Question: My wife and her friends are gambling novices. I saw that some casinos in Las Vegas have classes to learn table games. What hotels have them, and for which games?
Brian
Answer: Almost all of the casinos have gaming instruction of some type or another for most of the basic table games -- blackjack, craps and roulette. Several also offer instruction on some of the other games, like Let It Ride or Caribbean Stud, but those are more rare.
However, to call them classes is being generous. They are usually short overviews that teach you the basics of a game and will get you started, but they certainly shouldn't be viewed as a comprehensive way to learn how to gamble. If you know absolutely nothing about a game and just want to get the gist before diving in, they can be helpful and the casinos will also sometimes offer you coupon books or other goodies for taking part in the lessons as a method of getting you to stay and play.
As far as the specifics of where and what games, that's a little tougher. As I said, many of the casinos offer them, but it really depends on when you're going and what part of town you're going to be in, since schedules often vary. My suggestion is to stop at the players' club booth of any casino and ask if they have gaming lessons. While you're there, you can sign up for the free card and use it to earn points toward rewards as you gamble.
If you're really serious about learning the table games, don't expect to learn everything you need to know there. There are tons of books, online tutorials, videos, and much more that will help you be better prepared when you pull out your wallet or purse. In the
Vegas4Visitors.com gaming section we have general overviews of slots, video poker, blackjack, craps, roulette, and 3-card poker, plus links to free game sites where you can practice your technique before you hit the casino.
Good luck!
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