Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 456

New Year's resolutions for gamblers

The new year promises to be one of new games, new ways to play, new technology and, of course, some old problems. To a casino player, the most important of those problems is that sometimes the money just goes too fast. When it does, make sure you're in control, and not let your losing day spiral into bigger problems. As we enter into 2010, I offer these New Year's resolutions for gamblers: Resolve to stay within your bankroll: Decide before you play how much you're willing to spend on the day's entertainment...read more

An in-depth look at the RNG

John, I have looked through most of your archives and cannot find a detailed explanation of how the RNG and lookup tables work in a slot machine. I have a good understanding of the process but a few things about the process I can't put together...read more

Craps baseball

Mr. Scobe, I am senior from Rutgers University. I recently developed a game that combines and craps and baseball. It can be played and the rules may be read at my web site http://www.crapsbaseball.com/. I know it is a busy time of year for the industry, but I hope you can take some time out to check it out and get back at me. Thank you, Sean Dear Sean: Looked over your game and it seems like fun...read more

What do you think of my slot strategy?

Hi John! I am wondering what your opinion is of the strategy that I currently use when playing dollar slots. I first choose a slot that requires three dollars max to get the big jackpot. I insert a $100 bill then I play one dollar each time I push the button...read more

Know Your Limits

There are several variations of Texas Hold'em and they are determined by the betting structure. Limit and No Limit games are the two most popular but you can also find the game played with Pot limits and Spread limits. These betting structures are also used in Omaha, Seven Card Stud or any other type of poker...read more

More or less?

What is the difference between Player #1 who places the 6 and 8 for $30 each and Player #2 who just places the 6 for $30? Most players would say that Player #1 will lose twice the amount of money in the long run and they would be absolutely right...read more

Video Poker Website a Labor of Love for the Game

Don't let Mike Fields' title fool you. He may be the executive vice president of Action Gaming, a giant in the development of the world's most popular video poker machines, but that doesn't stop him from being an enthusiastic fan of the games his company creates. In an industry in which many of the so-called "suits" of the executive sector of casino business appear to be stamped out of a cookie cutter and far removed from gambling from the players' perspective, Fields is a rare exception. His enthusiasm for video poker inspired him three years ago to develop a website for fans of the game which today has nearly 170,000 members worldwide and is growing at the rate of 100 to 125 new members each day. VideoPoker.com is a non-wagering site devoted entirely to one of the most popular games in casinos and its loyal legion of followers. Basic membership is free and includes the ability to play real casino video poker games, advice and strategy from experts, and access to a video poker forum in which you can ask questions and share thoughts, ideas and comments with fellow video poker players from around the world. You can also obtain information about video poker pay tables, plus there's a state-by-state locator to find in which casinos your favorite games are located. Video poker contests for Action Gaming apparel and Las Vegas prize packages are also held on a regular basis. There are also opportunities for people who love to play keno to try out their favorite games as well as new releases. Recently a new training mode feature was introduced that creates a learning experience of value to all levels of players. The driving force behind formulating a user-friendly online tool that translates complicated strategies into a simplified format was Fields. He explained that the idea for the training module came about because the vast majority of people who play video poker are unable to devote the time and effort it takes to become an expert and maximize their chances of playing successfully. "Our challenge was to help people gain the confidence they need to become better players," he said...read more

Report from G2E 2009, part 4

All the most successful video poker games have been based on five-card draw poker. When you see one that's not, like the old game Double Down Stud, you know that its best chance of survival is to attract a small niche of loyal players. So I'm not one to get giddy over a non-draw game, not even one that seems well designed to capitalize on the popularity of Texas Hold'em...read more

Is there a way to determine a machine's long-term payback?

Is there a way to test a machine's payout percentage? For pooled machines linked to a jackpot, is the payout percentage still per machine or can it be spread out across the total machines in the casino? If you say higher denominations pay out better, then wouldn't you agree they have a separate RNG or seed, since it is the only variables that can change the payout? Therefore, pulling 30 no-wins on .10 then changing to 1.00 isn't going to help...read more

Craps classes in Massachusetts?

Dear Frank: Some people who love craps would take lessons in Massachusetts, probably Boston would be a good idea. Lots of people play at Mohegan Sun Casino and at the Foxwoods Casino. Brad Dear Brad: Except for Chicago, we do our classes in casino towns such as Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Tunica, Mississippi. Boston might be a good venue...read more