Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 417

In Deuces Wild video poker, when to discard a deuce

Video poker is a passion for Pam, a regular reader who phoned for some Deuces Wild advice. "Is there ever a time when I should discard a deuce?" she wondered. There's an easy answer to that one: No. "OK," she said. "I thought you might say that...read more

When are progressive video poker machines due?

John, Please clarify what I believe to be inaccurate information. On another site I read "Video poker machines don't become 'due' unles they offer a progressive jackpot" and then it went on to discuss a breakeven point. I'm confused...read more

Every gambler makes mistakes but why do many keep making them?

Every casino gambler makes mistakes. Most know it and repeat them anyway. Primarily because they don't really grasp the underlying nature of their errors or why they commit them. An article on "behavioral finance" in The Wall Street Journal, aimed at investors, gives insights into this enigma...read more

How does blackjack's insurance bet work?

Hi Frank, I was playing Las Vegas Strip blackjack on the computer for fun money. Three times this happened with buying insurance. One time I bought insurance with a jack and an eight while the house had an A and J, I won the bet. How can that be? The house had blackjack...read more

The Oddsman's Bet Revisited

With the exception of those rare positive expectation video poker machines, the best bet in the casino is the odds bet at craps because the house has no advantage on it. Unfortunately, in order to take or lay odds the player must make a Pass, Don't Pass, Come, or Don't Come bet on which the house does have an advantage...read more

Free Buy Bet

As you may have noted in my last article, I finally got back to Michael in Laughlin who inquired about introducing a $3 line bet at Craps. Here is his reply: Hi Don, I was glad to hear from you. I hope all is O.K. I truly enjoyed our communications on this subject and it appears that my director at work has embraced the idea, and is currently offering a $3.00 game on a more consistent basis...read more

Just shoot me!

As a gambling writer I must spend enough time in all the sections of the casino to get the hang of what's being done, what's being said, and who is whom and all the rest of it. That includes the slot aisles, where I roam and sit, sit and roam, where I talk to the players and try to unearth the reasons why people play the machines and what brings them back time after time, over and over again...read more

Gaming Company Makes Roulette More Colorful

Tweaking the black and red components of the game of roulette wasn't enough for Frank Mugnolo, president of Casino Gaming LLC of Broadview, Illinois, so now he has gone "green". Anyone familiar with roulette knows that the color green is associated with the "0" and "00" slots on the 38-position American style wheel...read more

Mississippi Stud Poker

Every year, I see a dozen or more new table games or new table game bonus bets. Relatively few make it into casinos. There's not the same demand for new table games that there is for new slot machines, and table games can go through years of fine tuning along with proving themselves in small venues and in online play before they make a breakthrough. That can lead to "where have I seen this before" moments...read more

A weird question about the slot machine's RNG

John, On a previous question you had said that the outcome of a spin polls the RNG for the next spin. The way I understand this is that future spins are a result of previous spins. Did I understand correctly? If this is true does that mean that if (this question gets weird) on two separate time lines the same machine could have different results even if the button were pressed at the exact same time? Also I have used your estimating payback method on several machines and have found it doesn't work in my case...read more