 Newsletter Signup
Stay informed with the
NEW Casino City Times newsletter! Mark Pilarski Archives
More Strategy Experts
|
Mark Pilarski Gaming Guru - Page 29  Deal Me In: The mathematics of breaking even18 February 2011
Dear Mark: Now that the football season is over, I ended up pretty much breaking even for the whole season. I've read that the house edge is 4.55 percent on sporting bets. How is that figured, and would that mean I lost just under 5 percent of my bets? Dave D. Actually, Dave, you lost less than that ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Speak, baby, speak11 February 2011
Dear Mark: When I have a place bet on the six or eight and win, what do I say to the dealer when I want to remove the whole bet after winning? Also, what do I say if I want to remove just a portion of the bet? Jim B. When you make a place bet, Jim, you are betting that a particular number will roll before the 7 appears. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: A sort-of answer to a sort-of query4 February 2011
Dear Mark: I play craps on a $10 minimum table. Can I play a $5 come or pass line bet on a $10 minimum table? Lee B. A Come bet, Lee, has the same rules and costs as a wager on the Pass Line, the only difference being that it is placed after the point has been established. So, Lee, if the table minimum were $10 for a Pass line bet, it would be the same for a Come wager. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: But look at all the snow they got28 January 2011
Dear Mark: An AP article reported that blackjack players at the Tropicana in Atlantic City, November 2009, bought $15.1 million worth of chips and lost $2.1 million to the casino for a casino "hold" of 13.9 percent. In November 2010, players bought $20.2 million and lost $6.4 million for a casino "hold" of 31.8 percent. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Share and share alike14 January 2011
Dear Mark: I need your help to clarify a hand of Texas Hold'em to settle a discussion. The Board: (4, 9, 9, jack, queen), Hand one: (8, 9) Hand two: (6, 9). Which cards are used to break the tie of trip 9s, the kicker in each hand, or is the hand a tie based on the common Jack and Queen? James S. Every player's final hand, James, is made up of five cards and five cards only. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: A New Year's brush-up on some fine points7 January 2011
Dear Mark: I normally play a nickel or a quarter on video keno. It seems players who play for a larger amount like a dollar on the same machine always seem to hit big. Does the denomination of money make a difference or is it the selection of numbers that affects winning? I am still trying to figure this game out! Lori M. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: This buy is no bargain23 December 2010
Dear Mark: I was playing craps the other day at a casino in Pennsylvania. A player was making $30 bets on 5 and 9 and 'buying' them. I always thought you never buy numbers besides the 4 and 10 because the vig made buying those numbers worse then placing them. Am I missing something? Joe F A buy bet, Joe, ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Spooks of the green felt20 December 2010
Dear Mark: What would make a player take down his don't pass wager once the point has been established? I saw a player do this recently, more than once, without much success I might add. Lenny G. My best guess, Lenny, is that you had your eye on a superstitious player and his point was either a 6 or an 8. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Glitches happen10 December 2010
Dear Mark: We love your column. We always learn something (especially understanding why we lose -- ha, ha!). But, for the winners -- since we have NEVER been in this situation; we would like to know, do casinos have the ability/right to remove you from a machine "mid-play" because they feel you are winning too much, or, under the guise that the machine has malfunctioned? Carole P. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: On the up-and-up3 December 2010
Dear Mark: You often talk about each pull of a slot machine having the same odds, regardless of its recent history. But somewhere along the line somebody has to make sure the machine does pay what it claims. Who does this? Richard M. Because this column is syndicated nationwide, Richard, accept a generalized, in-a-nutshell answer to your question. ... (read more)
< Previous 10 Articles | Next 10 Articles > Mark Pilarski |
Mark Pilarski |