Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 576

Can the slot-playing public get par sheets?

John, Is there a way that the general public can access par sheets for the various slot machines being offered in casinos, or are these available to industry insiders only? Gerry Dear Gerry, You'd have better luck getting the formula for Coke. No, that's wrong...read more

Am I the only one losing at the slots?

Dear Frank Scoblete: I was hoping I might get your comments on my gambling efforts. I've been a Diamond Level player at Harrah's for the last 11 years. According to their published info, I need to have $50,000 coin-in every year, to maintain this status...read more

Can you find a winning machine by looking at it?

Dear John, Just for your information, there are absolutely no taxes on gamblers' winnings in U.K. casinos. Nor are there any on National Lottery prizes, no matter how big. As far as I am aware, the only taxes that the government levies on betting wins are those on made with licensed bookmakers, particularly winning bets on horse racing. Best regards. John Snowball Director of Operations Premier Leisure Pvt Ltd Dear John, Thanks for the information about U.K...read more

How Big Is the House Edge in Live Poker?

Every game in the casino has a house edge. That's why the casino's there. But in live poker you don't play against the house – you play against the other players. That might make it seem as though there's no house edge to buck, but there is. The house takes a "rake" from every pot...read more

Perfect basic strategy: not just a pretty slogan

Dear Mark: Outside of perfect basic strategy, is there any other key to winning at blackjack? Gary Z. First off, Gary, you get a Gold Star for correctly identifying perfect basic strategy as an important factor for leveling the playing field against the house...read more

Iskoe's pro, college stat pattern reports ready

Just as great philosophers continue to ponder the meaning of life, football handicappers pursue their own perennial riddle-what causes teams to cover the pointspread? Annually, for almost two decades, Andy Iskoe of Logical Approach has studied the concept and he's produced two separate books-studies by themselves--to help find the answer...read more

Getting the Edge at Craps: Part Two

I Just Don't Know There are still gambling experts who are sitting astride the fence when it comes to the possibility that some craps shooters can actually influence the dice to make the game favorable to them. Some have discarded their full skepticism, but they are not yet ready for a complete conversion...read more

Many virtues of craps often overlooked

Whenever I'm asked for advice from recreational gamblers about the best casino table game to play, it's difficult not to put blackjack at the top of the list. Simple basic strategy keeps the house advantage attractive (1.5 percent or lower) plus there's the added advantage of the game's unique skill (card tracking) factor...read more

Boyd Gaming Ups the Ante on the Blue Chip

Back in his dad's day, Boyd Gaming board chairman and CEO William Boyd recalls, customers had narrower expectations for a casino operation. "People came to Las Vegas to gamble, although a lot of times they didn't admit it, but there wasn't a lot else to do," says Boyd, whose father was the legendary company founder, Sam Boyd...read more

Playing it smart - Gamblers should repeal, or at least forget, the law of averages

More than a few solid citizens believe that if they're losing and continue to play, the law of averages will eventually turn the situation around. They assume that when random tests are run repeatedly, results get closer and closer to what's predicted by multiplying theoretical probability times number of trials...read more