Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 2

Ask the Slot Expert: Red-letter day in my video poker history

May 28, 2026 is a red-letter day in my video poker playing history. On this day, I finally had received the expected number of 4-deuces hands playing Not So Ugly Deuces given the number of hands I had played and the probability of hitting the hand. I had a particularly good run of luck in May, hitting the deuces three times in just over 5000 hands instead of once as expected by the probability...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Another video poker machine malfunction

Question: I enjoy reading your articles, especially the ones you have been posting recently about machine malfunctions. I have a story for you from Atlantic City back in the day when coins and buckets were still being used. My wife loves to play video poker, while I love the live version...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: My Spin Poker machine froze in the middle of a hand

Question: Thank you for your great insight into slot/poker machines! I just read the column about malfunctioning machines. Here’s my story. I wasn’t playing high stakes poker so the final “win” doesn’t matter. It’s the principle of the matter. Here’s the hand that I was dealt when the machine froze...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Does a slot machine malfunction when it is not configured properly?

I received an email from a paralegal asking if I would speak with her about a denied jackpot case in which her attorney was representing the person who was denied the jackpot. We set up a time for her to call me. The appointed time came and went with no call from her...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Another slot machine malfunction with a happy ending

Question: I just read your article about slot machines malfunctioning. I have a story to tell you. I don’t know every detail but I still think you’ll find it interesting. My friend was in a bonus round on an Aristocrat machine. I don’t know which one...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Getting data from slots before they talked

Slot machine malfunctions are extraordinarily rare. That rarity, I think, makes them newsworthy when they happen, though perhaps only when there is a disputed jackpot. I once played a machine that unequivocally malfunctioned. It was a Quick Hit Blitz machine...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: On the slot floor, sometimes the grass is greener on the other side

A long time ago, in a casino far, far away... Actually, it was in The Mirage about 30 years ago. I was walking through the casino with my cousin's boyfriend. As we passed a bank of upright video poker machines, he said, "I like to play those Draw Poker machines." Draw Poker was the name on the top glass. I was just starting to get into video poker at this time...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Advantage slot play for everyone

In my unpublished book on video poker, which may never get to the printed page, I wrote that the casino will let you get the edge over it, but it won't make it easy. Card counters at the Blackjack table can determine when the odds have shifted in their favor and thus raise their bets. (A quick aside: One of the gaming writers I know was an accomplished card counter, but he was too married to the numbers...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Here yesterday, gone today - Part 2

Last week I asked you to think about things that used to be on the casino floor but are not there today. My example last week was the Cash/Credit button on some slot machines. Someone realized that slot players could play faster if machines didn't have to drop coins for a win and players didn't have to insert coins for each spin...read more

Top 10 poker mistakes players don’t realize pros are exploiting

Professional poker players can only truly make a living at poker as long as recreational poker players keep playing against them.For most amateurs, poker is just entertainment they are willing to pay for, and playing with the pros makes the game even more fun.However, there are some mistakes that recreational poker players make very often, which the pros constantly exploit.If you happen to be a recreational player yourself, keep reading and learn the top 10 poker mistakes you may be making, but should learn to avoid when playing against professionals.10...read more