 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! Mark Pilarski Archives
More Strategy Experts
|
Mark Pilarski Gaming Guru - Page 16  Deal Me In: Contrary to popular belief27 September 2013
Dear Mark: I mostly play slot machines. It seems on weekends they pay less than if I come mid-week. Does the casino have the ability to change the payback percentages on all their machines at will when the casino is busier? I was told by a slot machine employee that the $1 machines I normally play on return 95 percent of the money played. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Awaiting word from Mount Nebo20 September 2013
Dear Mark: A couple of thoughts from this avid fan of your weekly gaming advice column related to the Q&A about what do to with a pair of sixes against a dealer's deuce in a blackjack game. First, I am amazed that there are literally scores of blackjack cards (you state you're in possession of 40). ... (read more)
Deal Me In: The "L" bet cuts the house edge in half13 September 2013
Dear Mark: When I play roulette, I take your recommendation and search for a European wheel with the single zero. Single zero games are rare. While chatting over some different wagers with me on my last casino visit, the dealer mentioned a bet in roulette that begins with the letter "L." Do you know what wager he was talking about? Bruce S. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: A blackjack dealer faux pas?6 September 2013
Dear Mark: While on a cruise playing blackjack, there were two players and myself playing on the table. The first player was dealt a blackjack, the other player had a thirteen, while I, playing third base, had a seven. The dealer had an Ace as an up-card, and proceeded to offer even money to the player who on first base had a blackjack. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Either way, it's still a random draw30 August 2013
Dear Mark: Are the cards behind the initial five shown already in place behind each shown card, or are they dealt off the top of a deck? For example, the cards are shown in this order: 4-5-5-6-7. Does it matter which five you hold or throw away trying for the straight? Frank K. Back in the day, Frank, most video poker machines operated using parallel dealing. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: This virtual table game has one big drawback23 August 2013
Dear Mark: Here in Reno, several casinos have blackjack machines where the "dealer" is a video of an attractive, young lady. Are the cards dealt randomly the same as would happen on a live table game or are these machines programmed to pay out a predetermined percentage? The machines have player favorable rules, including surrender allowed. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Long, long odds for multiple royals16 August 2013
Dear Mark: Last night, 8/9/13, I was playing the quarter progressive Double Double-Bonus Poker at Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa here in Las Vegas. I held three cards and hit the royal for over $2k. On the very next hand, I was dealt two royal cards. I hit the deal button and hit another royal for another $2k (plus one cent). ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Reader questions where lucky machine went9 August 2013
Dear Mark: I recently had the good fortune of hitting a sizable jackpot on a slot machine. It took over an hour to be paid, plus, they opened the machine, not once, but twice. Here is the funny part. I returned the following month, and the machine was gone. Do you think it was because of my jackpot that the machine was removed? Nate S. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Don’t Walk Away Renee2 August 2013
Dear Mark: I was playing roulette, and because I was going to return after a quick bathroom break, I took my remaining 20 $5 chips with me. I then got sidetracked by a couple "paying" slot machines, then went to dinner. After a few hours, I went to the cashier’s cage to cash the chips in and was told they ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Chips Ahoy!26 July 2013
Dear Mark: I plan on purchasing a new set of poker chips for, as you so often put it, our weekly kitchen-table poker game. We currently use a cheap plastic set. Besides a quality upgrade, how many chips do you think I should buy? Paul M. Casino chips, also known as casino or gaming tokens, checks or cheques, are small round discs used in lieu of hard currency. ... (read more)
< Previous 10 Articles | Next 10 Articles > Mark Pilarski |
Mark Pilarski |