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One of the primary duties of a surveillance operator as well as all casino and hotel personnel is to protect its patrons from thieves and scam artists. The gaming equipment and tables are worth nothing if there is nobody there to use them. Consequently, the gaming establishment’s biggest assets are its customers. Any negative feedback from one guess can turn into hundreds simply by word of mouth.

The Easiest Targets

Unfortunately, humans everywhere are careless, especially when distracted in crowded places. Women leave pursues sitting unattended and men drop their wallets into easily accessible pockets. Tourists are especially careless when surrounded by lights, sounds, and numerous distractions while wandering around the casino floor. These are the people that need the most protection.

Ironically the easiest targets for thieves and scammers are foreign nationals. They are aware that if they get caught stealing, pick-pocketing, or scamming them, the foreign national is unlikely to return to the United States to testify in a trial.

What To Look For

Casino surveillance personnel are trained to spot individuals in crowded places that aren’t there for entertainment purposes. They walk differently, are looking at different things, and are much more alert. They tend to be more focused on individuals than their environment. If there’s any suspicion, it’s not illegal for personnel to track the potential perpetrator.

Common Target Areas

Although a crime can be committed anywhere, the most common areas in a casino are at hotel check-in areas, valet areas, and bellhop desks. They target these areas because of visitors arriving that are tired from traveling and guests leaving in a hurry, many of whom are hungover. This is a common area under surveillance by the employees, especially during busy periods.

Don’t Rule Out The Staff

Unfortunately, the hotel and cleaning staff can commit the crime. Although this isn’t a common issue, it does occur. Maids, bellmen, and others that go into the guest rooms can easily steal items. The casino cleaning staff can be suspects when coin buckets or purse thefts occur. They are usually working unskilled jobs for low wages and are tempted by a bucket of money.

The bottom line is that the surveillance operators are well-trained in dealing with theft and scam artists. However, to ensure you aren’t the next victim at a casino, mall, or any crowded area, simply stay alert and be aware of your surroundings.

Video poker is an electronic casino game that is based on five-card draws. The program is placed into a small computerized compartment similar to a slot machine. The game is fairly simple to learn, but as with most games in a casino or online, the house has the advantage. Video poker can be found at almost all casinos and many have them near the drinking establishments on the operator’s property.

The Rules And The Video Poker Machine

Gameplay begins with the player inserting credits into the machine. This can be in the form of paper money or a player’s card. The player then proceeds to place a bet of one or multiple credits and pressing the deal button. The player is shown their hand and offered the chance to shed one or more cards to exchange them for new ones. This is known as the drawing aspect of the game. These are all drawn from a virtual deck that represents a regular deck of cards.

Once the machine has issued new cards, it pays out if the hand played matches the listed winning combinations usually posted on the paytable on the video poker monitor. These paytables indicate the payout for various hands depending on their rarity. The rarer a hand is, the higher it pays out. For instance, a pair of jacks would pay even money. On the other hand, a royal flush (the rarest of all hands) would pay out the maximum.

In addition to winning individual hands, there are other ways to profit. For instance, many video poker machines offer progressive jackpots or prizes. This entices the user to play more frequently and place higher wagers. Although the game is based on five-card draws, the customer isn’t actually playing against another hand. Rather, they win by acquiring a specific combination of cards.

Regulation

In order to keep the equipment validated, calibrated, and fair, video poker machines are regulated by the individual state or Indian gaming agency. These regulatory bodies mandate that machines deal random card values out of a virtual card deck. The Nevada Gaming Commission began this rule with other states following shortly thereafter. All video poker machines are tested prior to going live on the casino floor.

Video poker can provide entertainment for hours on end. Since every casino is in business to make money, the machines are set to slightly favor the house. Although skill is involved, it’s extremely difficult to be popular in the long run. Consequently, it’s best to enjoy the excitement and have fun!

When first starting out at a new casino, it’s beneficial to play a few games in practice mode. This helps the user get used to the casino interface so they don’t make a mistake during a live game. Since many online casinos do not have a clear description of the rules of specific games, it’s important to practice while learning a new game. This will help the player adjust to the rules, betting structure, etc.

What To Do If A Casino Doesn’t Offer Practice Mode

Unfortunately, in some instances, online casinos do not offer practice games. They expect the player to jump right in and begin betting. If this is the case, either find another casino that does provide practice areas or play at the lowest wagering limits possible. That way only a minimal amount of money is lost while learning the game.

How To Find Casinos That Offer Practice Mode

The best method to finding online casinos that offer some type of practice mode is to search through the interface after downloading the application. There should be a whole area dedicated to free play. Most casinos will start the player off with a number of free credits to use within the free play section. The credits hold no monetary value.

All major casinos usually provide some type of free play or practice area. Many even offer tournaments that are free to enter and the winner receives a monetary prize. This is another excellent method for practicing. Players in these tournaments make more logical bets as there is actual money to be won.

Disadvantages Of Practice Mode

The only real disadvantage to playing in practice mode is that many other players will place wild and erratic bets since there is no real money involved. This is also a common pattern found at lower wagering limits as well. This type of betting can be frustrating to users trying to hone in and improve their skills. Also, this type of betting is not representative of a true game.

With so many casinos to choose from on the internet, offering hundreds of games, the best way to select them is to find a casino that offers a game you’re interested in. If they, have it, ensure you’ll receive free credits to play in the practice area. This will prepare you to participate in real money games and know all the rules, betting structure, nuances, and interface.