Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 460

WMS Gaming Has Much in Store for Slot Players

Hundreds of gaming device manufacturers from around the world converged on Las Vegas last week to unveil their new product lines at the annual Global Gaming Expo in that city's giant convention center. Displaying their wares in spaces ranging in size from a small booth to floor space equivalent to huge banquet halls, the companies make every effort to attract the attention of gaming industry executives in the hope they'll make purchases for the casinos they own and operate. Traditionally, WMS Gaming makes a significant impact on Expo attendees with innovative technology that continually raises the bar on how people play slot machines. They did it a couple of years ago with Star Trek, the debut of the company's patented Adaptive Gaming format in which players (using a log-in component) unlock new features as they play, save their progress, and then are able to pick up where they left off at another machine, even in a different casino. The next generation of the technology has been applied to Lord of the Rings, based on the J.R.R...read more

How random slot machines can pay back a given percent

Slot machines are as random as humans can program a computer to be. Slot machines also are programmed in a way that will lead toward a targeted payback percentage. That mix — programmed, yet random — is something that has confused many a player in the decades since slots went electronic...read more

What not to do with a found slot ticket

Hi, I have a question about finding the lost slot TITO. I went to a casino and I was playing the slot machine, and across from me there was a lady playing at the blackjack table. When she was done and left, she dropped 3 TITO on the floor worth $397...read more

Why are table minimums so high in Atlantic City?

Dear Frank: Can you can answer for me why the table minimums are higher in Atlantic City than Las Vegas? Is this due to the "cut" that the State of New Jersey requires from the casinos as opposed to Nevada or is it just the casino operators? When I play in AC, it's all slots and maybe some roulette...read more

The End of a Story

As many of you know in 2003 I wrote and published a book entitled The Lottery Book; The Truth Behind the Numbers. In it I traced the history of the lottery, explained lottery mathematics, offered advice, and told some stories of lottery winners...read more

Playing Your Best Game

Poker is more than just a card game. One professional player I know describes poker as a "people game played with cards" and whenever you are dealing with people, you are also dealing with many psychological factors, including your own emotions...read more

Is setting for the field number a smart bet?

I just received a letter asking me if setting for a yo-eleven or a 12 in order to get field numbers is a smart bet. This individual had read somewhere that setting this way could improve his chances of hitting the field numbers of 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11 and 12...read more

Do Payback Percentages Vary on Multi-Denomination Slots?

Even what you think would be elementary and essential information about slot machines that casino goers who wish to be informed are entitled to know is extremely difficult to find. It is unfortunate that casino operators in particular and the gaming industry in general reveal next to nothing about slots and how they work. For obvious reasons, casinos prefer to keep slots "magical, mystery money machines" rather than make an effort to educate the public about the math and computer programs that govern them. The hyping of jackpots, publicizing players who are fortunate enough to win them, and reporting monthly payback percentages (broken down by denomination, not machine) as required by state law are all they tell us. One question that comes up frequently is whether or not the payback percentages on multi-denomination games change depending upon which denomination is being played. After doing some research, I discovered the answer to the question is a definite "probably". Even nationally recognized slot machine authority John Robison, the "go to" expert for all questions pertaining to slots, and my colleague 'gaming guru" at www.casinocity.com, could not give a definitive answer to the question: "I don't have first hand knowledge about slots, but I have seen the long-term paybacks on multi-denom video poker machines rise with denomination, so I think the same thing could happen on slots, too," he said...read more

More on match play coupons

A couple of months ago, I mentioned match play coupons that for one hand, roll or spin double your return if you win. The double winnings give you a mathematical edge on the house. If you had a match play coupon for every wager, you'd be the odds-on favorite to take the house's money. That brought a handful of responses via e-mail from readers with variations on the match play theme...read more

How do I tip my slot host?

Thank you so much for the helpful advice regarding tipping slot hosts. We have a wonderful slot host in LV and wanted to say thank you. We were not sure if it was allowed. Thank you again for your help. Each casino has its own rules regarding tipping slot hosts, but as a general rule hosts are prohibited from accepting any cash tip and gifts worth more than, say, $25. Players have made homemade cookies and pies for their hosts...read more