How Much Do You Need?

12 September 2024

By Royal Flushes

CINDY: You come to the casino for a session or two of play. You reach into your wallet or purse and pull out some money. Here are the questions we ask:

ABBY: Is the money you are taking out especially money that has been saved for gambling purposes only? How much do you give for each game you play? How many games will you play that day or night? When will you call it a session and do something other than gambling?

CINDY: To us these are reasonable questions.

ABBY: In our opinion too many players go to the casinos with merely a fuzzy idea of how much they will spend and what games they might play or how long they will play them. Many don’t even know the odds of the game or what percentage the house edge is and what that edge means.

CINDY: These are fundamental questions casino players should be able to answer. You have to be able to answer them in order to be a competent player. At least, I think so.

ABBY: And, so do I.

CINDY: If we take a look at some of the most popular games we can determine what should be the minimum you bet at each game. That means we should know the basic bet we make and how long we can play with the money we take to the casino.

ABBY: These are estimates, of course, because some sessions take on a color of their own.

CINDY: But these are estimates based on our experiences in the casino at these particular games.

ABBY: Assuming you are not an advantage player who can count cards, what do you do with blackjack? How much do you give yourself to play with?

CINDY: Now in blackjack, the player will win about 44 percent of the hands and lose about 48 percent and tie-on about 8 percent. These are guesstimates but they will hold. The player usually gets good returns on double-downs, splits, double-downs after splits, and blackjack hands (two card 21s). These options make the game have a house edge of just one-half present – a little more, a little less, depending on the rules.

ABBY: It is absolutely essential that the player plays basic strategy. Not to do so is to give the casino a bigger edge against you. This strategy is vital to get the most out of the game. You can pick up a basic strategy card from the casino, from books, and the like. There is not one basic strategy but the difference in the strategies is not so great that the cost of the card is a waste of money. In fact, you can have a pile of strategy cards if you are really serious. Almost all casinos will allow you to have a card at the table.

CINDY: Pick a table that is full or almost full. Do not play two hands. Remember that the more hands you play means more decisions to be made and the more decisions means the more money the casino will win from you. More is more for the casino and less for you. Less is best.

ABBY: Go to the restroom when the game is in play and not during the shuffle. Remember, again. That less is best.

CINDY: Now, how much should you dedicate to playing blackjack? For a full or nearly full table, you will play about 60-70 hands. You should bring enough money to last at least three hours a session. If the game is $25, you will need about 60 X $25 for an amount of $1500 for a single hour. That amount could be lost if you played 60 hands and lost each and every one of them. That probably won’t happen.

ABBY: So, I’d say that splitting your money in half, that is each hour you give yourself $750 (meaning $1500 for two hours and $2250 for three hours) would be enough to survive even if the game goes against you.

CINDY: Don’t hesitate to take a break if the game is against you. Take a walk or a nap.

ABBY: You can figure what you will spend based on the denomination you bet. So, a $10 player will play less, and a $50 player will play more.

Next week: More games.