Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 843

Gambling Theories, History, and Other Lies

The philosopher, George Santayana (1863-1952), is often quoted as having said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." A counterpart may pertain to gambling. Something like "Those who cannot comprehend the math are convinced they can defeat it." Santayana also said, "History is a pack of lies about events that never happened told by people who weren't there." An even better nominee for a gambling analogy! Make one up yourself. This came to mind recently when Jimmy, the popular bartender at the posh Celebrity Club in Atlantic City's Claridge Casino, asked me about splitting nines rather than standing against seven-up at blackjack...read more

Gambling on the Strip

When riverboat gambling was launched in Illinois in 1991, it was beyond my wildest flights of imagination that we would get to this point: A picky player is just as well off gambling on the boats and barges in Illinois and Indiana as on the Las Vegas Strip. Don't get me wrong...read more

Craps A to Z - "P" is for Pushing

Craps A to Z © 2002 by Larry Edell Is there some way you can "push the house" to give you a better deal than it gives everyone else? When you buy or lay a bet, you always have to pay a 5% commission (or "vig") to insure that the casino makes a profit...read more

Sharpshooter

This past September I had the pleasure of attending the Global Gaming Expo, or G2E as it is known, that was held in Las Vegas. The convention was fascinating, as usual, with all of the new games, gaming machines, and gambling-related products on display...read more

Happy 2003!

Well, as the old song goes... "Another one bites the dust!" Reno saw one heck of a celebration in the streets, and at midnight, as promised, 4000 rockets shot off of nine downtown rooftops lit the sky, and continued for about 15 minutes, a wonderful display to welcome the New Year...read more

Just Ask Scobe and AP

Dear Scobe and AP: This may sound stupid but can you control the outcome of gambling games by using the powers of your mind? For example, I received a mailing from an individual who claims he can help me to use the "untapped power of the mind" to influence the outcome of dice rolls, roulette wheel spins and slot machine results...read more

What Casinos Can't Predict about Jackpots, and What They Can

Nobody can predict when a slot machine will knock out a jackpot. Within the wide limits of computer technology, successive spins are random. And random means unpredictable. The manufacturers can't decide when it'll happen...read more

Full Pay Deuces Wild Video Poker, Video Blackjack

Dear John: I'll be staying downtown Las Vegas. Could you tell me which downtown casinos offer full pay Deuces Wild video poker? Thank you,Ray Dear Ray, It's been over a year since I've been downtown, so I don't know who has Full Pay Deuces Wild now...read more

Court Upholds Casinos' Right To Unreasonably Exclude

Sometimes you just get a bad feeling about someone. When you are working in a casino, it might be a player making bizarre bets, like hitting on 19, and winning; or a guy who looks like he is aching for a fight; or a small group, hanging around the slot machines, blocking the security cameras. Can you order them off the property, and tell them not to return or they will be arrested for the crime of "defiant trespass"? As with much of the law, the problem is not whether you are right or wrong...read more

Bits and Pieces from Indian Country - December 2002

At some level, Indian gaming has always been controversial.  The tribes looking for opportunity for economic development have often pushed the legal envelope.  Even when the progress of Indian gaming has been slow and followed exactly the course outlined by the law, there has been some form of resistance.  In California, Connecticut, Idaho and Maine, there are organized movements to stop or limit tribal gaming.  State Joins Court Fight On San Pablo Casino.  Lawyers for tribe and card rooms dispute meaning of Davis administration brief.  The state has entered the legal fray over an Indian tribe's plan to turn the Casino San Pablo card room into a Nevada-style casino, filing a brief against the plan.  …Penned by Deputy Attorney General Marc A...read more