Gambling

What? You didn't come to Las Vegas for The Atomic Testing Museum and Titanic: The Exhibition? Is the insanity that is SkyJump not enough to get your heart racing? We are shocked. Shocked. Yes, there are gambling opportunities in Vegas. We've noticed this. You will, too. The tip-off will be the slot machines in the airport as soon as you step off the plane. Or the slot machines in the convenience stores as soon as you drive across the state line. Let's not kid ourselves: Gambling is what Vegas is about. The bright lights, the shows, the showgirls, the food -- it's all there just to lure you in and make you open your wallet. The free drinks certainly help ease the latter as well.

You can disappoint them if you want, but what would be the point? This is Las Vegas. You don't have to be a high roller. You would not believe how much fun you can have with a penny slot machine. You may not get rich, but neither will most of those guys playing the $5 slots, either.

Of course, that's not going to stop anyone from trying. Almost everyone plays in Vegas with the hopes of winning The Big One. You know, like that woman in 2010 that won $2.9 million on a "Wizard of Oz" penny slot (whose name was Dorothy, by the way). That only a few ever do win big doesn't stop them from trying again and again and again. That's how the casinos make their money.

It's not that the odds are stacked so incredibly high in their favor -- though the odds are in their favor, and don't ever think otherwise. Rather, it's that if there is one constant in this world, it's human greed. Look around in any casino, and you'll see countless souls who, having doubled their winnings, are now trying to quadruple them and are losing it all and then trying to recoup their initial bankroll and losing still more in the process.

Remember also that there is no system that's sure to help you win. Reading books and listening to others at the tables will help you pick up some tips, but if there were a surefire way to win, the casinos would have taken care of it (and we will leave you to imagine just what that might entail). Try to have the courage to walk away when your bankroll is up, not down. Remember, your children's college fund is just that, and not a gambling-budget supplement.

Knowing how to play the games not only improves your odds but also makes playing more enjoyable. In addition to the instructions here, you'll find dozens of books on how to gamble at all casino hotel gift shops, and many casinos offer free gaming lessons.

Remember that gambling is supposed to be entertainment. Picking a gaming table where the other players are laughing, slapping each other on the back, and generally enjoying themselves tends to make for considerably more fun than a table where everyone is sitting around in stony silence, morosely staring at their cards. Unless you really need to concentrate, pick a table where all seem to be enjoying themselves, and you probably will, too, even if you don't win.

The Games

As you walk through the labyrinthine twists and turns of a casino floor, your attention will likely be dragged to the various games and, your interest piqued, your fingers may begin to twitch in anticipation of hitting it big. Before you put your money on the line, it's imperative to know the rules of the game you want to play. Most casinos offer free gambling lessons at scheduled times on weekdays and occasionally on weekends. This provides a risk-free environment for you to learn the games that tickle your fancy. Some casinos follow their lessons with low-stakes game play, enabling you to put your newfound knowledge to the test at small risk. During those instructional sessions, and even when playing on your own, dealers in most casinos will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Remember, the casino doesn't need to trick you into losing your money . . . the odds are already in their favor across the board; that's why it's called gambling. Another rule of thumb: Take a few minutes to watch a game being played in order to familiarize yourself with the motions and lingo. Then go back and reread this section -- things will make a lot more sense at that point. Good luck!

Players' Clubs -- If you play slots or video poker, or, indeed, just gamble quite a bit, or even just gamble, it definitely pays to join a players' club. These so-called clubs are designed to attract and keep customers in a given casino by providing incentives: meals, shows, discounts on rooms, gifts, tournament invitations, discounts at hotel shops, VIP treatment, and (more and more) cash rebates. Join a players' club (it doesn't cost a cent to sign up), and soon you, too, will be getting those great hotel-rate offers -- $20-a-night rooms, affordable rooms at the luxury resorts, even free rooms. This is one way to beat the high hotel rates. Of course, your rewards are often greater if you play just in one casino, but your mobility is limited.

When you join a players' club (inquire at the casino desk), you're given a card that looks like a credit card, which you must insert into an ATM-like device whenever you play. Yes, many casinos even have them for the tables as well as the machines. The device tracks your play and computes bonus points. Don't forget, as we sometimes do, to retrieve your card when you leave the machine -- though that may work in your favor if someone comes along and plays the machine without removing it. Hand over your card when you join a gaming table (blackjack, for example) and they will monitor your play as well.

These days, players' clubs go beyond the casino as well. Many of them track your overall spending at participating casinos, including what you pay for meals, shopping, rooms, spa treatments, and more. This means you can earn points toward rewards pretty much anytime you pull out your wallet.

Which players' club should you join? Actually, you should join one at any casino where you play because even the act of joining usually entitles you to some benefits. It's convenient to concentrate play where you're staying; if you play a great deal, a casino-hotel's players' club benefits may be a factor in your accommodations choice. Consider, though, particularly if you aren't a high roller, the players' clubs Downtown. You get more bang for your buck, because you don't have to spend as much to start raking in the goodies.

Another advantage is to join a players' club that covers many hotels under the same corporate umbrella. Caesars Entertainment operates the Total Rewards club, which is good at any of their casinos in Vegas (Harrah's, Rio, Caesars Palace, the Flamingo, Paris Las Vegas, Bally's, and Planet Hollywood; www.harrahs.com/total_rewards) or elsewhere around the world. The same goes for casinos in the MGM Resorts International stable (Aria Las Vegas, The Mirage, Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, Luxor, New York-New York, and Excalibur; www.mlife.com), the locals' favorite Station Casinos (Palace, Sunset, Texas, and more; www.stationcasinos.com/gaming/boarding-pass), and their main competition at Boyd/Coast (Orleans, Suncoast, Fremont, and more; www.bconnectedonline.com).

Choosing the best club(s) for you can be a complex business. To get into it in-depth, see www.lasvegasadvisor.com. Also visit the sites for the individual casinos, many of which allow you to join their clubs online. Try it, and you might find yourself receiving discounts and freebies before you even set foot in Vegas.

Mobile Gaming -- So you're lying there by the pool and you're thinking, "Golly, I really wish I didn't have to get up to make a wager at the sports book or play a hand of blackjack." Well, lazy-bones, you are in luck. Mobile gaming has arrived in Las Vegas and it is already changing the way some people play.

The mobile devices vary in size and scope at the relatively few places that offer this type of gambling (again at Venetian and Palazzo for instance). Some are about the size of an iPad, while others are more like an iPhone on steroids. Sports betting is the most popular application, but most of them have other games as well, including slots, video poker, blackjack, and more.

You sign out a device with a driver's license, credit card, and your room information if you are guest of the hotel where it is offered, buy in for however much money you want to load on it, and then you can go roam and gamble at the same time. There are restrictions as to where you can use mobile gaming devices -- it must be a public area like the pool, some restaurants, or lobby. You may not take them to your room and gamble while you soak in the tub, for instance.

Although popular with sports bettors, the devices are not catching on as rapidly as the makers had envisioned. This may seem odd especially considering our iEverything lives these days, but there's something undeniably "missing" about the experience. No matter how much technology runs our lives or how addicted you may be to Angry Birds, there's just something about sitting at an actual blackjack table or in front of a real, live slot machine that can't be replicated with a handheld gadget.