Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 507

Frank Scoblete on Playboy Channel on Sirius/XM 99

Gaming's #1 author, Frank Scoblete, and his partner Dominator, the world's greatest dice controller, are doing the Playboy thing again. After Playboy magazine ran a major feature about them for the October issue which had one of the largest newsstand sales of all time, both will be featured guests on the Playboy channel on Sirius (and Best of Sirius on XM) 99...read more

$50 Million Renovation Will Bring Joliet a Whole New Empress

Take a good look at the Empress Casino & Hotel in Joliet, Illinois the next time you visit. A little over a year from now you won't recognize the place according to general manager Frank Quigley, who has announced a $50 million renovation project designed to reenergize the property. The main entrance, pavilion and casino will be completely transformed into something entirely different from what it is today...read more

Playing It Smart: Can you believe 'the book' on how to play proper blackjack?

Even blackjack buffs who know their Basic Strategy inside and out sometimes balk at a few of its dictates. They're aware that "the book" says to hit 16 against a dealer's 10-up and 12 against 2-up. The most astute recognize that these hands are underdogs either way so it's a question of magnitude rather than kind...read more

2008 Global Gaming Expo, part 1

The Global Gaming Expo has been a must on my yearly calendar ever since its inception in 2001. The American Gaming Association's annual trade show, which had its 2008 run Nov. 17-19 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, has full days of conferences as well as a display floor of slotmakers, table games designers, chair manufacturers, security systems vendors and anyone else connected to the casino industry show off their products. G2E is also a place to renew acquaintances with old friends and sources in the industry, and make new ones...read more

Is there a flaw in video poker machines?

Hi John, I've been playing video poker for many years and I play Optimum Play strategy. It seems to me that there is a flaw with the software that controls the draw to a four-card flush. I know that you should make the flush 1 out of every 5.2 times but over the years I have kept records and over the long term I'm not even close to this...read more

Can a Shuffle Master machine read cards?

Hi Frank: Being a serious craps player, I am a big fan of yours. I always enjoy your articles, books, etc. I am always looking forward to learning something new from you. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. My question today is not about craps, but about Let It Ride or, to be more specific, the Shuffle Master that is used at the table at that game. Last week I was visiting the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, Florida (sorry to see that they have no craps table, but I am hopeful that it will come soon)...read more

Is This a Good Promotion?

Stickman, I have found a local promotion that is as follows. Shooter makes no extra bet and is paid 10X their line bet when they throw 13 rolls between sevens. If you throw a seven on the comeout roll, the count simply resets. You can win multiple times during the same hand...read more

A Slick Proposition Bet

Every now and then I write about proposition bets. Here is a dandy. You ask your mark to write down any four-digit number and not let you see it. Then tell him to rearrange (permute) the numbers and again not let you see what is being done...read more

Is 7-point-7 a good bet?

Dear Frank: The Orleans Casino in Las Vegas has a new proposition bet called "7-Point-7" above the pass line on its craps table. I played it once and won, but I am suspicious of it as being a sucker bet. It paid 3x on the seven and not even money...read more

Bally Technologies Moves Full Speed Ahead

It was apparent during this year's Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas that Bally Technologies, the one-time king of slot manufacturers, is making great strides toward capturing a greater share of the world's slot machine market. The company's 11,000 sq...read more