The unvarnished truth

29 August 2017

By Frank Scoblete

All players want to win. When I tell someone that I hate losing, that someone will laugh and say, “I hate losing too.” I’ve never had anyone say, “I love losing.” Since almost all casino gamblers face losing expectations, why do they play? Good question.

Casino gambling has certain truths that are about as true as true can be in a world where truth is often a lost commodity. Let us take a look at some of these truths.

• No one likes to lose.

• More people play blackjack poorly than correctly.

• You will receive more unsolicited advice at a blackjack table than at any other game. More often than not the advice is wrong.

• Even many of those players who cannot beat the game of blackjack still think they are experts at playing it. They aren’t.

• Craps has more shouting during a game than any other casino game.

• Craps has more moans during a game than any other casino game.

• Craps has more complaints during a game than any other casino game.

• Far more men play craps than women.

• More women are playing craps now than they ever did in the past.

• More women play slot machines than men.

• It is highly doubtful that casinos would have spread throughout the country if there were no such thing as slot machines.

• Many new casinos are building on the idea that electronic games will dominate in the future…the near future at that!

• Games with low house edges but great speed can be just as dangerous as games with high house edges and slow speeds; mini-baccarat is such an example of a low house edge on two of its three bets that is amazingly fast and dangerous.

• Baccarat players seem to be more superstitious than any other group of players causing certain seating numbers to be removed from the table; the number 4 is one example of this.

• Many slot players will start off their playing sessions in a leisurely fashion, but as time goes on, their speed of play increases markedly.

• The faster the game, the better for the casino.

• The slower the game the better for the player.

• Most players do not know the math of the games they play and how that math affects winning and losing.

• There is no betting system that can beat a casino game. If the math is against you that math has to be changed in some way to allow you to win in the long run.

There are some of the truths that will set you free . . . or, at least, give you a clue as to what you face as a casino gambler.


[Read Frank Scoblete’s books I Am a Card Counter: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Blackjack, I Am a Dice Controller: Inside the World of Advantage-Play Craps and Confessions of a Wayward Catholic! All available from Amazon.com, on Kindle and electronic media, at Barnes and Noble, and at bookstores. Visit Frank’s website at www.frankscoblete.com.]