Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 664

1,000 International Casinos Listed in Wiesenberg's Ultimate Guide

Michael Wiesenberg's Ultimate Casino Guide: (1,000 Great Casinos from America, Canada and Around the World (736 pages, paperbound, $14.95) is a handy guide for those who want to travel and play or just want information. The book tells you how to get that information - which games the casino offer, what accommodations are available, how much can you expect to spend on various items, what hours are establishment open for business, which credit cards do they accept, what are the betting limits, do they have a dress codes and is there any admission charge -- by fax, Internet or phone. The first half of the book (300 pages) is devoted to American and Canadian casinos by state or province...read more

A Study in Slot Machine Research and Development

Today's slot machines are no more machines than home computers are word processors. They are technological marvels more appropriately referred to as electronic gaming devices. Each and every game on casino floors around the world was meticulously researched and developed before it made its way into the company's new product line. The competition among the globe's slot machine manufacturers is fierce...read more

Twelve versus Two-up in Blackjack: More is Sometimes Less.

Don't you really hate it in blackjack when you get a 12 versus a dealer's two-up? Still, it's not the worst hand you can get. Played "by the book," hitting the 12, the outcome balances out to a loss of just over $0.25 per dollar bet. Lots of player-dealer combinations are far more taxing...read more

Harrah's Coupon Snafu

This was to be the week I wrapped up my report from the annual Global Gaming Expo, with notes on gaming's future and Las Vegas' past. That'll have to wait a week. A couple of recent events in the news cry out for comment first. In Gary, Majestic Star casino's owner, Detroit businessman Don Barden, has reached agreement to buy out Trump Indiana, unifying Gary's two Buffington Harbor casinos under a single operator...read more

Super Fun 21 does have some tough edges

Dear Mark, I was playing a form of blackjack that had a bit of a twist to it when it came to the rules. I don't remember its exact name, but I do remember that a blackjack in diamonds paid two-to-one. Do you know what version of blackjack I was playing? I actually won some money...read more

Do video poker machines pay better when you play faster?

Dear John: I have sent this question to you many times without getting an answer and I wondered if you could please just once answer. My question is, does a person have more of a chance hitting on slots if they move their finger around on the Max Button instead of leaving in one spot? I can sit at a machine and hit one spot forever and I don't hit anything, but if I move my finger around on the button, whether it is the Spin button or the Max Bet button, I usually do pretty good. So, is there any truth to this or is it just me? Have a nice day, Karen Dear Karen, I'm sorry you had to wait so long for an answer...read more

The Secrets of Controlled Betting

Pssst... Wanna know a secret? How about the secrets of controlled betting? If you are playing at a craps table and the new shooter is a dice controller, you might want to bet a little differently than you normally would. Many dice controllers hold the dice for ten or 20 rolls compared to the normal five to nine rolls for an average shooter...read more

Video Poker 101

Unlike slots, video poker is a beatable game, but there are two key factors to winning at video poker. First, you must know what kind of video poker machine to sit down at. Second, you must use the correct strategy according to that particular game. Today, we're going to explore the first key - what kind of video poker machine to play...read more

Blackjack Players Don't Know the Right Way to Bet

Winning blackjack strategy contains two basic components. The first is to play all your hands according to the odds. The second is to bet your money according to the odds. Now, the average blackjack hoofer at least tries to play his hands according to the odds...read more

Responsibility for Losses - the House Edge or YOU?

My wife, the beautiful A.P., and I walk three to six miles just about every morning. We love this time, just as the sun rises, to talk, to think, to reflect together. Today A.P. asked, "What percent of responsibility do you take for where you are now, for your lot in life, for how everything turned out?" I thought a second, and then said, "I take 100 percent responsibility for my life...read more