Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 168

Building a better slot machine

Building a successful slot machine involves multiple elements. There needs to be an eye-catching theme and graphics to attract players, intriguing elements such as bonus events and jackpots, and the right math to yield a mix of payout frequency and shot at a big payoff.That all needs a strong platform to showcase the features to their best advantage, lest players choose a competitor's game, instead.Incredible Technologies is showcasing games on its new Infinity V55 cabinet, and one of the hot new games making its way into casinos now is Heat 'Em Up Power Wheel.Let's take the game first.Heat Em Up Power Wheel is a five-reel video slot, each reel three symbols deep...read more

The best and worst buy bets

Craps is a fascinating game. It is the only casino game where you can influence your own fate. The casino allows you to select two dice from an assortment of five, and then you are allowed to throw the dice, determining the outcome.Even more fascinating, however, is the vast assortment of bets that are available for your choosing...read more

One-roll bets at craps

QUESTION: I know the one-roll bets in craps are supposed to be bad news, but what about the field? Both casinos near me pay 3-1 on 12 in the field, and the charts say the house edge is 2.78%. That beats the 4% if you place 5 or 9 or the 6.67% on 4 or 10, so why wouldn't I bet the field instead of those bets?ANSWER: You don't have to make any of those bets...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Four-card royals happen frequently on video poker

One of the differences I've noticed between casual video poker players and more experienced players is that casual players are very interested in seeing what they almost got at the end of a hand. More experienced players just deal another hand after a losing hand, but casual players will say that they almost got four aces or a straight flush...read more

Superstition and intuition

FROM ANTHONY: I had a great feeling about a sporting event. The team I felt would win was a big underdog. So I was walking down the block (I live in a big city) and I said to myself that if I saw a red car by the time I count to ten I will place a bet on the team...read more

Back-to-back jackpots

When I've relayed readers' stories of back-to-back jackpots, they've generally focused on big wins. A thousand dollars for a video poker royal flush qualifies; $2.50 for three bars on a three-reel slot or $1.25 that just covers your bet for a pair of jacks, not so much.Nikki, an East Coast reader, e-mailed to ask if small progressives would do...read more

The 10 don'ts in the casino

Some of the best experts about gambling can be found here at Casino City Times – Gaming Gurus. Name a game and you can find a couple of experts who will tell you all about it. Got a question? You will find an answer here. Some will walk you through a game step by step, others will give you a simple positive answer to your question...read more

Gambling and the Law: Macau and Las Vegas - Collateral Damage from Trump’s Trade War with China

President Donald Trump has escalated his trade war with China. Last week he announced that he intends to slap tariffs on another $200 billion of imports from China. Stock markets around the world fell dramatically, as did the value of China’s currency, the yuan.China responded, as it always does, with retaliatory tariffs on American produce and products...read more

F5 baseball and penny slots

QUESTION: What does "F5" stand for on a betting line for baseball? I'm new to baseball betting and I see this on some lines and not others.ANSWER: F5 signifies a line on the first five innings of a game. Some bettors like the five-inning bet because the pitching is less predictable over a full game in this age, when starters pitch fewer innings than they once did.In 2017, major-league starters averaged 5.5 innings per game, according to data at Baseball-Reference.com...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: W-2G jackpots and Social Security cards

Question: I've just been told for the second time that casinos are requiring that they physically see your social security card when completing the paperwork on winnings over the $1,199 threshold. Last week a friend of mine was in line at a Wisconsin Indian casino cashier window and the person in front of him was being denied a large winning because he did not physically have his Social Security card with him. It has long been recommended that your Social Security card not be carried in your purse or wallet, thus it's understandable that many, if not most, people do not carry their card, if they know their SS number...read more