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John Grochowski Gaming Guru - Page 106  What does 'up to' 91% slot return really mean?1 October 2012
QUESTION: I saw a casino advertise that its slots paid better than 91%. Well, when I play there, I don’t get any 91% back. My friend said I probably just had a tight machine. If they advertise it, don’t all the machines have to pay 91%? ANSWER: In any casino, there will be machines that pay more than its average payback percentage, and machines that pay less. ... (read more)
IT's innovation machine selection!27 September 2012
In recent weeks I’ve written about playing Deuces Wild on a quarter Triple Play Poker machine, and about the stacked symbols and the resulting volatility on penny Cherry Mischief slot machines. Both were games I played during a two-night, three-casino swing I took in July with my wife Marcy. On the third ... (read more)
Straight flush or four aces?24 September 2012
A shuffle through the Gaming mailbag: QUESTION. Can you explain why the payoff for a straight flush is less than the payoff for four aces, when in poker the straight flush beats the four aces? Regardless of whether the machine is Bonus Poker, Double Bonus Poker, etc, the amount for the straight flush is ... (read more)
Shuffle through the gambling mailbag20 September 2012
QUESTION: Is it possible to get an edge at blackjack without counting cards? The reason I ask is that my brother-in-law told me that if you learn all the plays on those basic strategy cards, you can win at blackjack. Is that right? ANSWER: Kind of makes you wonder why some casinos sell basic strategy cards ... (read more)
Shuffle through the gambling mailbag17 September 2012
QUESTION. Didn’t there used to be more companies making video poker games? Is IGT’s control of the market the reason pay tables are going down? ANSWER. IGT’s dominance of the video poker market isn’t driving video poker pay tables down at all. In fact, IGT would prefer that casinos put higher-paying games on the floor. ... (read more)
Parlaying the 12 at craps13 September 2012
Several years ago I was one of about a dozen presenters at a weekend forum on casino games. It was there that I met Paul, who was attending my session on baccarat. He explained that he usually played video poker along with a little blackjack, but was looking for a third game to spice things up. It seems the ... (read more)
Even money is uneven for the player10 September 2012
QUESTION. I have to disagree with all the experts who say you shouldn’t take even money when you have a blackjack and the dealer has an ace up. I always take even money. This way, I always win the hand, and the object is to try to win every hand. Maybe I’ll miss a few 3-2 payoffs, but when I’m just going to play an hour or two, I can’t afford to pass up winning hands. ... (read more)
A shuffle through the gambling mailbag6 September 2012
QUESTION. If the casino makes a higher percentage on slot machines rather than on blackjack, why then, when we get coupon books, why do they always give coupons that can only be used for blackjack but not for the slots as well? ANSWER. You’ve put a bit of a twist on the issue of perks and comps for table players vs. ... (read more)
Video slots are hot!3 September 2012
Video slots are the most popular, most played and most widely available games in modern casinos. They’re also the games with the most variation, full of little wrinkles that affect game play. One of those wrinkles introduced in recent years has been the use of stacked symbols. When symbols are stacked, a reel can show three of the same symbol, from top to bottom. ... (read more)
Today's blackjack leaves something to be desired30 August 2012
In more years of playing than I care to count, I’ve seen any number of changes come to blackjack. The rise of automatic shufflers and continuous shufflers comes to mind, along with the horror of casinos that pay only 6-5 on blackjacks. (Note to readers: If blackjacks pay 6-5 instead of 3-2, do not play.) ... (read more)
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