Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 235

The new Aristocrat machines

Aristocrat Technologies is proud of its Lightning Link progressive slot machines, and justifiably so. For 2016, Lightning Link was named the leading slot in North America in the annual Eilers Fantini survey, ending a five-year run at the top for IGT’s Wheel of Fortune.Following up on Lightning Link’s success, Aristocrat is introducing Dragon Link...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Intro to the random number generator

Question: what is the difference between the VLT machines at the racinos and the slot machines at the Vegas-style casinos? Answer: The only thing I can say for sure about a VLT versus a slot machine is that the VLT is operated by a state lottery, hence "video lottery terminal." Some VLTs operate the same way as slot machines — that is, they have internal random number generators and determine the results of their spins independently...read more

Confessions of darkside craps players

Craps is really two complete and different games in one. You have the rightside (or “do”) game. In this one the players are betting with the shooter and/or are hoping the shooter goes on a tear, hitting number after number and point after point...read more

How the Hot Roll Works

QUESTION: I played Hot Roll video poker for the first time. It was a nickel game, but I did pretty well. I had a full house with a 12x multiplier, and a four of a kind with a 5x.When I got home, I looked up what you had written about Hot Roll and you said the average roll was a 7x multiplier...read more

Promoting successful gambling

Louis Pasteur, scientist and philosopher, is quoted as saying “chance favors the prepared mind.”There are lots of things you can do to learn and prepare yourself about your favorite game and become a better player. It’s really quite simple...read more

Happy 20th Wheel of Fortune!

Wheel of Fortune slot machines have been with us for 20 years now. The most popular games in slot machine history, Wheel of Fortune machines have commanded space on casino floors in countless variations on video and in the original three-reel format.International Game Technology celebrated Wheel’s 20th anniversary in style at Global Gaming Expo in style this fall in Las Vegas...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Casino loosens slots for certain players?

Question: As always, enjoy your articles and expert insights, but I'm gonna complain here a bit. My son gets me a subscription to Casino Player magazine every Christmas. I am getting the issues a month late. I get October issue in November, for example, so any offers, shows, etc., are over by the time I get the magazine...read more

Confessions of a female craps player

If you play craps you know one major truth: most craps players are men. In fact, well over 90% seem to be men. It is not at all rare to be at tables — one after another after another — where women are not seen and not heard.Still, there are some intrepid women who do play craps and are not reticent about it...read more

Why the odds on Chicago Cubs?

QUESTION: I’m a Cleveland Indians fan and a casino player who doesn’t bet on sports much, but who followed the odds throughout the baseball playoffs.The Indians were underdogs all the way. Oddsmakers expected them to lose to the Boston Red Sox and even to the Toronto Blue Jays, who got in as a wild card...read more

Losing streaks at video poker

A reader asked me if I’ve ever had a losing streak playing video poker. Short answer: You bet I did. But here’s why and how I deal with losing streaks.It’s been my personal experience that I lose on average about two out of every three video poker sessions, even though I’ve come out ahead 10 out of the past 12 years that I’ve played video poker...read more