Ask The Slot Expert

Hi! Mr. Robison,

I listen to you and all your tips on the Good Times Show. Really enjoy it. I would like to know if you ever play the video keno machines? If so, what is a good strategy for this type of machine?

Thanks in advance,
Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

Thanks for your kind words about the Good Times Show. It's a lot of fun to do and the people in Tunica have always been wonderful whenever I've visited.

I don't play video keno, so I can't give you any firsthand advice. But I can relay something that I learned from Star Brooks, our resident expert on Tahoe and video keno player. In one of her first columns, she wrote that some of the new keno machines coming into Tahoe had lower paytables than older machines. So I'd pay close attention to the paytables on any machines you decide to play to make sure that you're playing the highest-paying paytables available.

Aside from that, there's not much strategy involved. The numbers are chosen at random on each draw and each draw is independent, so there's nothing to be gained by trying to find favored numbers or numbers that are "due." The only strategy would be to analyze the paytable to find which betting option gives you the lowest house edge.

The general advice for playing a negative-expectation game applies. Only bet what you can afford. Play at your own pace. And always use your slot club card.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Hi!

Can you tell me anything about the types (and payback percentages) of the video poker available in Aruba?

Thank you,
Mary

Dear Mary,

I've never been to Aruba, so I can't tell you firsthand. I did a quick search on Google and some of the private video poker Internet bulletin boards to which I belong and came up empty-handed.

I'll post your question on the web site and maybe some of our readers will write in with the video poker they've found in Aruba.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@home.com.

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