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John Grochowski Gaming Guru - Page 76  Getting those comps6 August 2015
Comps are part of the fun of playing in casinos. When it comes to mealtime, free is the right price — even if you’re a low-limit player who snags that buffet comp only once every three or four visits. But casinos can’t comp you if they don’t know who you are. The process starts with signing up for a players' club card and using it while you play. ... (read more)
The IRS and baccarat2 August 2015
QUESTION: Years back, I traded on stocks and options on Wall Street, and became aware of the cat-and-mouse games played between the IRS and lawyers for the large firms on the street. Each time a restrictive covenant pushed through in favor of the IRS, hordes of legal maneuvering took place in search of loopholes. ... (read more)
The mystery of craps30 July 2015
Writing this column brings me in contact with players of all skill levels, and what seems obvious to a casino veteran often is a mystery to a beginner, or to a player whose experience falls in different games. Solving the mysteries of craps can be particularly perplexing, as a reader reminded me with her tale of playing on her own for the first time. ... (read more)
Can I be a professional?26 July 2015
QUESTION: I can usually get a royal flush every 30 days. Can I be a professional player? I play video poker every day. ANSWER: How often you get royal flushes gives me nowhere near enough information about how good a player you are, but I’ll get back to that in a minute. Playing video poker professionally ... (read more)
The break-even point in video poker23 July 2015
Most of the questions I received about progressive video poker machines have to do with the break-even point. A reader will ask, “How big does the jackpot have to be to reach 100 percent payback?” And I can answer: The expected return with expert play reaches 100 percent with an 8,666-coin royal at 8-5 Jacks ... (read more)
Double exposure and Pete Rose19 July 2015
QUESTION: My wife and I went to Detroit to visit relatives, and some of us went to a casino. Her brothers are blackjack players and so am I, but they like a game called double exposure. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen it before, but I know I’d never played it. In blackjack, the house has an edge because you ... (read more)
Pink-faced16 July 2015
If you play in casinos enough, you’re going to have some embarrassing little incidents. Maybe there’s a little rule or custom you don’t know about. Maybe you’re caught up in the day and just have a brain cramp. Maybe sometimes you’re just a victim of circumstances, doing nothing wrong, but a comment by a dealer or a player makes you go red. ... (read more)
Queens and baseball lines12 July 2015
QUESTION: I know you’ve long said the basic strategy for the ante-bet in Three Card Poker is to bet with queen-6-4 or better, and to fold anything less. Does that mean you expect to make money with queen-6-4? Also, I was playing a few weeks ago and folded with queen-3-2. The player on my right saw, and said, “Uh-oh. ... (read more)
IRS wants to change rules9 July 2015
The IRS requirement that winners of jackpots of $1,200 or more on electronic games sign a form W-2G before the casino can make payment has been with us since 1977. It affects big players far more than the low rollers. Now the IRS is floating proposed changes that would affect more players, more often. ... (read more)
Taxes and video keno5 July 2015
QUESTION: In your answer to the electronic roulette winner (who had to sign a form W-2G for a $1,240 win even though a $745 bet left not much profit after taxes), you left out a very important point. If you are not a resident of the state where the taxes were withheld, you can file a tax return for that state and get your money back. ... (read more)
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