Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 168

Ask the Slot Expert: Am I under casino surveillance?

Have you ever noticed how some ticket redemption machines give you the bills first and then the change, and others give you the change first and then the bills? A couple of days ago I used a machine to redeem a ticket for $300.38. This machine gives coins first then bills...read more

The Golden Goose

If you take a look at the three basic machine games in today’s casinos, you will note a small number of electronic table games, a large number of video poker games and a huge number of slot machines.I know that the electronic table games and the video poker games require knowledge of proper strategies to keep the house edge as low as possible...read more

Some Scientific Games slot machines

Scientific Games is one of the giants among casino industry suppliers, a leader in slot machines, electronic table games, automatic shufflers, casino management systems and more.It’s the slot portion that’s most in the public eye, of course...read more

Still more on pass versus place betting

I received a follow-up question to an article about pass/come bets vs. placing the number after the point is established.Jerry,Thanks for replying. One other question about this play. If I use the pass line for my initial bet, then I would have the benefit of the higher probability of a win on the come-out roll...read more

Standalone versus not standalone

QUESTION: I’m puzzled that whenever you write about video poker payback percentages you are writing about standalone video poker machines. The most common machines that have video poker are Game Kings.Their payback percentages are muddled. These machines have at least eight different poker games plus at least two slot games in them...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Are barred players entitled to their cash back outside Nevada?

Question: Reading your Gaming Guru columns distributed by Casino City Times is one of things I look forward to every time I log into my e-mail account. Thanks for presenting all the extremely valuable information that you have provided over the years, in an entertaining and very readable format. My question has to do with the answer you provided to another query in a recent column about changes to a casino's slot loyalty points program...read more

Rhythm and blues

My mentor, the Captain, about whom I’ve written six books, had a very simple theory concerning how to structure your playing day at the casinos. This theory was meant to not only save your money but, perhaps, to save your sanity.“It’s rhythm and blues...read more

More about the Wheel of Fortune

International Game Technology’s Wheel of Fortune slot machines have been player favorites ever since the first three-reel version launched in 1996.Not a year goes by without new variations on the theme as IGT extends the brand with games based on the ever-popular “Wheel of Fortune” television game show.The latest is Wheel of Fortune 4D featuring Vanna White, a 75-payline video slot on IGT’s new CrystalCurve True 4D gaming machine.The fourth dimension in “True 4D” is touch...read more

The last of the casino laws

The Law of the Right Place to PlayWith hundreds of casinos, racetracks and card rooms all around the country and the world, it’s important to play where it’s best for you. For example, in one casino in Nevada they have three different playing rules for blackjack; they have rules for single deck which are different then the double deck game and still another set of rules for the six-deck shoe.Some are good rules for the player, like doubling down after splits, while others are not so good, letting you double down only on the 10 and 11.Throughout most large casinos you’ll find some video poker machines, like 9/6 Jacks or Better, which are more favorable to players, and others like 7/4 Jacks or Better, which should be avoided.A good horse handicapper might only bet two out of 10 races on any given day because some of the races are too close to call.Some casinos have single zero roulette wheels while others use the zero and double zero ones, you would want to avoid the latter.The same is true for craps...read more

Losing while winning

QUESTION: I don’t see why it is inevitable for a roulette combination to lose money when it wins more often than it loses.If you bet enough different numbers, whether corners, red/black, columns or whatever so that you have 80% of the numbers covered, you have an 80% chance of winning.You’ve stressed that every wheel spin is an independent trial, and past results don’t influence the outcome...read more