Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 13

Craps Craziness

The shouts and applause can be heard all over the casino when things are going right at the craps table. It’s hard not to get involved when a shooter is hitter than hot.The enjoyment is tangible.Of course, darksiders never get to experience the true highs of the game because when they win, just about everyone else at the table takes a loss.Most darksiders are loners...read more

Relax and Play the Game

Some people are so uptight when they play the games that I sometimes wonder why they play them.The percentages are probably not so high but when you are at a blackjack table and one of the six other players is a nervous wreck, well, you feel their pain...read more

Let's Go to Vegas

CINDY: When folks think of gambling, I am sure the first town that comes to mind is Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a giant city with maybe a hundred casinos of all types.ABBY: You can go low-brow, the old-time sawdust joints – which don’t have any sawdust on the floors anymore but you get the idea...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Pulling your card won't keep that jackpot off your permanent record

Last week I asked when pulling your players card does not end your session on a slot machine and send your data for the session to the slot club database. The only time -- at least the only time I know of -- that pulling your card does not immediately end your session on a machine is when you're in the middle of a game. Twenty plus years ago, some video poker players would attempt to game the slot club system by pulling their cards when they were dealt a hand, like a 4-card royal, that had a good chance of leading to a big payout...read more

Never Say Uncle!

“I never quit,” I heard the man say.Sadly, he did quit soon after making that statement when he ran out of money playing craps. Yes, no matter who you are or how little or much you bet, the game can turn against you. And not turn back.I mean any game and I actually mean all games...read more

Grace Under Pressure

The other night I watched an interview with Tom Hanks. In it, Hanks recalled a meal he had with the former Yankee great Joe DiMaggio. Just Hanks and DiMaggio. Alone discussing pressure and how to handle it.My father was a big DiMaggio fan and he styled my batting stance and swing after the Yankee great...read more

Praise the Good Workers

CINDY: In the grand scheme of things do more people complain about things or not? Are we a complaining creature? When I watch an NBS game all I see are complaints. Those players are unhappy more than they are happy.ABBY: I think we as a species are complainers or at least we let ourselves go down the complaining road more often than going down the praising one.CINDY: Are there more “letters of complaint” than letters praising the work other people have done? I know that the two of us tend to write letters of praise to the casino staff who have given us good and pleasant services...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: What happens if you pull your players card before cashing out?

Question: You recently wrote, "When you cash out while your players card is still in the reader, the ticket system will store your players card number along with the other ticket data. Casino personnel can then query the ticket database to find out who owns a ticket." What if you pulled your players card for no particular reason and then cashed out...read more

The Great and Terrible Craps Game

Craps is a wonderful game. It really is.Craps is a horrible game. It really is.There you have it in a nutshell. Depending on the choices you make and what wagers you’ll wager, these will tell us all just what kind of craps player you are.Are you a great player? Are you a rotten player? Are you somewhere in between these two extremes?I am guessing that most craps players, actually the overwhelming the majority of craps players I am convinced, fall somewhere between these two extremes...read more

Making a living from gambling

Hello Stickman,I read your column regularly. You really seem to know your stuff. If you don’t mind answering, have you ever made your living playing in the casinos? If so, how did it go. If not, have you ever thought about going pro?Jose in LouisianaHi Jose,Very good questions...read more