Book 6

Trying to Beat the House: Casino Gambling

Contents at a Glance

  1. Chapter 1: Casino Gambling 101: The Inside Scoop
    1. (Casino) Knowledge Is Power
    2. Entering the Casino: What You’re Up Against
    3. Navigating the Casino Maze
    4. Meeting the Casino’s Cast of Characters
    5. Maintaining a Safe and Secure Environment
  2. Chapter 2: Probability and Odds: What You Need to Succeed
    1. Defining Luck: A Temporary Fluctuation
    2. Understanding the Role of Probability
    3. Examining How Casinos Operate and Make Money: House Edge
    4. Calculating the Odds in Casino Games
  3. Chapter 3: Managing Your Money in a Casino
    1. Setting a Budget and Sticking to It
    2. Looking at Casino Credit and Its Risks
    3. Figuring Out When Enough Is Enough
  4. Chapter 4: Minding Your Gambling Manners
    1. Playing Well with Others: Minding Your Table Manners
    2. Enjoying a Smoke and an Adult Beverage
    3. Giving Gratuities to Dealers and Others
    4. Avoiding the Appearance of Cheating
  5. Chapter 5: The Easiest Game to Beat: Blackjack
    1. Dealing Out Blackjack Basics
    2. Preparing to Play
    3. Betting Your Bottom Dollar
    4. Playing Your Hand
    5. Identifying Common Mistakes
  6. Chapter 6: Not Just For High Rollers: Baccarat
    1. Counting Down the Baccarat Basics
    2. Stepping into Baccarat
    3. Avoiding Baccarat Time Wasters
  7. Chapter 7: Rolling the Dice: Craps
    1. Setting the Craps Stage
    2. Walking through Craps, Step by Step
    3. Relying on Strategy to Place the Best Bets
    4. Avoiding “Sucker” Bets
  8. Chapter 8: Spinning Wheel Goes Round ’n’ Round: Roulette
    1. Getting the Spin on Roulette Basics
    2. Betting: The Inside (and Outside) Scoop
    3. Reciting Roulette Etiquette
    4. Improving Your Odds
    5. Avoiding Strategies That Don’t Work
  9. Chapter 9: Mastering the Machines: Slots
    1. Understanding How to Play the Slots
    2. Identifying Differences in Slot Machines
    3. Getting a Handle on Slots Odds
    4. Stretching Your Money at the Slots
    5. Honing Your Slot Etiquette
    6. Playing for Comps