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The most popular table games around the world

Casino table games have entertained players for generations, and their appeal has spread well beyond the traditional casino floor. From the spinning roulette wheel to the familiar cards of blackjack, different games have developed their own following across countries and cultures. While the experience can vary from one market to another, several table games continue to stand out.

Blackjack is an all-time favourite casino game because of its straightforward rules and the strategic choices players can make during each hand. The basic aim is to get as close to 21 as possible without going over, while beating the dealer’s hand. Players can decide whether to take another card, stand, double down or split, which adds a layer of skill and involvement to the game.

Roulette is another classic that needs little introduction. Players watch a ball travel around a numbered wheel before landing in a pocket. There are several ways to place a bet, including choosing a single number, a colour or a particular section of the wheel. European and American versions are widely recognised, with the American wheel featuring both a single zero and a double zero, offering different betting strategies.

Craps brings something different to the table. Based around the roll of two dice, it can become one of the liveliest games in a casino. One player acts as the shooter while other players can place bets on the result. Its wide range of betting options, including pass and don’t pass wagers, invites players to explore different ways to enjoy the game, making it welcoming for newcomers and seasoned players alike.

Poker holds a special place in the casino world because players can compete against each other rather than just playing against the house. Numerous versions exist, including Texas Hold’em and Omaha, where players aim to build the strongest hand under the game’s rules. Multiple betting rounds add excitement, and tournaments can bring players from around the world together for competitive play.

Baccarat is another longstanding table game, with Punto Banco being a particularly familiar version. The objective is to get as close to nine as possible and beat the opposing hand. Players generally bet on the Player, Banker or a tie, while the cards are dealt according to established rules. Its relatively simple structure has helped it become a familiar part of casino gaming in different markets.

Plenty of poker-style table games also offer something slightly different. Three Card Poker puts the player against the dealer and uses three-card hands, making it a faster alternative to games involving several opponents. Pai Gow has its roots in Ancient China and has developed into a card game where players arrange seven cards into two poker hands.

Three Card Rummy provides another variation, with players aiming to have fewer points than the dealer. Let’Em Ride is also based around poker-style hands, with players starting with three cards and having further opportunities to bet as the remaining cards are revealed.

What makes these games so enduring is the variety they offer. Some rely heavily on chance, while others require decisions or involve competing against other players. They are also available in both physical casinos and online formats, making traditional table games accessible in different ways.

Even though the games themselves have remained familiar, the way people experience them continues to change. Online platforms have brought established favourites to new audiences, while live versions recreate elements of the traditional casino environment, offering fresh ways to enjoy classic games and stay connected to the casino atmosphere.

Ultimately, no single table game appeals to everyone. Blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, baccarat and the many other variations each offer something different. Their continued presence worldwide shows that classic casino games can adapt to changing audiences while keeping the basic appeal that made them popular in the first place.

How we prevented Atiku from victory in 2023, by Wike

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike yesterday reflected on the circumstances surrounding the defeat of the former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in Rivers State during the 2023 general election.

He said Atiku was defeated because the G-5 Governors deployed a tactical voting strategy involving the then Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to weaken him at the poll.

Wike said the strategy was designed to prevent Atiku from harvesting the traditional PDP votes in the Southsouth, which he described as a major threat to the objective of the G-5 governors.

The former Rivers State governor reminisced on the 2023 poll while inspecting major projects under construction in Abuja.

Wike and Atiku had parted ways, following the controversial presidential primary of the PDP in Abuja that threw up the former vice president as candidate.

The former Rivers governors and his colleagues – Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Seyi Makinde (Oyo) – who protested the neglect of zoning, said the party played a politics of exclusion to the detriment of the South.

Wike said contrary to the widespread perception that Obi was a major threat in the election, the G-5 identified Atiku as the candidate whose votes needed to be reduced in the region.

Wike recalled: ‘We felt Atiku was more of a factor in that election than Obi. So, our strategy was clear: listen, vote and make sure you vote for Obi to win in certain areas in order to deny Atiku the votes.

‘Obi was not the real threat; Obi was merely a trend on social media. Our primary target was to neutralise Atiku’s votes in the Southsouth, the PDP stronghold.’

Wike also said the strategy became necessary because of the potential impact of the Southsouth vote on the presidential contest.

He stresed: ‘Even as we are, you don’t know the strategy we adopted. Everybody has a strategy. The Southsouth was purely a PDP stronghold. If the South-South had voted for PDP all through, Atiku would have won, and that was the real threat.’

The minister also dismissed claims by opposition figures that the 2023 presidential election results in Rivers State were manipulated.

He challenged those alleging electoral malpractice to produce polling-unit results before the appropriate tribunal, saying that social media projections could not substitute for legally admissible electoral evidence.

Wike said: ‘You have over 170,000 polling units nationwide, and someone sees 300 polling units on social media and concludes they won?

‘Did anybody tender any result at the tribunal from Rivers State to show they won? You cannot rig an election where you are not popular. If you try it, the people will resist it.’

Wike took a swipe at lawmakers criticising the FCT Administration over borrowing and the execution of capital projects.

He said the administration had pushed the implementation of the 2026 capital budget beyond 60 percent despite delays in its passage and assent.

He said the late release of the budget initially affected payments to some contractors, including Julius Berger, but implementation accelerated once the funds became available.

‘If you are a legislator, you know the procedures. Without the budget, these projects wouldn’t go on,’ he said.

Wike urged lawmakers seeking re-election to account for their stewardship instead of making the FCT Administration’s borrowing and infrastructure programme an issue.

He said: ‘Those running for election should go and tell voters what they have done, rather than complaining about whether I took a loan or not.’

Minister sets deadlines for project completion

The minister reviewed the progress of the strategic projects and announced completion targets for some of them.

At Galadimawa District, where Info West is handling road and bridge construction, Wike said the project is expected to be completed by December 15.

At the N5/Life Camp axis, where Julius Berger is undertaking dualisation and access-road works, completion and handover are targeted for December.

The N16/Guzape project, being executed by CCECC Global, is expected to be completed in the first week of January 2027.

120 Lagos, Ogun women get training in block-laying

HBM Nigeria Plc, a leading provider of innovative building solutions and manufacturer of cement, ready-mix, mortar and Plaster of Paris products, has begun its Female Tilers and Block-Laying Training initiative.

It has equipped 120 women across Lagos and Ogun states with construction skills to expand their participation and economic opportunities in the building and construction sector.

The six-week training is being implemented across three locations, with 40 women each in Ayobo and Epe in Lagos State and another 40 participants in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The Lagos component of the programme is being delivered in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and other relevant state stakeholders, following a joint orientation and launch held September 21.

The beneficiaries will receive training in wall and floor tiling and block-laying, alongside sessions on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, soft skills, digital tools, business management and sustainable construction practices.

The programme also covers health and safety, circular economy principles, practical project work and mentorship, with participants expected to complete capstone projects in tiling and masonry before graduating at the end of the six-week training.

The Director, Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development, HBM Nigeria Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, explained that the programme reflects the company’s commitment to creating practical pathways for women to build sustainable livelihoods while addressing the gender gap in skilled construction trades.

Graham-Douglas added that the programme provides participants with exposure to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business registration, digital skills and professional associations, helping them understand how to turn their technical skills into viable businesses and build sustainable careers.

‘At HBM Nigeria Plc, we believe that skills development is one of the most practical ways to create lasting opportunities for women, particularly those from underserved communities. Through this programme, we are not only teaching women how to tile or lay blocks; we are equipping them with the technical knowledge, business skills and confidence they need to build sustainable livelihoods and participate meaningfully in an industry where women remain underrepresented,’ she said.

The Female Tilers and Block-Laying Training initiative is part of HBM Nigeria’s broader corporate social responsibility efforts to equip women from underserved communities with technical, entrepreneurial and financial skills while promoting greater female participation in the construction sector.

The initiative builds on the company’s previous women-focused programmes, including the BuildHer by Lafarge initiative, which trained 100 women across Lagos, Ogun and Cross River States, following an earlier cohort of 40 women.

PH meat imports slow despite 8% growth-MITA

Philippine meat imports slowed sharply heading into the late third quarter of 2026, despite overall import volume growing almost 8 percent in the first eight months of the year, according to the Meat Importers and Traders Association (MITA).

Data from the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) showed that meat imports in August alone declined by 16.1 percent to 115.18 million kilograms, which MITA President Emeritus Jesus Cham said was the lowest monthly arrival volume since April 2024.

Despite this, BAI figures noted that the Philippines imported 1.14 billion kg of meat from January to August this year, reflecting a 7.6 percent increase from the same period last year.

Pork imports accounted for 53 percent, or 602.66 million kg, of the total, followed by chicken at 32.5 percent (369.93 million kg) and beef at 11 percent (124.83 million kg).

In a Viber message on Thursday, MITA President Emeritus Jesus Cham said the decrease marked ‘a sharp deceleration in growth momentum heading into the late third quarter.’

Cham said import volumes of major protein categories, except buffalo and duck, have contracted toward mid-2024 baseline levels.

He said pork posted the largest single-month decline, highlighting weaker inventory building and caution ahead of fourth-quarter holiday stocking.

Poultry imports also decreased, signaling lower processing activity and potentially saturated cold-storage inventories among food manufacturers and importers.

Meanwhile, Cham said beef imports slowed even as beef cuts held steady and beef fats dipped.

‘While pork, chicken, and beef imports slowed down, buffalo jumped nearly 22 percent month-on-month, further confirming a sustained processor and consumer pivot toward cost-effective raw materials,’ he added.

Brazil remained the leading source of imported meat, holding a market share of 47.6 percent, equivalent to 541.13 million kg.

The United States ranked second with 12.5 percent (141.64 million kg), followed by Australia at 5.3 percent (60.36 million kg).

BSP tightens rules on digital-centric banks

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is tightening capital and prudential requirements for thrift, rural and cooperative banks that are shifting toward digital banking models, seeking to ensure that faster-growing lenders maintain adequate safeguards.

Under Circular No. 1240 dated Sept. 21, existing thrift, rural and cooperative banks that the BSP determines are operating under a business model similar to that of a digital bank will be required to meet the P1-billion minimum capital requirement for digital banks, among other prudential standards.

The banks will have six months from receipt of the BSP’s notice to comply.

The same P1-billion minimum capital requirement will apply when a proposed acquisition is intended to transform a thrift, rural or cooperative bank into a technology-driven business model. The bank must also meet the prudential standards applicable to digital banks.

The BSP may impose additional safeguards, including enhanced supervisory reporting, restrictions on certain activities or new digital products and services, and stronger risk-management and internal-control systems.

The rules will apply to banks that meet either of two sets of conditions, according to the circular.

The first covers banks operating under a business model similar to that of a digital bank, as well as those whose capital and risk-management systems are no longer commensurate with their stated business model and risk profile.

The second covers banks that use digital platforms to deliver financial services while recording significant growth in their loan or deposit balances.

The new requirements were pushed through despite industry concerns that tighter rules could stifle innovation. The BSP said the updated rules are intended to ensure that these banks can adequately manage risks arising from the nature, scale, complexity and risk profile of their operations.

The circular also allows the BSP to issue additional digital bank licenses, including through the conversion of existing thrift, rural and cooperative banks, subject to the applicable licensing framework. A digital banking license would allow them to market their digital services to a broader customer base, including customers outside their usual geographic areas of operation.

FG pushes culture, tourism as new frontiers of Nigeria-China ties

The Federal Government has identified culture and tourism as new frontiers for deepening Nigeria-China relations, with emphasis on cultural diplomacy, creative industries, tourism development and people-to-people exchanges.

The government made its position known at the ‘Shared Moon, Shared Moment, Meet in Africa – Hunan Culture and Tourism in Nigeria’ event in Abuja, where a delegation from China’s Hunan Province showcased its cultural heritage through music, dance, acrobatics and other traditional art forms.

Representing the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Abdulkarim Ozi Ibrahim, Musa Alhamdu said cultural exchange could strengthen bilateral relations while creating opportunities for tourism, skills development and the creative economy.

He described the event as more than a cultural performance, saying it was a celebration of Nigeria-China friendship, cultural diversity, mutual respect and people-to-people exchange.

‘Culture has a unique ability to bring people together. It translates language, geography and differences, allowing us to discover what we share as human beings,’ Alhamdu said.

He said Nigeria’s cultural diversity, reflected in its music, dance, theatre, visual arts, festivals, crafts, fashion, film, literature and contemporary creative industries, provided a strong foundation for sustained cooperation with China.

According to him, cultural diplomacy is an important instrument for strengthening international relations, promoting tourism and creating opportunities for creative practitioners.

He said Nigeria’s engagement with China in the cultural sector should extend beyond artistic exchanges to include creative collaboration, tourism opportunities, skills development and greater participation of young Nigerians in the global creative economy.

‘For us at the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, cultural diplomacy is an important instrument for strengthening international relations, promoting tourism and creating opportunities for our creative practitioners,’ he said.

Alhamdu urged both countries to expand exchanges among artists, cultural institutions, museums, theatres, creative entrepreneurs, young people and tourism stakeholders.

He said such partnerships would help transform cultural exchanges into enduring relationships capable of contributing to economic and social development.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Social Development Secretariat of the FCT Administration, Olubunmi Olowokere, said Abuja offered significant opportunities for collaboration with Hunan in cultural exchange, creative industries, heritage promotion, tourism development, skills development and preservation of traditional arts.

Olowokere said culture often provided the first avenue through which people from different countries encountered and understood one another.

‘So when a Nigerian watches a Chinese cultural performance, or when a visitor from China experiences Nigerian music and traditional arts, something important happens. We move from simply knowing each other to experiencing each other. And that experience creates understanding,’ she said.

She called for the establishment of long-term institutional partnerships rather than limiting cultural cooperation to one-day celebrations.

She urged artists, cultural institutions, tourism professionals, museums, cultural centres, performing arts organisations and creative entrepreneurs from both countries to develop partnerships.

Olowokere also encouraged Chinese visitors to explore Abuja and Nigeria’s tourism attractions, while urging Nigerians to discover the cultural and tourism opportunities in Hunan and other parts of China.

Earlier, the Cultural Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy and Director of the China Cultural Centre in Nigeria, Yang Jianxing, said cultural and artistic exchanges could strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between Nigeria and China.

Yang said the Mid-Autumn Festival, which centres on the full moon, represented values of family reunion, harmony, peace and the shared aspiration for a better life.

‘Culture and art know no borders. A song, a dance or a sincere gathering can cross mountains and oceans and touch people’s hearts,’ he said.

He said Hunan had three World Heritage sites and nine elements inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Yang noted that Changsha, the provincial capital, had served as the permanent host city of the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo since 2019, adding that Hunan and Nigeria had developed ties in trade, investment, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

He said the Hunan delegation brought songs, dances, acrobatics and other performances to Abuja, while Nigerian cultural presentations were also featured to promote mutual appreciation.

Yang said the programme was particularly significant as 2026 marked the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Nigeria and China and the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.

He expressed hope that the cultural engagement would lead to stronger ties between Hunan and Nigeria, particularly between Hunan and Abuja, while encouraging more Nigerians to visit the province and experience its cultural heritage and tourism attractions.

Sowore faults politicians’ shifting position on fuel subsidy

Presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said politicians who keep shifting their positions on fuel subsidy are inconsistent.

This followed the latest declaration by the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) vice-presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, that the party, if elected, would restore subsidy in a different form.

Kwankwaso, who is the running mate to Peter Obi, spoke on a national television programme, where he maintained that the party would bring back subsidy ‘in our own way,’ if elected in 2027.

He criticised President Bola Tinubu’s removal of petrol subsidy, describing the action as a mistake that had plunged the country into a ‘total mess’. Kwankwaso said the NDC would explore measures to reduce petrol prices, including increased government investment in domestic refining.

The former Kano State governor argued that if private individuals could establish refineries, government could also build refineries to a level capable of meeting the country’s minimum requirements and making petrol available to Nigerians at a reasonable price.

His position has, however, sparked a fresh debate over the consistency of opposition politicians on the controversial subsidy policy.

But Sowore, who is also campaigning on a platform that seeks a return to subsidy, expressed a different view on the matter.

He said politicians were evasive on the matter, failing to show a clear position on where they stand.

The AAC candidate’s intervention comes against the backdrop of a policy difference between Kwankwaso and Obi.

While Kwankwaso said the NDC would reintroduce subsidy in a different form, Obi has maintained that subsidy should be removed, arguing that the problem was the way the policy was implemented and the failure to deploy the savings transparently.

Obi restated his position in August at this year’s Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) conference in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

The NDC presidential candidate said he still subscribed to subsidy removal but faulted the management of the proceeds.

The conflicting positions have placed the fuel subsidy question back at the centre of the opposition’s economic debate ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Kwankwaso’s declaration is also significant because he had criticised President Tinubu for removing the subsidy immediately after assuming office in May 2023, arguing that the government failed to consider the consequences of the decision.

He said the NDC would not simply return to the old arrangement but would adopt a different mechanism to make petrol affordable.

‘We are bringing subsidy in our own way,’ Kwankwaso said.

He also said an NDC administration would ‘do whatever it takes’ to bring down the price of petrol.

Kwankwaso’s latest position has, therefore, opened another front in the opposition’s campaign debate, with questions likely to persist over whether or not the NDC’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates share the same position on fuel subsidy.

For Sowore, the controversy provides an opportunity to challenge what he called the changing political positions on a policy with direct consequences for all Nigerians.

The debate is expected to feature prominently as the 2027 campaign gathers momentum and political parties present competing economic prescriptions to voters.

Thai teen sensation Nene Royal is ‘America’s Got Talent’ season 21 champion

Thailand’s teenage guitar sensation Nene Royal won the US$1-million top prize on ‘America’s Got Talent’ (AGT), capping a viral run that made the 16-year-old a national celebrity and drew support from across her home country.

Rattikarn Amloy – better known by her stage name Nene Royal – was crowned the winner during the live results show on Sept 23, beating nine other finalists after emerging as the clear favorite before the finale.

During the final on Sept 22, she did a rendition of American rock duo The White Stripes’ 2003 track ‘Seven Nation Army,’ accompanying herself on guitar.

‘You should win. Give her the million, America,’ judge Howie Mandel said after the performance.

Fellow judge Melanie Brown praised Nene’s ‘mysterious, mystical stage presence’ before adding: ‘You’re from the best place in the world: Phuket, Thailand. I love to go there.’

Nene’s victory caps a rapid rise that began with a swaggering rendition of The Cranberries’ Zombie, tearing through the song on guitar.

The audition amassed more than 200 million views across AGT’s official online platforms, more than any other act this season.

Nene’s run sparked an outpouring of support in Thailand, where her international profile drew backing from some of the country’s most powerful business and political figures.

Among her most prominent corporate supporters was billionaire Dhanin Chearavanont, patriarch of one of Asia’s wealthiest families. His Charoen Pokphand Foods rented space on a giant screen in New York’s Times Square to feature Nene alongside messages of support from Thai fans ahead of the live rounds.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul also threw his support behind Nene, directing tourism officials to explore ways to promote the teenage guitarist.

He also hosted her at Government House, where she played guitar while he sang a Thai rock song. Officials have discussed featuring her in campaigns promoting the country’s ‘Amazing Thailand’ tourism brand.

Her victory comes as Thailand increasingly looks to entertainment and popular culture to bolster its global profile and tourism appeal.

HBO’s The White Lotus (2021 to present) recently showcased the country’s luxury resorts and tropical scenery to an international audience in its third season, spurring interest in its Thai filming locations.

For Nene, the US$1-million prize marks a remarkable ascent from the Phuket night market where she once played for donations.

She started playing at age seven on a 1,600-baht (S$61) guitar, a considerable expense for her family at a time when her father earned just over 10,000 baht a month. To help pay for lessons, he encouraged her to perform at the market.

After her performance in Tuesday’s final, Nene reflected on how far she had come.

‘I was so young when I touched the guitar,’ she said. ‘I was thinking, in my mind, I was like ‘I really want to become a rock star.’ My dream comes true.’

P500 hike in gov’t workers’ allowance ‘an insult’

The Confederation of Independent Unions in the Public Sector (CIU-Sentro) has criticized the Department of Budget and Management’s (DBM) proposed P500 monthly increase in the Personnel Economic Relief Allowance (Pera) for government employees in 2027.

In a statement, the labor group said the proposed adjustment was inadequate, noting that the allowance has remained at P2,000 for 17 years.

The proposed P500 increase is equivalent to about P16.67 per day, which CIU-Sentro said would not be enough to keep up with rising prices of food, transportation, electricity, housing and other basic necessities.

‘After 17 years, government workers are being offered P500. This is not economic relief. It is a grave insult to the public servants who keep the government running every day,’ it said.

The DBM confirmed the P500 increase during House budget deliberations on Sept. 15. House Bill No. 3874, or the Akbayan partylist’s ‘Dagdag Pera Bill,’ proposes raising the allowance to P8,000.

Troops rescue abducted Zamfara LG chairman, four others

Troops of the Joint Task Force North West, Operation FANSAN YAMMA, have secured the Chairman of Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara, Hon. Nura Umar Abdullahi, and four other victims who escaped from terrorists’ captivity.

The victims reportedly escaped in the early hours of Thursday in the general area of Kaura Namoda Local Government Area of the state and were subsequently received by troops deployed in the vicinity.

The Media Information Officer of the Task Force, Lt. Col. Aliyu Danja, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, the development followed an intelligence-led operation by troops against a suspected terrorists’ location in the area, during which the victims managed to escape from captivity.

Danja said Abdullahi was abducted from his residence in Bungudu town in July 2026, an incident on which the Theatre Command had earlier issued a statement.

He said the victims were provided with security cover and evacuated to a military medical facility, where they were receiving treatment, undergoing medical evaluation, and routine debriefing.

‘One of the victims has since been reunited with his family, while arrangements are being made for the safe reunion of the others with their families and the Zamfara State Government,’ he said.

The Theatre Command commended the victims for their courage, resilience and determination in regaining their freedom after a prolonged period in captivity.

It also commended the troops for their vigilance and professionalism in receiving and securing the victims.

‘The return of the victims is a welcome relief to their families and the people of Bungudu Local Government Area, and Zamfara State as a whole,’ the statement added.

The command reaffirmed that the Task Force would sustain clearance and dominance operations across the general area to disrupt terrorist activities and protect communities.

It also reiterated its commitment to securing the safe return of other persons still being held or reported missing.

The Theatre Command urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible information to the nearest military formation or other security agencies to support ongoing operations.