Games available in most casinos are commonly called casino games. In a casino game, the players gamble casino chips on various possible random outcomes or combinations of outcomes. Casino games are available in online casinos, where permitted by law. Casino games can also be played outside of casinos for entertainment purposes, some on machines that simulate gambling.

House advantage

Casino games generally provide a predictable long-term advantage to the casino, or "house", while offering the player the possibility of a large short-term payout. Casino games often include an illusion of control, in which the player must make choices. However, in most cases it is not mathematically possible for a player to eliminate his or her inherent long-term disadvantage (the house advantage) in a casino game.

The player's disadvantage is a result of the casino not paying winning wagers according to the game's "true odds", which are the payouts that would be expected considering the odds of a wager either winning or losing. For example, if a game is played by wagering on the number that would result from the roll of one die, true odds would be 6 times the amount wagered since there is a 1 in 6 chance of any single number appearing. However, the casino may only pay 5 times the amount wagered for a winning wager.

Categories of casino games

There are three general categories of casino games:

Table games

Table games are played on a large table covered with a printed felt layout and may contain seating locations for players, with a dealer and other casino employees located on one side of the table (known as the "pit") and players located on the opposite side. Table games may be played with cards, dice, or other gaming equipment.

Gaming machines

Gaming machines, such as slot machines, are usually played by one player at a time and do not require the involvement of casino employees to play.

Random number games

Random number games are based upon the selection of random numbers, either from a computerized random number generator or from other gaming equipment. Random number games may be played at a table, such as Roulette, or through the purchase of paper tickets or cards, such as Keno or Bingo.

Common table games

Cards

Asian stud
Baccarat
Blackjack
Casino war
Caribbean Stud Poker
Chinese poker
Faro
Four card poker
Let It Ride
Mambo stud
Pai gow poker
Red dog
Spanish 21
Texas Hold'em Bonus Poker
Three card poker
Two-up

Dice / Tiles

Craps
Pai Gow
Sic bo
Chuck-a-luck

Random numbers

Big Six wheel
Roulette

Common random number games (non-table)

Bingo
Keno

Common gaming machines

Slot machine
Video Lottery Terminal
Video poker

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