General gambling

26 October 2019

By John Marchel

Most experts believe that to be good at any sport, or any task for that matter, one has to have three major traits: dedication, concentration and self-discipline.

Playing at blackjack, craps, roulette or any other game successfully also requires these same traits. One must have the dedication to study, learn and practice a game. This can require many hours of hard work on the player's part.

Before your next casino visit, buy yourself a book about your favorite game. A good blackjack, craps, slot, roulette or even baccarat book will cost less than $20. It will give you some basic information on the game, some betting techniques and most likely some sound money management ideas. It will normally include some winning plays or strategies for your specific game. Believe it or not, many casino gift stores will have a good book right there on their shelves. Don’t expect to become an expert and quit your day job by just reading the book, but it will help you be a better player on your next casino visit.

In addition, one needs to set a schedule of game practice sessions, and do them regularly, even when tired of doing a task. It can get boring, repeating a drill over and over again, but it’s the best way to master the task at hand. Read, study and practice.

A player must not let the sounds and sights distract from the concentration required of the game. The free drinks, the decor of the facility (no clocks or windows), the noise in a casino or at a race track are all designed to combat the concentration of the visitor. “It’s a happy time, take chances, it’s not real money, it’s only plastic chips, you are here to party and get away from the real world.” That is what the casinos and race tracks want you to think and act on. It’s all designed to make it harder to concentrate and play the game the right way, and be a winner.

Lastly, the dictionary tells us that self-discipline is the ability to control one's feelings and overcome one's weaknesses. Despite what many may think, self-discipline is a learned behavior. However, it does require practice and repetition. Working to remove all temptations and distractions is a crucial step when working to improve your self-discipline. Having the discipline not to get angry when the game goes against you, and understanding you won’t win every hand or throw of the dice, is an important trait not to be overlooked.

Applying these three simple traits as part of learning the game itself will help improve your chances of leaving the game as a winner over the long haul.


BET YOU DIN'T KNOW

• In the U.S. today, 28 states have Indian casinos. In addition, 25 states have land-based, riverboat or racetrack casinos. Lots of places to play.

• According to statistics published in U.S. News and World Report, 45% of casino players are men, and 55% are women.

• The Four Queens Casino in downtown Las Vegas was named by the owner, the late Ben Goffstein, after his four daughters: Michele, Benita, Hope and Faith.

• It was in 1796, in the gambling houses of the Palais Royal, in Paris, France, that the game of roulette, as we know it today, was first introduced to the world.

• The first “official" licensed casino was the Ridotto in Venice, Italy in 1638. The Doze (the government) decreed the casino could open and therefore it would give employment to “né-er-do-well” aristocrats and get them off the public rolls.

• The standard size found for dice in most modern casinos is ¾ inch (19mm).

• On single-zero wheels that offer en-prison, the house advantage is only 1.35%, which is better than the come and pass line bets at craps. It is also a better game than Let It Ride, Three-Card Poker, Caribbean Stud and Pai Gow Poker.

• The world’s most famous horse race, the Derby, was first run at Surrey, England in 1780. It was the idea of the Edward Smith-Stanley, the 12th Earl of Derby.

• In 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives held a floor debate on the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which passed and was sent to President Bush. The total debate lasted only four hours.

• There is a casino game played in Australia called “Two-up.” The only equipment required is two coins and a flat piece of wood. Players bet on either “heads” or “tails.” The coins are then flipped up in the air, and after they land, the bets are paid out according to the results.