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Mark Pilarski Gaming Guru - Page 21  Deal Me In: Stretch your strategy until it whimpers26 October 2012
Dear Mark: Where I play, all the table games on the weekend have minimum table limits of $10-$25 a hand, which is far too expensive for my $50-$100 bankroll. I have actually lost my entire bankroll in less than 20 minutes. What is your recommendation for a game that will at least give me some staying power? Jay M. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: I stand corrected19 October 2012
Dear Mark: In your answer about Las Vegas casinos and the rumor that suggested that casinos pump something through their ventilation system, that is actually a fact. The Venetian and the Palazzo do inject aroma/scents into their ventilation system. Several years back I asked if a scent was pumped into the ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Boosting the payoff12 October 2012
Dear Mark: On multi-denomination slot and video poker machines, does the payback percent increase when I play higher denominations on the same machine? Betty B. The potential for the long-term payback does go up, Betty, as you increase the denomination on a multi-denominational machine. Most, but not all, ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Twilight play doesn't mean looser machines5 October 2012
Dear Mark: Do slots pay more when the casino is crowded? It sure seems like there are more winners when I play in the evening, as opposed to when I play during the day. Kay S. Besides it being illegal, Kay, no manufacturer would program a machine to hit at a specific time. It wouldn't take long for some computer geek to detect its built-in programming, assuring said geek a profitable evening. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Varying pays of Pai Gow28 September 2012
Dear Mark: I was playing Pai Gow Poker with a side bet on a high hand. I received a wild card, which I used as the five of hearts for a straight flush (hearts 2-7), along with a five and three of diamonds in the front. This gave a nice payout for the side bet, while I pushed the main wager. Looking back, the ... (read more)
Deal Me In: The rigged slot21 September 2012
Dear Mark: The following quote is from The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. Al wiped his hands on his apron. He looked at a paper pinned to the wall over the griddle. Three lines of marks in columns on the paper. Al counted the longest line. He walked along the counter to the cash register, rang "No Sale," and took out a handful of nickels. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Don't buy the points14 September 2012
Dear Mark: With football season upon us, I would like to know when, if ever, it is beneficial to buy the 1/2-point in a game. When the spread is 2.5 or 3.5, should I buy the 1/2-point to make it a field goal, and ditto with a 6.5 or 7.5 spread? Also, I love your columns on blackjack and want to know if I can find previous columns anywhere? John M. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Hmmm, do I smell an opportunity here?7 September 2012
Dear Mark: A 1988 study by Van Toller and Dodd found that "aroma engineering" in Las Vegas casinos could increase players' optimism and gambling zeal by as much as 53 percent. Do today's casinos use aromas to stimulate gaming? Bud N. Your question, Bud, delves into the world of "aromatherapy," which is the manipulation of human emotional reactions by fragrances. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Our old pal Hobson31 August 2012
Dear Mark: I was on vacation and hit a $1,500 jackpot at slots. They refused to pay me my winnings because I did not have proper identification on me. Actually, the day of I misplaced my wallet; still my wife verified who I was, showed them the registration to our car, along with other forms of similar ID, but still no jackpot. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Give those cards a wash24 August 2012
Dear Mark: I recently viewed a blackjack game where when the pit boss put new decks on the game, the dealer took all the cards, placed them face down, and started swirling them around in a circle. What is the reason for doing this? Dave L.
What you observed, Dave, was a card shuffling technique called ... (read more)
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