What (and how) to play at Casino Bávaro in Punta Cana

Spin the wheel of fortune! American roulette is a casino classic – the French word “roulette” translates to “little wheel.” Try your luck at Casino Bávaro.

• How to play: In each play, the “croupier” spins the roulette wheel. He or she then rolls a small ball in the opposite direction. The ball will soon fall into one of several colored and numbered pockets along the edge. Your part in the fun? You’ve bet on whether the ball will fall into one of the 36 pockets – but be careful, some pockets belong to the “house.” Players can bet on whether the ball will fall into the pockets numbered 1–36, but not on a pocket that belongs to the house (that is, the casino). Once the spinning has stopped, the croupier then pays you if you’ve placed a successful bet.

One of the all-time best casino card games, blackjack (AKA Twenty-One) is easy to play and incredibly fun.

• How to play: You’ll be dealt two cards, face up or down (it varies from table to table). The dealer also gets two cards, one up and one down. The value of cards two through ten corresponds with their numbers. Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are worth ten and aces are worth one or eleven. You can then draw additional cards (“Hit me!”) to get closer to 21. If you go over 21, you “bust.” Once you’ve completed your hand, the dealer tries to beat you by getting as close as he or she can to 21. You win by having a higher total (but not “busting”) than the dealer. If you tie, it’s a “push.”

Switch things up! With origins in Aruba, Caribbean Stud Poker offers a fun twist on another classic casino table game, five-card stud poker. If you’re familiar with poker, you’ll have no trouble adjusting to the rules of Caribbean Stud Poker. Give it a try!

• How to play: Place your ante on the marked spot on the table. You and the dealer (and any other players) receive five cards, all face down. The dealer turns over one of his or her cards. Then, you can take a look at the hand you’ve been dealt – and decide whether to play or fold. If like what you see and you’re staying in add your additional wager (twice the amount of the ante) into the “Bet” box on the table. The dealer then compares his hand to yours and the rest of the player – if you beat him, you win! You’ll receive an “even money” payout.

Organize an exciting round of Texas Hold’em with friends by contacting the casino staff. This is another version of poker that involves community cards for all players.

• How to play: At the start, each player gets two cards – the “hole cards” – face down. Then, five more “community cards” are dealt face up in three stages. The stages are: a series of three cards known as “the flop;” an additional single card (“the turn”); and a final card (“the river”). You want to get the best five-card poker hand from any combo of the community cards and your two hole cards. You can check, call, raise or fold. If you end up with the best hand by the end of the betting rounds, you win all of the money bet – the pot!

When you feel like taking a break from gambling, take a walk over to Barceló Bávaro Palace’s Vegas-style Grand Teatro Bávaro. Here, you’ll find dazzling dancers accompanied by live music performed by an outstanding orchestra. There are bars on both levels and attentive waiters so you don’t miss any part of the fabulous shows. Guests will also love Bávaro Nightclub, a glamorous spot with cocktails, DJs and dancing.

Sin City – in the Dominican Republic? That’s right, you can get a Las Vegas experience in the heart of the Caribbean now. Casino Bávaro hosts a weekly Casino Vegas Night. During these special events, you’ll enjoy the casino’s wide variety of machines, roulette and electronic Blackjack in a Sin City-inspired setting. In addition to high-rolling thrills and spectacular entertainment, several prizes are raffled off during Casino Vegas Nights, including a stay of four days and three nights for two people at Barceló Bávaro Palace. And remember – what happens in Bávaro … stays in Bávaro!