It’s easy to see the allure of Sin City’s countless table games. A flip of the cards or a roll of the dice can mean big winnings — if you know what you’re doing. Unfortunately for the uninitiated, sitting down to a blackjack table or a game of Texas Hold’em can be an anxiety-inducing experience. Even those who have played many a poker game in the comfort of a friend’s home — or through a smartphone app — might shy away from the tables in Vegas for fear of making a costly mistake.
Luckily, many Las Vegas casinos are more than willing to help you learn how to hold your own at the tables with the best of them. Plus, you don’t even need to bet your own money to learn: Casinos will teach you how to gamble for free. Here’s where you can snag some gambling lessons and learn how to play some of Las Vegas’ most popular table games.
Blackjack
There’s a lot more to blackjack than just hitting 21, but Las Vegas is happy to break it down for you. Head to the gaming floor of the Luxor at noon on any given day to learn how to stack the odds in your favor in this popular card game. Over at The Venetian, you can learn the basics at 12:15 p.m. on weekdays at the tables near the casino cage, or you can opt for a private lesson to the tune of $75 per hour. You can also get your gambling education over on Fremont Street with the Golden Nugget’s daily blackjack lessons at noon.
Poker
Even if you think you know how to play poker, you might be surprised to learn all of the quirks that come with the many variations of this card game. From Texas Hold’em to Let It Ride, there are quite a few different ways to play this game. Luxor is a sure bet for learning how best to bluff at Texas Hold’em, and lessons are offered every morning at 10 a.m.
Craps
One of the highest energy table games at any given casino, craps is also one of the most intimidating, thanks to a slew of rules you’ll need to learn before you blow the dice. Head to Gold Coast on the weekend (Friday through Sunday) to catch the basics of this high-energy game at 11:30 a.m. You can also try your hand at being the “shooter” over at the Luxor every day at noon — just head to the dice pit near the casino cage. Plus, over at The Venetian, craps lessons are offered twice every weekday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Baccarat
To a newbie gambler, baccarat might look like blackjack on the surface. Play it like that, though, and you’re sure to go broke quickly — in this card game, you’re aiming to get the total of your cards’ value to come closest to nine. Try your hand at baccarat over at The Riviera, where the dealers will be happy to show you the ropes.
Roulette
With stacks of chips on the number-dotted board, a spinning wheel and a single ball that will make or break fortunes, the high stakes of roulette can entice any visitor in Las Vegas. Before you throw your chips down, though, learn how to bet on this wheel with a roulette lesson at Circus Circus, held everyday at 11:30 a.m.
Where did you learn how to play table games? Let us know in the comments!
(Main image: Todd Klassy used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
