Know the game.

ROULETTE

Roulette is a fun and popular casino game. You play by guessing the number on the table that corresponds to the number where the ball lands on the Roulette wheel. Here’s how it works. A Roulette wheel has 36 numbered slots, either red or black and either a single 0 or both single 0 and double 00 (American Roulette). These are green in color. All numbers have corresponding numbers on the table layout. The dealer spins the Roulette wheel and a ball rolls on the wheel in the opposite direction. You can bet on a single number or many numbers, these are known as inside bets. You can also bet the colors red or black, odd or even, 1 – 18, 19-36, the first dozen, second dozen, third dozen and the three columns of numbers. These are known as outside bets. If you correctly guess where the ball stops on the wheel, you win.

Roulette Payouts

Inside BetsOutside Bets

A. Single Number (Straight Up) Pays 35:1

G. Dozen Pays 2:1

B. Two Numbers (Split) Pays 17:1

H. Column Pays 2:1C. Three Numbers (Street) Pays 11:1I. 1 to 18 or 19 to 36 Pays EvenD. Four Numbers (Corner) Pays 8:1J. Odd or Even Numbers Pays EvenE. Five Numbers (Five line) Pays 6:1K. Red or Black Numbers Pays EvenF. Six Numbers (Six Line) Pays 5:1

BLACKJACK

Blackjack is also known as “21” and is a card game where you play against the dealer. Everyone at the table is first dealt two cards face up. The object of this game is to get to 21 by adding the cards together. Face cards are counted as ten points. You can count an ace as either 1 point or 11 points, whatever works best with your hand. All other cards are counted as the value shown on the card.

Once you get your first two cards, you have two basic options. You can “hit” which means get another card. You can hit as many times as it takes to get to 21 without going over. Or you can “stand” which means you stay with the cards you were dealt and do not receive more cards. There are also a few extra possibilities you can use for certain hands. You can “double down” which means you double your bet and get only one more card. If you are dealt two cards of the same value, you can “split” the cards and make two hands.

The dealer has to take “hits” until they total at least 17 or more points. You win if your cards total  21 or you beat the dealer with a score that is less than 21. If the player and dealer have 21, this is called a "push" and you don’t win or lose. A true Blackjack is when your first two cards equal 21. This hand beats all other combinations of cards that equal 21 (unless the dealer also draws 21 in the first two cards). A two-card 21 on a split hand is not a Blackjack.

This is a very basic description of Blackjack. Make sure you learn all the rules before playing by visiting the Responsible Gambling Resource Centre located at both casinos or asking casino staff.

POKER

Poker is one of the most popular casino card games. In Texas Hold ‘em you play to win the “pot” which are the chips contributed by all players. You are first dealt two cards face down. The next five cards are dealt face-up and are community cards shared by all players. The first three community cards are the flop, the fourth is the turn and the fifth is the river. Players have the option to check, bet, raise or fold after each deal.

Since you can’t control the cards you are dealt, you try to control the amount of money in the pot based either on the hand you are holding or on your best guess as to what the other players may be holding.

You win if you are the player with the best five-card poker hand after the final round of betting or the other player folded their hand.

Poker Hand Rankings

This is a very basic description of Texas Hold ‘em Poker. Make sure you learn all the rules before playing by visiting the Responsible Gambling Resource Centre located at both casinos or asking casino staff.

SLOTS

You’ll find many different slot games on the gaming floor. Some use actual mechanical reels and some use video screens with themed graphics that look like reels. When you play a slot machine you may choose how many lines you would like to play and the bet per line. The wager will determine the payout.

When you play a slot machine, the most important thing to remember is that it is completely random. Nothing you do can control or influence the outcome of any spin. Slot machines have what is called a Random Number Generator (RNG) built inside. The RNG is the heart of the machine and it’s always spinning through the millions of numbers and winning combinations. Sometimes players don’t want to leave a machine because they believe it’s “due to payout” and if they leave, the next player will “win” their jackpot. This is not true, because each spin is independent of the spin before and randomly generated by the RNG. Slots are never “due” to payout.

The odds of winning on a slot machine differ from game to game. On average, the odds of winning the top prize, varies from 1 in 32,000 to 1 in more than 30 million. To learn more, watch this fun video on the randomness of slot machines.

In Nova Scotia, you’ll find VLTs in bars, legions and other licensed establishments. Most VLTs use video screens with graphics that look like mechanical reels. When you play a VLT, you can choose how many lines to play, and then decide on your bet. VLTs use a Random Number Generator (RNG) to determine whether or not each spin is a winner. This means that each spin is independent of the one previous and that outcomes are completely random. Bottom line is, the odds do not change no matter how long you play a machine. And, the longer you play, the more you will spend.

The largest prize that can be won on any single spin on a VLT is $500. For more information on VLTs, visit alc.ca.

Instant

• Scratch & Win or “scratch” tickets are games where you scratch a play area to find prizes.  Popular tickets include Bingo, Crossword, Set for Life. Visit alc.ca to learn more about prizes and odds of winning.
• Breakopen tickets are small cardboard tickets where you break open a tab to reveal symbols. If you have the winning combination of symbols, you win the prize. There are a lot of different breakopen games. Visit alc.ca to learn more about prizes and odds of winning for Breakopen tickets.

Draw Games

It’s fun to imagine what you’d do if you had a winning lottery ticket. Whether you play the same numbers every time or have them randomly chosen, you can play 10 different daily or weekly draw games.  Each game is a little different and offers different prizes and odds of winning. To win, your numbers need to match the winning numbers drawn on game night. The more numbers you match, the bigger the prize.

For more information on the types of games and the odds of winning, visit alc.ca.

Sports Betting

If you’re a sports fan, sports betting products like PRO-LINE (PRO-LINE, PRO-LINE Fantasy, and PRO-LINE Stadium Parlay) can add excitement to any game.

Each game has its own set of rules and betting options. To play, you choose from the selections made available for wagering on each game, bet on the winners, and if you get your pick(s) right, the amount you win is determined by multiplying the odds on the game(s) (set by professional odds makers) by the amount you have wagered. Atlantic Lottery's PRO-LINE Stadium website explains the rules of each game. Sports betting is available at retail locations as well as online at alc.ca.

Digital Sports Betting

If you’re a sports fan, sports betting products like PRO-LINE (PRO-LINE, PRO-LINE Fantasy, and PRO-LINE Stadium Parlay) can add excitement to any game.

Each game has its own set of rules and betting options. To play, you choose from the selections made available for wagering on each game, bet on the winners, and if you get your pick(s) right, the amount you win is determined by multiplying the odds on the game(s) (set by professional odds makers) by the amount you have wagered. Atlantic Lottery's PRO-LINE Stadium website explains the rules of each game. Sports betting is available at retail locations as well as online at alc.ca.

iBingo

Playing iBingo is just like playing Bingo, except you play on your computer. You can play on your own (“Single Player”) or with other players (“Multiplayer”) with single cards or a three card strip. To play you must be a member of alc.ca. Learn more about iBingo.

Some charities rely almost exclusively on fundraising to operate. Games of chance can be a popular and successful means of raising money for community and not-for-profit groups. The two most common games are Bingo and Charity Raffles.

The Alcohol, Gaming, Fuel and Tobacco Division (AGFTD) of Service Nova Scotia issues gaming licences to organizations that raise funds for charitable purposes. This includes Bingo, ticket lotteries, and carnival games of chance. The AGFTD makes sure these groups follow the rules and that the games are being played fairly and honestly.

Bingo and raffles are popular among adults and all the same responsible gambling rules of thumb apply. Your best bet is to check out our tips for keeping the fun in the game.

Charitable Bingo 

We love to play Bingo, especially for a worthy cause. The excitement of being the first one to yell “Bingo” attracts us to halls and community centres to enjoy this social game which can offer cash or merchandise prizes. When playing Bingo, you use cards with numbers under each of the letters B-I-N-G-O and daubers, which are like large markers.

Each game has a Bingo caller who announces each ball as it comes out randomly from the bingo machine. Balls are marked with numbers from 1-75. When the caller announces each number you find that number on your card and mark it with your dauber. Depending on the game, a single line, four corners, a full card, or a specific pattern such as an “L” or a “X” will be asked for by the caller.

You can win if you are the first player to call “Bingo” when you get the specified pattern. If more than one player calls “Bingo” the prize will be split.

The odds of winning Bingo depends on the number of cards you are playing divided by the total amount of cards being played at the same time. For example, if you are playing two cards and there are 100 cards in play, your chances of winning are two in 100, which also means you have a 98% chance of losing.

Some Bingo games offer progressive jackpot games in which there is not a guaranteed winner. The odds of winning this type of game depend more on the difficulty of covering the pattern in the predetermined number of calls. The odds can be so steep in some progressive games that it may be weeks or even months before somebody wins.  The jackpot, and the excitement, builds from week to week until it is won.

In all cases, groups must obtain a lottery license from the AGFTD and abide by the rules associated with the license they are given.

Charitable Ticket Lottery 

Many charities, sports teams, community groups, and other organizations hold raffles throughout the year as a way to raise money for various purposes. Prizes run the full spectrum from small cash or merchandise prizes to cars and even houses. Charitable raffles are a fun way to support a local cause and have the chance to win a prize, but remember you will not get a charitable receipt because it is considered gambling.

In all cases, groups selling these tickets must obtain a lottery license from the AGFTD and abide by the rules associated with the license they are given.