GAMING GURUS: LATEST FROM OUR STRATEGY EXPERTS

Super Bowl LIII handle positive in Nevada, negative in New Jersey

The New England Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII on Sunday. Some may have seen this as a boring game since there wasn’t a whole lot of offense, but for those who had money on it, it most certainly had their attention.For the first time, U.S...read more

Rhythm and blues

My mentor, the Captain, about whom I’ve written six books, had a very simple theory concerning how to structure your playing day at the casinos. This theory was meant to not only save your money but, perhaps, to save your sanity.“It’s rhythm and blues...read more

Top 10 US states most likely to legalize sports betting in 2019

Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 6-3 decision that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was unconstitutional back in May, seven states (New Jersey, Mississippi, West Virginia, Rhode Island, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Mexico) have joined Nevada in offering legalized sports betting.As we enter 2019, many other states are taking action to move toward legalizing it for themselves...read more

More about the Wheel of Fortune

International Game Technology’s Wheel of Fortune slot machines have been player favorites ever since the first three-reel version launched in 1996.Not a year goes by without new variations on the theme as IGT extends the brand with games based on the ever-popular “Wheel of Fortune” television game show.The latest is Wheel of Fortune 4D featuring Vanna White, a 75-payline video slot on IGT’s new CrystalCurve True 4D gaming machine.The fourth dimension in “True 4D” is touch...read more

The last of the casino laws

The Law of the Right Place to PlayWith hundreds of casinos, racetracks and card rooms all around the country and the world, it’s important to play where it’s best for you. For example, in one casino in Nevada they have three different playing rules for blackjack; they have rules for single deck which are different then the double deck game and still another set of rules for the six-deck shoe.Some are good rules for the player, like doubling down after splits, while others are not so good, letting you double down only on the 10 and 11.Throughout most large casinos you’ll find some video poker machines, like 9/6 Jacks or Better, which are more favorable to players, and others like 7/4 Jacks or Better, which should be avoided.A good horse handicapper might only bet two out of 10 races on any given day because some of the races are too close to call.Some casinos have single zero roulette wheels while others use the zero and double zero ones, you would want to avoid the latter.The same is true for craps...read more

Casino City’s Friday Five: Sports betting and Super Bowl edition

Super Bowl LIII is just two days away from taking place in Atlanta. Since the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) was deemed unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court back in May, sportsbooks have been sprouting up all over the U.S...read more

Sportsbook icon Jimmy Vaccaro explains his decision to leave Las Vegas and head home to Pittsburgh

Jimmy Vaccaro said that there was only state he would even consider leaving Las Vegas for and it was Pennsylvania. After finalizing his paperwork first thing this morning, former bookmaker Jimmy Vaccaro was scheduled to begin his new job at Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh today.Yes, you read that correctly.Vaccaro, who has spent the better part of the last four decades in Las Vegas putting together a storied career that saw him become one of the most well-known sportsbook figures in the U.S., will start his new gig at Rivers Casino not as oddsmaker, but in an executive marketing role for the new sportsbook that opened its doors in December...read more

Losing while winning

QUESTION: I don’t see why it is inevitable for a roulette combination to lose money when it wins more often than it loses.If you bet enough different numbers, whether corners, red/black, columns or whatever so that you have 80% of the numbers covered, you have an 80% chance of winning.You’ve stressed that every wheel spin is an independent trial, and past results don’t influence the outcome...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: A casino changes a promotion — and makes it better!

Over the past few weeks I've complained about actions that casinos have taken. This week I want to laud a casino for an action it took that actually improved a promotion. It's not a fairy tale. It really happened. For many years, the Suncoast Casino offered a Dinner and a Movie promotion...read more

Sports betting approved for four New York casinos

On Tuesday, the New York State Gaming Commission approved several sports betting regulations that will allow four casinos in upstate New York to build sportsbooks and offer sports wagering, possibly as soon as this spring.New York Governor Andrew Cuomo proclaimed he was ready for this action during his State of the State address on 15 January...read more