Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 89

Learning the Easy Way or the Hard Way

QUESTION: Doesn’t it take time to really learn how to play in the casinos? I mean you don’t just walk into one and suddenly become a good blackjack player or a good craps player or the like. I don’t see any other way to understand what happens at the tables or machines except with experience...read more

Changing Slots Servers

QUESTION: Should we slots players be worried about casinos changing over to server-based management of their payback percentages on slots instead of the casinos having to replace chips as they have been doing it? I'm concerned that they won't like me winning on the same machines repeatedly and so they'll change the payback percentage without me knowing it while I'm playing.ANSWER: The situation you describe is illegal and well regulated in states that use server-based slots.No state permits a changeover when someone is playing...read more

Keeping Your Rhythm

If you are an average gambler on a multiple day trip to Las Vegas, you arrive at your hotel, drop your bags off in your room and immediately head to the casino.You then plop yourself down at the first open machine or at the first open spot you find at your favorite table game.From that point forward you are in a totally different world.You are in a world where time is no longer a factor...read more

What's with the Comps?

CINDY: Since the inception of Covid-19 and the general reopening of the casinos, what do you think about comps? Are they looser or tighter?ABBY: I don’t know for every casino obviously but I can say we aren’t getting as much. But we are talking just a little here and there...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Boyd beancounters say "no backsies" on benefits

From the "Just Because You're Paranoid, That Doesn't Mean They're Not Out to Get You" file: A few years ago, Boyd changed the structure of its slot club. It added two additional premium levels and changed the formulas for moving up in level and for earning points...read more

The Horror of Blackjack

British actor Christopher Lee was the best Dracula in the movies. Yes, he was far better than Bela Lugosi, the man who made Dracula his signature role and was buried in his Dracula costume.Lee excelled Gary Oldman, Frank Langella and Gerard Butler along with a host of others in the role...read more

Side Bets at Blackjack

Just as in the basic game of blackjack, the number of decks makes a difference in many blackjack side bets.However, more decks increase the blackjack house edge but can decrease the edge on the side bets.Perfect Pairs is a case in point. Galaxy Gaming, which originally licensed the side bet for distribution in the United Kingdom in 2019, has had success online...read more

A Two-Hand Video Poker Quiz

Another video poker strategy test.This time two hands are examined.For both hands you are playing a full-pay (9/6) Jacks or Better game with the maximum bet of five credits.First hand:Kd Ah Td 8h 2hHow would you play it?This hand has two high cards (Kd Ah) and two cards of a royal flush (Kd Td)...read more

Three Strikes

CINDY: I want to talk about the “Three Strikes” idea of Marti Wilson.ABBY: Ohhhh.CINDY: I know you don’t like her…ABBY: No, I just don’t buy into her ideas since she always claims these methods can beat the house edges at the games. They can’t...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Why would a casino remove a popular machine after only three months?

Question: Do you know how a casino chooses which slot machines to have on their gaming floor? Do you know why a casino would remove a seemingly popular slot game after only 3 months on their gaming floor? The slot game in question is an IGT game called Zodiac Lion and because of the way the game plays, not like any I have seen up till now, it allows smart players to win repeatedly by "cleaning up" potentially winning screens left by other less experienced players. Answer: Casino execs work with their manufacturer's reps to pick games that they think will appeal to their players...read more