Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 196

Getting the Roulette Edge

Questions readers ask most frequently go in cycles.For the first couple of years I wrote this column, when legalized gaming was new to much of the country, “How do I get a casino job?” was top of the list. Soon that was replaced by “How do I beat slots?” and then by strategy questions on video poker and blackjack.One that’s always been part of the mix has been, “How does the casino get its edge?” That’s the question that’s top of the charts right now...read more

Playing Video Poker Tournaments

Frequently I get questions from readers about the proper strategy for video poker tournaments. In general, tournaments are so short that luck is the major factor in winning one of them. Actually, for the games in which skill is not a factor such as slots, keno or roulette, luck is basically the only factor...read more

Odd Payouts

QUESTION: In cautioning to check for unusual pay tables you said you saw a Bonus Poker game that paid 2-for-1 on two pairs instead of the usual 3-or-1. Isn’t 2-for-1 the usual? I’ve never seen 3-for-1.ANSWER: That was a case my typing fingers moving faster than my brain...read more

Gambling and the Law: Supreme Court will hear NJ sports betting case

The Supreme Court hears less than 0.001% of decisions from the federal circuit courts of appeal.So, why the New Jersey sports betting case?The dispute involves somewhat complicated language of a relatively unimportant federal statute – the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and attempts by the New Jersey Legislature to get around PASPA to legalize sports betting at racetracks and in casinos.The High Court has not suddenly become interested in gambling laws...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Double Your Royal promotion

Question: The Gold Coast in Las Vegas is running a Double Your Royal promotion on Sundays in June. Is this a good promotion? Should I change my strategy? And should I wait until the promotion to play video poker? I don't want to hurt my chances of hitting a royal during the promotion. Answer: Doubling the value of your royal flush is really a best case scenario in this promotion...read more

What would you do?

Albert Einstein discovered the most revolutionary truths by just thinking about the world. He called these thoughts “mind experiments.”We do mind experiments too, although not at Einstein’s level. For example, in certain college ethics courses you are asked questions about what you would do in this or that situation...read more

Gambling and the Law: Nevada legalizes parimutuel betting on esports

The real goal is regulation, and saving eSports from itself.Betting on other people playing video games is different from betting on otherpeople playing football, in one major respect: The National Football League oversees thegame to the point where it checks the air pressure in footballs...read more

Two bad bets

Casino games include a number of bets that should never be made. The house edge is so much higher than other bet on the same game that these are bets to avoid.Two prime examples are the tie bet in baccarat and the five-number bet in roulette...read more

Why you double down

During a recent trip to Las Vegas, I was playing at a blackjack table when the dealer turned up a 6 as her up-card. I had an ace-7 and quickly doubled down. I immediately began to get calls from follow players that I had an 18 and should stay...read more

I know this, not that

QUESTION: You write about so many games, but I can’t help wondering about the games you don’t write about. You rarely write about keno, and you never write about bingo or Texas Hold’em. Why can’t you work them into your mix?ANSWER: I write about keno occasionally, mostly when a reader has a specific question...read more