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Gaming Guru  Deal Me In: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts20 January 2012
By Mark Pilarski Dear Mark: Why do roulette tables display previous numbers since the next number is completely random? If the house thinks people will try to play a system based on these previous numbers, it doesn't benefit the house anyway because it is still random. Gordon M. Most casino roulette tables today have a lighted scoreboard that displays the numbers that have hit over the last 20 rolls. Truth be told, Gordon, the display is there for convenience and NOT, repeat, NOT to broadcast information that will help system players get an edge against the game. That being said, you would be surprised by how few roulette players really believe that a roulette spin is governed by or involves equal chance for each number appearing. Roulette players love systems, and casino owners love system players. There isn’t a casino owner alive who wouldn’t happily send a limousine for a system player as long as said system-toting player had a certified bankroll. System players try to crunch data from recent results to figure out where the ball will land next. What’s hot or what’s due is information that can easily be obtained by a system player by looking at the tote board. Of what predictive value is this historical information to the system player? Zip! When I dealt the game, I found it amusing that system players loved to dispute with me the fact that a random spin at the roulette wheel is NOT one of those annoying representations of reality, but something they, or I personally, could influence. Even the Greeks, who had a weighty understanding of mathematics, didn’t believe in randomness or probability; instead, they believed the gods influenced the outcome of games of chance. Roulette is a game of independent trials. The wheel and ball have no memory. Past results do not -- cannot -- affect future outcomes. What roulette players should be focusing on instead is picking the house edge against them. By that, I recommend you play on a roulette table that offers only the 0, and not 00. Playing on a single 0 game reduces the house edge to 2.7% versus 5.26% on the standard American wheel, which has numbers 1 through 36, plus 0 and 00. Dear Mark: At Motor City Casino they have a table that every number but 7 can be a point. Do you know how this table configuration changes the odds? I have played it, and I like it, but I have no idea how this plays with the odds over a regular table. Richard M. What you stumbled onto, Richard, is an offering called Crapless Craps or Never Ever Craps. In this modified variation of a regular crap game, you do not lose on the come-out roll when the shooter tosses a 2, 3 or 12. Instead, it automatically becomes the point, just as 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 would be on a standard game. You also do not win if the shooter throws a natural 11. It too becomes the point. With these additional rules, the house holds a 5.4% edge on your pass line bet versus the 1.4% edge in a typical crap game. Prudent readers of this column would take a pass, not on the line, but on the game. Gambling wisdom of the Week: “Spock: ‘Random chance seems to have operated in our favor.’ McCoy: ‘In plain non-Vulcan English, we’ve been lucky.’ Spock: ‘I believe I said that, Doctor.” --Star Trek, episode 206, Doomsday Machine
Deal Me In: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts
is republished from iGamingAffiliatePrograms.com.
Deal Me In: The useful art of table and partner selection13 January 2012
Dear Mark: I am a relatively new/occasional blackjack player and once in a while a hand comes up that advanced players would double-down on. However, being a low-roller, I do not really want to put more money out. On two different occasions, a player (usually a man) will place his own money alongside mine since he said it is a good bet. ... (read more)
Deal me in: Husband gripes over wife's generous tip6 January 2012
Dear Mark: Please tell me how this tipping experience should have played out. I was playing roulette and having decent success. While playing, I asked the dealer what his favorite number was (13), a number I never play because I think it is unlucky. Still, I decided to place four $5 chips straight up on 13. ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Ah, those cash-comp-currency calculations30 December 2011
Dear Mark: I have a disagreement with my spouse that we hope you can settle. My husband believes you get more in casino comps when you put cash into a slot machine than if you were to use a credit slip from another machine. His reasoning is that most players turn those credit slips in for cash, which takes ... (read more)
Deal Me In: Live keno vs. video kenoDear Mark: My favorite game is keno. Unfortunately, casinos where I play have removed the live game and have replaced it with a few video keno games spread out over the casino floor. Since video keno is now the only game in town, is it a better game than live keno? In addition, when drawing numbers, are the ... (read more)Deal Me In: Pirates of the CaribbeanDear Mark: I am going on a cruise in March and was wondering should I expect the same payoffs on slots that I receive here in Biloxi? Also, how are casinos regulated on a cruise ship, and what if a dispute was to happen? Emile D. When sailing the high seas, Emile, your floating hotel casino offers the only game in town. ... (read more)Deal Me In: Number of decks versus number of playersDear Mark: When I play BJ in Vegas at a double-deck table, I always seem to win much more when there are just two people playing. Any logic to this? Ruth F. If you base your line of reasoning on math, Ruth, yes as to the number of decks used, but no as to the number of players sitting tableside. It is ... (read more)Deal Me In: The sticky thing about your gambling timelineDear Mark: Even when I get decent hands at blackjack, I can never seem to get ahead. My high teen hands (17’s -19’s) can’t beat a hot dealer who gets more than their fair share of 20’s, or their uncanny ability of drawing to it. Help! Bill W. Suppose I decided to open up a casino, Bill, fittingly calling it, Pilarski’s Grind Joint. ... (read more)Deal Me In: A little deeper into the comps topicDear Mark: If one casino offers cash back for my video poker play, but another offers just free play instead, both offerings are of equal value, is there any difference in playing at Casino A over B? Charles P. A free play offering is somewhat like a cash reward for your action, Charles, but the compensation must be used within the casino. ... (read more) |
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