Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bovada:

No-hassle practice games

Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if they do offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you register they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money.

But Bovada is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don’t even have to give up your email address. It couldn’t be simpler: just one click and you’re playing the game.

I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bovada is patient and does not twist anybody’s arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that’s your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle.

Visit Bovada

Ask the Wizard #4

Edition Date: Feb 26, 2000

Is there a particular time of the day or night that’s better to play [slots] and a time that’s best to avoid?
— Mary from San Gabriel, California

No, any given machine pays equally at all times.

I made the mistake of making a pass line bet in craps after a point was established. The next roll was a 7 and I thought I won but the dealer said I lost. Can the player make a pass line bet after a point is rolled? What should have happened?
— Larry from Detroit

Yes, you can make a pass line bet at any time but you never should make one or add to one after a point is thrown. Once a point is thrown the odds of winning drop to 33% to 45% depending on the point. You can not add to a don’t pass bet because that would favor the player. In your case when a 7 was thrown all pass line bets lost including yours. What happened is what was supposed to happen.

Have you ever heard of the craps pro? I can honestly say that I have been playing this craps method for a year now and over the long run I have been winning 60% of my bets with the casino paying me odds on the place bets. I’m one of the crazies out here that believe that this works. I have tried many systems and spent thousands of dollars believing there must be a way to beat the casino over the long haul. Nothing worked untill I purchased this method. I’m a true believer and my wallet shows it, or maybe hundreds of hours at the table is not enough time to prove it to be true I’ll let you know how I do over the next year. If you haven’t heard of this method than research it and prove me wrong.
— Jim from Belluvue, US

Although I have tested a lot of systems I don’t need to test any of them to know they are all worthless. No system can ever pass the test of time, it is a mathematical fact. It is not unusual to win for a while with a system but if you keep playing the odds will eventually catch up to you and you will fall behind. If you want me to test your system you’ll have to pay $100 per hour for my time. In the unlikely event it wins over a billion bets you won’t have to pay me and I’ll publically admit I was wrong.

wiz, You are the man! You have far and away the best gambling site on the ’net. Being an actuary myself (ACAS), I love to see someone putting their math skills to good use. My question: When late surrender is allowed, do you still want to split 8’s with a ten showing? I’m guessing yes, but one of the hardest plays in BJ is splitting 8’s vs a ten.
As a side note, I just spent 3 days in Vegas, if you haven’t done so already, you must try the Las Vegas Club and the World’s Most Liberal BJ Rules. Doubling is allowed on 3 or 4 cards, 6 cards <= 21 is an automatic winner, and late surrender. At six decks I figured the house advantage to be .14%. Thanks for all of your hard work!!
— Jim from Bloomington, US

Thanks for the kind words Jim. Yes, you still want to split 8’s even if late surrender is offered. Even if you can’t double after a split you should still decline to surrender. Based on a 2 deck game where you can not double after splitting the expected value of splitting 8’s against a 10 is 0.480673, better than the -0.5 by surrendering.

Contrary to their claim of having the "World’s Most Liberal Blackjack Rules" there are better games right across the street at the Horseshoe or the Golden Gate. According to Scott Kister’s Blackjack Conditions and Specials the house edge at the Las Vegas Club is 0.16% and at the Horseshoe and Golden Gate is less at 0.14%. There are even better games on the Strip where the basic strategy player has an edge of 0.05%. It is the six decks at the Las Vegas Club which work against the player. Don’t feel bad about falling for their marquee, I fell for it myself in my younger days before I knew the effects of rule variations.


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Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bovada: No-hassle practice games Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if they do offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you register they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money. But Bovada is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don’t even have to give up your email address. It couldn’t be simpler: just one click and you’re playing the game. I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bovada is patient and does not twist anybody’s arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that’s your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle. Visit Bovada	Ask the Wizard #4 Edition Date: Feb 26, 2000 Is there a particular time of the day or night that’s better to play [slots] and a time that’s best to avoid? — Mary from San Gabriel, California No, any given machine pays equally at all times. I made the mistake of making a pass line bet in craps after a point was established. The next roll was a 7 and I thought I won but the dealer said I lost. Can the player make a pass line bet after a point is rolled? What should have happened? — Larry from Detroit Yes, you can make a pass line bet at any time but you never should make one or add to one after a point is thrown. Once a point is thrown the odds of winning drop to 33% to 45% depending on the point. You can not add to a don’t pass bet because that would favor the player. In your case when a 7 was thrown all pass line bets lost including yours. What happened is what was supposed to happen. Have you ever heard of the craps pro? I can honestly say that I have been playing this craps method for a year now and over the long run I have been winning 60% of my bets with the casino paying me odds on the place bets. I’m one of the crazies out here that believe that this works. I have tried many systems and spent thousands of dollars believing there must be a way to beat the casino over the long haul. Nothing worked untill I purchased this method. I’m a true believer and my wallet shows it, or maybe hundreds of hours at the table is not enough time to prove it to be true I’ll let you know how I do over the next year. If you haven’t heard of this method than research it and prove me wrong. — Jim from Belluvue, US Although I have tested a lot of systems I don’t need to test any of them to know they are all worthless. No system can ever pass the test of time, it is a mathematical fact. It is not unusual to win for a while with a system but if you keep playing the odds will eventually catch up to you and you will fall behind. If you want me to test your system you’ll have to pay $100 per hour for my time. In the unlikely event it wins over a billion bets you won’t have to pay me and I’ll publically admit I was wrong. wiz, You are the man! You have far and away the best gambling site on the ’net. Being an actuary myself (ACAS), I love to see someone putting their math skills to good use. My question: When late surrender is allowed, do you still want to split 8’s with a ten showing? I’m guessing yes, but one of the hardest plays in BJ is splitting 8’s vs a ten. As a side note, I just spent 3 days in Vegas, if you haven’t done so already, you must try the Las Vegas Club and the World’s Most Liberal BJ Rules. Doubling is allowed on 3 or 4 cards, 6 cards <= 21 is an automatic winner, and late surrender. At six decks I figured the house advantage to be .14%. Thanks for all of your hard work!! — Jim from Bloomington, US Thanks for the kind words Jim. Yes, you still want to split 8’s even if late surrender is offered. Even if you can’t double after a split you should still decline to surrender. Based on a 2 deck game where you can not double after splitting the expected value of splitting 8’s against a 10 is 0.480673, better than the -0.5 by surrendering. Contrary to their claim of having the "World’s Most Liberal Blackjack Rules" there are better games right across the street at the Horseshoe or the Golden Gate. According to Scott Kister’s Blackjack Conditions and Specials the house edge at the Las Vegas Club is 0.16% and at the Horseshoe and Golden Gate is less at 0.14%. There are even better games on the Strip where the basic strategy player has an edge of 0.05%. It is the six decks at the Las Vegas Club which work against the player. Don’t feel bad about falling for their marquee, I fell for it myself in my younger days before I knew the effects of rule variations.
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Ask the Wizard #4

Is there a particular time of the day or night that’s better to play [slots] and a time that’s best to avoid? — Mary from San Gabriel, California

I made the mistake of making a pass line bet in craps after a point was established. The next roll was a 7 and I thought I won but the dealer said I lost. Can the player make a pass line bet after a point is rolled? What should have happened? — Larry from Detroit

Is there a particular time of the day or night that’s better to play [slots] and a time that’s best to avoid?
— Mary from San Gabriel, California

I made the mistake of making a pass line bet in craps after a point was established. The next roll was a 7 and I thought I won but the dealer said I lost. Can the player make a pass line bet after a point is rolled? What should have happened?
— Larry from Detroit