Gaming Gurus: Latest From Our Strategy Experts

Ask the Slot Expert: Smoking in casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas

Sometimes procrastination pays off. At the end of a column a few weeks ago, I said that I would address a reader's comments about my efforts to get more non-smoking areas in Las Vegas casinos. I appreciate your efforts to establish more non-smoking areas in Nevada casinos...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Perchance to dream of a big slot mistake

I recently wrote about a dream I had about winning big on a slot machine. I had another dream involving a slot machine a few days ago. There were two identical machines, side by side. I was playing the machine on the left. Another man was playing the machine on the right. We were doing fairly well...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: This slot is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma

I found a new Egyptian-themed slot to play, King Khufu. You know how much I like Egyptian-themed slots, so I had to give this one a try. Like many slot games today, Khufu has three BS meters (piles of coins, in this case) not showing you how close you are to triggering a bonus event...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Perchance to dream of big slot wins

On the Faceless Man episode of House of the Dragon, viewers of the show found out that Princess Helaena has "dragon dreams" -- prophetic dreams. Her dreams reveal the location of her brother-husband, which her mother/mother-in-law tells to her childhood friend and current frenemy, Queen Rhaenyra. I wish my dreams about playing slots would come true. In one dream I won a $10,000+ grand jackpot on a machine with a lock-and-spin bonus with a minimum bet...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Keno cacophony

Question: I want to thank you for covering the casino life in your weekly columns. With that said, pertaining to your recent column of casino noise, I find one of the most annoying sounds is sitting at a video poker machine and then someone sits down next to you and sets their machine to play Keno...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: You're just too darn loud. Why are slots turned up to 11?

Question: I have enjoyed reading your columns for almost as long as you have been writing them, and I appreciate your efforts to establish more non-smoking areas in Nevada casinos. I recently have dramatically decreased the number and duration of my trips to Las Vegas, and the reeking of smoke in most of its casinos is foremost among the many reasons for the reduction in my visits...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: The RNG does not directly determine how much is won

Question: Something interesting always pops up with the questions you get. I just wanted to add my opinion to what you answered [last week]. If the screens the questioner showed you were losers, then out of the many possible screen combos that show losers, there are probably many more ways for the RNG to declare a loser, so a particular screen can certainly be what is mapped by more than one random number. Also likely, if it was a winner, but not a big winner, the same thing could be said about multiple screens, There could be many 5 coin payouts and the same screen could make that payout...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Slot machine synchronicity

Question: Attached is a picture of two Wolf Run Wild Moon slots, identical machines next to each other on the same bank. My husband was playing the machine on the left; I was playing on the right. I cashed out a winning ticket of over $400, then put in another $20...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Where have all the gurus gone?

Question: I really enjoy reading your articles. Your style of writing makes me feel that I am playing the games you are describing in your columns. I've noticed lately that the other columnists' articles are reruns from many years ago...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: A good problem to have

In last week's column, I was playing NSU and hit 4 deuces. I was still playing with money I had won from other sets of deuces I had hit in the past few sessions. That set of deuces raised my credit meter to $2800. After I got that hand, I thought, I would have a problem if I hit more high-paying hands. At the end of last week's column, I asked what problem I would have? It's a good problem, not a bad problem...read more