The gaming industry rakes in billions of dollars each year and offers millions of job opportunities. Although criticized by some quarters who say it promotes corruption at different levels, crime and compulsive gambling, it is nonetheless important when you need to raise money for certain services without raising taxes.
There are many types of gambling, not all of which are legal. Some are public and some are private.
Lottery
Lotteries are based on chance where players buy sets of numbers in the hope that they will match the draws. Depending on the wagers, winners can take home millions of dollars or receive smaller prizes such as cars and electronics.
Players buy multiple sets of numbers to increase their chances of winning, which are always slim. Still, the desire to win compels many to keep buying tickets. A 2011 report recorded global lottery sales of around $262 billion.
slot machines
Slots are also a game of luck. A player inserts money into the machine and uses a lever or button to spin the reels. If the combination of images or numbers are identical, the player wins. Like most gambling/casino machines, slot machines are designed in such a way that the chances of winning are slim. This generates money for the house and forces the players to accept the challenge.
bingo
Bingo is a game in which players mark numbers on a card called by a caller. Whoever has the series of numbers on the card wins. The numbers are completely random and the game requires players to pay attention, because if a player has the number on his card but doesn’t mark it, he loses the chance to win.
black cat
Blackjack is a card game that is frequently played in casinos. The game itself is quite simple, but it can cause players to risk taking more cards and seeing them lose. Players are dealt one card each turn and the value of the cards are added up to get as close to 21 as possible. If a player scores 18 and his opponent scores 17, the first player wins. However, in the quest to reach the sum of 21, players sometimes continue to draw other cards to add up to more than 21. In this case, the player who exceeds the number loses and their opponent wins.
Roulette
Roulette is another popular casino game in which players bet on where the ball lands. The host spins a wheel while players bet on which numbered hole they think the ball will land on. They can also be in a string of numbers that add up to odd or even numbers. Whoever gets it right wins.
scratch cards
Scratch cards are cards with printed numbers or symbols hidden under a cover that can be scratched off with a coin or hard object. The results are announced on television, radio or newspapers. The buyer who has the correct number/series of numbers or symbols wins.
Most scratch card contests offer less valuable prizes, although the odds of winning are higher than in slots and other types of games of chance.
Poker
Poker is a very popular card game played between two or more people. They are dealt two cards each with three face down on a table. Bets are placed on the value of the cards. The player with the highest hand wins taking into account not only the cards in the hand but also the cards on the board.