It’s fair to say that most of us get our first impression of a high-end casino from the big screen. From the crackling electricity across the baccarat table between Sean Connery’s Bond and Eunice Gayson’s Sylvia Trench, to Julia Robert’s sexy but sassy Tess in US blockbuster Ocean’s Eleven, it’s a place of opulence, drama and most of all, sophistication.
If you get an opportunity to visit a real-world casino, it can be anticlimactic. However, like restaurants or hotels, casinos come in different types. The Bellagio in Las Vegas, The Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco and Casino Baden-Baden in Germany are three examples of casinos that are every bit as glamorous and sophisticated as the ones you have seen on the big screen. Spending an evening at a high-end casino is a unique experience and demands some preparation.
What to wear
The most important decision? Well, maybe or maybe not, but a swish casino provides an opportunity to really push the boat out. Check the dress code in advance so you will look like the million dollars you want to win, while standing out from the crowd for all the right reasons.
To understand the dress code, you’ll have to learn the translation from “men” – a hangover from bygone years when gambling was manly business! In essence, if it is “black tie” for men, you don’t have to go all out on a ball gown, but a cocktail dress de la Audrey Hepburn would go down a storm.
What to play
When you go into a casino for the first time, you must battle an almost irresistible urge to gravitate to the slot games. They seem so safe, and unlike the table games, there is nobody watching. Slots are fine, but unless luck is on your side, they can be money pits, as you can easily get through 50 $2 spins and find you’ve gambled $100 inside 10 minutes and have very little to show for it.
In a game like roulette or baccarat, you can place even money bets and will, on average win about as much as you lose. The best thing is to register with one of the real money US casino sites listed at www.bestuscasinos.org and practice a few casino games first. Baccarat is a particularly good choice as it is traditionally played at the more salubrious casinos. Yet the rules and gameplay are super simple, so you’ll really impress your companions when you sit down and start playing with the confidence of James Bond!
What to spend
This all-important part of the preparation relates to the previous part. Go to the casino with a budget, and just as you would on any other night out, assume it will be spent and gone by the end of the evening.
If your budget is modest, you can still have a great time. Stick to the low volatility games mentioned earlier and don’t feel compelled to bet all the time. Sit back awhile and drink in the atmosphere – there is nothing quite like it.
