Casino Games

From Sega Retro

n/a

CasinoGames title.png

Casino Games
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Peripherals supported: FM Sound Unit
Genre: Family[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
US
$46.9946.99[3] 7021
Sega Master System
EU
7021
Sega Master System
UK
£24.9524.95[5][6] 7021
Sega Master System
CZ
7021
Sega Master System
AU
$69.9569.95[7]

Casino Games is a Sega Master System game released in 1989.

Gameplay

Casino Games SMS, Information.png

Information

The game is a collection containing three card games, a slot machine game, and a pinball table. All games are for a single player.

In all games, 2 confirms selections and 1 cancels or goes back.

Upon starting the game, the player chooses a salutation (Mr. or Ms.) and enters a name. The player is given $500 that can be gambled in the card games and the slot machine. After winning at least $1,000, the player can get a password ("account number") from the information counter to continue the game at a later time with the same winnings. The game ends if the player runs out of money.

Card games

The player can exit a card game by pressing 1 when the game is asking for a bet (or an ante).

Poker

Casino Games SMS, Poker.png

Poker

This is a game of draw poker against a single opponent. The goal is to have a better hand than the other player. The player chooses the opponent before starting the game. Each game has an "ante," which is the amount of money required to enter the game, separate from any money spent betting on the outcome.

At the start of the game, each player is given a hand of five cards. The player can choose to Bet (wager money that the player's hand is better than the opponent's), Pass (allow the opponent to choose whether to bet, pass, or fold), or Fold (forfeit and lose any money bet on the hand). If a player chooses to bet, the other player can choose to Call (match the opponent's bet), Raise (increase the money wagered), or Fold.

The betting strategy involves raising the bet when the player has a strong hand and either bluffing (raising the bet in the hopes that the opponent will fold rather than risk more money) or folding on a weak hand. The game shows the opponent's portrait, which changes expression depending on the hand they are holding. Weaker players have facial expressions that give away whether they are holding a good or a bad hand, but better players will bluff by raising more and looking confident even when holding a bad hand.

After the initial betting, the player can choose to change up to four cards (by pressing 2 to select them, then 1 to draw new cards). The player is then again given the choice to Bet, Pass, or Fold. If both players call each other's bets, both players show their hands and the game determines the winner.

Hands

The value of the hands is listed in increasing order, with the lower hands beating the hands above them. If both players have the same type of hand, the player with the higher cards wins. If neither player has a set, the player with the highest value card wins (with the Ace having the highest value).

Set Description
One Pair Two cards with the same number value.
Two Pairs Two sets of pairs.
Three of a Kind Three cards with the same number value.
Straight Five cards in numerical order (but not in the same suit).
Flush Five cards in the same suit (but not in numerical order).
Full House A combination of One Pair and Three of a Kind.
Four of a Kind Four cards with the same number value.
Straight Flush Five cards in numerical order and in the same suit.
Royal Flush An Ace, King, Queen, Jack, and 10 in the same suit.
Characters

These characters can be chosen as opponents. They increase in difficulty.

Casino Games SMS, Characters.png
Nancy
Casino Games SMS, Characters.png
Janet
Casino Games SMS, Characters.png
Dick
Casino Games SMS, Characters.png
Charley

Blackjack

Casino Games SMS, Blackjack.png

Blackjack

The goal of blackjack is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, while the dealer tries to do the same. The player can bet any amount from $10 and $100 on a single hand.

Numbered cards are worth their face value. Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are worth 10 points. Aces are worth 11 points, unless that would cause the player to "bust" (exceed 21), in which case they are worth 1 point.

On each hand, the dealer deals out two cards for the player and two cards for herself. The point value of the cards is shown below them. If the player's cards add up to 21, the player wins the hand automatically (which is called a "natural" if it happens on the initial deal). Otherwise, the player can choose to Hit (be dealt another card) or Stand (accept the total value and compare cards with the dealer). One of the dealer's cards is shown to the player (while the other is face down). The player can continue hitting until busting. If the player is dealt two cards of the same value, the player can choose to split the hand and take hits on each one; however, this requires doubling the bet. If the first two cards add up to 9, 10, or 11, the player can choose to double the bet, in which case the player is dealt one more card and stands. If the dealer is showing an Ace, the player can choose "insurance," which is a bet for half of the player's bet that the dealer has 21.

The dealer always hits when her cards are worth 16 or less and always stands if she has 17 or more.

Baccarat

Casino Games SMS, Baccarat.png

Baccarat

The goal of baccarat is to get as close to 9 as possible, while the dealer tries to do the same. The player can bet any amount from $10 and $100 on a single hand.

Numbered cards are worth their face value. Face cards (Jack, Queen, and King) are worth zero points. Aces are worth 1 point. Hands are valued modulo 10 (or in other words, only by looking at the lowest digit of their total). For example, if the player is holding a 3 and a 9, which add up to 12, the hand is worth 2 points. Thus, a hand in baccarat can only possibly be worth between 0 and 9 points.

On each hand, the dealer deals out two cards for the player and two cards for herself. If either player has a total of 8 or 9 (a "natural"), both players stand and play the cards that they have. If the player has a total of 6 or 7, the player stands. If the player's total is 5 or less, the player draws a third card. The dealer draws an extra card for herself depending on the value of her and the player's cards. Neither player ever draws more than one additional card. Each hand plays out automatically with no interaction from the player aside from setting the bet.

Slot machine

Casino Games SMS, Slot Machine.png

Slot machine

This is a fruit slot machine. The player pulls a lever and three reels spin until coming to a stop; the player must line up three pieces of fruit or other symbols to win. There are five machines with different token values ($1, $5, $25, $50, $100), with increasing costs to play but also potential winnings.

Each reel has three visible lines. The player can insert a token with 2 and pull the lever (after inserting a token) with 1. On each pull, the player can bet as many as 9 tokens, up to 3 tokens for each line. The line highlights with a color when a bet has been made on it (blue for 1 bet, green for 2, and magenta for 3). After pulling the lever, the player can stop a reel (from left to right) by pressing 2 or wait for it to come to a stop normally.

The player can exit the game by pressing 1 when there are no tokens inserted into the machine.

Points

Points are awarded for the following combinations:

Symbols Tokens won
3 Lucky Sevens 50
3 Bars 30
3 Bells 20
3 Plums 15
3 Tomatoes 10
3 Cherries 6
2 Cherries 4
1 Cherry 2

The tokens won is multiplied by the token value of the machine (so the number of tokens won for getting 3 Lucky Sevens is $50 for the $1 machine but $5,000 for the $100 machine) and by the number of bets made on the winning row.

Pinball

Casino Games SMS, Pinball.png

Pinball

This is a video pinball game with a single table. There is no betting involved, so the player instead plays for points. Points are awarded for hitting bumpers and drop targets on the table. Before starting the game, the player can choose the angle of the table (Gentle, Middle, or Steep). The ball moves faster on steeper tables. The optimal timing for hitting the ball with the flippers is also different for each table angle.

The launcher moves up and down repeatedly; the player can launch the ball by pressing 1. Launching it when the launcher is further away from the ball launches it harder. Once the ball is in play, the player controls the left flippers with Left and the right flippers with 2. There are two sets of flippers. The player can bump the table with 1. Bumping the table too much causes the game to tilt, which causes the player to lose the ball.

Magazine articles

Main article: Casino Games/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #97: "December 1989" (1989-11-16)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Guida Video Giochi (IT) #7: "Gennaio 1990" (19xx-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #100: "March 1990" (1990-02-16)
also published in:
  • ACE (UK) #30: "March 1990" (1990-02-01)[10]
  • ACE (UK) #31: "April 1990" (1990-03-xx)[11]
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #101: "April 1990" (1990-03-16)
also published in:
  • ACE (UK) #32: "May 1990" (1990-04-xx)[12]
Logo-pdf.svg
Enisof a.s offer.png
Print advert in Excalibur (CZ) #12 (1992-09-01)
Enisof a.s offer.png

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
35
[13]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
49
[14]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
46
[15]
Console XS (UK) PAL
54
[16]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
49
[17]
The Games Machine (UK)
70
[18]
Joystick (FR) PAL
80
[19]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
46
[20]
Megazone (AU) PAL
66
[7]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK)
57
[21]
Score (CZ)
58
[22]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[23]
Sega Pro (UK)
62
[24]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
54
[25]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
70
[26]
Sega Master System
55
Based on
15 reviews

Casino Games

Master System, US
CasinoGames SMS US Box.jpg
Cover
Casinogames sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
CasinoGames SMS EU Box NoR.jpg
Cover
CasinoGames SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, EU (Sega®)
CasinoGames SMS EU Box R.jpg
Cover
CasinoGames SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, CZ/SK (ITO CS)
CasinoGames SMS EU Box NoR.jpg
Cover
CasinoGames SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
CasinoGames SMS CZ Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU (Not for rental)
CasinoGames SMS AU norental back.jpgNospine.pngCasinoGames SMS AU norental cover.jpg
Cover
CasinoGames SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU (NIAL sticker)
CasinoGames SMS AU nial cover.jpg
Cover
CasinoGames SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 3cff6e80
MD5 ec16428b908a2c0036b799e55614be3d
SHA-1 8353b86965a87c724b95bb768d00dc84eeadce96
256kB Cartridge (EU/US)

References

  1. File:CasinoGames SMS EU Box NoR.jpg
  2. Computer Entertainer, "September 1989" (US; 1989-09-18), page 13
  3. GamePro, "February 1990" (US; 19xx-xx-xx), page 48
  4. File:BristolEveningPost UK 1989-11-30 Page 83.jpg
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Computer & Video Games, "October 1989" (UK; 1989-09-16), page 125
  6. Computer & Video Games, "December 1989" (UK; 1989-11-16), page 36
  7. 7.0 7.1 Megazone, "June 1990" (AU; 1990-0x-xx), page 48
  8. Computer & Video Games, "January 1990" (UK; 1989-12-16), page 115
  9. Guida Video Giochi, "Febbraio 1990" (IT; 1990-xx-xx), page 2
  10. ACE, "March 1990" (UK; 1990-02-01), page 70
  11. ACE, "April 1990" (UK; 1990-03-xx), page 64
  12. ACE, "May 1990" (UK; 1990-04-xx), page 12
  13. Aktueller Software Markt, "Oktober 1989" (DE; 1989-08-28), page 63
  14. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 34
  15. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 93
  16. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 139
  17. Computer & Video Games, "November 1989" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 113
  18. The Games Machine, "February 1990" (UK; 1990-01-11), page 57
  19. Joystick, "Janvier 1990" (FR; 19xx-xx-xx), page 139
  20. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 132
  21. S: The Sega Magazine, "October 1989" (UK; 1989-09-27), page 16
  22. Score, "Srpen 1994" (CZ; 1994-08-01), page 57
  23. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
  24. Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 20
  25. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
  26. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "February 1990" (US; 1990-0x-xx), page 36


Casino Games

CasinoGames title.png

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