Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 724

Mind Play? Maybe Not

I generally stay at the Las Vegas Hilton when I'm in Las Vegas. It is by no means the best hotel in town nor is it the best place to play, but it is right next to the Las Vegas Convention Center and that is a big plus in my book. That is not to say that you can't find some good games at the Hilton...read more

The Captain Comes Through

My usual advice to my readers about gambling is not to attempt to win big every time you play but to make the best possible bets and see what happens as your session progresses. A win is a win and any win is always better than a loss. However, I am not immune to the delights of speculating about those big wins, especially at craps where a hot roll can see the money pouring in...read more

Casino Guides Simplify Finding Locations, Addresses, Bargains

Three new casino guides, each geared for a different type of vacationer, are available for the traveler who enjoys playing, just visiting or looking for bargains. The three are the 2005 American Casino Guide, edited by Steve Bourie ($16.95, paperbound, 496 pages); The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas (2005 edition) by Bob Sehlinger ($17.99, paperbound, 472 pages) and Casino Camping -- the Guide to RV-Friendly Casinos by Jane Kenny ($14.95, paperbound, 256 pages). Here's a summary of what each contains...read more

Washington State Debates Level Playing Field, Again

An unsolvable problem has reemerged in Washington State: How to let privately owned cardrooms and tribal casinos compete as equals. Whichever side is asking for more always argues that all it wants is "a level playing field." There is no solution, because card rooms and tribal casinos are located in different legal and economic worlds. Privately owned cardrooms came first...read more

Making Practical Sense of Slot "Theory"

It's one thing to know what "theoretical payback" on a casino's slot inventory is. It's quite another to put that knowledge to practical use. A sign on the wall next to the cashier's cage that advertises a "94.5 Percent Theoretical Payback" tells slot players next to nothing when it comes to useful information to help them win. For openers, the figure is the average yearly percentage based upon every machine on the casino floor...read more

Bits and Pieces from Indian Country - October 2004

Indian gaming was more on the fringe than at the center of voters' focuses. For the most part, ballot issues that would impact Indian gaming were couched as attempts to "level the playing field" or "giving the state a fair share." Or, it might simply be termed anti-Indian: California and Washington each had an initiative on the ballot with the expressed intent of allowing non-Indians to operate casinos or slot machines to compete with Indian casinos...read more

Quick-takes: The month's trends in a glance - October 2004

October gave us the annual gaming trade show - the Global Gaming Expo 2004, and an intense, expensive and often contentious month of political campaigning. Gaming was on the ballot in six states, as a local option or advisory vote in several more, and was part of the platform and debate in many more states...read more

Hunting Whales and Making Millions Playing Slots

When publishers send me copies of gambling books by other authors, I at least page through every one. I don't review them all. Last year, I received a blackjack book that was so full of bad advice that I ripped it to pieces before recycling, just so there would be no danger of that copy ever misleading an unsuspecting player. Still, I try to bring the good ones to your attention, and in that duty I've been sadly remiss...read more

Let us all praise streaking

Dear Mark, What's the longest winning streak you have ever witnessed in gambling? Mary Ann G. A REAL FUN question, Mary Ann, which gets into gear a few lines down, where you'll also read about the longest losing streak I've ever witnessed...read more

Betting Basketball? These Books Will Help Find the Edge

As the 2004-05 basketball season begins to kick into high gear it's important to know which books will help you be a sharper, more disciplined player. Thee colleges finish up in March, but the pros will go until June with playoffs. This mini-roundup of vital resources you may or may not know about -- with information, angles, background material on teams and players‹should give you what you need to succeed this season....read more