Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 678

Quicktakes - The month's trends in a glance - May 2005

The national economy may or may not be healthy and growing; consumers may or may not be spending more money each year. But, however one interprets national statistics and trends, gaming is clearly growing. Each year more Americans visit casinos and leave more money than the previous year. Americans spent $28.9 billion last year in nontribal casinos across the United States, a 7 percent increase from 2003, according to an industry-funded study issued today...read more

Bits and Pieces from Indian Country - April 2005

Congress is discussing Indian gaming in a number of different ways. Separate committees are holding hearings on the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, tribal recognition, off reservation casinos, lobbyists and Indian contractors. One or all of those hearings could lead to legislation that would change the landscape of Indian gaming...read more

Toying with the slots

Dear Mark, Since I'm not considered an expert video poker player, would you suggest that I stay away from Triple and Five Play quarter machines, and instead continue playing single-hand, five-coin machines? Marty C. Most video poker players cut their teeth on single-hand, five-coin machines...read more

Quicktakes: The month's trends at a glance - April 2005

The economy and the stock market are not my field as is obvious to anyone reading any of my analyses. Still they increasingly affect the gaming industry as it spreads and matures and are, therefore, a fit subject for our consideration. This month is typical of the confusion that economic trends cause for me...read more

Slots Review: Fairy's Fortune, All that Glitters, Fistful of Dollars-Wild Shot

Reviews are listed by Slot Name, Manufacturer, average hit frequency and payout range offered, (low to high) by the Slot Mfg. if information is available. 1) Fairy's Fortune: WMS 2-3 spins, 84-95% Off we go to a magical land where 3 magic mushrooms scattered will allow a selection of three free spins, a bonus multiplier or a back door to the Fairy's Fortune Bonus...read more

Blackjack Players' Moral Standards Vary Widely

Last month we discussed some ways I'd seen blackjack players receive extra money through dealers' mistakes. Asking your opinions on the moral issue of keeping that money brought a downpour of e-mails. Here are condensed versions of some interesting responses. * * * I was in a situation at the craps table where I was playing the "don't" and the point was 8...read more

Electronic Rating Systems at Blackjack Tables

Dear Frank, I just got e-mailed your article on comps from Casino City Times. I've had this question for a long time and didn't know who to ask for an answer, maybe you can help me. Recently we were in Reno. My husband was playing blackjack at Harrah's and instead of giving his players card to the pit boss they made him put it in a slot on the table located in front of his chair...read more

'Sharks' a Fine Vegas History and Biography Combination

John Smith, one of Nevada's finest newspaper columnists and authors (the Bob Stupak bio, No Limit Stupak biography and the Steve Wynn bio, Running Scared among others) has penned one of the best biography-history combination books ever with Sharks in the Desert: The Founding Fathers and Current Kings of Las Vegas (400 pages, hardbound, $24.95)...read more

Q&A with Resorts Director of Slot Operations Mark Kashuda

The Thrifty Gambler had an opportunity recently to speak with Mark Kashuda, the director of slot operations for the new Resorts East Chicago. Kashuda took over a slot inventory that had the highest "hold" percentage (the amount of money wagered that's retained by the casino as revenue) among the 10 riverboat casino properties in the State of Indiana. One of Kashuda's first official acts after Resorts took over ownership of the property from Harrah's Entertainment last spring was to "loosen" the dollar and five dollar units on the floor as well as improve the pay tables on the majority of the vessel's video poker machines to make Resorts more competitive with the market. Thrifty Gambler: Are there any plans to bring in some new slot product? Mark Kashuda: We are in the process of doing just that...read more

If You Think One Bet is as Good as Another, Think Again

Say you take a $100 to a casino. You have lots of options about how to bet. Many of the choices you make are more subtle than what you choose to play, or things like "do" or "don't" at craps or colors at roulette. And you can utilize these subtleties to shape the characteristics of your session...read more