There is a whole new generation of casino games out there. A casino gambler twenty-five years ago would not even recognize some of the most popular casino games of the moment. Some wouldn't have been possible a generation ago. New technologies have made current favorites like progressive slots and video poker possible in the first place. Certain casino games have developed alongside trends in American leisure time. Caribbean stud poker developed on the Caribbean cruise ship tour. As ship cruises have become more popular, casinos have seen an increase in gamblers wanting to play Caribbean stud poker. Other games have come to American casinos due to globalism and a subsequent blending of gaming cultures. Pai Gow Poker is based on a Chinese game using dominos. Though the game is exotic to many American eyes, it has shown a steady growth in popularity in the last ten years. In the future, one can expect to see other such "foreign" games find their way onto casino floors from time to time. But certain old standards retain a cherished place in the casino. Craps is still the most exciting place to be on most casino floors. I doubt that Pai Gow Poker will ever attract an audience the way the frenetic action of a good craps table does. Whatever your choice in games of chance, the casino offers more options now than it ever has before. Here's a look at some of the trendy casino games of the moment. PROGRESSIVE SLOT MACHINES Progressive slot machines were not possible a generation ago. The size of the jackpots remained low due to the limitations of the mechanical slot machine. But with the widespread use of random number generators and interlinked video slots, the slots industry changed. Most slots players would say the industry has changed for the better. Before the number generator, slot machines were limited by the mechanics of the 20-number reel. Larger reels simply wouldn't fit in a slot machine. A number generator and slots video frees up a slot machine designer to add more numbers on a reel--and add more real. Large progressive jackpots are the result, where the increase of the jackpots are exponential. In the past, a top slots payoffs might have been a few thousand dollars. Now, progressive jackpots are numbered in the hundreds of thousands--sometimes even in the low millions. VIDEO POKER A close cousin of the video slot machine is video poker. Like progressive slots, video poker machines use a random number generator to run a fast-paced game. Like the slots machines, the payoffs in video poker have increased exponentially in the last twenty years. Video poker is a favorite with some professional gamblers. If played correctly, video poker can have a house edge as low as 0.50%. When you combine the low house edge with a progressive jackpot, it is no wonder that some casinos these days feature more video poker machines than video slot machines. Between the comps programs and casino promotions, you can even wind up with a positive expectation on a video poker game. CARIBBEAN STUD POKER As the name implies, Caribbean Stud poker originated in the islands of the Caribbean. Caribbean Stud made its way into the gambling rooms of the cruise ship lines, so it was only a matter of time before American casinos decided they could make a dime off of the game. The fact the game has a 5% house edge makes Caribbean Stud a favorite with casino managers. Many Caribbean Stud players enjoy the camaraderie around the table. The game pits each player against the dealer. Since up to seven players can play at any table, the laid back style of Caribbean Stud poker fosters a sense of togetherness among its players. For people who enjoy visiting a casino to converse with its other patrons, Caribbean Stud poker is a natural choice in games. PAI GOW POKER Pai Gow Poker originated in Asia as a game played with dominos. Elements of Pai Gow combined with poker to create a unique Hi-Lo type experience. Players are dealt seven cards, which the gambler uses to create seperate five card and two card hands. The double wager aspect of Pai Gow Poker adds a complexity to the game that many casino goers enjoy. But Pai Gow Poker is enjoyed by players for many of the same reasons Caribbean Stud Poker is enjoyed. Pai Gow is played at an easy place, where all the players at the table are encouraged to enjoy one another's company. In fact, many casinos allow Pai Gow players to advise one another on the best hands to play. A GAMBLERS PARADISE So whether you enjoy a private game like progressive slot machines or video poker, or you prefer a community game like Caribbean Stud or Pai Gow Poker, there are popular casino games these days for every type of gambler. Of course, the old style players may prefer the hustle and bustle of a good craps game to the more laid back favorites othat seem to populate the casino today. |
