Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 796

Isle Style Model for Gaming Industry

Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc., a pioneer in this country's riverboat casino industry, has evolved from a single operation in Biloxi, Mississippi, to one of the ten largest publicly held gaming companies in the United States. Isle Corp, whose chairman and founder is Bernard Goldstein, widely regarded as the "Father of Riverboat Casinos", owns and operates riverboat, dockside, and land-based casinos at 14 locations in six states. Although the company does not have a property in Illinois, it owns two nearby casinos in the Quad Cities on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River: The Isle of Capri Casino & Hotel in Bettendorf and the Rhythm City Casino in Davenport. If you've never experienced "Isle Style", the 2 1/2-hour drive along I-80 West is well worth it for a weekend getaway...read more

Find the Loose Slots on the Tunica Loose Slot Tour!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Find the Loose Slots on the Tunica Loose Slot Tour! Ancient people hunted for the Golden Fleece and the Unicorn, mythical creatures that never did exist, at least as far as we know. But today's modern slot hunters also want to find their mythological beasts – loose slot machines! In this, they can succeed, especially if they attend Frank Scoblete's Gamblers Jamboree on November 14, 15, and 16 at Gold Strike Casino Hotel in Tunica because each participant will receive a free, exclusive booklet, Where to Find the Loose Slots and Video Poker Machines in Tunica. But what's a good hunt without some physical action? Slot and video poker players looking to hunt down their "loose slots" will be taken on the Tunica Loose Slot tour, a walking tour of several Tunica casinos where casino gaming's #1 best-selling author Frank Scoblete (Break the One-Armed Bandits!), Queen of the Comps, Jean Scott (The Frugal Gambler), slot expert John Robison (The Expert's Guide to Playing Slots!) and Frank Legato (columnist for Strictly Slots and Casino Player magazines) will point out just which machines are the best to play and which machines are the ones to avoid. According to Scoblete: "Our loose slot tour will concentrate on machines that have the best chance for high paybacks...read more

Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook -- Red-Hot Seller at GBC

For more than 20 years, a single basketball resource for college bettors has reigned as the fastest selling, hottest, most sought-after annual title on the shelves at Gambler's Book Shop. The Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, edited by Chris Dortch and compiled by more than two-dozen of his crew (382 pages, paperbound, $21.95, plus $6.50 postage), remains "King of the Hill." Originally founded by Chris Wallace of Buckhannon, W.VA.(who has worked his way up to be general manager of the Boston Celtics), this magnificent undertaking receives appreciation not only from bettors, but also from coaches, scouts, players, sportscasters, sports talk show hosts and fans...read more

3-5-7 Poker

When a new table game is ready for prime time, the most likely breakout spots are the jurisdictions with the most table space available. That usually means Nevada or Mississippi. So it goes with 3-5-7 Poker, now being played--where else?--in a few Nevada casinos and a few in Mississippi...read more

How To Measure Chance: Odds, Fractions, and Percentages

It's happened. You're a heartbeat away from a royal at video poker. The machine, the gods, or a classicist might say both in the form of a deus ex machina, dealt you the jack, queen, king, and ace of clubs ?? along with a four of spades ?? for starters...read more

Video Poker, Slot Tournament RNG

Hi John, I'm curious about the odds of hitting a jackpot on a slot; this information seems to be well hidden. Some slot machine panels indicate a $25,000 jackpot payout with maximum coins played. In Massuchusetts we have no slot machines but Massachusetts's lottery commission posts all odds for all games including instant tickets...read more

With one lonely Ben Franklin left, I would . . .

Dear Mark, If you had just $100 left to bet in a casino, how would you wager it? Doug D. You should have asked me earlier, Doug. The casino's mission is twofold: first, to empty your wallet, and second, to keep you smiling. This was best described by Bob Stupak, a former casino operator in Las Vegas, when he told U.S. News and World Report: "It's our duty to extract as much money from the customers as we can and send them home with a smile on their face." If you are down to your last $100, the casino's goal is accomplished. Except, Doug, I hardly think that one of sane mind would be smiling about it. Realize that casinos are green felt jungles and you're playing war...read more

Tips from Gaming Greats: Bill Burton and Texas Hold'em Poker

Poker is as American as apple pie and aces and eights, which is, as many of you know, the "dead man's hand" that sent Wild Bill Hickok to his eternal reward, compliments of a bullet in the back of the head. Poker lingo has entered American culture and politics...read more

Tax Exploitation of Casinos Counterproductive

The hardball approach that Illinois has chosen to take against gambling not only has negatively impacted the people who attend casinos, it has placed the future health of the industry in jeopardy as well as stifling its development into a regional travel and tourism destination. To put the 70 percent tax on the state's most successful riverboat casino operations into proper perspective, let's take a look at the tax structures of the 10 other states that have commercial casinos: Colorado: Graduated tax rate with a maximum of 20 percent...read more

What on Earth Were These Blackjack Players Thinking?

Day after day, I sit at the blackjack tables and watch players throw money away by making irrational mistakes. Many of these people appear to be quite experienced at the game and are playing for serious money. When they come out of the blue with some of these beauties I have to wonder to myself, "What were they thinking?" Please understand that I'm not trying to be critical and demeaning here...read more