Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 328

Will cruise ship video poker sink you?

QUESTION: On a recent Mediterranean cruise, along with the usual bad pay schedules for video poker, I encountered a variant of bonus poker new to me. Two pairs paid only 1, but a flush paid 8 and a full house paid 10 (40 and 50 with full coin)...read more

What to do about tip hustling

These are posts by G-Man and others from the private, members-only message boards at www.goldentouchcraps.comG-MAN: I have played at an old casino [poster names the casino and city] for a number of years. I don’t like the table so I don’t play a lot there each trip...read more

Casino Customer Service Hell

I recently read a column in Inc. Magazine titled “The 9 Circles of Customer Service Hell” and, to my delight, some of the information looked very familiar. It pointed out service and customer service training problems I have been counseling casinos on for nearly 20 years.It’s wonderful to have your expertise validated by another expert, even if it is a coincidence...read more

Deal Me In: Trust, but verify

Dear Mark: Concerning blackjack, I recently bought into about the only good single-deck game left in Vegas, at the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, for $100. I played one hand for the $5 minimum bet and lost. For some reason, I then counted my chips and found that I had $90...read more

Matching games to personality types

Which casino game should you play? It really depends on what thrills you, how much money you have, and how much effort you want to put into your gambling. In addition, a player’s personality has a lot to do with choosing the right game to play...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Can you tell a machine's hit frequency?

Is there any way to tell the hit frequency for either Class 2 (Native) or Class 3 slot machines (Las Vegas type)? Nick Dear Nick, It's very easy to determine any machine's hit frequency. All you have to do is play it. Hit frequency is just a binary event -- a spin is either a hit or it isn't...read more

Great new bonus slot machines

Each year at Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas, I get to see the best of what slot machine manufacturers have to offer: the bonus events. Games are set up so potential buyers and inquiring columnists can see the most entertaining bits without spending time spinning the reels.It doesn’t exactly mirror the everyday slot experience, but it’s a fun way to preview a whole lot of games in a short time.Bally Technologies showed a couple of licensed-theme games that will have players savoring the bonuses...read more

The don't conundrum

If you are a craps player you are fully aware of the “don’t” or darkside of the game. The darkside players, who make up about 5 percent of all the craps players, are betting against the dice. They are sometimes called “wrong-way” players.On the come-out roll of the shooter, the darkside player wagers on the don’t pass because he wants the 2 and 3 for a win, whereas the “rightside” players on the pass Line are hoping for a winning 7 or 11...read more

Paranoia In the Casino

Hi Stickman, On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I experienced two days of Video Poker nirvana. I went to a major casino on the central strip. I know, the payouts aren't as great as the local joints on the outskirts of town, but I love the ambiance of the strip. I am a night owl so I usually start playing around midnight...read more

Pick your hit frequency on slots and five-card Charlies

QUESTION: Please explain something to me about choose your volatility slot machines. You’ve written about them before, and from what I understand you can choose how often you win. What does that actually mean as far as the overall payback? Are you better off choosing high or low volatility?ANSWER: Choosing your volatility isn’t about choosing a payback percentage; it’s about choosing a play experience...read more