Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 307

Casino evolution

Casinos are constantly changing, something that’s obvious to anyone who plays the games. The rise of video slots and their ever-changing features, multihand video poker games, tougher blackjack rules and the rise of new table games such as Mississippi Stud are all noticeable changes.But casino evolution is constant away from the games, too...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Changing bingo cards on Class II slot machines

The past articles regarding taxes on gambling winnings/losses have been very interesting. My question is about deducting losses from winnings. How detailed a gambling record does one need to maintain to satisfy the IRS requirements? And what should one detail? Any winnings over $1199 result in a W2-G being issued, even though the gambler might have been playing for a long time and had invested $1500 in the machine and really has a loss of $301 if the gambler quit at that time...read more

The do's and don'ts of baccarat

DO realize that there are four types of baccarat games now found in the casinos -- plus variations that individual casinos might add. The first is the high-roller room “big table” baccarat of James Bond, European nobility and Asian high rollers...read more

Slot machine comps

QUESTION: I understand how casino comps are entered by the casino floor person for table games. They enter into the computer your average bet and length of time played and which game you played.But, how about slot machines? If I always use my casino reward card when I play slots does it also only look at average bet and length of time and which machine? If I goof around wasting time waiting for someone and play one penny at a time for a short while am I lowering my average bet?If I play max coins but play real slowly will that help me or harm me earn comps?Seems illogical that I can play max credits and hit SPIN once an hour, and that the computer will register that I played the whole time.ANSWER: Slot machine comps are based on total amount played...read more

Odds of Completing Four Aces and a Kicker in Video Poker

Dear Stickman,I have a video poker question for you.What are the odds of hitting 4 aces plus a kicker while holding only one ace? I did just that a couple of weeks ago at Mohegan Sun while playing double-double bonus poker.Regards,LudiHi Ludi,First of all, congratulations on your great win...read more

Riverboat Roulette

New slot games take their places in casinos every day. When a new table game gets a nod, it’s noteworthy. Sometimes years pass between the first time I see a new game demonstrated at Global Gaming Expo and the time I see it in a casino. Often, I never see the games on casino floors, although many carve out niches overseas and online.So I was intrigued recently to receive press releases announcing that Riverboat Roulette would be making its U.S...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Why are slot payoffs expressed for-1 and not to-1?

Note: This letter refers to last week's question about deducting gambling losses from an amount won in a drawing. Why did they get a 1099 instead of a W2-G? It doesn't matter what your gambling losses are from -- slots, lottery, horse races etc...read more

The do's and don'ts of craps

[The advice here is for craps players playing a random game and not for dice controllers.]DO shoot the dice when it is your turn. This is the rare casino game where the casino gives you the dice and says, “OK, try to beat us.” So try to beat them!DON’T fall for erroneous gambling concepts pushed by many Internet dice ploppies such as trend betting...read more

Three-Card Poker and Mississippi Stud

QUESTION: I love to play the Three-Card Poker and Mississippi Stud Poker. On Three-Card it almost seems as if the best strategy is to just go blind on every deal. On Mississippi Stud sometimes it seems like you should just ride out the hand...read more

Become a better player

The real object of gambling is to win. That sounds simple enough. It is and it isn’t.Some players think it’s to get a seven on the come-out roll at craps or closer to 21 than the dealer at blackjack, or pick a straight up number at roulette...read more