Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 304

Saving the 8 Redux

In a recent article (April 5, 2014) I responded to Bob in Boston who wrote:Hi Stickman,With 5 card video draw poker, assume you have the following: 7 of spades,8 of diamonds, 8 of hearts, 9 of spades and 10 of clubs. Obviously you will discardone of the two 8's...read more

Moving from slots to video poker

Karl is a video poker convert, a slot player who decided to give video poker a go when he learned of its higher payback percentages.“I still play some penny slots,” he wrote in an e-mail. “The bonuses are fun.”Mostly, he plays Deuces Wild, but mixes in some other games...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Cold winter means bad video poker in Wisconsin?

It may not have been true in Connecticut that paytables were changed when slot revenue was down, but I can tell you firsthand that this was done here in northern Wisconsin after one of the snowiest and coldest winters on record. In late April I was in our local casino, Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel, on a Tuesday night and then again on Friday of the same week...read more

The not, not, not of table game play

People enjoy gambling. Many people enjoy gambling. Many types of people enjoy gambling. Indeed, there are around 54 million casino players in the United States alone. That is a huge number.With so many casino players – more players than viewers of America’s Got Talent – there are some that can be royal pains in the … well, let’s just leave it at royal pains, shall we?When playing a table game, these “royals” can be silly, slobbery, unkempt, unsober, ungracious, superstitious, intrusive and argumentative...read more

Comps for slots, blackjack and video poker are not the same

QUESTION: Two friends and I play each week. One friend takes about $500-$600 bankroll and plays Wizard of Oz penny machines almost exclusively. Another takes $500-$800 and plays blackjack, $25-$50 a hand. I take a $600-$800 bankroll and play quarter and 50-cent Double Double Bonus or Triple Double Bonus video poker machines...read more

5 Casino Customer Service Lessons from a Disney Cruise

My family and I went on a five-day Disney cruise and it was an enlightening adventure that offered important casino customer service lessons for all gaming properties.As a 20-year customer service consultant who helps casinos measure, manage and improve their guest experience, I wanted to do more than have fun...read more

Class I, II and III slot machines

Regardless of whether you’re playing in Atlantic City, Las Vegas or points in between, most slot machines work the same way. Each game has its own random number generator, and the numbers it generates determines what you see on the reels.There are other ways to go about it, including Class II games in some Native American casinos...read more

Easy at the tables

Many slot players don’t want to play the table games because at first many of these games seem quite intimidating. Just one look at the craps layout is enough to make just about any new player run – it certainly had that effect on me when I first stepped up to the game...read more

Baccarat card counting and stacked symbols

QUESTION: You’ve written about baccarat having a low house edge, and so I gave it a try. I found it boring. The cards are all played out by rule, you don’t get to decide whether to hit or stand. The other players seemed really into it, so maybe it’s just me.What did intrigue me was that players were tracking the hands on paper...read more

Slot Jackpot Frequency

I wrote you a few weeks ago and know you get so much mail but figured I'd try again in case you had a chance to answer. My question is I have played Lucky Duck/Mr. Money Bags at Choctaw in Durant. They have all denominations.Most of the 25 cent ones max at 75 cents...read more