Group Games
Bingo,
Pulltabs,
Keno
We call these "group games" because, well, they're all played in groups, generally in large rooms.
Bingo games are a derivative of keno, and is arguably the most popular form of live gambling in the country (state lotteries are even more popular, but aren't "live"), and inarguably the most acceptable—bingo games are played in VFW halls, casinos, church basements, warehouses... well, you get the idea. Players buy cards with a grid of numbers on them corresponding to the five letters in the word B-I-N-G-O. Numbers such as I-12, B-15 or O-27 are then drawn at random until one player shouts "Bingo!" meaning he's covered a set of five numbers in either a vertical, horizontal or diagonal row on his card. Playing multiple cards is quite common, and the days of placing beans on each number are long-gone—there are now special markers (like Magic Markers) sold everywhere.
While church and VFW bingo games are generally for small prizes, bingo in casinos can be quite rewarding; some casinos advertise bingo jackpots up to $10,000. Make sure you apprise yourself of the rules for the game you're playing, because they vary from place to place.
This game is similar to the punchboards one used to find in country grocery stores, and it is pure chance—no skill, no strategy—you purchase a pulltab card and peel paper squares from a grid to reveal hidden prizes. Many Indian casinos offer both pulltabs and electronic pulltab games.
Historians say the Chinese invented keno a
quad-zillion years ago (give or take a millennia). Perhaps its simplicity is the
reason for its longevity. A keno card is marked with a grid of the numbers 1
through 80. Simply mark a blank keno ticket with the numbers of your selection
(usually from one to ten numbers), then present
your ticket along with your bet to the keno desk or to a keno runner; you'll be
given a receipt, which is also a
duplicate of your numbers selection. Generally, you have about 10-15 minutes to
choose your numbers and place your bet, and then the keno directors begin
drawing twenty numbered keno balls, calling out the numbers as they go (the
numbers are usually also displayed on a large tote board for easy reference). If enough of your selected numbers are drawn, you
have won and will need to present your receipt to the keno desk to claim your
winnings. At many casinos, it's possible to win as much as $50,000 on a dollar
bet.
One Last Note: If you have any questions about a particular game, ask a
dealer or supervisor for assistance. That's part of their job, and who knows—you
might learn
something new. It's a truism that "poker lessons are always expensive"
but many casinos offer free classes on the various games, so save your money, at
least until you've taken advantage of these invaluable free lessons.