Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 283

Ask the Slot Expert: Are players' clubs useful for quarter slot players?

I'd like your opinion on the following casino marketing strategy. Empire City Casino sends me e-mails showing big jackpot winners. [Images of a $10,209.29 hit from a $5 bet on a Quick Hit Platinum machine and a $12,866,84 hit from a 40-cent bet on a Cash Spin machine were attached.] They have over 5,000 slots, so your odds are still high...read more

5-Count wagering

FROM DOUG: I enjoy your articles, insights and analysis on craps and I especially like your 5-Count method. It is only the past year or so I could get to the Philly casinos a few times a month and I am a very small bettor at this point … $10 Pass Line and 1x odds.It seems that the 5-Count method works well much of time but not all...read more

Class of slot machines and shadow hands in video poker

QUESTION: Your recent Q & A about class II and III machines confused me. You said "If a machine doesn't have a bingo display, it's not a Class II game. Same for video poker. If it has a bingo display, it's Class II. If it doesn't, it's Class III."Here in the East, there are two places that seem rather successful, but are VLT machines...read more

Handling money in the casinos

What’s the one thing you positively must have if you want to gamble? Of course, c-a-s-h. Most folks just use folding money. Nothing wrong with that, but there are other options, some better, some worse.And what about managing that cash when you gamble on the tables or machines? Do you have a plan for what you are going to do if you start losing? What about winning? And what would you do if you won some serious money? How would you get it home, safely? The point is that how you get, use, access and manage your money when you gamble is just as important as which games you play and how you play them.Every player — high roller, low roller, table or machine player — must do the following if they want to partake in the casino action.1. Convert money into a playing bankroll.2. Manage that bankroll when they play.3. Convert what’s left of the bankroll into cash and head home.Step 1...read more

Slot myths about the NEW slots

Slot machine myths are a lot like the Hydra, the nine-headed serpent in Greek mythology that grew two more heads every time Herakles cut one off. So it goes with slot myths. My e-mail rarely brings questions about whether casinos can tighten games by flipping a switch, whether using rewards cards bring lower paybacks, and ticket in, ticket out payoffs have eliminated the old chestnut about whether warm coins bring lower pays than cold coins.The answers are no, no and no, in case just mentioning the myths have sparked any old doubts.But mythology evolves with changing technology and new ways to play...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Can you beat video poker?

I often play slot machines where you can change the denomination of how much you want to bet (penny, two cents, nickel, dime, etc.) Since it's the same machine, are my odds any better playing a higher denomination? The answer is a definite maybe. Some video poker machines are multi-denomination...read more

Introducing the Annoyed Pig and dice setting

FROM BILL: I just finished re-reading "The Virgin Kiss." Again, thank you for the signed copy. I suspect you and I were very similar-type teachers, except I taught math. The “Weird World” section continues to confuse me but your book is very well written and entertaining.I have done a lot better in Vegas at craps since reading your how-to book (“Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!”) which I also gave to my brother-in-law who plays only craps, so thanks.Two observations:I seem to estimate about 30 percent of the rolls are come out rolls and wonder how close you think this number is to reality...read more

Three reels and the speed of craps

QUESTION: I guess I’m getting old, but why don’t they make three-reel slots anymore? Those are still my favorites. I don’t feel like I can win anything big on video slots, but it’s hard to find the reels anymore.ANSWER: They do still make three-reel games...read more

Practicing your craft

If you are a golfer you might have the desire to go a round at Pebble Beach. If you play tennis, maybe Hilton Head would be your hope; or playing a few lines at the Reno National Bowling Center would be fun for bowlers. If you want to gamble, you might want to go Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Monte Carlo...read more

Frequent blackjack questions

Every game has its own list of most frequently asked questions, the things readers ask most often. And the table game that draws the most reader e-mail is blackjack, with some questions popping up over and over.So let’s do a little blackjack FAQ, with a few of the things you ask most.Are fewer decks always best for the player? If all other rules are equal, the house edge is lower if fewer decks are used...read more