One of the most common questions Casino Party USA gets from first-time event planners is: which games should we have? The answer depends on your guests, your event goals, and the atmosphere you want to create. But before you can make that decision, it helps to understand how each game works and what kind of experience it delivers.

This guide covers every major casino table game we offer — how to play, what makes it fun, and which events it works best for. No casino experience required.

Blackjack

How It Works

Blackjack is the most popular casino table game in the world, and for good reason: it is easy to learn, fast-paced, and gives players a genuine sense of skill and control. The goal is simple — get a hand closer to 21 than the dealer without going over.

Each player is dealt two cards. Face cards (Jack, Queen, King) are worth 10. Aces are worth 1 or 11. All other cards are worth their face value. Players then choose to hit (take another card) or stand (keep their current hand). Additional options include double down (double your bet and take exactly one more card) and split (if you have two cards of the same value, split them into two separate hands).

The dealer follows a fixed set of rules — typically hitting on 16 or less and standing on 17 or more. Players who beat the dealer without busting win even money on their bet.

Why Guests Love It

Blackjack hits the sweet spot between simplicity and strategy. New players can learn the basics in five minutes and feel competent immediately. Experienced players enjoy applying basic strategy and making decisions that genuinely affect the outcome. The fast pace keeps energy high, and the shared table format creates natural camaraderie among players.

Best For

Every type of event. Blackjack is the workhorse of casino entertainment — universally appealing, easy to staff, and consistently popular with guests of all backgrounds. If you are only adding one game, make it blackjack.

Roulette

How It Works

Roulette is pure theater. A spinning wheel, a bouncing ball, and the collective anticipation of a table full of players waiting to see where it lands — there is nothing else quite like it in casino entertainment.

The American roulette wheel has 38 numbered slots: 1 through 36 (alternating red and black) plus 0 and 00 (both green). Players place bets on the felt layout before the dealer spins the wheel and releases the ball. Bets can be placed on a single number (pays 35 to 1), a range of numbers, red or black, odd or even, or high (19-36) or low (1-18).

The beauty of roulette is that no skill or strategy is required. Every spin is completely independent. Players can bet conservatively on red/black for near-even odds, or go for the thrill of a single-number bet with a 35-to-1 payout.

Why Guests Love It

Roulette is the most visually dramatic game on the casino floor. The spinning wheel draws spectators even when they are not playing. It is also the most accessible game for guests who have never been to a casino — there is nothing to learn, no decisions to make beyond where to place your chips. The communal nature of the table (everyone wins when the ball lands on a shared number) creates spontaneous celebrations that energize the entire room.

Best For

Events where atmosphere and visual impact matter most — corporate galas, charity fundraisers, wedding receptions, and any event where you want a dramatic focal point on the casino floor. Also excellent for guests who are new to casino games.

Craps

How It Works

Craps is the loudest, most energetic game in any casino — and at a casino party, it becomes the social center of the room. Players bet on the outcome of dice rolls. The player rolling the dice is called the shooter.

The basic bet is the Pass Line: place your chips on the Pass Line before the shooter's first roll (the come-out roll). If the shooter rolls a 7 or 11, Pass Line bets win. If they roll a 2, 3, or 12, Pass Line bets lose. Any other number (4, 5, 6, 8, 9, or 10) becomes the point. The shooter then keeps rolling until they either hit the point again (Pass Line wins) or roll a 7 (Pass Line loses).

Beyond the Pass Line, craps offers dozens of additional bets — Come bets, Place bets, Proposition bets, and more. Casino Party USA dealers explain the basics clearly and help guests understand the options without overwhelming them.

Why Guests Love It

Craps generates more spontaneous energy than any other casino game. When the shooter is on a hot roll, the entire table cheers together. The shared fate of Pass Line bettors creates instant community — strangers become teammates rooting for the same outcome. The physical act of rolling the dice gives guests a sense of participation and agency that no other game matches.

Best For

Events where high energy and social interaction are priorities — corporate team-building events, birthday parties, fundraisers, and any event where you want guests talking and laughing together. One craps table can anchor the energy of an entire casino floor.

Texas Hold'em Poker

How It Works

Texas Hold'em is the most popular form of poker in the world, made famous by the World Series of Poker and countless movies and TV shows. Each player is dealt two private cards (hole cards). Five community cards are then dealt face-up in the center of the table in three stages: the flop (three cards), the turn (one card), and the river (one card). Players use any combination of their two hole cards and the five community cards to make the best possible five-card hand.

Betting rounds occur before the flop, after the flop, after the turn, and after the river. Players can bet, raise, call, or fold at each stage. The player with the best hand at showdown wins the pot.

Why Guests Love It

Poker rewards skill, strategy, and psychological insight in a way no other casino game does. Experienced players enjoy the depth and complexity. Casual players enjoy the social dynamic and the thrill of a well-timed bluff. The slower pace of poker compared to blackjack or craps creates a more intimate, conversational table experience.

Best For

Events with guests who have some poker experience, poker tournament fundraisers, and events where a more strategic, competitive experience is desired. See our dedicated poker tournament fundraiser guide for tournament-format planning.

Three Card Poker

How It Works

Three Card Poker is a faster, simpler alternative to Texas Hold'em that works beautifully at casino parties. Each player and the dealer receive three cards. Players decide whether to play (place an additional bet equal to their ante) or fold (forfeit their ante). Hands are then revealed and compared — the player wins if their three-card hand beats the dealer's.

Three-card poker hands rank slightly differently from standard poker: a straight flush beats three of a kind, which beats a straight. An optional Pair Plus side bet pays based on the strength of the player's hand regardless of the dealer's cards.

Why Guests Love It

Three Card Poker combines the prestige of poker with the simplicity and speed of blackjack. Guests feel like they are playing a sophisticated game without needing to master complex strategy. Rounds resolve quickly, keeping energy high and guests engaged.

Best For

Events where guests want the poker experience without the learning curve of Texas Hold'em. Excellent for mixed-experience groups and events where fast-paced action is preferred.

Mini Baccarat

How It Works

Baccarat has a reputation as the game of high rollers, but Mini Baccarat is one of the simplest games in the casino. Players bet on one of three outcomes: the Player hand wins, the Banker hand wins, or it is a Tie. Two hands are then dealt — Player and Banker — and the hand closest to 9 wins.

Card values: Aces are worth 1, cards 2 through 9 are worth face value, and 10s and face cards are worth 0. If a hand totals more than 9, only the second digit counts (so a 7 and 8 totaling 15 counts as 5). Drawing rules are fixed and automatic — players make no decisions after placing their bet.

Why Guests Love It

Baccarat is elegant, fast, and requires zero skill or strategy. It is the perfect game for guests who want to participate in the casino experience without learning rules or making decisions. The Banker bet has one of the lowest house edges of any casino game, which means fun money lasts longer — guests stay at the table longer and have more fun.

Best For

Upscale events, corporate galas, and events with guests who prefer a sophisticated, low-pressure gaming experience. Also excellent as a complement to higher-intensity games like craps and blackjack.

Let It Ride

How It Works

Let It Ride is a poker-based game where players compete against a pay table rather than the dealer. Each player places three equal bets and receives three cards. Two community cards are dealt face-down. Players then have two opportunities to withdraw one of their bets — after seeing their three cards, and after the first community card is revealed. The second community card is then turned over and all remaining bets are paid according to a fixed pay table based on hand strength.

Winning hands start at a pair of 10s or better. Stronger hands — two pair, three of a kind, straight, flush, full house, four of a kind, straight flush, royal flush — pay progressively higher multiples.

Why Guests Love It

Let It Ride creates a unique tension: the decision of whether to pull back a bet or let it ride builds suspense with each card reveal. The communal community cards mean the entire table often shares the same fate, creating shared celebrations when a strong hand develops.

Best For

Events where variety is important and guests want to try something different from the standard blackjack/roulette/craps lineup.

Which Games Should You Choose?

For most events, a mix of three to five games works best. Here are some recommended combinations based on event type:

First-Time Casino Party (4 to 6 tables)

• 2 Blackjack tables
• 1 Roulette table
• 1 Craps table
• 1 Poker table (optional)

This is the classic casino floor mix. Every guest will find something they enjoy, and the combination of fast-paced blackjack, dramatic roulette, and high-energy craps covers all the bases.

Corporate Team-Building Event

• 2 to 3 Blackjack tables
• 1 Craps table (highest social energy)
• 1 Roulette table

Fundraiser

• 2 Blackjack tables
• 1 Roulette table
• 1 Craps table
• 1 Poker table (for tournament format)

Upscale Gala or Wedding Reception

• 2 Blackjack tables
• 1 Roulette table
• 1 Mini Baccarat table
• 1 Three Card Poker table

Add-On Entertainment

Beyond table games, Casino Party USA offers several add-on entertainment options that complement the casino floor:

• Slot machines: Firelink multi-game units that give guests a solo gaming option between table games
• Video horse racing: A high-energy race simulation with betting action and a live announcer
• Electronic bingo: A modern take on bingo that works beautifully as a standalone activity or complement to casino tables
• Photo booth: Captures memories and gives guests a keepsake from the evening

Ready to Build Your Casino Floor?

Casino Party USA has been helping event planners build the perfect casino floor since 1988. Our team will help you choose the right mix of games for your guest count, your event goals, and your budget.

Request a free quote or contact us to start planning. Tell us about your event and we will recommend the ideal game lineup.

Also see our casino table games page for photos and details on our full equipment lineup, and our casino party planning checklist for a complete event planning guide.