Most of the 'exotic' games should be avoided, but there are exceptions

Casino gambling should be approached with caution, even when you understand the pros and cons of the "big five" casino games. As you have seen in this book, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat and poker each have something going for them when you consider what game to play. Even slots and video poker can be played with a reasonable expectation that you can win with a little luck.

But these aren't the only games offered in a casino. There are several mainstays that are offered in virtually every casino, but there are good reasons to avoid them. Other games are being introduced at an impressive clip as casino executives try to lure players back to the tables. But while they are trying to make table games more attractive by adding gimmicks and twists to existing games, casino executives are overlooking-or ignoring-an important point. The house advantage on almost all the new games introduced over the past five years is more than 2.5 percent for each game. If new games were debuted that had a reasonable house edge, educated players may be more receptive to them. It's the chance of winning you get at blackjack, craps and the other games that are what made them popular to begin with.