards you need to come as close to 21 as you can with out going over (busting) and have a higher hand than the dealer (the house).

Each player receives one card face down and bets that this card plus additional cards dealt face up will beat the dealer's hand without exceeding 21. Players can either hold their initial two cards or take additional cards (hit). Any player who does not bust waits for the dealer's turn. The dealer turns up the down card. By rule, on counts of 17 or higher the dealer must stay; a count of 16 or less means that the dealer must draw another card.

An ace counts one or eleven, a face card ten, and all others cards according to their face value. A "soft hand" is a hand that contains an Ace which is counted as 11. A "hard hand" is a one that does not contain an Ace or a hand where the Ace can only be counted as one point.

If after your first two cards you want another card (a hit) you will need to indicate by scratching the table with your hand or by using another similar gesture. Dealers will not accept a verbal request because the security cameras used by the casino would not be able to be used in game disputes. Game gestures are seen by the cameras and will be used to determine any gaming disagreements players or the casino may have. If you are happy with your cards at any time you can choose to stand by indicating with a wave of your hand palm down.

After all players have either chosen to stand or have busted - winning hands will be determined by having a higher count than the dealers hand. Winners will win an amount equal to their initial bet if they successfully obtain a hand larger than the dealers. Players with a natural 21 (for example a king and an ace) are may be paid off at 3 to 2. All players with a lower count than the dealer, and those that have busted will forfeit their wagers.

Seating arrangements

For veteran players, the best seat is "third base" the seat to the immediate right of the dealer. The player in this seat will play just before the dealer, who plays last. This can be an advantage to the experienced player as they will be able to observe the cards dealt to previous players. Rookie blackjack players should avoid this seat as it can have a substantial impact on the dealer's hand.

Side Bets

You should always avoid making any side bets. Side bets are the casinos way of swaying the odds in their favor for making a greater profit. Do not take insurance bets when they are offered unless you are an experienced card counter.

Imagine you were playing at a table by yourself with just the dealer - your dealt a natural 21 at a single deck table, and the dealer's up card was an ace, there would be 49 cards left after removing your ace and ten as well as the dealers ace. That would leave fifteen tens to potentially give the dealer a blackjack and a push. Not insuring your blackjack means you would be paid 3 to 2 thirty four times and push just fifteen times (49 total - 15 tens = 34) WOW! That means your winning percentage will be 104% by not insuring and only 100% if you did. This example doesn't take into account any other players cards which would most certainly decrease the dealers odds of obtaining a push - and clearly show why you should avoid taking insurance.

Surrendering

Some casinos may offer players the ability to surrender or forfeit their hand after the initial two cards are dealt for half of your wager. This can be very useful tool - as you would only lose half of your bet as opposed to the full bet if you were to play the hand out and lose.

There are generally two types of surrender, early and late. An early surrender means you surrender before the dealer checks their second card. The late surrender means that you surrender after the dealer checks their second card. Early surrender can increase a players expected win rate by almost a full percentage point, while a later surrender may only increase the win rate by five hundredths of a percentage point. You should always try to find a table that offers early surrenders.

Splitting your pairs

Knowing when to split your hand into two hands and when not to, is very important. It is also a very easily learned knowledge. You should always split a pair of aces or a pair of eights. A pair of aces will total either two or twelve but if you split them each card will now be worth eleven. Splitting a pair of eights means you are breaking up a hand of sixteen, which is the worst hand you can have.

You should split pairs of twos and threes only when the dealer card is between a four and seven. Split sixes when the dealer has a three through six. Split a pair of sevens when the dealer has a three through seven. Split a pair of nines when the dealer has two through six, or has an eight or nine showing. Your should never split a pair fours, fives, or tens!

Hit or Stand

For hard hands, if the player's cards amount to 12 or higher, there are three rules:

• Hit if the player hand totals 12 through 16 and the dealer has a seven or higher.
• Stand on any hand totaling 17 or higher.
• Stand if the player cards total 12 through 16 and the dealer has two through six.

For soft hands there are only two:

• Always draw to soft 17 or less.
• Only draw on soft 18 if the dealer has an eight, nine or ten.

Double Down

For hard hands, there are three rules:

• Double down when the player's cards total 11 and the dealer has a ten or less.
• Double down when the player's cards total 10 and the dealer has a nine or less.
• Double down when the player's cards total nine and the dealer has a four, five or six.

For soft hands, there are also three rules:

• Double down with a soft 13 and soft 14 when the dealer has a five or six.
• Double down with a soft 15 and soft 16 when the dealer has a four, five or six.
• Double down with a soft 17 and soft 18 when the dealer has three through six.

Object of the game

The "shooter" is the person rolling the dice, they starts the game when all bets are down and the stick man pushes the dice to him to begin his roll. The shooter throws the dice across the table so they strike the farthest end of the table from where the shooter is standing.

The first roll can have any of the following outcomes; Craps which is a 2,3 or a 12 and a loser, pass which is 7 or 11 and a winner, or a "point" number which can be 4,5,6,8,9,10. When the shooter throws a 2,3 or 12 everyone on the pass line loses, but the shooter may "keep" the dice or continue to roll. If a 7 or 11 is rolled everyone on the pass line wins and the shooter continues to throw.

When a 4,5,6,8,9, or 10 is thrown this becomes the shooters "point" and he continues to roll the dice until he (1) makes the "point" or (2) rolls sevens out whichever comes first. If he makes his point he wins and is allowed to continue to roll the dice. If he rolls a seven while on a point he loses and the dice are passed to the next shooter and the process is repeated.

Betting Options

The Pass Line: A bet on the "pass" line is a bet with the shooter. This means that if, on his first toss of the dice, called the "come out" roll a 7 or 11 is thrown the "pass" line bets win and the shooter keeps the dice for another roll. If the shooter rolls a 2,3 or 12 all "pass line" bets lose. The shooter still retains the dice, he can however give them up at any time. Any other number 4,5,6,8,9,10 are called the "point" and the shooter will continue to roll until he makes his point. If a seven appears first the shooter and all pass bets lose and the dice go to the next player.

The Don't Pass Line: This line bets against the shooter which means he will either crap out with a 2 or a 3, or he will get a point and 7 out before he makes his point. If a 12 is thrown the "don't pass" line becomes a push bet, nobody wins.

The Come Line: This line bet can be made any time after the shooters point has been established. You win if the next roll after your bet is a 7 or 11 and lose on a 2, 3, or 12. Any number other than these numbers becomes your point and you win if the number is repeated before a 7 is thrown.

The Field: The "field" allows you to make a bet with every roll of the dice but you are limited by choice and you either win or lose on the roll, you get one chance only. You win if the shooter rolls 2,3,4,9,10,11 or 12. But you lose on 5,6,7, or 8. You have 16 ways to win, but the house has 20 ways to win, thus giving the house that ever present edge.

Big Six or Eight: A bet placed on, what is called the big 6 or the big 8 wins if that number comes up before a 7.

Any Seven Bet: You can make this bet any time you feel lucky and think the dice are going to come up seven. But be careful because you only get one roll on this bet and if seven doesn't come up you loose that bet.

Any Crap's Bet: As the opening implies you are betting that a craps will be rolled, 2, 3, or 12, in which case you win. Any other number and you lose. Like the Sevens bet you only get one shot at it win or lose.

The Hard Way Bets: There are four so-called hard way bets, they're called hard way because each of them can only be won if they come up in pairs. 10 with a pair of five's, 8 with a pair of fours, 6 with a pair of threes and a 4 with a pair of twos. Your hard way number must come up before either a seven or your numbers easy way equivalent. For example an 8 with a three and a five or a two and a six. These bets can be made any time before the dice are thrown.

General Tips

• Make a betting selection(s) or establish a pattern of play to your liking and stick to it.
  
• If you want to play longer and enjoy the action, stick to the 'pass/don't pass' and 'come/don't come' bets.
  
• If you aim to 'hit and run' and winning is a priority, give preference to high-odds bets.
  
• Don't plan to win every roll of the dice.
  
• Raise as you win, lower as you lose.
  
• Never quit after a win.
  

Pai Gow Poker has its roots in the ancient Chinese game, Pai Gow. However, it has merged with American Poker to evolve into the modern game of Pai Gow Poker. Pai Gow Poker is a simple game but it offers many strategic options. This gives you the option to play conservatively and maximize your playing time for little money, or go for the quick win. 

Game Play

Pai Gow is played with a 53-card deck consisting of a standard 52-card deck with 1 wild card. The object of the game is to split your hand into a five-card hand and a two card hand with both hands beating the dealer's two hands to win. 

The wild card is not a true wild card and there are specific rules for the use of the wild card. The wild card can only be used as an ace or as the fifth card in a straight or a flush. 

After you receive your seven cards you must split them into two hands, a five-card hand and a two-card hand. The five-card hand must always rank higher than the two-card hand. To split your hand move the mouse pointer over the cards you want to make your two-card hand. Click on the two cards one at a time and they will split out of the deck. Notice that once you have chosen an eligible two-card hand (not better than your five-card hand) the split button becomes available. If you are happy with your choice click on this split button and you will have your two playing hands. If you are not satisfied with your choices click on the card or cards which you want to change and they will go back into your seven-card hand. Now choose the new cards you wish to play with. You may do this until you press the split button at which point your hands are locked-in. The dealer will then split his hand and the game will play itself out. 

Each five-card hand is ranked according to the standard poker hand hierarchy. Remember that because of the wild card, you have the potential to have five aces, which beats a royal flush. Your two-card hand can either be a pair or no pair, therefore, your highest possible two-card hand would be a pair of aces. The wild card can function in several ways. It can act as an ace in any hand or the fifth card in a straight, a flush, a straight flush, or a royal flush. 

Payoffs

You must win both hands outright to receive a payout. The house wins if both of the dealer's hands are winners, or if one hand wins and the other hand is a draw. Any other combination results in a push. This will lead to many draws, so there will be a 5% commission on all player wins, which will be deducted from your payout. Apart from the commission, all winning wagers are paid out at even money (1 to 1).