Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 672

Coalition Forms to Protect Poker Playing

The United States Department of Justice has taken a clear stance asserting that on-line gambling violates the federal Wire Act, a 1961 statute which was passed long before the concept of the Internet was developed. However, a careful review of the statute suggests that there are very strong arguments that the Act only applies to "bets or wagers on any sporting event or contest." A few years ago, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling which dismissed an action against a credit card company involved in on-line wagers because the government had failed to allege that the wagering involved was sports wagering...read more

Three Card Poker Popularity Illustrates Casino Economics

Many times there's a lot more to playing casino games than meets the eye. Take the popular poker hybrid Three Card Poker as an example. When a casino decides to introduce this game, it has to go through its copyright holder, Las Vegas-based Shuffle Master, Inc., to either lease a table or purchase one outright. "It's a very expensive game to bring into the casino," said Therrin Protze, Senior Director of Operations for the Majestic Star Casino in Gary...read more

You Think You Know Craps? How about the Esoterra Version?

It's the 22nd century. You're vacationing at a casino resort on the planet Esoterra. And, while you're eager to try whatever exotic gambles the joint may offer, you'd feel more comfortable with a game having a familiar resonance. So, when you hear what appear to be the solid citizens bellied up to a rail in one pit hooting and hollering, you amble over and are pleasantly surprised to see them playing something oddly like craps...read more

Conflicting Progressive Meters

Suppose you're playing a slot or video poker machine with a progressive jackpot, a jackpot monitored by three different meters. One meter shows the jackpot standing at a little over $1,200. Another makes it $1,345. And the third puts the reward for a big hit at $1,496. If you win, which amount do you suppose the casino pays? That's just the situation I was in during the second week of September...read more

Slots Review: Fort Knox, 50 Lions, Sparkling Sevens, Treasure Chess

1) Fort Knox: IGT, 87-95%, 2 spins Although a top box feature for today's slot is not new, how about one with a 27" video monitor connected to four levels of guaranteed progressives? Basics of the game include familiar icons such as Cleopatra, Frog Prince, enchanted Unicorn and Lucky Larry's Lobstermania with bonus opportunities...read more

Randomness in Keno

Dear John: Love your columns. My family and I are planning a trip to Vegas this month. I have a couple of questions. Is there a list of casinos with the highest-paying slot machines, both in video poker and slots, in all denominations? Since we will be on a limited schedule there, I thought we could maximize our time there, if I had an idea...read more

What Are the Secrets to the Gambler's Fallacy?

Pssst... Wanna know a secret? How about the secret of the Gambler's Fallacy? When you are playing craps and a random shooter holds the dice, you might come across an extraordinary occurrence. This random shooter may, for example, throw four passes in a row...read more

Novice Hold'em Players Want to See a Flop with Every Hand

If you've never played Texas Hold'em, but seen it on TV, you get the idea that you should at least see the flop before you throw your hand away – even if you're holding a "piece-o'-cheese" (terrible hand). In reality, this is a huge misconception...read more

Poker profits - 3 views

Dear Mark, I don't play a lot of poker, but at the family games a controversy over who has the winning full house hand has been destroying these once peaceful fun games. For example, there are two full houses, one has three eights and two aces, the other has three kings and a pair of threes...read more

When Social Engineering Is a Disaster

The Mississippi Legislature went into special session at the end of September 2005 to decide whether to allow Gulf of Mexico casinos to be build on solid land. As this is being written, the result is not yet known. But I predict the law will be changed - if not this time, then after the next hurricane. Gulfport's and Biloxi's casino barges were some of the hardest hit victims of Hurricane Katrina...read more