Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 274

Deal Me In: Streaks end — but when?

Dear Mark: This regular reader and occasional correspondent continues to view in awe the breadth of your knowledge about all casino operations, but occasionally I take issue with your comments. The newest case in point is your observation: “Streaks, Jeremy, are nothing more than hindsight of past performance...read more

Getting those comps

Comps are part of the fun of playing in casinos. When it comes to mealtime, free is the right price — even if you’re a low-limit player who snags that buffet comp only once every three or four visits.But casinos can’t comp you if they don’t know who you are...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Can casinos change slot paybacks electronically?

Your article in American Casino Guide mentioned that the slot managers would order chips to change the win rate on their machines. With electronic machines in place, I would think that win rate adjustments could be changed electronically rather than by ordering specific chips to control the machine. Is this by law that the machine producer must be involved in such changes? It would appear that the electronic adjustment would allow more flexibility to the slot managers. Many aspects of slot technology on the slot floor trail behind what can be done because security measures have to be devised and slot regulators have to approve the new technology. In the early days of computer-controlled slots, the virtual reel layout table was stored on a chip...read more

Readers' experiences in casinos

FROM NEIL: Frank, love your columns and expertise. I just wanted to share my last trip to Las Vegas with you.I had the best outcome with VP-DDBP/Craps/Let It Ride, and this spanned the Silverton and Main St. Station.However, what was another winning experience was the visit to an Asian restaurant — mentioned in the Eating Las Vegas series — China Mama, on South Jones Blvd...read more

The IRS and baccarat

QUESTION: Years back, I traded on stocks and options on Wall Street, and became aware of the cat-and-mouse games played between the IRS and lawyers for the large firms on the street. Each time a restrictive covenant pushed through in favor of the IRS, hordes of legal maneuvering took place in search of loopholes.My thinking on casino taxes is as follows: Should the IRS prevail in its desire to lower the W-2G jackpot threshold to $600, can't the casinos have any payout above $599.99 through $1,199.99 split up somehow so it reflects as two bonuses lower than $600 and thus does not trigger a W-2G?There would need be a reprogramming effort by the slot/vp machine manufacturers, but I'm guessing that would not be too big a deal.ANSWER: I don't think the IRS would buy that...read more

Indian strategy card

I was recently traveling in Washington State and stopped by an Indian casino to partake in some of their gaming. The state has two types of gambling: card rooms and Native American casinos. The card rooms have a variety of games, all dealing with playing cards...read more

Deal Me In: Player strategery

Dear Mark: I like to play penny slots. My system is that I only lose five dollars from my highest credits. For example, I insert $5, lose it, then move to another machine. I will either win a little, or only lose five dollars from the highest credit score...read more

The mystery of craps

Writing this column brings me in contact with players of all skill levels, and what seems obvious to a casino veteran often is a mystery to a beginner, or to a player whose experience falls in different games.Solving the mysteries of craps can be particularly perplexing, as a reader reminded me with her tale of playing on her own for the first time.“I’d played a few times with my boyfriend helping me, and I thought I had everything right,” Lisa explained...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Can a casino collect a marker from a gambler's estate?

If someone owes the casino, say, $100,000 or better, then refuses to pay, the casino would normally sue to get the money back. However, if in the middle of these proceedings the person makes an unexpected departure from this world, can the casino sue the estate or do the casinos have some sort of insurance for this problem? Laws differ from state to state, so I'll just deal with Nevada...read more

Hot, cold and virtual games

FROM SNAZZIE: I love your column. I agree with you that charting dice is a losing system. I have seen times when a dice table is "cold." That is when I am betting the pass line with odds and those seven-outs will happen all too frequently.There may be eight or nine players at a table and no player will make a point...read more