by J.P. McCauley

Created on: July 20, 2010

Casino games can be intimidating. With obscure rules and even more obscure etiquette, it is tough for a newcomer to jump right into the flow of the game. Add to that the risk of losing your shirt, and you can begin to understand how intimidating gambling in a casino can be. One of the best ways to learn the ropes, get your feet wet, and perhaps retain your undershirt at least, is to take a free gambling lesson right there in the casino.

There are many ways to learn casino style games. You can read books or articles, play at home with friends, observe other people in the casino, or even watch lessons on the TV in your casino’s hotel room. None of these options give you the real life feel that a live lesson will. For beginners, the games seem to move very, very fast, and the distractions are numerous.

During you lesson, you will learn the rules of the game, and you will even learn how to play the game better than the average gambler. You are probably not going to become rich with your knowledge of the game, but it will help you lose more slowly. Perhaps the biggest thing you will learn during your gambling lessons is how to avoid losing fast.

Gamblers are a superstitious group. They tend to get angry if you are slowing the game down too much, or if you played something ‘wrong’ in their often mistaken opinion. During your lessons, you will get a better feel for the speed of the game, learn what behavior is and is not acceptable, and learn that you should ignore invalid complaints from other gamblers at your table. You will also learn that the dealer is your friend. If you have any questions at the table, ask the dealer, not your fellow players.

Why would the casino offer free lessons? Wouldn't you think they prefer players not to know how to play well? There are two reasons why casinos offer free gambling lessons. The first reason is to ensure new gamblers are comfortable joining a game. The other reason is that they do not want the new gambler who does join the game getting wiped out so fast they decide to never play again. Just because you become a good Craps or Roulette player does not mean you overcome the long term odds that are in the casino’s favor. The casinos just want people to play and enjoy enough to come back again and again.

Below is a list of free gaming classes being offered during the summer of 2010. Casinos often change schedules and offerings, so verify with the casino which lessons are being offered before you go. Classes can fill up quickly, so get there early to be sure you make it onto the class list.

Mandalay Bay - Monday through Thursday: Poker: 2:00pm

Luxor - Daily: Craps: 1:00pm, Roulette: 1:30pm, Blackjack: 1:45pm

Excalibur – Daily: Poker: 11am, Roulette: 11am & 7pm, Blackjack: 11:30am & 7:30pm, Craps: noon & 8pm

Monte Carlo – Daily: Craps: 11am

Flamingo – Daily: Craps 11am

Imperial Palace – Daily: Blackjack: 9am, Roulette: 10am, Craps: 11am & 3pm

Venetian – Monday through Friday: Craps: 11am & 5pm, Roulette: noon, Blackjack: 12:15pm, Poker: ask at poker room

Las Vagas Hilton – Monday through Friday: Blackjack: 2pm, Craps: 10:30am & 4pm, Let it Ride: 3:15pm, Pai Gow: 3:15pm, Poker: 3:15pm

Sahara – Monday through Friday: Craps or Blackjack 11:30am

Planet Hollywood – Monday through Friday: Blackjack: 10am, Craps: 11am, Roulette: 12:30pm, Pai Gow: 1:15pm, Mini-Baccarat: 1:15pm

Golden Nugget – Daily: Poker: 10am, Craps: 10am, Roulette: 11am, Pai Gow: 11:30am, Blackjack: noon

Four Queens – Sunday through Thursday: Craps: 11:30am

Fitzgerald's – Saturday and Sunday: Poker: 11am

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