One of my favorite ways to learn about a new subject is to look at the various subdivisions of that subject. For example, Im writing a blog about gambling, so that leads me to wonder what the different types of gambling games are. If I were writing a blog about literature, I might look at how literature experts categorize that subject.
Ill start by offering a definition of gambling, and Ill follow that with a definition of game:
My favorite online dictionary, Merriam Webster, says that the word gamble has 2 definitions:
I saw an interesting discussion in the Wikipedia article about poker that relates to this, in fact. A well-meaning editor had removed the phrase gambling game from the pages lede, claiming that poker was a game of skill, not chance, and therefore it wasnt a gambling game.
But according to the definition from Merriam Webster, poker qualifies for sure. After all, youre playing a game for money. And the outcome of an individual hand in poker is uncertain, even when the odds are in your favor.
The legal definition of gambling might be another matter. USLegal.com has a page about the legal definition of gambling, and its also illuminating:
The legal definition agrees that risking money on an uncertain outcome is gambling, but it seems to make an exception for something thats not under a persons control or influence. This leads me to believe that a bet on a sporting contest that youre involved in wouldnt constitute gamblingat least not in a legal sense. Playing a game of billiards, darts, or golf (just to name 3 examples) for $20 with your drinking buddy wouldnt count.
That site also specifies that buying securities or commodities doesnt constitute gambling, even though the future price of those securities or commodities might be uncertain. In fact, anything that would qualify as a bona fide business transaction would be considered not gambling.
That seems to be a reasonably complete coverage of the definition of the word gambling, at least for this posts purpose.
Now whats a game?
Merriam-Websters definition of game is lengthier than its definition of gambling. The main definition is simple enough, though:
A game is any activity youre participating in for purposes of fun or diversion. The concept of competition is mentioned in one of the other definitions, too.
In fact, poker and other gambling games is the 1st example of the word used in a sentence in that definition.
The Wikipedia defines a game as a structured form of play. The page goes on to list some key components of an activity that constitutes a game:
I think most of these components apply to almost any gambling activity you can think of.
Whats your goal playing a slot machine?
You try to get certain symbols lined up on a pay line.
Blackjack has specific rules about what values the playing cards have.
The challenge in any gambling game is to win more money than you lose.
And youre interacting with someone or something every time you place a bet.
Im a simple man. I use simple strategies to find the information I want. To find categories of gambling games, I started with a Google search.
And one of the first pages I found included a great set of broad categories for gambling games:
Gambling games consisting of pure chance include keno and roulette. No amount of skill gives you influence over the results of a keno draw or a spin of the roulette wheel.
Craps is a game thats mostly about chance. You need some skill at choosing the right bets, though. The odds change dramatically from the basics bets to the proposition bets. And some players believe in dice setting or dice control.
Blackjack and poker are games of mostly skill. How you play your cards has a big role in determining your outcome. Card counters get an edge against the house. Skilled poker players also operate with a mathematical advantage.
But thats not the only way to categorize gambling games.
The California Council of Problem Gambling has the following gambling games list:
I disagree with some of their categorizations, but here are some insights into each category:
Casino card games include games like blackjack and Texas holdem. I wouldnt include traditional poker as as casino-style game, though. Poker games played against other players are dramatically different from games played in the casino proper.
Heres why:
In a real poker game, youre competing with the other players for money. In a casino card game, youre competing with the house for money. If you lose a hand of blackjack, the casino wins your money. If you lose a hand of poker, the other player at the table wins your money.
The house does bank some poker games, though.Caribbean Stud, for example, is a game you play in a casino versus the dealer. The actions of the other players at the table have no effect on your outcome.
The California Council on Problem Gamblings page lists some of the following card games as examples of other card games:
Id agree with their categorization, but Id include all poker games played against other players in this category instead of the casino card games category.
Any gambling game using dice to determine outcomes qualifies. Craps is the obvious example. Sic Bo is another, less well-known example. You could even gamble on Yahtzee if you wanted to.
The site lists the following games as examples:
It seems as if the California problem gambling site considers any game played on the internet to be an electronic gambling game, and I get that. Id probably include slot machines and video poker games played in brick and mortar casinos, though. That would also include the less common games, video blackjack and video roulette.
This is where you bet on the outcome of a sporting event that youre not participating in. Place a bet on a baseball or football game, and youre a sports bettor.
Sports betting is one of the more legally suspect gambling activities on this list. The Wire Act is a federal law that prohibits the running of a sports betting operation over the phone. For purposes of the law, this includes placing bets over the internet.
But the law only applies to the party taking the action. Placing the bet isnt a crime. Taking the bet is.
Companies (or individuals) who take sports bets as a business are called sports books. Theyre also sometimes just called books or bookies.
You can bet on sports with multiple offshore companies, even if you live in the United States. The companies accepting those bets can get in a lot of trouble if they get caught. Youre pretty safe, legally, though.
Betting on sports can be one of the most profitable betting games for the skilled bettor.
They dont have to be quarters. In fact, the Wikipedia article calls it pitching pennies. The concept is the same, though:
You throw a coin at the wall. So do your competitors. The person whose coin lands closest to the wall wins the coins.
Its an ancient game. Ive never thought of it when I wrote about gambling games lists before, though.
I doubt theres a lot of action in the quarter pitching market segment anymore. I do remember seeingThe Purple Rose of Cairo, and Danny Aiellos character was pitching pennies in that movie.
Lotteries have become ubiquitous in the United States. I think only 2 or 3 states have no lottery at the time of this writing.
Even when lotteries werent commonplace, private individuals ran lottery style games. These are the gangsters you hear about in the movies who are running numbers.
A number running game might work like this:
You pick 3 numbers between 0 and 9. The next day, the last 3 digits of the Dow Jones Industrial Average determine the winner. The individual running the numbers keeps a cut, of course.
But probably not as big a cut as the states who are running the lotteries keep. The mathematical expectation for these games is 50 cents on the dollar.
If you started with $1 million, bought a million lottery tickets with the money, and kept reinvesting your winnings, youd go broke much faster than you think:
Youd go broke in 3 weeks.
My best advice about gambling?
Skip the lottery altogethereven the seemingly-harmless scratch-off tickets.
I dont usually think of a raffle as a gambling game. But I guess it qualifies.
A raffle is when an organization wants to raise some money for some purpose. They offer some kind of prize, and they sell tickets for a drawing to win that prize.
Raffles resemble lotteries, but theyre privately held. Depending where you live, a raffle might be illegal.
Bingo resembles keno, lottery, and raffle games. The difference is the shape and makeup of the card. In the United States, a bingo card is a 5X5 grid. The word BINGO is printed across the top. The numbers are in the 25 squares.
Depending on the game, you win money based on getting a straight line or some other shape.
Bingo is the most socially accepted type of gambling in the world. Churches often host bingo games on a regular basis. People play bingo in elementary schools and nursing homes, although the prizes might not be cash.
But bingo isnt legal in every jurisdiction, either.
I discussed this category earlier. These are personal games of skill, like darts or billiards. I played in a weekly shuffleboard tournament at my local bar for 10 years. You paid $10 to play. You drew your partner at random.
The winners got the prize pool, and 2nd place got to play in the next weeks tournament free.
And if you dont think shuffleboard is a game of skill, let me tell you this:
I didnt win a tournament, no matter how strong a partner I had, for the 1st 9 years I participated.
The California site mentions Native American stick games and Mahjong as examples. I know that in some Middle Eastern countries, its common to bet on kite fighting. Participants create kites with blades on them and try to take out their opponents kites.
This is an odd category. It seems like all gambling games are cultural games for someone.
Around 91% of Americans use the internet in one form or another. One could assume that almost all of the gambling games listed above would have an online counterpart. The few gambling games I could see as outliers would be maybe kite fighting.
More and more states are legalizing online gambling and with that comes more options for playing gambling games online. You can even consider raffles online as well.
My daughter is a big Instagram user. She enters giveaways all the time, which could be considered a raffle of sorts. Shes trading her contact info and social media exposure for a chance to win a companys product in return. Money might not be exchanging hands but free social media exposure for an up and coming clothing brand is worth its weight in gold on Instagram, or just about any other social platform.
Online gambling is having a shining moment with the pandemic that shook the world in Marhc 2020. Everyone was at home and on the internet, ALL THE TIME. The traditional casinos closed. This left a huge open market for online gambling to step in and fill that void.
You can play just about any gambling online these days. fans of slot machines table games have 1000s of apps and website choices.
Are you a sports fan?
More than a dozen states have legalized online sports betting and daily fantasy sports leagues like DraftKings.com. Online sports betting is big business for sports teams and the online gambling arena. Just make sure you check your local laws to make sure its legal in your location.
The choices are almost unlimited when you look at online gambling games. If you like a certain gambling game, I promise theres most likely an online version of it.
This may seem like a redundant topic to include on this gambling game list but I think its an important one that we shouldnt overlook. Just about any gambling game can be replicated online (legal or not) with the right app or technology.
These are just examples of the types of gambling games you might consider playing. I used 2 different websites opinions about how they should be categorized. But I had problems with both their categorization schemes.
I could create lists of games where your decisions matter versus games where your decisions dont matter. I could also list games that use spinning wheels, like roulette or Wheel of Fortune. (Dont confuse that 2nd one with the popular TV game show.)
Ive done some work on a previous post that hopes to eventually be the most complete list of casino games on the internet. Ill probably return to that post soon to update it. I doubt it will ever be finished, though. Gambling game creators are hard at work looking for new and exciting ways to separate you from your money all the time.
Read the rest here:
14 Types of Gambling Games (2022 List)
- Sports betting and gambling addiction are on the rise - Dakota News Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Proposed Alabama gambling legislation includes lottery, casinos, sports betting - AL.com - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Super Bowl betting soars, but it's still not legal in Chiefs and 49ers home states - NPR - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Problem gambling has increased in Ohio since sports betting legalized - Hamilton Journal News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports betting and gambling addiction are on the rise - KTIV Siouxland's News Channel - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports bets during the big game could trigger gambling addictions - 25 News Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Illegal gambling raid at El Patron leads to 1 arrest and 23 citations - KRIS 6 News Corpus Christi - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Experts discuss responsible gambling ahead of the Super Bowl - Spectrum News 1 - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Gambling addicts face tough test as Super Bowl 58 descends on Las Vegas and NFL cashes in - USA TODAY - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- What are the NFLs gambling rules for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas? - The Athletic - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Personal Frontiers gets $45K to treat gambling addiction - Gillette News Record - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Super Bowl Gambling Grows, But Pastors Are on the Sidelines | News & Reporting - ChristianityToday.com - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports betting leading to increase in gambling addiction - Dayton 24/7 Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Betting on the Super Bowl: Impacts of sports gambling in Ohio as state's help hotline sees jump in calls - WKYC.com - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports gambling during the NFL Championship game will increase addiction rates - 25 News Now - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Billionaires Are Trying to Bring Casinos and Gambling to Texas - Robb Report - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Gambling becomes the first big issue of the legislative session - WBHM - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- DraftKings, helplines, and the hidden toll of sports gambling - The Boston Globe - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- The Super Bowl and gambling are locked in a tight and dangerous embrace - The Guardian - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Sports gambling addictions on the rise due to online betting, experts warn ahead of Super Bowl LVIII - WLS-TV - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Ads, food and gambling galore 5 essential reads for the Super Bowl - The Conversation - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Michigan Association on Problem Gambling warns of gambling problems ahead of Super Bowl - 9 & 10 News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Ivey addresses gambling, AI, broadband and more - Alabama Political Reporter - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Tiny Nicks Gambling Picks: 02/10 - Zone Coverage - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Super Bowl gambling to break records - Action News 5 - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Capitol Notebook: Iowa gambling commission names new administrator - The Gazette - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Gambling in Iran: A prohibited but flourishing pursuit in digital age - G2G News - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addresses legalized gambling, officiating, player safety ahead of Super Bowl LVIII - NFL.com - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Players on the 49ers and Chiefs are barred from gambling in Vegas, until the game ends - NBC Sports - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- Judge in Borgata/MGM case rules casinos have no duty to stop compulsive gamblers from betting - The Associated Press - February 11th, 2024 [February 11th, 2024]
- The Future of Florida's Sports Gambling on the Docket - 1290 WJNO - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Tiny Nicks Gambling Picks: 01/03 - Zone Coverage - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Casino smoking and boosting in-person gambling are among challenges for Atlantic City in 2024 - The Associated Press - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- What Are the Gambling Laws and Restrictions in Idaho? - kezj.com - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- NFL losing luster as obsession with gambling, numbers takes over - Herald-Mail Media - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- How old do you have to be to gamble in Arizona? What to know about gambling laws - The Arizona Republic - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- NY State Revenues from Sports Gambling Tops $2.9 Billion - Yonkers Times - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Gambling problem help-line calls have tripled since legislature legalized sports betting - pmg-ky2.com - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Here's why Americans spend nearly 4 times more money gambling at casinos than in the lottery - Newscenter1.tv - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Another Landmark Year In Store For New York Gambling In 2024 - Play NY - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- As sports gambling in Missouri remains illegal bars and restaurants in Springfield try to get as close as possible - KY3 - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Israel 'gambling' on Hezbollah avoiding all-out war after killing of Saleh Al Arouri - The National - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- What should the gambling industry's New Year's resolutions be in 2024? - Gambling Insider - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- San Jose Police Arrest Five Suspects in East San Jose for Illegal Gambling, Prostitution - San Jose Inside - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- NASCAR 2023 Season Recap I NASCAR Gambling Podcast (Ep. 319) - SGPN - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Support for gambling addiction increases in Ohio during first year of legal sports betting - WTRF - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Maine lawmakers consider expansion of tribal rights to online gambling, land-based casinos - Yogonet International - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Tiny Nicks Gambling Picks: 01/01 - Zone Coverage - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Virtual Reality Casinos: The Future Of Online Gambling? - TNT Magazine - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- 2024 could be the year Georgia lawmakers move on gambling expansion - The Albany Herald - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Helpline Calls Spike With Virginia Gambling Expansion - Scott County Virginia Star - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- 2024 could be the year Georgia lawmakers move on gambling expansion - The Center Square - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- The River: The story starts in 1991 as Vanna White cuts the ribbon opening casino boat gambling . . . - NKyTribune - User-generated content - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Cowboys-Lions Saturday MNF Week 17: Open thread and gambling picks - Silver And Black Pride - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- NBA First FG Props - January 2 - SGPN - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- 2024 will be 2023 all over again; gambling going nowhere; Decatur is a mess; and more on Alabama Politics This ... - Yellowhammer News - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Lawmakers propose bills to expand tribal gaming - Press Herald - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Five arrested after San Jose raid uncovers illegal gambling, prostitution, weapons - The Mercury News - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- NBA First FG Props - January 3 - SGPN - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- Gambling addiction resources available for those who need it - Fox 56 News - January 4th, 2024 [January 4th, 2024]
- 'Get your house in order': Lawmakers admonish gambling regulation agency, which defends processes - Indiana Capital Chronicle - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Blaise Ingoglia bill could open gambling options in the state - Florida Politics - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Tiny Nicks Gambling Picks: 12/24 - Zone Coverage - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Gen Z Stocks: The Path from Gambling to Investment - TipRanks.com - TipRanks - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- API report warns that gambling, state lotto legalization comes with downsides - Yellowhammer News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Sports Gambling Special with Jason Sarney and Andy Slater of FOX SPORTS 640 - Miami Dolphins - Dolphins Talk - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- U.K. Parliamentary Committee Wants Premier League, Other Sports to Curb Gambling Ads - Covers - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Leader of state gambling regulation leaving for another job - Radio Iowa - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Brazil green lights online gambling regulation - igaming included - iGaming Business - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Shift to Eco-Friendly Practices in Online Gambling - Smithfield Times Eco-Innovation in Online Gambling: A Green ... - Smithfield Times - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- State Rep. Brown predicts vote on legislation with 'free-market - 1819 News - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Saints-Rams Thursday Night Football: Open thread and gambling picks - Silver And Black Pride - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Kentucky Edition | Kentucky's First Problem Gambling Fund | Season 2 | Episode 145 - PBS - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Boxing Day Preview and Best Bets - SGPN - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- 2024 Elections: Changhua officials arrest four for election gambling - - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Tiny Nicks Gambling Picks: 12/23 - Zone Coverage - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- MGM Resorts International donates six-figure sum to gambling harms research - EGR Global - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The Degenerate's Gambit: 2023 Week 16 NFL Gambling Lines with Tony - Football Absurdity - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- The Mailbag Episode + State of Professional Golf | Golf Gambling Podcast (Ep. 331) - SGPN - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]
- Brazil Green Lights Sports Betting And Online Gambling Bill - World Casino Directory - December 25th, 2023 [December 25th, 2023]