Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 436

What good are bets on which you can lose more than you can win?

Most casino bets have payoffs that equal or exceed the amount in jeopardy on them. The majority of solid citizens not only prefer these wagers, they look for extreme cases. Who can resist a hundred thousand dollar payoff for a buck in a machine or on a bonus bet at a table? And, why not take a shot with chump change you can easily obtain, on a bundle you won't see any other way? There's a class of wagers that do just the opposite...read more

What happened to my loose slot?

Hi Frank, I hear from people who play the slots that there are the hot and cold type machines. Many years ago at the Delaware Racetrack and Slots, my wife and I would visit frequently as I played the horses and she played the slots...read more

Penney's Game

Every now and then in this column I like to look at so-called proposition bets (for example see my archived article An Earful of Cider that appeared in December of 1999). These are wagers that sound like either a sure thing, or at worst a fair bet, and are anything but...read more

Maximize Your Casino Visit

Everyone is feeling the effects of the economic slowdown and many of us are making a conscience effort to cut back on discretionary spending. The high price of fuel is making traveling much more expensive and this is causing many players to cut back on the number of visits they make to the casino...read more

A true tale of two role models

In all endeavors, there are smart people and not-so-smart people. The following are two people I know — two totally different people in their approaches to casino gambling. Which one are you closest to? Our first one, 33-year-old Bruce, just loves casino gambling, what he can remember of it, as he spends about 36 straight hours at the tables and the machines before he crashes in a wrinkled heap in his room...read more

How Brand Loyalty Impacts Where You Play

When it comes to visiting casinos in the Chicago area, how does "brand loyalty" come into play for gamblers? For the majority of average recreational players who make occasional trips, it really isn't a factor. But, for people who make casino outings a regular part of their entertainment, loyalty to a particular establishment does play a role. Encouraging loyalty is a primary marketing activity among casinos, especially in a market such as the Chicago area where destinations are limited and the competition for the gambling dollar is fierce. Do you recall when supermarkets used trading stamps as a way to encourage customer loyalty? Casinos are no different. Guests build "equity" on their play through players club tracking cards. The more visits an individual makes, the more money that is "churned" through the slot machines or at the table games, and the more hours that are spent gambling are what build the equity. On the same token, people should be careful not to become "slaves" to the system...read more

Double Double Bonus Poker

Double Double Bonus Poker is one of the most popular video poker games around. Players love the 2,000-coin jackpot for a five-coin wager when four aces are accompanied by a 2, 3 or 4 as the fifth card. On a quarter machine, that's $500 — a nice secondary jackpot below the usual $1,000 for a royal flush. As with all video poker games, Double Double Bonus Poker comes in a variety of pay tables...read more

Where can I find paybacks for slots in Arizona?

I'm in Arizona and never see anything published on which Indian casinos pay back what percentages. I remember reading on the paybacks on Vegas casinos that the North Vegas paid the highest then downtown, and last the strip casinos. Is there someplace Arizona publishes this info? Larry Dear Larry: I couldn't find any paybacks for Arizona's slots online and this excerpt from American Casino Guide (www.americancasinoguide.com) explains why: Arizona tribes aren't required to release information on their slot machine percentage paybacks, however, according to the Arizona Department of Gaming, the terms of the compact require each tribes' machines to return the following minimum and maximum paybacks: video poker and video blackjack - 83% to 100%, slot machines - 80% to 100%, keno - 75% to 100%...read more

Don't the security features on a craps table make controlled shooting impossible?

Dear Frank: I am confused. The security features on a craps table should stop all these controlled throws. The methods of the controlled throws do work with practice on the right surface but on a craps table that has been designed to stop them I don't see how they can work and the casinos share the same view as me...read more

Jest for Fun

A casino is either a great place of entertainment or a curse. One sometimes wonders which. * * * * * The author of a book on how to beat the slots sent a copy to a friend. Shortly thereafter he received this note from the friend: "Many thanks...read more