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Photo courtesy Bellagio Hotel & Casino
 Reviewed and rated land casinos, international Index page:
 Editor's personal reviews.
Reviewed on-land casinos with 5-star rating are ranked among the best casinos in hospitality, friendliness, standard of service, and the quality of their facilities. Casinos with 4-star rating are very good.
See useful information on land casinos  below on this page, at the end of the casino reviews Index.
There are currently 46 reviewed land casinos in 20 countries:
Star ratings: ***** Highly Recommended. **** Recommended. *** Good.
 = When clicked opens page in a new browser window
HR = Highly Recommended casino, one of the best!
 Reviewed casino
More exposure more interesting: If you operate a land casino a reviewed casino gets a photo-enhanced directory listing with more informative details giving it more exposure and making it more interesting. It will then be also included here in this reviewed casinos Index page. Email the editor at admin@ildado.com to request a review of your casino or use this all set pop-up email. This service is free and it's free to be listed in the directory.
Useful information on land-based casinos
Currency
The gaming currency used in casinos is usually the local one but in some European countries which are in the process of joining the Euro currency, the casinos with live table games may be using the Euro; either exclusively or in addition to the local currency. Casinos in some countries may use one of the major currencies (US Dollar, British Pound or Euro) instead of their local one.
Casinos with live table games usually will accept all major credit cards, travellers checks, and will exchange major foreign currencies at a favourable exchange rate, and will exchange it back at the same rate when you leave.
Identification - ID requirement for admittance
A Passport or a form of identification is required in most land casinos and in most countries. In some countries the casinos do not accept a driving licence as a form of identification (example: Luxembourg). In Bulgaria you are required by law to bring your Passport or ID every time you visit a casino with live table games, even though you become a registered member of the casino and carry a membership card.
Where a form of identification is not a requirement, it is still advisable to have it, as there may be instances where they may need to ask for identification, such as if you look younger than the minimum gaming age allowed. Also, if you win a large sum of money, they may ask you for identification at the casino cash desk before paying you.
Tipping - Casino dealers and casino personnel
In most land-based casinos in European countries (Western and Eastern Europe), you need to tip the dealer 1 chip if you win 35 chips on a straight up bet at roulette. Normally this is not compulsory but they expect you to tip them when you win and will remind you to do so as they hand you the casino chips you just won.
In UK casinos roulette dealers and gaming staff in general are not allowed to accept tips. You are quite free however, to reward floor waitresses, car jockeys, reception staff and bar/restaurant staff for good service, should you wish.
Roulette types - And how the casinos in certain countries call them
American Roulette can have a single zero (0) or a double zero (0, 00), but the manner it is played is the same for both. Apart from the zero positions, the table layout is the same. The other major difference is the sequence of the numbers on the roulette wheel. They are totally different.
The Americans call the single-zero version "European Roulette". The French call it "English Roulette". The English call it "American Roulette". In some African countries they call it "Roulette with French numeration on American table".
French Roulette is known everywhere as French Roulette, has a single zero, a wide table layout and have Stickmen that handle the chips. The French Roulette uses the same type of roulette wheel with the same sequence of numbers as the single-zero American Roulette.
Boule - The mini roulette
Boule or La Boule is a simple and fast game that is similar to Roulette, popular in French casinos The game features a table and a wheel with only 9 numbers and 3 different colours. The wheel is spun and a small rubber ball bounces around the wheel before settling into one of the coloured holes to determine the outcome.
Banca Francesa - A popular Portuguese dice game
Banca Francesa or French Bank is a dice game common in Portuguese casinos. The game is played with three dice on a large table. In a way it is similar to the card game Punto Banco (Baccarat).
Players can bet on "Big" or "Small" being the total points of the three dice (14, 15 or 16 points is Big; 5, 6 or 7 points is Small) or "Aces" (one dot per dice, total 3 points). The dealer will be re-rolling the dice until one of these results shows up. Big and Small both pay even money while Aces pays 61 to 1. The house edge (casino advantage) on all three bets is approximately 1.6%.
Trente et Quarante - (Thirty and Forty)
Also called Rouge et Noir (Red and Black), is a game of French origin found in Casino Monte-Carlo and in French and Italian casinos played with cards and a special table. The game has many similarities to Punto Banco (Baccarat). The name Trente et Quarante is derived from the fact that the winning point lies between thirty and forty. There are five possible outcomes: Rouge or Noir, known as the "Grand Tableau", Couleur or Inverse, known as the "Petit Tableau", and a Refait (a tie).
The croupier deals out two rows of cards (on the red and black positions or rouge et noir) sequentially until their total sum equals 31 or greater. Cards are counted face value and face cards count 10, aces count 1. The total closest to 31 wins. Players may bet on either 'colour row' to win. They may also bet on "Coleur" or "Inverse". Coleur is a bet on whether the first card of the winning row is the same as the colour as its row. Inverse is a bet that the first card of the winning row is not the same colour as its row. The house derives its edge (approx. 1%) in the event of a tie at 31, when the house takes one half of all the stakes. There is also an insurance bet option against the 'tie' outcome.
Explanation of icons used in the land-based casino listings
 This icon denotes a Live Games casino that offers table games only, with live casino operators, a card dealer or a croupier, such as: roulette, blackjack, casino poker, punto banco / baccarat / chemin de fer, craps, etc.
Note: These types of casinos normally are: open from about 8pm to about about 3am, there is an admittance fee, a form of ID and/or registration is required, the dress code is smart, there is in-house restaurant and bar.
 This icon denotes an Automat casino that offers games on automatic machines only, that do not require a casino operator, such as: reel slot machines also called one-arm bandit, fruit machines, video machines and multi-games machines (for playing video games including video poker, multi-line slots, keno, roulette, etc.), touch-bet roulette terminals served by an automatic mechanical roulette wheel, electronic Derby horse racing, etc.
Note: These types of casinos are also called: Automat Clubs, Videomat Casinos, Arcade Casinos, Slot Halls. They normally are: open 24 hours or from about 10am daily, with free admittance, a form of ID and/or registration is not required, the dress code is casual, there is in-house bar or snack bar.
 This icon denotes an Automats and Live Games casino that offers both; automatic or electronically operated games and live table games that involve the use of a dealer or a croupier.
Note: These casinos normally have opening times, admittance requirements and facilities using a combination of both of the above two types of casinos. In some casinos the two types of gaming activities are split in two different areas or halls, or are on two different floor levels.
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