• Gambling Cards Clip Art
• Popular Casino Card Games
• Football Gambling Cards

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• Gambling privately or as a business
• Gambling as an Online Business
• Probabilities, Odds, House Edge and Return

Introduction

The word ‘gamble’ can be used to describe any risky action. An act of gambling is often referred to as placing a bet. Informally this could be as simple as a single person or a social group predicting success or failure (e.g. ‘I bet you that doesn’t work …’) in which case the gain if successful is psychological and ego based. It could refer to a more complex endeavour where a commercial entity takes a decision such as to invest in a new and untried technology in the hope of future high demand. In these cases, there is no agreement with a second party on specific terms for success or what exactly is to be won or lost.

On this page, we are concerned with the more formal type of gambling in which two or more parties agree to bet on an event whose outcome is uncertain. They need to agree on the criteria for winning or losing the bet and on what reward the loser(s) will give to the winner(s). This reward is known as the stake and often it is a sum of money. One can gamble on a natural event or a contest such as a race, or use equipment designed to produce an unpredictable outcome such as dice or playing-cards. In the specific context of games, gambling is playing a game with the aim of gaining a reward for winning while risking a corresponding loss if one does not win.

From their earliest origins in the late 13th century playing-cards have been used for gambling. The rapid spread of playing-cards across Europe after their introduction in the late 14th century can be traced by observing the dates when prohibitions of playing-cards were added to the existing laws against gambling in various cities. Although it has often been illegal, gambling on card games has remained popular to the present day.

But not all card games are gambling games. Many people play cards purely for pleasure or as a contest of skill. Even when card games are played for stakes, the amount of money involved is often very small, and is used mainly as a convenient method for keeping score. The stake also provides an incentive to play to win. Technically and legally, playing for any stakes, even inconsequential amounts, is likely to be considered gambling, but playing for money is relatively harmless provided the stakes are well within what the players can afford to lose. Problems arise when the possibility of winning money is the player’s main motive for taking part in the game.

Card games designed for gambling normally have a substantial luck component, because if the most skilful player always wins the others will have no reason to play. In many gambling games, although the player may be offered choices the outcome is entirely a matter of luck. The attraction of such a game lies simply the thrill of winning or losing.

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Gambling privately or as a business

Types of Gambling Business

Casinos. Casinos are establishments that offer a range of gambling opportunities. Generally these are games of chance where the house backs the game and the player wagers directly against the house. This means that players do not compete directly against each other. The outcomes of the bets placed are usually resolved within a few minutes of the bets being placed. On this page we provide descriptions of some popular casino games.

Lotteries. A lottery is a number based game where the player buys a ticket and chooses numbers from a pre-defined set. A random draw then takes place to determine the winning numbers, often using numbered balls, and the winners are paid. Lotteries are usually not played in a specific location, but cover a geographic region where tickets are on sale at approved vending locations. Payouts for lottery games vary wildly from operator to operator, some having jackpots in the multiple millions. In general, the more numbers on the player’s ticket that match the numbers on the balls drawn the higher the prize the player receives.

Bingo Halls. Bingo is a lottery style game played in a social setting. Players buy ‘cards’ with a random selection of numbers listed on them. When the game commences numbered balls are randomly drawn and the numbers called out. Players then mark off (or ‘daub’) any matching number on their card(s). The first player to match all the numbers on one line of their card wins a prize.

Pachinko. Pachinko is a pinball game that is very popular in Asia. The player buys a number of 11mm metal balls and then these are fired into the gaming area. The balls either land in prize pockets or drop out of the gaming area. If a player’s ball falls into a prize pocket, some additional balls are awarded. Balls can then be exchanged for prizes. While the original Pachinko machines were solely mechanical, in recent years an electronic element has been added, similar to the bonus features found in slots games. Certain prize pockets or combinations of prize pockets may trigger a secondary game to decide the prize awarded.

Bookmakers. Bookmakers are most often associated with sports betting but will regularly offer bets on other events like political elections or the names that will be given to children of celebrities. Bookmakers are most commonly found in shop-like establishments within the UK but are often built into larger casino complexes in the US. While the most common form of betting within a bookmaker is on a single event (Team X to beat Team Y) multi-event bets are not uncommon (Team A to beat Team B and Team X to beat Team Y).

Betting Exchanges. With the growth of the online gambling business a small number of Betting Exchanges have become very popular. These offer a very similar service to Bookmakers, primarily focusing on sports events, but allow a peer to peer transaction between two players. One player will offer odds on an event, other players can then wager money based on those odds. Regardless of which party wins the Betting Exchange will take a percentage fee from the winnings.

‘Fantasy’ sports leagues are also rapidly increasing in popularity. A person selects a team of players that are competing in an imaginary sporting event. Points are awarded based on how successful the players selected are in the event. The exact rules vary from sport to sport. Until recently fantasy sports leagues have usually been run privately but the pastime has now become so popular within the UK that the Gambling Commission have put in place license requirements for the operators of fantasy leagues.

eSports. This is a derivative of sports betting that has seen substantial growth in popularity in the second decade of the 21st century. The gambler wagers on players or teams of players who are competing in multiplayer online computer gaming events.

Gambling has been a widespread human activity since ancient times. No complex infrastructure is needed. Any group of individuals with the time, the means and the desire to gamble can arrange to do so. Dice have been used for gambling for thousands of years and Backgammon and related table games date back at least 1500 years to the Byzantine Empire. Although gambling has now become a sizeable industry, many gambling games are still often organised and run privately. Common examples nowadays are Poker, which since the 19th century has been widely played in North America and subsequently around the world, and Mah Jong, which has been popular in East Asian cultures for over 100 years.

There are and have probably always been professional gamblers who make a living, honestly or dishonestly from gambling. There is also a long history of legal prohibition of gambling. Sometimes this has been on moral or religious grounds, or to preserve public order where gambling has been associated with violent disputes, or to prevent people wasting time and energy gambling rather than engaging in more productive activities.

Legitimate gambling businesses such as casinos and bookmakers provide a service to gamblers of ensuring fair and orderly play, and in return take a profit. Most jurisdictions in the world now have legalised businesses offering gambling on games of chance as a form of entertainment. The types of gambling that have been legalised vary from place to place. On this page we provide descriptions of the more common types of gambling business and of some popular casino games. Our Gambling Links page provides a directory of further resources.

Gambling can be dangerously addictive. Some players cannot resist the associated thrill, and those who lose may be tempted to risk money they cannot afford in a futile attempt to recover their losses. You can find further information and advice on our Responsible Gambling page.

Gambling as an online business

Legality of Online Gaming

Australia. In 2017 amendments were introduced to the Interactive Gambling Amendment Bill 2016 that clarify that only those operators licensed in Australia are permitted to offer online gambling services to persons resident in Australia. As there are no bodies offering a license for either casino or poker services this effectively makes all online gambling other than some sports betting illegal in Australia.

Canada. The question of the legality of online gambling in Canada has not been clearly answered yet. The case appears to be that players in Canada are at no risk legally. Operators to date appear to be free to accept bets from players in Canada as long as they do not have any holding within Canada.

China. Officially all forms of gambling, including online gambling, are illegal in China. Unofficially there are still a large number of operators accepting bets from Chinese players especially in the realms of sports betting.

France. In May 2010 the French government set up the Autorité de régulation des jeux en ligne usually referred to as ARJEL to regulate online gambling in France. Only operators licensed by ARJEL can legally accept players located in France. ARJEL currently only offers licenses for sports betting, horse race betting and poker, meaning that online casinos, bingo and lotteries are effectively illegal.

Germany. As of 2020 the legality of online gambling is both more clearer and more complicated that it was previously. The German government has made a clear statement of intent to issue licenses in mid-2021 and directly stated that all online gambling prior to this point is to be considered illegal. However, it has also introduced some basic rules with effect from October 2020, including rules relating to payments, responsible gambling and types of games that can be offered. An operator that complied with these rules by the October enforcement date is allowed to apply for a German license regardless of their previous business activity in the German market. Operators who were not compliant by this date will not be considered for a German license.

Japan. Online gambling is for the most part illegal in Japan. There are a few exceptions in the form of state run lotteries and sports betting. Despite this there are still many operators catering to the Japanese markets.

Russia. Online gambling is illegal in Russia. The Russian government has laws in place that allow them to issue small fines to Russian citizens found gambling online and has put in place a blacklist of sites that have to be blocked by Internet Service Providers operating in Russia.

Sweden. As of the 1st of January 2019, online gambling is fully legal and regulated in Sweden but only for operators holding a license from the Spelinspektionen (Swedish Gambling Authority).

United Kingdom. Online gambling is fully legal and regulated within the UK. Operators wishing to accept UK players must obtain a license from the UK Gambling Commission to do so.

United States. In most states in the USA online gambling is entirely prohibited. The 2006 Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) prohibited banks from processing transactions to any firm engaged in online gambling operations. Since that point only 3 states – Delaware, Nevada and New Jersey – have reversed the effects of this act and licensed a small number of operators to offer gambling games online.

The evolution of the internet and the development of reliable online payment methods has brought most types of gambling into the online arena. Thanks to personal computers, tablets and more recently internet capable mobile phones, most people who wish to gamble have instant access to gambling services. This ease of access comes at the expense of social interaction, with online gambling mostly being a solitary activity. While some multi-participant games like poker or live dealer games have a chat facility to allow communication with other players, for the most part when playing online the player will never be aware of the other players using the same game.

One significant difference between the online and offline gambling businesses is the legality of the enterprise. Licensing has been slow to evolve, and for several years online gambling has existed in a legal grey area in many jurisdictions. More governments are now taking an interest in the regulation of online gambling, partly because of the high potential tax revenues that can be made by licensing this industry. This page provides comments on the legality of online gambling in various jurisdictions.

Popular Casino Games

Blackjack – This is a card game in which the objective is to get a total closer to 21 than the dealer’s hand without going over. The namesake hand is a starting hand of a Ten value card and an Ace, which beats all hands other than another Blackjack. Most payouts in the game are 1 to 1 however a Blackjack is paid at 3 to 2 and Insurance is paid at 2 to 1. Bets in Blackjack can take several minutes to resolve and vary depending on how quickly the players at the table choose to play their hands. Generally an average of one round per minute would be a fairly fast paced game, but if you can play at a table by yourself you can increase this pace significantly.

Roulette – Roulette is played with a spinning wheel with 37 or 38 numbered pockets and a ball. The wheel is set spinning in one direction while the ball is spun in the opposite direction. Prior to the spin the player places wagers on a table layout depicting the individual pockets and different pocket combinations. If the ball lands in a pocket that the player has a bet on the player wins. Payouts in this game vary far more than most other table casino games with the most frequently occurring possibilities (Even or Odd number, Red or Black, 1-18 or 19-36) paying out at 1 to 1 and rarest events (betting on a single number) paying out at 35 or 36 to 1. Bets on Roulette can take several minutes to resolve between the spinning of the wheel and paying out a potentially large volume of bets at different stakes.

Craps – Craps is a dice game, a streamlined version of the medieval game Hazard. The players place bets on the possible results and then one player, designated the ‘Shooter’, will roll the dice. Players at the table can bet both with and against the Shooter and depending on the bets placed the outcome can be determined in a single roll or over multiple consecutive rolls. Given the community atmosphere that Craps creates it is far more popular offline than it is online.

Baccarat– Baccarat is a casino card game that is especially popular in Asian cultures. The player can bet on either the Player or Banker hand or indeed place a bet that the hands will tie. The deal and play of the hands follow pre-defined set rules, so once bets have been placed there are no player decisions regarding how the cards are played.

Poker – Poker is generally a player versus player game that is played commercially in poker rooms most often situated within casino complexes. There are many versions of this game with different rule sets but within the poker room the players will play a round against one or more opponents. The house will often provide a dealer for the game and wagers are placed into the centre of the table (this is often called the ‘pot’). At the end of a round when the winner has been decided a percentage of the total pot is taken to pay for the room and dealer. This percentage is usually called the ‘rake’.

Video Poker – Video Poker is a console based card game. Unlike most other poker games it is not played against another poker hand. Instead the outcome of the wager is determined based on whether the final hand matches a combination listed on the game’s paytable. After placing a bet the player will generally be dealt 5 cards. The player is then given the option to discard up to 5 cards and have them replaced. After any replacement cards have been delivered the final hand is then compared to the paytable. Payouts for Video Poker games vary significantly with more common hands paid out at 1 to 1 the rarest hands (such as a Royal Flush) often paid out at thousands to 1. Video Poker games are generally very quick to resolve and an experienced player can play between 10 and 20 hands per minute.

Slots – Slots games are the most common games found in casinos today. Originally the name derived from having to insert a coin into a slot on the machine before each spin, but methods of fund taking have advanced since this point and the machines can generally be pre-loaded with a chosen amount of credit. Usually slots games will have either 3 or 5 reels of symbols. When the player starts the round the reels will spin. When they come to a stop, if matching symbols line up from the left hand side on a payline (a marked line passing through one symbol on each reel) this will trigger a win. The payouts vary dramatically from game to game and some machines have jackpots that run into multiple millions.

Probabilities, Odds, House Edge and Return

Payout Terminology

Decimal Odds

Commonly used by European bookmakers targeting the Continental European or Australian markets. A single number is displayed and this number, when multiplied by the stake wagered, defines the total payout the bettor would receive. This includes the return of the bettor’s stake.

Example: If the decimal odds on an event were 7.94, you wagered £1 and were successful a total of £7.94 would be returned to you – your £1 bet and £6.94 winnings.

Fractional or Ratio Odds

Fractional odds are commonly used in the UK and Ireland by bookmakers. A fraction is displayed and this number, when multiplied by the stake wagered, defines the total that the bettor would win. This is in addition to the return of the bettor’s stake.

Example: If the fractional odds on an event were 5/2, you wagered £1 and were successful a total of £3.50 would be returned to you – your £1 and £2.50 winnings (1x5/2 = £2.50).

Fractional odds are often expressed as a ratio. For example “5 to 2” is the same as 5/2. When the fractional odds are less than 1, UK bookmakers often invert the ratio and add the word “on”. For example “5 to 2 on” corresponds to fractional odds of 2/5. If you wager £1 at 5:2 on and are successful, £1.40 will be returned to you – your £1 plus £0.40 winnings.

Ratio odds formats are commonly used when playing casino games. Sometimes, however, the ratio is presented using the word ‘for’ rather than ‘to’, which changes the meaning. ‘To’ describes the amount you stand to win when a bet is placed, while ‘for’ describes the total that will be returned to you including your stake. This is best explained by an example:

If you place a bet of £1 with odds of 3 to 1 and you win you will receive your £1 bet back and £3 winnings, for a total of £4. (This is equivalent to 3/1 fractional odds).

If you place a bet of £1 with odds of 3 for 1 and you win you will receive your £1 bet back and £2 winnings, making a total of £3, equivalent to 2/1 fractional odds

Moneyline

Moneylines are most commonly used by American bookmakers. The meaning of a moneyline changes depending on whether it is positive or negative.

A positive moneyline tells you the amount that will be won for a wager of $100. So if the moneyline was +1150 you would win $1150 for a wager or $100.

A negative moneyline tells you the amount that you need to wager to win $100. So if the moneyline was -150 you would need to wager $150 to win $100.

To make rational choices about whether and where to gamble, a player needs to know something about the chances of success and the corresponding rewards. The probabilities of the various possible outcomes and the ratio of rewards to risks can both be described in terms of odds.

To take a simple hypothetical example, suppose a casino were to offer you the chance to play a game in which you draw one card from a shuffled standard 52-card deck of playing-cards. If you draw the Ace of hearts you win, if you draw any other card the casino wins. The casino is more likely to win than you are so to compensate for this they offer you odds of 50 to 1 on a bet of $1, meaning if the casino wins win you pay them $1 but if you win they pay you $50.

If you play this game you may win or you may lose, but in the long run the odds favour the casino slightly. If you play 52 games then on average you will lose 51 times and win once, so you will be $1 poorer. The average amount you stand to lose per unit bet is known as the house edge. In this game the casino has an edge of 1/52 or approximately 1.92%. It is largely through the house edge that the casino makes a profit and stays in business. The same information can be expressed as the return on a bet, sometimes known as RTP, which is the expected percentage of money bet that is Returned To the Player. The above hypothetical game has a return of 51/52 or approximately 98.08%.

Calculating the house edge or return is one basic way to compare different games in terms of how much advantage the casino has in each. It does not however provide the whole story. Other key factors are the variance of the outcome and the potential for a player to increase the bet during a game. These will affect the total amount of money (bankroll) a player is likely to need in relation to initial bet size order to survive a run of bad luck.

In formal gambling settings the way that payouts are described varies from country to country and by game type. On this page we describe some of the more common terminology used to describe payouts.

Table Of Contents

• There are many Casino card games available online
• Some of them are games of based only on chance, other require some strategy too
• You'll find the best Casino card games on this list

How many Casino card games do you know?

If you play online games as much as I do, you know dozens of Casino card games. Some of them depend purely on luck, others leave some room to strategy and smart play.

Most of them are extremely fun to play.

But do you know which Casino card games are the very best ones? You can be sure you'll find them in this article.

The Most Iconic Casino Card Games

Some Casino games are so iconic, you won't imagine a Casino without them. Slots and Roulette always fall to this category.

When it comes to card games, Blackjack, Baccarat, and Video Poker are the most iconic games at a Casino.

Blackjack

Blackjack is the ultimate card game you can play at a Casino.

Not only it's the most popular Casino table game, but it also has the best return to player (RTP) percentage of all table games is played with optimal play.

Many different variants of Blackjack games will keep you entertained while it's easy to learn the rules of this game even for the beginners.

If you want to get the highest chances to win at Blackjack, using the basic strategy is the way to go. You can find a Blackjack strategy table right here.

Baccarat

If you found your way to Casino card games from the Roulette wheel or Slot machine, Baccarat (a.k.a. Punto Banco) should be the first card game you play.

Gambling Cards Clip Art

Why?

It's also a game of chance. Whether you win or lose depends on luck, there's very little place for strategies.

Unless you're talented in edge-sorting. But we all know what happened to Phil Ivey when he tried that, right?

The only strategy tip you need when playing Baccarat or Punto Banco is this: never bet on the Tie.

The Punto (Player) bet has a house edge of 1.24 percent, the Banco (Banker) - 1.06 percent. Meanwhile, you'd lose $14.44 of every $100 you bet on the Tie.

New to Baccarat?Find all the rules explained here.

Video Poker

Video Poker is the only Casino card game that's not a table game. Instead, it's played on a machine just like Slots.

It may seem like a lonely or boring game from the first sight but it's anything but. If you choose the right Video Poker games, these machines have a payout that is better than Blackjack or Poker.

Set the coin value, draw cards to make a qualifying hand, and pick the right games to reach up to a 99.5 percent and higher RTP.

Best Casino Card Games for Poker Players

Let's be honest, some players swear by Poker games. So, naturally, at a Casino they play card games that resemble the card Poker.

It makes Oasis Poker, TXS Hold'em, and Casino Hold'em the best choice for Poker players.

Oasis Poker

Many Casino Poker games are pretty straightforward and Oasis Poker is no exception.

Both you and the dealer get five cards each. So, from the get-go, you know what hand you have. Until the showdown, you only know one card of the dealer's hand.

You can improve your hand by switching one or more of the cards with new cards from the deck. But it's paid and rarely advised.

Then, depending on your hand strength, you raise or fold.

Want a tip? Switch cards only if you're one card short to Flush, Straight, Straight Flush or Royal Flush. Fold when you have less than an Ace-King high.

TXS Hold'em

If you ever played Texas Hold'em Poker with your friends, TXS Hold'em Casino card game will be easy to grasp.

The only differences from the classic Texas Hold'em game are these:

• you play only against the dealer (not the other players)
• there's no point in bluffing - the dealer plays until the end
• your call (to see Flop) bet is always double your ante while the Turn and River bets are always equal to your ante

It's important to keep in mind that you'll need to make an ante bet and call bet if you want to play. That's at least $3 per hand.

After seeing the Flop, you can either bet more before seeing the Turn and River or check without making additional wagers.

Casino Hold'em

Casino Hold'em is the easier version of TXS Hold'em game. Mostly because there are fewer bets involved - only ante and call bets.

The game is also faster - after you decide whether to call or not, you won't see the Turn and River cards one by one. You'll see them together right away.

But you can win both of your bets only after the dealer qualifies - has a Pair of 4s or better. If the dealer doesn't, the call bet is a push and only ante payout counts for the winnings.

AA Bonus is an extra side bet you can make. You'll win the bet every time your hand with the Flop (and only the Flop) shows a Pair of Aces or better.

Interested in Casino Hold'em?Read more about the game here.

Other Casino Card Games Worth Your Time

There are plenty of other Casino card games that every player should try. But today I'd like to share only two more games with you - Pontoon and Red Dog.

These games guarantee an exciting and different gambling session. You'll see.

Pontoon

Popular Casino Card Games

Pontoon is one of the most fascinating Casino card games you can play online.

Essentially, it's a variant of Blackjack. But it features different terms and slight modifications in the rules.

For example, you get the best payout not only when you have a pontoon (a natural 21-point hand) but also when you have a 5-card hand.

After all, it's not that easy to draw until you have five cards without going bust.

Red Dog

Red Dog is the perfect game for Casino newbies. Both the rules and the strategy of the game are as easy as it gets.

You make your ante bet if you want to play and you get three cards. The middle one is facing down.

If you believe the middle card will have a value that's in between the first and third cards - you make a raise bet. If you're doubting it, simply call and play with your current wager.

The payouts depend on the spread - the number of possible cards that would make you win by ending up in the middle.

Football Gambling Cards

It's important to understand the spread because you should always take it into consideration before you raise.

As far as the Red Dog strategy goes, raise only if your spread is seven cards or more. Pretty easy to remember, isn't it?