What to know about gambling before you go to Vegas

20.04.2024 - 08:52 / lonelyplanet.com

If you fancy placing a bet or two (or 20), you’ve hit the jackpot in Las Vegas.

Gambling in all of its forms has been legal in Nevada since 1931, which has made Las Vegas the essential place in the USA to let it ride, double down and max bet (oh my!). Even with other states legalizing casinos and sports betting as well as Native American tribes unveiling casino-resort destinations, Sin City remains in a class of its own.  

And yet...that grumpy chain-smoking dude at the blackjack table judging your every hit. The hundreds of lights blinking at you on a single slot machine. The seemingly endless plusses and minuses on a sportsbook screen glaring down on the masses. We’d forgive gambling rookies for finding it all very intimidating. 

But don’t be scared. Las Vegas is as friendly as it gets in terms of easing into your new favorite game. 

In between strolling The Strip, a day trip into the desert and seeing a fabulous show, chances are you’ll want to give the tables and slots a shot. When you do, here are the answers to any Las Vegas gambling rookie’s key questions.

With new games being unveiled seemingly every day – particularly from slot-machine manufacturers – you can easily gamble hundreds of different ways under the roof of a single Las Vegas casino. Table games include such classics as blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and various forms of poker, like Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em and Three Card Poker. 

Slot machines feature thousands of different themes, paylines and jackpot options. Among the most omnipresent machines citywide are Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune, which have progressive statewide jackpots that often reach the million-plus level. Sports betting is also a significant draw: you can bet on everything from big-time NFL battles to a small soccer match in Colombia. In some casinos, you’ll even find halls where you can play bingo. 

You must be 21 years or older to gamble and drink in Las Vegas casinos. An important yet unspoken rule in our increasingly digital world: casinos don’t take kindly to folks being on the phone during table game action. This policy extends to taking phone calls, scrolling digital inboxes and making Google searches as to whether or not you should hit on 12 against a dealer’s 6 at a blackjack table. (Don’t tire your fingers: the answer is no.)

As for game-specific rules, your best bet is to simply ask a dealer or pit boss before you sit down. Don’t make the rookie mistake of plopping it at a table, betting $100 and saying, “Um, how do I play this?” Settle in at an empty or relatively empty table game – and don’t be bashful in getting your questions answered before diving in.

What about refreshments? In Nevada, you can indeed drink for free while gambling. If you’re feeding a