Casino Survey Part 13

23 November 2024

By Jerry Stickman

Casino Survey Part 13

Casinos have a wide range of games designed to attract nearly every type of gambler. Since there is such a variety, I thought it might be interesting to survey casino goers to find out their favorite games and why they play them.

This is the thirteenth (and final) article in a series of articles that explores this topic.

Responses from a recent casino sampling.

Carlos from Tennessee:

“When I first started to go to casinos, there were none within driving distance, so I would have to fly to either Las Vegas or Atlantic City. I would spend three or four (or more) days each trip to make the trip worthwhile.

I really enjoyed both destinations though I preferred Las Vegas as they had a much larger selection of casinos. They also had easier comps and lower limit games available.

The cost of travel and lodging associated with these trips, added greatly to the money required. For this reason, I would (could) only go once a year or so.

I would spend most of my casino time playing low limit slots. There was not enough money to try anything costing more and have enough to last the entire trip. Sometimes I would lose all my money well before the stay was over. That was no fun at all.

All that changed about 15 to 20 years ago when casinos were opened in Tunica Mississippi. Now I was within very easy driving distance. I no longer needed to spend large amounts on travel and lodging. It was now possible to make a trip where I was only playing for a couple hours or so. I no longer had to worry about having enough money to last several days.

The casinos in Tunica were never able to match the variety of choices that are found in the other two major gambling venues. They did not need to. They were close.

A whole new world of choice opened for me.

I could now play any game I wanted. It did not matter when I ran out of money because when and if that did happen, I could simply head back home. I was only a short drive away.

Early in the Tunica casino expansion, limits were low, comps were easy and almost every casino had a free gift for every gambler that showed up.

I felt like a kid in a candy store.

I was able to try almost every game available – and I did. I tried slots first as I was most familiar with these.

But then I tried blackjack. I tried roulette. I tried craps. I also tried video poker, and the various specialty card games. I liked all of them, though I preferred the card-based games to others.

Many of the casinos in Las Vegas or Atlantic City have full size baccarat. The casinos I went to in Tunica did not. All they had were the Mini-Baccarat tables. I gave it a try. It was an easy and fun game. It also had limits that were well within my comfort range.

It soon became my favorite game and the one I spent the most time playing. It still is.

Times have changed in Tunica. The overall low limits are now higher. The easy comps are no longer as easy. The free gifts are no longer the norm. But Tunica is still only a short drive away making play there much more accessible. I no longer have any desire to travel to Las Vegas or Atlantic City. I am very happy playing Mini-bac right here in my own back yard, so to speak.”

What about you? What casino games do you like to play – and why?

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and small.

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines and 888casino.com. He authored the video poker section of “Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker!’ You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com
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