The Oracle at Odds - Part 11

This is the age of lists -- the top 100 movies of all time, the top 100 books of the 20th Century, the top 100 colleges for academic excellence or bargains or partying, and the top 100 women former President Bill Clinton scored with; plus all those weekly top 10 this list, and top 10 that list and top 10 those other things list. In the interests of keeping up with the list makers as well as the (Dow) Joneses, I decided to list the top 60 questions I am asked whenever I give talks about casino gambling. My list is in no particular order of importance, but these are the most-asked questions of yours truly and the answers that I give when I'm asked them. All value judgments are mine. So if I say this is the best thing, that is just my not-so-humble opinion. Of course, in my opinion my opinion is the correct opinion as today I assume my new identity as The Oracle at Odds -- Nostragamus! Ask and it shall be answered!

51. What are the odds of a royal flush in Caribbean Stud?

In a five-card hand, the odds are 649,739 to one to get a royal flush. These are the same odds for Let It Ride, as well.

52. What are the odds of getting a blackjack?

About 20 to one.

53. I understand that some progressive video poker and slot machines are sometimes favorable for the players. Is that so?

Yes, but don't get too excited. When certain progressive jackpots are at certain levels, the players have a mathematical advantage because, when the payout comes, the totality of the money going out, as opposed to coming in, will be greater. Unfortunately, only one player actually wins the progressive and the others are left holding a (more-than-likely) losing hand. The only way it becomes a positive expectation for all the players playing is if they have agreed beforehand to split the pot.

54. How much do the casinos actually make in a year?

They grossed about 680 billion dollars in 1997 and netted around 60 billion -- which is more than the gross national product of oil-rich Kuwait when I last looked. Not bad. Put another way, the entire casino industry makes enough in one year to buy Bill Gates.

55. How many people visit casinos every year?

About 130 million.