As a casino regular for a few years, and now a croupier, i can say that such Hollywood-esque luck, rarely works out for most. Most people who walk in, lose big in the first hour and feel crappy for the rest of the night.

This guide is not meant as a "how to win big" guide, but more of a set of rules to follow if you want to make the most of your money, minimise your losses, minimise the bad moods, and have the most fun, which is what gambling and the casino experience should be.

1. Don't see gambling as a source of income.

   Something to remember is that money you gain from gambling - whether at a casino, betting shop or friendly poker game - is money won, not money earned. It is a pleasant surprise rather than something you deserve. As soon as you depend on gambling to earn money, you'll make the mistake of thinking you deserve to win, so its harder to take losses, and the worse you feel, the more mistakes you'll make. Remember, its a game that should be played for fun, not a job.

2. Don't get drunk

   This should be obvious. Drinking impairs your judgement. You'll take risks you might not be able to afford, and mistakes you certainly can't. Also, the drunk guy on the table always puts everyone off their game. If you want to drink at a casino, do it after you've cashed in your winnings and celebrate.

3. Only bet what you can afford

   Another fairly obvious one. It's all too easy to get carried away with the image of the high roller throwing huge amounts of money on the roulette wheel, a one in 37 chance. The people who do that can afford it, and everyone has different limits. One way I like to think about it, is that as soon as you swap cash for chips, that money has been spent. What you come out with at the end is a bonus. Also, its surprising how little money you need to have a good time at a casino. £20-30 is perfect for low limit tables. I have never once spent more than £50 in a night.

4. Know the rules of the games and the casino

   There are hundreds of resources online and in books that teache you how to play the more popular casino games, Blackjack, Three Card Poker, Roulette etc. However, many casinos have slight variations or extra rules that are worth knowing about. Its worth doing a bit of research, and if you've never played a game before, practise at home. Also, check what the limits are on a few games. If you can only afford £20 all night, you don't want to find out the minimum bet is £10.

5. Find a friendly table

   This is very important. Some tables are full of really uptight serious gamblers who don't take kindly to the casual bunch of us. I was sat on a low limit Blackjack table once, and this guy next to me made a mistake which cost a few people their hands. That few people then got really angry and started insulting this guy. It turned out, regardless of what he did, everyone would have lost. But it goes to show, its important to find a table of people who dont mind you making a mistake or two. A bad table only makes you feel bad. If you find your on one, get up and leave everyone to lose on their own.

6. Take regular breaks

   I cannot stress this one enough. When you start the night at a casino, you will tend to win a little, and you feel less bad about losing, because 'the night is still young'. But as it wears on, and you lose a bit, you may find yourself losing over and over. WALK AWAY. Go for a walk outside, have a drink of water or anything to get your head back together. And do it regularly. Every hour or so. It will keep you fresh and alert and at the top of your game.

7. Go with a few friends

   Similar to 5). If you visit a casino with friends, you can celebrate each others winnings and console each others losses. If you get a few of you on the same table, you can build a really good atmosphere between you all and the dealer, which is going to make you feel good, not care so much about losing a bit and above all, have a fun time. Mostly, don't go on your own. That way you've got no one to pick your spirits up if you lose big, or stop you while you're ahead.

8. If you're up, play with your winnings

   By this, I mean, if you've won enough extra to play with on its own, put you're original stake in your pocket, forget about it, and play the rest of the night with your winnings. A good thing to do, is get the highest value single chip you can and keep hold of it. You'll be less inclined to break into it again. For example, if you came in with £25, and you've doubled you're money, change £25 worth of chips into a single £25 chip (called a Pony), put it away and play on with the other £25, your winnings.

9. If you're down, dont be reckless

   If you're down to your last £10, does it make more sense to play one last big £10 bet in the hope of getting lucky, but doubling the blow if you lose, or playing two £5 bets, keeping you in the game for longer, and doubling your chance of winning, if not as much? Of course, the second option. Just because you're on a losing streak, dont assume you'll come good on your last bet. Either string it out as long as you can, giving you more chance to win, or just walk away.

10. Get a 'feel' for the table before you sit down

    I feel this is very important. Sometimes, you'll watch a table where no one seems to win, the dealer always wins, and the morale is very low. Dont sit down yet. You'll just be getting into a negative mindset before you've placed a bet. Wait, or find a table where people seem to be winning and having fun. Luck does even out, you just need to jump in when its on the way up, not down.

11. Set your limits

    Either in terms of money, bets or time, decide before you spend any money, how much you'll spend. Are you going to give yourself an extra bit of cash if you really need it? Are you going to play the high roller tables or the lower limits? Are you going to play with minimum bets? How long are you going to spend at any one table? How long are you going to spend gambling? The more you know about how youre going to play, the better of you'll be.

12. Realise one thing...

    THE HOUSE ALWAYS WINS! The sooner you realise this, the better. Casino's are designed in everyway to make you feel wealthy and make you spend as much money as you can. The bathrooms are full of marble, you're waited on hand and foot, the atmosphere is palacial, everything is there to make you part with your wallet. Which is why 11) is so important. Dont be sucked in by thinking, "Im in such a nice place, if i can afford to be here, i can afford to play with a bit more money." You can't.
    Also, of course, the games are in favour of the house. No game in any casino anywhere in the world is going to give you the advantage. You're fighting against the odds. In the short term, you might win, but in the long term, theres no way you will. The House Always Wins. 

13. But above all...

    Have fun, be responsible, and if you find a dealer whose been nice to you and given you a few big wins, be nice in return, say thank you and leave a tip. =)

Between Niagara Falls, Ontario and Niagara Falls, New York, you can find three completely different casinos:

Casino Niagara - Niagara Falls, Ontario

This is the original casino on the Canadian side. It boasts three floors of gaming, which structurally allowed them to have an entire floor of smoke-free gaming. Now the entire Province is smoke-free indoors. Many older slot machines, but they still have some machines that can spit out coins.

Fallsview Casino - Niagara Falls, Ontario

This is the newer of the two casinos in Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. It's much bigger than older sister, and is all on one floor. They have many newer games, and the attached hotel is very modern.

Seneca-Niagara Casino - Niagara Falls, NY

This is the smallest of the three casinos near Niagara Falls, but an American doesn't have to cross the border to go there. It looks much like a sports arena from the outside, but has a true casino feel inside. Best part is - complementary drinks for players. You can't get that across the border.

Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun - Southeast Connecticut

Foxwoods - Mashantucket, CT

Foxwoods is a large facility. It has separate casinos, including the newly opened MGM Grand. Entertainment and gaming is really all there is to do here; they typically have a decent band or act playing. They also have a large selection of fine dining. See my restaurant recommendations.

Mohegan Sun - Uncasville, CT

Everybody I have ever heard say that they went to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun say they have better luck at Mohegan Sun. I know that's just hearsay, but it's my hearsay. I did much better at Mohegan Sun. Again, this casino has decent entertainment, but not as many dining choices as Foxwoods.

Turning Stone Casino Resort - Verona, NY

This casino/hotel is the biggest and best (Indian) reservation casino in NY. It has quite an array of amenities, more than one would expect in central NY; Four golf courses, (one hosts a PGA event) a top notch spa, a NYC style night-club, and two venues for concerts and shows. If you're into gaming, there is a poker room, high stakes bingo hall, countless machines, and many table games. This casino is almost in the upper echelon of smaller casinos in the country; but an almost entirely smoking gaming floor, coupled with no alcoholic beverages, are the anchors keeping this ship from sailing.

Atlantic City, NJ

There are a number of casinos in Atlantic City. You have an endless selection of gaming and entertainment options. Finding a suitable restaurant is no problem. It's almost like a little Las Vegas, but this spot seems outdated in comparison, and crime can be a problem there. If you consider value, than Atlantic City would be my last choice on this list.

Until recently, the Jamaican government did not support casino-style gambling. It was just in April 2008 that Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, gave the green light to develop the first legal casino house in the country. However, many resorts have been granted special licences that allow them to operate on their premises. As a result, you can now find casinos/gaming lounges popping up in tourist areas such as Kingston, Negril, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay.

A far cry from the grand casinos of Las Vegas, Jamaican casinos still have something to offer players. A warm, cosy place to gamble where you don't have to worry about con artists trying to rip off your coins, and oh, you only have to be 18 years old to gamble or drink in Jamaica. Isn't it lovely?

Here is a list that will make your quest for the best casinos in Jamaica go smoothly:

Kingston

On the southern end of the island, a must stop for those who want to roll the dice on their luck is The Terra Nova Hotel and Monte Carlo Gaming. With 137 gaming options including roulette, slots and track betting, a gambler is sure to have a good time here. Guests can all enjoy a full bar filled with an assortment of Jamaican rum, a restaurant that can suit even the pickiest of eaters and great service from a cordial staff. The Terra Nova Hotel has 44 rooms and rates start at US$139 per night for a standard room in the summer.

Also featured in Jamaica's capital is The Acropolis Gaming and Entertainment Centre. Opened in 2005, this Jamaican casino hosts about 150 slot machines, a restaurant and a bar. It's about 12,000 square feet and is owned by Supreme Ventures Limited that operates the Jamaican Lottery, Cash Pot, Lucky 5, Pick 3 and other games popular among Jamaicans.

The Villagio Gaming Lounge, also operated by Supreme Ventures Limited, is located in the 303-room Hilton Kingston hotel, near the pool. The Villagio offers gaming on slot machines and games such as Roulette, Royal Ascot Horseracing, Blackjack and Three Card Poker. The gaming lounge also boasts one of the best in cocktails and entertainment and is open at 11:30 a.m. each day and closes at 3:00 a.m. the following morning. Rooms start at US$229 per night.

Negril

 

Situated in western Jamaica, Negril is a hotbed of tourist activities. The town boasts myriad fun-filled adventures which happen on and off the beaches. One such adventure that happens off the beach is casino gambling and in Negril it gets no better.

Located inside the adult-only, notorious party spot Hedonism II is a casino that houses 20 slot machines. Fully decorated with Caribbean flair and decked out with a bar that serves nothing but the tastiest alcoholic beverages, the 280 room hotel offers the gambler an experience like no other. Rooms start at US$136 per night.

Grand Lido Resort and Spa in Negril is yet another resort that offers a delight to the gambling crowd. Boasting a slew of exciting slot machines and nightly entertainment, the resort comes complete with a bar, many restaurants and 210 rooms that guests can retire to once they have had enough fun. Rooms start at US$349 per night.

Ocho Rios

Moving to the northern coast of the island is Ocho Rios, a place where any kind of jet setter is guaranteed to have a great time, for a starting price of US$175 per night. Just like Negril, Ocho Rios is home to another clothing optional, party centre that just offers a little gambling to boot. Opened after the success of Hedonism II, Hedonism III houses 20 slot machines and a great opportunity for constant entertainment for the uninhibited adventurer. Just like Vegas, what happens at a Hedonism resort stays there and that's a promise.

Also in Ocho Rios is The Treasure Hunt, which is home to slot machines, bingo, poker and video poker. In total there are 120 gaming machines, so no matter what kind of game you feel most comfortable playing, you are sure to find it at Treasure Hunt.

The Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort is home to 80 machines which include slots and electronic blackjack. Resting on 17 acres of well manicured lawns, The Sunset Jamaica Grande houses 730 rooms starting at US$557 for a minimum three night stay.

Montego Bay

In the tourist hotspot of Montego Bay lays The Coral Cliff Hotel. Situated on Jamaica's famed Hip Strip, this Jamaican casino is open all day long. So you can hit anyone of the 120 slot machines housed on the property to your heart's content.

And people do linger for hours on end at The Coral Cliff Hotel. With a tropical jungle décor that appeals to your desires and free drinks for all its guests, who could possibly tear themselves away from the chance to hit the jackpot, or stay at this treasure of a hotel in Jamaica. Rooms start at US$70 per night.

Inside The Holiday Inn Sunspree, an all inclusive resort is a small casino that houses about 50 slot machines. This cosy little spot tucked away in a 524 room resort is the perfect spot for beginners to enjoy a little spin on the slots. Rooms start at US$200 per night.

So the next time you visit Jamaica make sure to try your luck at one of the casinos, who knows, you might just hit the jackpot.

There are far too many fine Las Vegas hotel casinos to mention in one article. I've listed the casinos in the order below as you stroll from south to north on the strip. These are the ones I've visited. You will find your own pleasure palaces.

Mandalay Bay Hotel Casino

It's quite new and close to the airport. Like most things in Vegas, it's larger than life, containing a large tropical bay, complete with sandy beach. With 3,700 rooms, many restaurants, and two wedding chapels, and its own House of Blues, it's a world of its own.

Luxor Hotel Casino

Right next door is this black-glass pyramid, guarded by a huge sphinx. It has 4,400 rooms, not counting restaurants, spa, shops, and the replica of King Tut's tomb in the basement.

Excalibur Hotel Casino

For a change of pace, step along to the Excalibur Hotel Casino.

There are 4008 rooms in this huge white castle, which encompasses a complete medieval village. You want dragons, jesters and jousting? You want to take your sweetheart to the Excalibur chapel, become Henry VIII and marry your queen? You can do it here, and the marriage will be legal.

New York, New York

Let's walk past the Tropicana and the MGM Grand, and take a look at New York, New York.

Tourists from the Big Apple will feel quite at home - maybe - with the Statue of Liberty, the skyscrapers, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and Coney Island. You can eat New York food and watch Broadway shows in this small, exclusive (only 2035 rooms!) Hotel Casino.

Monte Carlo

Moving on, past the Aladdin, we reach the Monte Carlo Hotel and Casino. If you haven't visited the original, this will do nicely. You can visit restaurants, a spa, tennis courts. You can take the River Ride. And, of course, there's the ubiquitous wedding chapel.

Paris

See the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe. Almost 3000 rooms, and quite European. Much of the staff was ferried over from France when the place opened; I don't know how many are left. Don't try to drop a quarter into the more expensive slot machines. Those are $25 slugs being fed in by that (ex)-millionaire.

Bellagio

Pass beneath Bally's moving walkways and enter the Bellagio, a Florentine palace with thousands of fountains and a unique display of dancing waterspouts. Wander the gardens and gaze at the Italian villas. This impressive cathedral of a casino contains a host of restaurants, an art gallery, botanical gardens and two wedding chapels. Take in the shopping mall, the spa, and the aquatic show.

Caesar's Palace Hotel Casino

Caesar's Palace, with its ornate statues and unique design, opened in 1966. It is still one of the most spectacular sights in Las Vegas. It conjures up the grandeur of Imperial Rome, with 2,440 rooms, spa, shops, restaurants, a wedding palace and a circus. Caesar's has been a top attraction in Vegas for three generations of vacationers.

Treasure Island Hotel and Casino

Continue past the Imperial Palace, the Mirage, with its erupting volcano, past Harrah's, and you will arrive at Treasure Island. Watch the naval battle, where the British and American navy battle to destruction. Guess which navy wins. There are restaurants and shows, and two wedding chapels, plus a full-sized replica of HMS Britannica, where weddings also take place.

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

Like to visit Venice and ride the canals on a gondola? You can do all that, amongst ornate palaces. Visit the shopping mall and the health spa, and enjoy the wax museum. The hotel has 3,000 rooms, and there are plans for building a 1,200 seat event center.

Circus Circus Hotel and Casino

Past the New Frontier, the venerable Stardust, past the Hilton, you arrive at Circus, Circus, the first major casino to cater to families. This place is a circus, a theme park carnival, a casino, and a giant hotel in one exciting package.

We're almost at the end of the strip, now. We walk past the Riviera, the venerable Sahara, built in 1952, and the Palace Station Hotel and casino. What's left?

The Stratosphere

For the grand finale, we might as well soar. The Stratosphere Hotel and Casino anchors the strip, and, at 1081 feet, is the tallest building in Las Vegas. Here, you can dine at the top of the world, and look out at the strip, the downtown lights, and the desert beyond this glittering oasis. This stop is a fitting end to our tour of the sights of Las Vegas.

A friend of mine suggested looking in Brookside, a small section of Tulsa, and so we planned on starting our search there. All dressed up and ready to dance, I met Kaytie at her house. As we set out, we hoped to experience something other than our routine small-city lives, and maybe catch the smallest glimpse of what teens in New York City or Chicago get to experience. But despite our best efforts, the only new experience we had that night did not involve partying like the big cities do. Through the course of events, we managed to wind up in a smelly casino: a veritable magnet for broken souls, empty wallets, and annoying security guards.

At the start of our evening, we cruised down Brookside, expecting to see club after club. What we did see were a few nice restaurants and a couple of unkempt looking bars, but no clubs. Disgruntled, and wanting to find somewhere new to visit soon, we searched for some sign of a nightspot we could visit. After an hour or so of driving, Kaytie and I had seen neither hide nor hair of any clubs, although we had seen some beautiful and some slightly scarier parts of downtown Tulsa. Some of the parts of downtown were grungy. Scattered in them were homeless persons, dark alleyways and broken-down buildings way past their prime. The better parts of downtown were well-lit underneath towering skyscrapers. However, downtown Tulsa did not present any possible place we could both have a new experience at, so we began to consider other promising venues we could visit.

Stepping out of Kaytie's silver Ford Taurus, the two of us were immediately greeted with an intense smell of cigarette smoke and greasy foods, reminiscent of bowling alleys. Walking into the Creek Nation Casino, we had our wallets ready with our ID's, presuming that we were to be carded as we walked into the door. Soon we found out that this wasn't the case. We were both disappointed - having just turned eighteen, we were ready to show off that we could legally enter the casino. Instead of security ready to check our identification, we were welcomed by the sight of tacky red carpet and ugly mauve walls. Not to mention slot machines. The slots were everywhere, wall to wall, huge, flashing beacons, ready for unsuspecting victims with pocketfuls of money to be drawn in. The smoke was visible in the air. Light smog wafted ubiquitously, an inescapable fog of potential lung cancer. Kaytie and I quickly stepped into the much smaller non-smoking room, and as we stepped in, I observed a man with a pipe in his mouth stepping out. So much for smoke-free.

Older people were everywhere in the casino; almost everyone seemed to be above the age of sixty. They would sit and press buttons for long periods of time, presumably not getting the results they were expecting. Their eyes seemed to glaze over as they stared at the flashing screens, scanning the computerized reels as they spun, with cherries and sevens and other bright images. Kaytie and I sat down to try one of the cheaper slot machines; we slid our dollar bills into the bright beacon and tried to figure out how the heck it worked. Mostly we pressed random assortments of buttons, trying to press the right combination in order to win. A helpful, but slightly annoying, security guard came to our rescue. He was young, overweight, and he spoke with a lisp. He showed us how to play the slot machines, and when he was done with his explanation, he stayed to watch us play for around ten minutes. Kaytie and I assumed that he stood chatting with us for so long because he thought we were attractive, because surely talking to two eighteen-year-old girls for ten minutes would be frowned upon by other security guards. Kaytie was much better at the slots than I was, or, as she put it, “better at pressing buttons.”

We didn't stay at the casino for very long, mainly because we found that it was just plain boring. It was quieter in the casino than I was expecting; I suppose it was due to the immense concentration that pushing buttons must obviously take. The slot machines seemed to be more work to figure out than they were worth, and winning a few bucks definitely did not seem worth the second-hand smoke inhalation from just standing inside the casino. Our night may have not ended with the excitement that I was expecting, but I did realize that, in life, it is probably better just to put in a hard day's work, rather than spend all of your time in a smoky, old person, tacky carpet-filled establishment.

• Casino Niagara, it’s the first hotel you will see coming over the border. It’s attached to “The Brock” hotel by an enclosed bridge allowing occupants easy access to the casino, especially in those cold winter months. And don’t forget the enormous indoor water park on the top level of The Brock hotel. This casino offers everything from sports betting to table games to the always popular slot machines. And you don’t need a small fortune to play as there are plenty of penny slots available.
• Clifton Hill, it’s the busiest place by the falls. If you’re lucky enough to be staying in one of the hill’s hotels, you’ll have quick access to several tourist shops, museums, and attractions such as mini golf and arcades. It also holds the largest Ferris wheel in Canada. It’s perfect for families or a great place to take a break from the casino.
• When you make your way down to the other side of the falls, you’ll find the newest casino, Fallsview. It’s a casino and five star hotel all in one. With luxurious accommodations, and a casino a few floors down, you could have fun for days. And like Casino Niagara, there are plenty of penny and nickel slots for those just looking to have some fun, and table games for the more serious gambler.
• The majestic Niagara Falls, whether seeing it on the Canadian or American side, it’s hard to beat the view of this amazing waterfall. In the summer, you can brave the choppy waters and head into the falls on “The Maid of the Mist”, an amazing boat ride that takes you to the very edge of the falls. You can’t leave without seeing one of the wonders of the world.

These are just a few places that you can go to make sure you have a great trip. There are so many more places, it’s impossible to list them all. You can venture out and discover new things on your own and you’re guaranteed to go home with some great memories, and an extraordinary experience.

The Excalibur is one of the cheapest hotels that you can stay in on the strip. This is one of the reasons most people choose to stay there. The rooms are average in size, and very clean for being over ten years old. They also have a large arcade in the basement to play in, so it also caters to families who are vacationing to Las Vegas. There are so many games to choose from in the arcade, that you can easily stay down there for a whole day and not be bored.

The Excalibur is also known for it’s great variety of food at reasonable prices. They have a food court located on the third floor with lots of places to choose from. You can get anything from Krispy Kreme’s to McDonalds and Quiznos. There are tons of places to choose from at the food court that it is sure to please the whole family. Also located on the third floor is a few novelty shops and the buffet. The buffet is one of the cheapest on the strip and is really great.

There are a couple of things about The Excalibur that I do not like. First of all, is the slot selection on the casino floor. It is a large casino, but I do not think that they have the variety of slots like most other casinos that are located on the strip. I believe the main reason for this is that they catered more towards families. Another thing I do not like about The Excalibur is it’s noise level. It is a very large hotel and casino and since it is inexpensive, it frequently packs up and there is tons of people.

There is a nice pool that you can relax for hours in the sun. The pool is large enough so you do not feel so crowded when it is busy. The Excalibur has a monorail that runs between it and The Luxor and Mandalay Bay. This is convenient when you are tired of walking so much. The best part about it is that it runs almost all of the time and it is free. Right across the street from The Excalibur is New York, New York. They have an arcade about twice the size as well as a roller coaster on top of the casino. You have tons of entertainment options within a small walk.

I recommend that you stay at The Excalibur Hotel and Casino for it’s value, and just for the fact that you can do so many things so close together. Las Vegas can be really overwhelming, and at The Excalibur there is so many things to see and do right out your doorstep.