The Casino in BELLOCCO: Six Tables, One Gamble

You'll find the casino in the left menu under the Casinos heading. Every game has its own page. You always play in the casino of the country you are in at that moment: travel to Italy and you play at the Italian tables. Whether you want a few minutes of thrills or manage your fortune strategically, the casino is a core part of mafia life in this casino mafia game.

The six tables

There are six different games to gamble your money on. They differ in pace, risk and payout, so there is a table for every play style. For a full explanation with all rules and payouts, see the six games.

• Number Game: guess a number from 1 to 10 (9.5× your bet), or play it safer on odd/even or low/high (1.9×).
• Slot Machine: spin the one-armed bandit. Three sevens pay 250× your bet.
• Roulette: European (0-36). Red/black and odd/even (1.9×), dozens (3×) or straight on a number (36×).
• Blackjack: get as close to 21 as possible without going over. Blackjack pays 2.5×, a regular win 2×.
• Rock-Paper-Scissors: beat the bank for 1.85×; a draw returns your bet.
• Lottery: buy tickets with a number. There is one draw a day; all tickets with the winning number share the pot. No winner? Then the pot rolls over as a jackpot.

How the casino really works: player vs house

This is important to understand: the casino does not create money. Everything you win at the tables comes from what other players lose: it is pure redistribution of money that already exists in the game world. That makes the casino a closed system: it is you against the house, and in the background money moves from the unlucky to the lucky (and to the table owners).

That also explains why the casino doesn't cause inflation: no new wealth appears out of thin air. Whoever wins, wins someone else's stake. So don't see the casino as a money printer, but as an arena where wealth changes hands.

The house edge

Every table has a small, fixed house edge (2 to 10%). That is the percentage that statistically "stays" at the table instead of being paid out. In the long run the house always wins. You can be well ahead for an evening, but play long enough and the house edge relentlessly pulls your average result down.

Owning tables: become the house

This is where it gets interesting. Casino tables can be owned by players. If you own a table, you are "the house" for that game, and the very house edge that ordinary gamblers run into flows your way. Every time someone plays at your table, you earn from the margin.

That makes owning a casino a completely different game from gambling. A gambler hopes for luck; a table owner profits from the fact that other players keep gambling. The busier your table, the more money flows through it and the more the house edge pays. It is a form of passive income for those who play it well, although the owner also carries the risk of spikes when a player wins big. Everything about buying, managing and defending a table is covered in owning a table.

Casino, achievements and tournaments

Gambling isn't just for the thrill. Playing in the casino counts toward its own set of casino achievements, and your gambling activity fills in daily tasks and challenges. There are also casino tournaments where players compete for the best results. Read more about how they work in tournaments.

A strategic approach to the casino combines three things: the thrill of gambling itself, progress through achievements and daily tasks, and eventually perhaps owning a table yourself to stand on the other side of the margin.

Gamble responsibly

Finally, a sober lesson: the casino is and remains a gamble. The house edge means that playing on and on costs you money on average. A few smart guidelines:

• Set a fixed amount you are willing to lose in advance, and stop when it's gone.
• Use the casino for the thrill and for your achievements and daily tasks, not as a steady source of income.
• Want to earn from the casino structurally? Aim to own a table, not to gamble.
• Never put your whole fortune on a single spin; recovering from an empty bank takes a long time.

Frequently asked questions

Which casino games are there?

There are six games: Number Game, Slot Machine, Roulette, Blackjack, Rock-Paper-Scissors and the daily Lottery. Each has its own pace and payouts. The full rules and payouts are in the six games.

Can I own a casino table myself?

Yes. Tables can be owned by players. As the owner you are the house for that game and you earn from the house edge every time others play at your table. Read exactly how that works in owning a table.

How does the owner earn money?

The owner earns from the house edge: the small, fixed margin (2 to 10%) that statistically stays at the table. The more players gamble and the more money flows through, the more the table earns its owner. It isn't newly created money: it comes from what gamblers lose.

Does the casino count for tournaments?

Yes. Playing in the casino counts toward casino achievements, daily tasks and challenges, and there are casino tournaments where players compete against each other. See tournaments for the details.

Is gambling risky?

Yes. Thanks to the house edge, the house always wins in the long run, so playing on costs you money on average. A single session can be profitable, but don't count on it as a steady income. Only bet what you are willing to lose.

Play for free and take a seat at the tables yourself: as a gambler or, if you play it smart, as the owner of the house.

Texas Hold'em Poker

Besides the six tables there is now real poker against other players: house tables at five levels, a tournament every hour and private tables through your Estate. Read Texas Hold'em Poker.