Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 311

The new slot bonuses

Today’s slot players are used to bonus events as a normal part of the games. That video slots, and many reel-spinners, will have free spins, pick’em events, mystery jackpots or some combination of the available options is a given.But new forms of bonusing are being developed all the time, and they’re not all integral parts of the game itself...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Posting slot machine paybacks

How would we be able to have casinos make slot machine paybacks visible for the player to see? I think they should be disclosed and let the player decide which machines to play. We have disclosures about other products we buy, like nutrition labels, car mileage and so forth. Casinos have disclosed the long-term paybacks on some of their machines in the past...read more

The stop spin slots

QUESTION: On slot machines that have a "stop spin" button does it make a difference or will you get what you would have gotten if it completed its spin on its own?ANSWER: It makes no difference. The reels are going to show what the random number generator tells them to, regardless of whether you stop them.There are a few rare exceptions...read more

The Hot and Dangerous Fire Bet

Hello Stickman,The Fire bet on the craps table has such an enormous house advantage that I was wondering why casinos don't alter the payout to be more competitive. If the payout for all six numbers was increased to 2000 for 1 they would have more takers and still have a sizable advantage...read more

Winning a big one at video poker

I’ve been playing video poker for a very long time, and only once have I had a royal flush dealt to me in the first five cards. When it happened, I was alternating play with my dad, and we split the royal, $500 for him, $500 for me.On multihand machines, I’ve never had a dealt royal, although I did once draw two on a Triple Play game...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Does how much I bet affect my chances of winning?

Bilbo's in Las Vegas went out of business. The three phone numbers I found for them are not operational. How do I get a win lose statement for 2013? Bilbo's Bar & Grill was a chain of bars in Las Vegas that closed last year. Your only hope now is to go to the county clerk's office to get the contact info for the owners unless you can find it online. I know I'm stating the obvious, but if Bilbo's didn't have a players card, there's no way they could track your play. And it's too late for this advice, but it's best to keep your own diary of wins and losses...read more

Edward Francis' podcasts of interest for gamblers

Guest columnist Edward Francis enjoys many Internet “podcasts” and in the next three weeks he will alert you to which ones you also might want to check out. ******It was not too long ago that gambling enthusiasts had to wait for the appearance of an annual vacation travel guide or the occasional publishing of gaming related books to get information about their favorite casino games or destinations...read more

Blackjack tipping and 4% baccarat bank bet

QUESTION: I usually bet $10 or $15 a hand in blackjack, and I’ve gotten into a pattern when it comes to tipping the dealer. Unless I’m on a bad losing streak, I tip after every blackjack. If I’m betting $10, I usually just add a $1 bet for the dealer on the next hand...read more

Bet you didn't know about dice

The oldest confirmed record of a game of chance in which dice were used was in 1573 B.C. by the Egyptians. These Theban dice, as they are known today, are resting for all to see (but not to play with) in the Egyptian Museum in Berlin, Germany.But the legacy of this game lives on...read more

Must a player point out dealer mistakes?

I received an e-mail in early January from a blackjack player who was having a crisis of conscience.“There’s a dealer at my regular hangout who tips his hole card,” the player wrote. “He doesn’t do it on every hand, but he does often enough to make a real difference...read more