Dear Mark,
I understand the latest
rave in slot play is joining a slot club. Numerous casino slot hosts
continue to approach me asking if I would be interested in
participating. I don't want to waste my time filling out applications,
but, I reward myself by searching out 9/6 video poker machines that pay
a decent return. Am I missing something? George R.
Missing something? Yes! Just by being a
certified card-carrying member of a slot club you can receive up to a
one percent cash rebate while playing video poker. On a full-pay Jacks
or better 9/6 video poker machine with an expected return of 99.6%, you
now command a positive expectation of 100.1%. Yes, George, this is a
mathematical edge against a cybernetic one-armed bandit the whole time
you're playing.
Though the equation for perks differs from casino to
casino, this is what I typically receive with my Tropicana's Island
Winner Club card after eight hours of play on a 25¢ video poker machine:
four free meal comps, a $60 room discount and at least an $80 cash
rebate. In addition, they send me goodies in the mail-two-for-one buffet
coupons, room discounts, invitations to casino events and even free
gifts. The Tropicana pays me for my loyalty. And what are you getting?
ZIPPO!
In the future, George, make yourself a
sought-after guest. Simply fill out as many slot club application cards
as you can get your hands on and start making the casinos compete for
your business. Join me in the VIP line at the buffet.
Dear Mark,
Please end a discussion
among friends. When using your club card in any game machine or slot,
exactly what does it track? Paper or coins in, payment out, time and
date? R. H.
Most casino slots today have a fully
automated player tracking system, or SMART-Slot Marketing and Revenue
Tracking. With the swipe of your slot club card, onboard software knows
your name, address, interests, denomination of play, favorite machines,
how much you have invested, your winnings at any given hour and if you
have a dog named Sparky. Tell a slot host any pertinent information
about yourself and it's fair game for the casino's computer database.
On the plus side, your information helps
them with direct-mail campaigns informing you of promotions, upcoming
slot tournaments, parties, reduced room rates, casino events and most
importantly, comps, comps, comps.
Shades of 1984? Probably, but player
gratuities far outweigh Big Brother knowing the date of your wedding
anniversary.
Dear Mark,
I have been going to my
local casino for about six months, and I mostly play blackjack, but
recently have been playing the electronic roulette machines. Is the
sequence of numbers pre-programmed, or is it a random number determined
by the machine at the time of the roll? Also, what is the best bet to
make when playing roulette? I have seen players blanket the whole board,
and some just keep betting on the same numbers until they come up. Barry
S.
Assuming programming integrity, all spins
are random, which, Barry, is what you can expect in regulated casinos as
there is no reason for the house to risk breaking the law and lose their
valuable casino license by programming the machines to beat you.
As for the best bet in roulette, there
really isn't any. All bets on a double zero roulette table hold the same
5.26% house advantage, with one exception; the five-number bet (0, 00,
1, 2, 3). The casino edge on that wager is 7.9%.
Dear Mark,
What are some of the
advantages the casino holds over the player in blackjack? Bart D.
The ONLY advantage the casino has over
the player in blackjack is that the casino plays last. If you bust and
so does the dealer, the house already has your money in the tray. Player
skills, or lack of them, are really what are going to determine your
success in a casino. The casino, Bart, doesn't beat you; it merely gives
you the opportunity to beat yourself.
