As soon as you arrive at your hotel, the first thing you are likely to notice is the sound of slot machines. Get used to it! It may sound obvious but everywhere you go in Vegas you are going to see the opportunity to gamble. From the waiting areas at the airport, car hire terminal, local shops and petrol stations to the vast casinos floors in the hotels, slot machines and table games are available everywhere.

It may not be to everyone’s taste but you’ve come to the gambling capital of the world! Even if you don’t want to participate, the noise, lights and layout of the hotels is all geared towards encouraging you to have a go.

Casino games mainly consist of table games (roulette, blackjack, craps etc), poker tables and slot machines. There are also automated versions of popular table games available which you might find less intimidating than playing with a real dealer.

You’ll also see High limit areas where the stakes are higher (well around a $5 minimum on slots, as opposed to $1 being the highest you’ll see in the main casino).

Slot machines

For first timers I suggest having a go at the slots and unless you’ve got money to burn, head for the 1¢ machines (you’ll also see 25¢ and $1 machines). Most slot machines are variations on a fruit machine, with spinning reels and bonus features.

Although the cheapest slots are priced at 1¢, to have any chance of winning anything it’s best to play 25-50 credits per spin (25-50¢). This gives you multiple win lines or multiple credits per spin. There also always a max bet button, to wager the largest amount per spin.

In all modern casinos the slot machines only take notes (so don’t expect to drop a 25¢ coin in!) and all payouts are on a printed payslip. These can be cashed in at payout machine available around the casino floor or at the cashier. Or of course you can use them to pay into another slot machine!

I recommend starting by putting a $20 or $50 note in a machine and just see how long it will last. Then if you do get any big win, just cash out. If you lose, repeat or just move on to another machine!

One tip on slots is that you will usually see on the machine’s screen somewhere what it last paid out, so look for one that hasn’t paid out much recently, to (hopefully) get a greater chance of a big win.

Table games

You’ll find blackjack, roulette, craps and various other card games available on the casino floor. Depending on the casino, time of day and day of the week, you’ll see table minimums of $5, $10, $15, $25 and much higher! Evenings and weekends are when you’ll see the highest minimums.

You can take a chair at any free table to start playing. Hand your cash over to the dealer, they will check it and then slide over your chips.

There is certain etiquette you need to follow, for example no touching the cards dealt to you and don’t grab your roulette payouts while the dealer has the marker (dolly) on the winning number. The dealers are used to novice players so don’t be afraid to ask what to do and they will usually do their best to help out. Remember the casinos are keen to get you to gamble, so very willing to help you part with your money!

My table game is blackjack. I usually look for a $10 table minimum and drop a $100 stake to start. My main aim is to stay playing a long as possible on that. To play, place your bet in the space on the table in front of you and the dealer will deal the cards. If I get a blackjack and receive a $25 chip back, that goes in the pocket!

Roulette is probably the easiest game to play, and you’ll get your own coloured chips to distinguish yours from other players. You just need to make sure you place them on the table before the dealer signals ‘no more bets’ by waving their hand over the table. When the ball drops, the dealer will put a marker on the winning number, add chips to the winning bets and swipe away all the losing chips.

Craps is a complete unknown to me. All I can say it’s always the game with the most people around the table and the most noise you’ll hear in the casino! It involves throwing dice and a lot of cheering and at least two dealers per table. One day I’ll give it a go.

If you are keen to learn craps or any other table game, you’ll find some casinos run lessons on certain mornings. Look out for signs on the tables and you just need to turn up for a lesson. In addition to the rules of the games and the payouts, you’ll also learn all the etiquette involved in each game.

Poker

Most casinos have a poker rooms where you will find several poker games going on concurrently. Players put their names down and get called in, once a place become free. I’m not a poker player myself, so that’s about all I can say about it. If you are a poker player don’t be shy to join in, and again the dealers will be helpful if you let them know you are a novice.

Free drinks

Whilst gambling you will find that nearly all casinos provide free drinks. However you will be expected to tip the waitress that serves you. A dollar a drink is perfectly acceptable, so make sure you have some single dollar bills to hand. The waitresses rely on these tips so don’t skimp on this (it IS a free drink remember!). No tip will result in a minimum of a dirty look and will certainly mean you won’t see that waitress near you again!

The waitresses are always around the casino floors ready to get drinks. If you are on the slots all you need to do is catch them when they are calling out “Drinks, cocktails!” (don’t just ask them while they are delivering other people’s drinks). If you are on a table they will come over and ask the whole table who’d like drinks.

Ask for what you want and they’ll bring it to you a few minutes later. You can get any spirit and mixer, beers, wines, and standard cocktails (bloody mary, pina colada, margartita etc). The rule is that the more money you are gambling the more expensive the drink you are entitled to, so don’t expect top shelf spirits on the 1¢ slots, but also don’t be a afraid to ask for a specific spirit if you are on a table.