Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 367

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. My husband and I just starting going to the casino, once a month or so. My question is, why aren't there more roulette tables in casinos? We think it's fun, and it seems like it gives you as good a chance to win as anything, especially when you bet on red or black...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: A mathematician explains the RNG

John, I am a mathematician AND computer software expert. Here is the simple answer. It is true that computers use pRNG technology to generate random numbers. It is also true that the number stream generated has the appearance of randomness...read more

Bally's roulette slot

Not all slot machines are designed for mass appeal. Niche games targeted at a specific audience have their place, too. In the last several years, one game that has earned its niche is Roulette from Bally. This isn't one of the big multi-station systems such as Shuffle Master's Rapid Roulette...read more

June bugs and slots

In another article, I went through the various casino situations that "bugged" table game players and discussed the type of casino (human) bugs that can be quite irritating, to say the least. At table games, you rub shoulders with myriad people and so many bugs appear that you could probably fill a book with their descriptions and activities. Certainly, slot players do not face as many human pests as do table game players...read more

Advantage Players Need to Train Like Money Mayweather

After World War II, many Americans considered boxing a dying sport. Thanks to legendary greats such as Jack Dempsey, Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Joe Frazier, Sonny Liston, Julio Cesar Chavez, and Iron Mike Tyson, boxing has stood the test of time...read more

Chuck-a-luck: An old gambling game

Chuck-A-Luck, also known as Chuck Luck, Chucker Luck and Chuck, was originally called Sweat Cloth in England. In Malaysia and Singapore the game is known as "Mini Dice." This is a banking game related to Grand Hazard. The operator usually rolls the dice in a special chuck cage (an hourglass-shaped wire cage that rotates) and provides a layout with the numbers 1 to 6 on it for players to place their bets...read more

Craps is chock-full of bad bets, so stick to the good ones

Dear Mark: You often suggest making bets on the crap table that have less than a 2 percent house edge, specifically a pass line bet, and placing the 6 and 8. The game offers plenty of other wagers, are they really that bad? Jerry C.Yes, Jerry, I have repeatedly written that the smart craps player puts that hard-earned money to work on just a few outstanding wagers: The Pass line and Come bet with odds is one...read more

Comps 101

What is a comp? A "comp" is an abbreviation for complimentary. They are the free goods and services provided by the casino to its players. Comps can range on the low end to free drinks and free valet parking all the way up to free room, food, beverage and transportation...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. I read in the news about that roulette wheel that hit number 19 seven times in a row. What are the odds, and how much would you have won if you'd bet it and just let your winnings ride for all seven? A. For those who haven't seen the story, it started when a poker player took a picture of a lighted display that showed the last 16 numbers at a roulette table at the Rio in Las Vegas...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Concerns about pseudo-random number generators

Slot machines really have pseudo-random number generators (pRNG). A pRNG generates a number stream that appears to be random and satisfies many properties of randomness, but is actually generated by a deterministic function and is not truly random...read more