Slots or table games - which should you play?

From the moment Casino de Monte Carlo opened for business more than 150 years ago, the casino has been recognized as the ultimate playground for adults. Of course, for all the glitz and glamor of Monte and the other gaming venues it inspired, you don’t need to be a millionaire playboy to have a night at the casino. But it is the internet age that has really opened up casino gaming in terms of accessibility to all. 

There are thousands of people who might have seen casino games played in the movies but are new to trying them out for themselves. Whether it’s online or in a physical casino, there is one obvious decision for the beginner to make: which game to play? Casino games come in two broad categories, which are traditional table games like roulette and blackjack or slot machines such as Starburst or Lucky 7s. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each.

Table games

Games like roulette, baccarat and blackjack are the true casino classics and have been around the longest, so you should really give them a try. Don’t be shy about pulling up a chair, the croupier is there to help and part of his or her job is to show beginners the ropes. That even applies when you play online – take a look at a live gaming site and you will see that you can sit at a virtual table and interact with a real human dealer. 

Table games typically have a lower house edge than slots, meaning your bankroll lasts longer, and with games like blackjack, some strategic play dramatically improves your chance of winning, so it is not all down to luck. The downside is that you are not going to win a life-changing sum of money with a single win at the blackjack table or roulette wheel – most amount to payouts at around even money. The longest odds you can go for would be on a straight roulette bet, where you place your chips on a specific number. Get it right and it pays out at 35/1. 

The world of slots

Slot games have evolved dramatically over the years. There are still the traditional three-reel one armed bandits if you like to keep things simple, but many of the most recent games offer a variety of extra features and bonus rounds. In other words, there is more to them than just spinning the reels and hoping for the best. Having said that, the overriding nature of slot games makes them luck based, and there is less strategy involved than there is in a game of blackjack or poker. 

The biggest attraction of slot games, though, is the jackpots. Here, a small wager can result in a huge win. Of course, it is a little like playing the lotto in that the chances of success are so remote – but still, that outside possibility is what brings people to games like Mega Moolah again and again.

Choosing between table and slot games is a little like asking which is the best game out of baseball or football. Everyone has their own opinion, and there is no right or wrong. The only solution is to spend a little time on each type of game. You will soon start to develop favorites of your own in both categories.