[GUIDE] The Ultimate Guide to Gambling Roleplay, Casino Etiquette, and Casino Games

[Edgars]

Hey folks!

 

Many of you may know my character as one that focuses on gambling roleplay and casino roleplay. The truth is that I have a lot of real-life experience with gambling and I made a pledge in my lease application when I originally applied for the casino. Part of that pledge was to do everything in my power to create unique and innovative ideas, while also ensuring that realistic casino roleplay would also be provided to the patrons that come to my character's casino venue. My hope today is to deliver on that pledge and provide all of you gamblers and non-gamblers with an extensive guide on casino etiquette, gambling roleplay, and casino games.

 

What is gambling? Are there different forms of it? Here's a breakdown:

Before we talk about the different ways to roleplay and portray a gambling character, let's talk about the definition of gambling.  Gambling, by definition, is when a person takes part in a game that is not skill-based, while wagering a sum of money on an uncertain outcome. 

 

Example 1:  Placing a $50 dollar bet on a coin landing on tails.

Example 2:  Placing a $50 dollar bet on a sports team beating an opponent.

Example 3:  Placing a $50 dollar bet on a slot machine or card game inside of a casino.

 

These are only a few examples of what gambling is and the different ways you can take part in it. It's pretty obvious stuff, but a lot of people actually don't even know what gambling is, so it's a good place to start for those of you that are completely unfamiliar with gambling.

 

In my opinion, there are three main types of gamblers in this world. 

 

Casual Gamblers (Social Gamblers)

A casual gambler is someone who takes part in gambling very rarely. They visit casinos maybe once or twice per year and only do it on very special occasions. The personality of this type of gambler is more social-based rather than to win money. 

 

Most people that have their character show up a casino will assume the role of a casual gambler. They fall into the category of showing up at a casino to have a good time with friends, rather than trying to walk away with a profit. Casual gamblers may or may not have a basic understanding of the card games and slot machines, and they usually play with much lower stakes than other types of gamblers.

 

Professional Gamblers (Career Gamblers)

I'd like to bring up the concept of a career gambler. This type of gambler is someone who literally relies on gambling for their income. This is an incredibly volatile and risky lifestyle that can be extremely dangerous. Professional gamblers are high-rollers and make betting decisions that directly affect their income.

 

In many cases, professional gamblers will try to avoid games of chance like slot machines and focus more on card games like Poker (Texas Hold'em) or Blackjack.  If you plan on roleplay as a professional gambler, you need to have a deep understanding of the card games. (See basic card game guide deeper in this post for more information.)

 

Professional gamblers should portray a deep understanding of the percentages and chances of certain outcomes happening.

 

Example 1:  A professional gambler is going to follow strict betting strategies and wager more money when the odds are in their favor. This could include but is not limited to betting more money on a sports team when they're on a winning streak, or when the deck of cards is favorable towards the player rather than the dealer in Blackjack. There are a few limitations in GTA:W that would prevent any advantage from being gained as a card counter, so this sort of roleplay can only be simulated because no script-based advantage can take place. However, there are betting strategies that can come into play on GTA:W, including doubling your bet after a loss, or betting large after multiple losses in a row. 

 

 

 

Problem Gamblers (Gambling Addicts)

The final type of gambler that I'd like to cover is the problem gambler, also known as a gambling addict. This type of person should be portrayed as someone that cannot live without gambling. They are similar to an alcohol addict, drug addict, or cigarette addict. They need the adrenaline, rush, and excitement that comes along with gambling, regardless of what financial trouble they might cause themselves. 

 

One thing that I notice a lot of the time is that a lot of characters that fall into this category as a problem gambler (gambling addict) aren't affected by large losses of cash at a casino. They simple rush to the ATM and dart back inside to play some more.  It would be really beneficial the gambling roleplay and portrayal of gambling characters if there was some sort of link between the character's mental state and the amount of money they lost. 

 

Remember, problem gamblers generally go through a cycle. They are excited at first as they experience the rush of winning and losing over and over again. Most problem gamblers naturally celebrate their big wins, but they don't know when to stop betting, even when they're in profit.  Then comes the point where they start to lose and they keep trying to play until they eventually end with nothing. During this time, players should consider what their character would be experiencing,  they would have shifted from their phase of excitement and adrenaline and into a state of frustration, confusion, and even sadness.  If you plan on portraying your character as a problem gambler, you should consider the emotional affects that this would have.

 

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Casino Games

There are a lot of different casino games in real-life, but only a few are actually simulated on GTA: World. For the sake of this gambling guide, we'll spend all of our time covering the games with basic instructions on how to take part.  We'll start with the most popular card game on the server, also known as Blackjack.

 

Blackjack

 

In the game of blackjack, there's a player and then there's the dealer.  The dealer is a representative of the casino. If the dealer wins, the casino wins. Players start by placing the amount of money that they want to risk on the upcoming round of blackjack. Two cards are then dealt out to the player and to the dealer. One of the dealer's cards will remain hidden (upside down). 

 

Example 1:  

Let's assume the player has been dealt a  6 of Spades and a 4 of Diamonds.  The player's score at this point is 10. 

Let's also assume the dealer has a 9 and their other card is hidden for now.  The dealer's score at this point is 9.

 

The goal for the player is to get as close to 21, without going over. (Going over 21 as the player is called a bust, and it means you lose your money no matter what happens.)

 

Considering that the highest valued card in the deck is 11 (Ace) or 10 (Face Card), the player should draw another card, also known as a Hit.

Let's assume they end up drawing a 10 (Face Card), this would put their score at 20.  You should rarely as a player ever draw a card if your score is 17 or higher.

 

Let's assume the player ends with their score of twenty, then it's time for the dealer to reveal their hidden card. Let's assume the dealer has a 10 (Face Card). This would put their score at 19. The dealer would lose with 19, since the player had 20.  The dealer is required to draw cards until they have a score of 17 or higher.

 

The strategic gameplay behind the game of blackjack comes into play when players have to weigh the risk between beating the dealer, and drawing too many cards that put their score over 21.

The truth is that there are a million different ways to play blackjack, but generally speaking, your goal is to get as close to 21 without going over.  There are several blackjack betting guides available on Google if you'd like to learn more and read up on it. 

 

 

Slots

 

Slot machines are a game of chance where the player simply pushes a button or pulls a handle and reels spin until an outcome is determined. There are many different types of slot machines, but with the recent feature showcase that came out thanks to the development team, this section will simply link to that page for more information.

Click here to see the recent slot machine showcase. 

 

 

I made this guide to help some people consider the idea of portraying a gambling character based on the different types of gamblers that I listed above.  Like I said, I sort of made a pledge to the property management team when I filed my application for a casino lease with the goal of trying to teach people new ways to realistically gamble, while also informing them of various gambling strategies, rules, and etiquette. This guide may be updated in the future to cover gambling etiquette inside of a casino. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a reply. 

 

 

Edited October 21, 2022 by Edgars
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[K0range4]

Hey this was an interesting guide to read. I haven't had the chance yet to RP in an open casino in game, but are these games actually scripted and can you win in game money at the casinos?

 

Additionally with your real life gambling experience... Ever consider doing a poker guide? It's probably a huge undertaking but I just do not understand poker haha

[Alvin_taylor]

16 minutes ago, K0range4 said:

Hey this was an interesting guide to read. I haven't had the chance yet to RP in an open casino in game, but are these games actually scripted and can you win in game money at the casinos?

Yeah but... All of these guys are scripted in the game and you do bet IG money to win/lose IG money. And should your character development ever take you the path to try and gamble... I highly recommend to try it out. Sonewhere you might experience quite exquisite roleplay and might actually like it enough to dedicate yourself to it at some point sooner or later. 

 

Also Edgar... Lovely guide 

[Harryrayde]

Thanks for sharing your guide on gambling roleplay and casino etiquette. It's great to see someone with real-life experience sharing their knowledge with others. Your breakdown of the different forms of gambling is really helpful, especially for those who are new to the world of gambling. If you or anyone else is interested in online casino games, I found a helpful guide that offers tips for better gaming at online casinos. One tip they offer is to take advantage of online casino bonuses, which can give you extra money to play with and increase your chances of winning. It's definitely worth checking out if you're interested in online gambling.

Edited February 28, 2023 by Harryrayde

[DiegoCarter]

Every casino has its own rules and traditions, and every player has to abide by them. I was especially pissed off by the dress code rules when I came to the casino. So I abandoned the traditional casino, and now play only online. The game online is also very interesting and has many advantages over regular casinos. Especially I enjoy online casino bonus that I get quite often. I use bonuses to make as much money as possible. It's a good tool because I don't risk my money.

Edited March 6, 2023 by DiegoCarter

[Edgars]

5 hours ago, DiegoCarter said:

Does the casino have its own etiquette?

 

They have their own etiquette and rules.  Some have entry fees, dress codes, or special rules that you need to follow, but your character will usually be notified at the entrance about these. 

[YenZi]

I'm also wary of casinos and online casinos because they rely heavily on chance or luck - rather than actual skills and knowledge. This is why, if I want to make some extra money, I prefer to bet on sports or horse racing. I can put my knowledge of the sport to use, and my chances of success improve. SportsTips and The Shark are two of the sites where I've had the most success.