It’s hard to say exactly when gambling as we know it today first arrived in the US. However, arrive it did and it continues to be a big interest amongst a fair proportion of the adult population.
Its epicenter is undoubtedly Las Vegas, but there are also many, many casinos across the country with only relatively few States going without.
Increasingly, there are also more and more people choosing to play their favorite casino games online at the many sites now available.
In terms of the games available both in bricks and mortar and online casinos, the choice is wide. But five in particular stand out as the most popular – and they come in this approximate order.
Craps
First up is the dice game craps. Fast moving and with fairly complex rules this is probably the least favorite of the big five. However, once you get into the play it makes for an exhilarating ride.
Essentially, players bet on the numbers that will come up when one of them, the shooter, rolls the dice on the special craps table. Each round has two distinct phases. For the first the players must place a bet on the Pass or Don’t Pass line. If the first throw is a 2,3, or 12 then bets on the Pass line lose and ones on the Don’t Pass line win. On the other hand, if the first throw is a 7 or 11 then this is reversed.
In the second phase it’s a question of betting on the point value established in the first phase. This continues until a 7 is thrown – then the shooter moves on. In one incredible night a player called Patricia Demauro threw dice 154 times before a seven came up, a record that amounts to odds of 1,560,000,000,000 to 1!
Poker
Next comes poker. Arguably the most popular card game in the world, it’s an intriguing mix of skill, bluffing, bravado and luck. Its origins are in the 18th century when it became a variation of a Germen card game called Pochen, meaning to brag or bluff.
It was first introduced to America by French immigrants to Louisiana and soon spread up the Mississippi.
Different variations have developed over time with the most popular today being Texas Hold’em and Five Card Stud. In the last couple of decades the online version of the game has driven a huge upsurge in its popularity with many players getting their first experience of the game via sites offering a sweepstakes casino no deposit bonus.
Big televised tournaments like the annual World Series of Poker have also played a key role in its rising profile.
Blackjack
Fans of card games looking for a less challenging alternative tend to go for blackjack. It’s a simple game that is played directly against the dealer with the objective to get closer to 21 than they can, without going over this score.
Its origins come from France where it was called Vingt et Un – that’s “21” in the French. It became known as blackjack in the US as many casinos added the rule that if a player could reach the score of 21 with an ace of spades and a black ten then their winnings would be doubled.
Keen students of the game spend time memorizing something called “the basic strategy”. This comes in the form of a series of tables showing the best move given any specific hand.
It’s not foolproof but is does certainly tip the odds slightly in favor of the player.
Roulette
For lots of players, roulette is the quintessential casino game. That’s thanks to the unique atmosphere that you’ll find round the table when a game’s in progress. Allegedly invented by a French mathematician trying to make a perpetual motion machine, the wheel spins slowly until the little white ball falls into a pocket numbered from 1 to 36 or into the neutral 0 or, in the American version, 00.
The real beauty of the game is the simplicity of the betting as well as the variations available. For more cautious players they can bet on 50/50 choices like odd or even or red or black. More daring ones can go for single numbers with the potential of a 35-1 payout. So it really is a game for everyone.
Slots
But top of the list must come the slots. That’s why you’ll find row upon row of them in every casino and hundreds of titles online too. Quick, simple and easy to play they also come in a whole host of different themes from Ancient Egypt to tie-ins with big movies or TV shows. Best of all, every spin of the reels could land a big jackpot.
So there they are. Five of the most popular casino games in America – which one are you going to try your luck at next?
-in collaboration with Ashley Bradbury
