Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 69

Slots: Tradeoffs

CINDY: Today it is slot machines, the feed and grain of casinos all over the world.ABBY: Not just casinos, you still have slot parlors across the planet. There is no doubt that casino gambling would not have spread as far as it has across the globe if it were not for the slot machines...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Cashless gaming workarounds

Cashless gaming isn't always a seamless experience today, but we'll get there. Remember when using your credit card meant giving your card to the cashier, who would put your card and a credit card sales slip in the endorsing machine and run a roller back and forth over your card? Today I just hold my card -- not even that, my phone -- in front of the card reader. Here are workarounds for some of the problems you might encounter. Cashless gaming is not supported on the machine you want to play This problem is rare today and will disappear completely in the future...read more

What Slot Players Think, Part II

And slot players? What about slot players? (Come on, you know where this is going.)Here is what I hear when I hear them say that they play the slot machines. I quote one from just last week: “I am just a slot player.” (Just? Just?)Or two weeks ago: “I only play the slots.” (Only? Only?)There is no puffed-up, swollen-chested pride in playing a machine; no sense of accomplishment or arcane knowledge...read more

Blackjack Mistakes Made by Great Players

Whether it's due to fatigue, a misread of the cards or just a brain cramp, blackjack players sometimes make mistakes.Even good players sometimes mess up, as highlighted in a recent conversation with my old pal blackjack Bob.Bob brought up a column I'd written not long ago about mistakes increasing with fatigue, then said, "I just pulled a doozy...read more

A Tipping Question

From Dan,Stickman,I’m headed to Vegas next weekend. Something I’ve always been curious about – what’s your philosophy of tipping for a hand paid jackpot or a hand paid royal flush?DanHi Dan,Well, I am sorry, but I missed responding before your trip...read more

Tradeoff: Baccarat and Mini-Baccarat

CINDY: Oh, I remember when we played the real baccarat game in a high roller room some twenty-five years ago when most top casinos had the game. We each put in $50 and we could meet the minimum bet of $100. I think it was a Wynn casino, and we won! Anyway, I think it was a Wynn casino...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Marker Trax and STN cash

More adventures in cashless gaming. Just to be clear, the "adventure" flag is triggered only when something unusual and unexpected happens. Last week my adventure was at Suncoast. This week we return to the first location in which I started using cashless gaming, Red Rock. A few weeks ago, Stations had a survey about patrons' experiences with STN Cash, Stations' cashless gaming system...read more

How Casino Players See Themselves

Hamlet said it best: “There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” (Thank you William Shakespeare!)The above is probably correct in just about any circumstances except perhaps a brick falls on your head from atop a building, giving you a concussion...read more

Craps and Superfun 21

QUESTION: My dad's an old craps player, knows the game inside and out and always sticks to the best bets. He's kind of a dark side player. Doesn't mind if he's the only one on the don't and takes some razzing.We passed halftime watching football on Thanksgiving by talking about bad bets, especially the one-roll bet on 12...read more

Video Poker Strategy Quiz: Straight, K-J Unsuited, or ??

This article contains a video poker strategy quiz. The game is full-pay (9/6 – 9-for-1 full house, 6-for-1 flush) jacks or better.The quiz assumes the maximum five credits is played. The maximum bet produces the highest long-term return because the royal flush pays 800-for-1 (4,000-for-5) rather than 250-for-1 when less than the maximum is bet.Look at the dealt hand below and decide which card or cards you would hold...read more