This issue has bothered me for many years. In 1999, my father took me to Vegas for my 21st birthday. We were playing blackjack at the same table, I with roughly $25 in bets on the table, my father with about $40. The dealer had 20, but miscalculated and thought she busted. She paid us as if we won. Roughly 15 minutes later, three suits came down, put their hand on our shoulders, essentially appraised us of the situation, and mandated that we pay back the "winnings" or leave the casino. We decided to leave the casino, and gamble elsewhere that evening. Is that standard operating procedure or is this more the exception to the rule? — Mike from Buffalo Grove, IL
Do the casinos put oxygen in the air inside the casino so that you will not get tired?
— Alisha from Pontotoc
If the local casino offers me $10 in free play and then requires that I add a dollar to activate it, then how much is the offer worth theoretically? This is an offer I got on a postcard from Sunset Station Casino. — Mike F. from Henderson Nevada
Las Vegas casinos, namely Caesars and Bellagio, have recently been
giving me a harder time when cashing out over a few thousand dollars in chips. This past trip when I cashed out $8,000 at Caesers they asked for my Social Security number. When I naturally asked why, they said they couldn't tell me exactly and all they could do was give me a card mentioning something vague about Title 31. Could you explain to me and your audience in greater detail what exactly is title 31 and, specifically, what will and will not get your flagged by the IRS. Thanks! — James from Los Angeles, CA
Title 31 is a regulation stating that the casino should make a record of cash transactions of over $10,000 by a single player in a single day. In such cases, a CTR must be filled out, which stands for Cash Transaction Report. This includes making multiple transactions, adding up to over $10,000. If you cash chips close to, but under, $10,000, the cage will likely want to make a note of it, in case you come back later that day, and go over the $10,000 daily limit.
My advice is to give them what they ask for. You have a lot more to fear by looking like you are avoiding CTR's than the CTRs themselves. In fact, I think there is nothing to fear from a legitimate CTR; the casinos generate lots of them. Personally, I have generated hundreds, to no known detriment. However, it raises lots of attention when you look like you are going out of your way to avoid them. I know one person who was rebuffed when he tried to cash in chips, because he had too many previous redemptions of just under $10,000. So, that is my two cents. Better suited to answer this is "Brian," a current Las Vegas casino manager, and former regulator, whom I like to turn to for procedural questions like this.
In a nutshell, Title 31 is the U.S. Department of Treasury Code designed to prevent money laundering. It requires that certain large cash transactions be reported to the Government. These are filed on FinCEN Form 103 “Currency Transaction Reports by Casinos” (FinCEN is the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network). Casinos are required to report all currency transactions in excess of $10K in a single day. The “day” doesn’t follow the clock – a casino picks their day (e.g., 3 a.m. to 2:59 a.m.).
All Financial Institutions comply with Title 31. Casinos are considered financial institutions because of the types of transactions they perform, which are similar to those of a bank (e.g., check cashing, wires, loans, cash exchanges). Unlike traditional financial institutions, casinos conduct a great deal of transactions with unknown patrons. When you set up your checking account at the bank, you give them all of the necessary information needed to fill out CTRs. However, when cashing chips at the cage, the only way the casino can get this information is to ask. Casinos have to get all of the necessary information to fill out a CTR before the patron crosses the $10,000 threshold. Since the fines for non-compliance are hefty, they make a diligent effort to comply.
Casinos are apprehensive to give patrons too much information on Title 31 for fear of inadvertently breaking the law. Casinos are specifically precluded from aiding patrons in structuring transactions in such a manner as to allow them to skirt the requirements. When you ask questions, they prefer to point to a preprinted informational card and don’t like to discuss the matter for fear of divulging inappropriate information.
Circumventing Title 31 is relatively easy for undocumented transactions (e.g., chip buys, chip redemptions, etc.), but why would you want to? If the casino has reason to believe that you are purposefully conducting your transactions in an effort to avoid the reporting requirements of Title 31, they’ll fill out a Suspicious Activity Report by Casinos form (aka SARC). If a casino learns that you exceeded the $10K threshold and they didn’t get the required information, they will bar you from gaming until they get it. — Brian April 21, 2008
Hi, I was recently in Vegas and made a bet on an NCAA tournament game that ended after I left town (I won the bet). While the back of the ticket says I need to mail it registered mail, is this actually a requirement to get my money or do they just want you to send it with delivery confirmation so you can't claim the casino lost the ticket?
— Joe
I would take that as more of a suggestion than a requirement. They have probably said that for decades, since before the post office had competition tracking mail. Nobody except the post office, including UPS and FedEx, will deliver to a post office box. However, for many of us, including me, the nearest post office is several miles away, and usually has a long slow line. For high-valued tickets I would look up the street address of the casino and use that, attention to the accounting department. For low-valued tickets ($200 or less) I would take my chances with a first class stamp to the PO Box. Personally I have mailed in tickets three times, all of which had the registered mail rule. All three times I got a check within about two weeks. With two I used UPS, and one I used just a first-class stamp.
April 21, 2008
What rights do the casinos have to refuse to honor their own chips? The reason I ask is a friend of mine asked me to cash in some large-denomination chips for him, and the casino refused, saying I had no history of play there. When I protested, they said they would honor them if I could prove a legitimate player gave them to me to cash. Do they really have the right to do this? — Pete from Bakersfield
Not only do they have that right, that is what they are supposed to do. According to Nevada gaming regulation 12.060.4, “A licensee shall not redeem its chips or tokens if presented by a person the licensee knows or reasonably should know is not a patron of its gaming establishment… .” Regardless of whose hands they are in, chips are legally the property of the casino (Reg. 12.060.1), although they must be promptly redeemed from legitimate patrons (Reg. 12.060.2c).
My advice is to avoid cashing in large amounts of chips at a property where you have no experience. The fancier the casino, the more it will take to get questioned. However, if forced to estimate, I would say that at most Strip properties, you will start to get questioned around $3,000.
If you are still stuck with large chips at a property where you have no play, then my advice is to make some play. Don't take them directly to the cashier, but break them down at the tables, play a while commensurate with your buy-in, and then cash out whatever you are left with from that sitting.
The bonus package for Mohegan Sun includes two ten dollar bets in coupon form. These are not match play. A ten dollar bet on an even money proposition e.g. the one at the Big Six wheel will return ten dollars. The house keeps coupons
wagered win or lose. The player does not have to add any money of his own. The only games that can be played are the
Big Six wheel or
Sic Bo . Where are the best places to use these coupons. I have bet high and low in sic bo only losing if a triple shows.
I have also bet the one and two on the wheel (same spin). —
Stephen from Lake Grove, NY
Usually these free bet coupons are limited to even money bets, so this is an interesting case. My advice is to use the free bet on a long-shot, to minimize the effect of the rule that you lose the free bet, even if you win. The biggest long-shot in Big Six is the joker/logo, with a probability of winning of 1/54. I’m not sure whether the Mohegan Sun pays 40 or 45 on the joker, but assuming 45 the value of the free bet is (1/54)×45 = 83.33% of face value. In Sic Bo the biggest long-shots are on the six triples. I’m also not sure what they pay for a specific triple, but I would guess 180. In that case the value of any one of the six triple bets would be (1/216)×180 = 83.33% of expected value. So, we have a tie in terms of expected value. In that case I would go for the bet with the greater probability of winning, the joker/logo in Big Six, but that is up to you.
January 2, 2008
Do you think any individual player can beat the odds over the long run in California games that every seated player has the same opportunity to bank, once every round, assuming players have to pay $1 to the house every hand? — Linda from San Jose
Yes and no. Those games usually have a banker advantage, so if you took it at every opportunity, you would have a long-term advantage. However, there are agreements among the casinos and banking organizations not to let ordinary players do this excessively, as if it were a business, as opposed to recreational gambling.
January 2, 2008
Could you say a few words about the controls and consumer protection in cruise ship casinos of major lines. Are there avenues to make a protest or review? — Steve S. from Lake Grove, NY
To be honest with you, I don’t know that much about it. I would imagine you would have to file a complaint through the country in which the ship is registered, usually Panama, the Bahamas, or Liberia. Good luck getting any satisfaction that way. Your odds would probably be better writing to the corporate headquarters of the cruise line. As a last resort, I would suggest making a stink on as many forums about cruising as you can.
November 23, 2007
Recently I visited Charles Town Races and Slots, betting on the Kentucky derby. A Hispanic guy had hit a good payout on a slot machine for $6,000 and seemed to be having some sort of ID problem. I was in the casino for about an hour. In passing him on the way out, still standing by the machine, he still seemed to be having a problem. My question is if he has no ID (for whatever reason) can he still get the payout? The casino is in the state of WV. Would the rules prohibit a person in the country illegally from betting or winning if he or she has bet? - John from Ellicott City, MD
I forwarded this one to Brian, who is a former gaming regulator, and currently a casino manager. Here is what he said,
The casino would not know that someone was in the country illegally. If he had a valid passport, the jackpot would be honored. The illegal may not know this, be scared or they may not have a valid ID to show.
Whenever someone wins $1,200 or more, ID is required for tax purposes.
If someone doesn't have his ID, the jackpot would be held in the cage waiting for them to claim it. In most cases, the person has legitimately forgotten their ID; however, sometimes you run into a problem, such as a minor who was gaming. If he doesn't claim it, the money has to be added back into revenue because the deduction (jackpot) was never paid or there are abandoned property rules that prevail. Also, like the U.S., most countries tax worldwide income. To that end, the U.S. has tax treaties with several countries to withhold or notify the respective governments of monies won in the U.S. so Uncle Sam always gets his cut. September 20, 2007
Is it appropriate to tip a host? Recently, while staying at an off-Strip hotel, my wife and I were approached by the host who comped our hotel room for four nights. We were invited to return to that hotel for another complimentary stay. Should we tip the host? What would be an appropriate amount? – Jack N. from Eastpointe MI
The etiquette on this is not set in stone, so the following is just my opinion. Tipping hosts is, most of the time, truly voluntary and not expected. If you do tip, it should not be in cash. Gift certificates, sport book tickets, or physical items are acceptable. Some people believe that hosts will work a little harder for you if you tip. Personally, I haven’t noticed a difference. At times when I gave a host an envelope with a gift certificate in it, the host seemed uncomfortable accepting it, but other times not. The best way to make your host happy is to play hard in the casino. Hosts are judged according to how much their players play vs. how much they give out. It doesn’t make them look good if you squeeze them for everything you can get, and then don’t play commensurately in the casino. An exception to the general rule about tips being not expected is that if a host gets you into a tournament, and you win a lot of money, then you should tip both the dealers and your host generously.
September 1, 2007
I don't play the table much, but if I do and if I give the casino enough rated play who should I speak to about show ticket comps at a sister hotel? For example, I'm planning a stay at MGM but would like to see if I can get comp tickets to a show at Mandalay Bay. I do not have an on-site host at MGM. If my rating is sufficient enough at the MGM table, should I ask the MGM foremen, or do I ask at the MGM player's club desk, or should I play at Mandalay Bay and ask for comped show ticket there? – Hugh from Newburgh
You should speak to an MGM host. You can ask for a host anywhere. There is usually a player assistance desk somewhere, where one can often be found, or at least paged. Your odds of seeing a Mandalaly Bay show will be best if you play at the Mandalay Bay, as opposed to any other MGM/Mirage property.
May 21, 2007
What agency oversees the Indian Casinos in California? Whom do I complain to? I have seen the automatic shufflers come up with blackjack too many times. When dealing, I have seen the dealers tap the table when I have an ace showing, as to signal the shuffler not to give me a ten, so I would not get 21/blackjack. Is there any truth to my theory? Additionally, I have hit on hard 14, when the dealer has a 4 up card. I know I should stay, but the dealer almost always gets a 5 or 6. This seems to have happened too many times to be coincidence! I know what I'm insinuating, but it just seems to happen too often. Is there a way of checking up on the casinos to make sure they are not cheating the public? Lastly, I was at the BJ table by myself and on a incredible winning streak, the pit boss came over and inserted about 10 cards into the deck. I left the table. – N. Davis from Carson
All I know of is the
NIGC. However, as far as I know, there is no formal process to arbitrate a dispute between player and casino. Even if there were such a dispute process, with this lack of evidence, I think your odds would not look good. A good way to make a case would be to tally blackjacks and hands played, or fives and sixes against all cards played, and then have the results analyzed. Regarding the tapping of the table when you have an ace up, I think the dealers do it as a way of saying "good luck," because players tend to slap the table in that situation.
April 12, 2007
I was recently in Las Vegas and played a new game for me --
World Poker Tour: All in Poker. I did not bet on the bonuses and used your advice on how to play the game. I bet $15 on the blind, so on average my overall bets were approximately $100. At one casino I was rated as a $15 player and at another a $45 player. I don't understand why two casinos, both in the same corporate family, would give me two different ratings for the same bets in the same game, and I don't understand why I wasn't rated as a 90-100 player. –
Mark from Merrick
The first casino was correctly basing your bet size on the ante only. The second was counting the raise bets. If the second casino does include raises in the average bet then it should be using a lower house edge for purposes of rating. In my opinion many casinos do not comp players accurately. Each casino has its own policies, regardless of which corporate family it is in. What is important in your case is which casino gives you back the most for your play. There are lots of factors that go into that decision besides the average bet size.
March 29, 2007
When the house awards me free play on a slot machine, ex. $100, how much does it actually cost them? – David from W. Palm Beach
It depends. If the slot play may be used in any machine in the casino, including video poker, then it can be worth 99 cents on the dollar or more, depending on the video poker offerings. For example, the MGM Mirage casinos award $1 in free slot play for every one point earned. It can be used in any machine in any casino connected to the MGM Mirage player card. Most MGM Mirage properties offer 9/6 Jacks or better, so the value of $1 in free slot play is worth 99.54 cents, with correct strategy.
However, sometimes free slot play must be done on particular promotional machines that don’t accept money. The value of this kind of free play is hard to estimate closely, but generally very little. For example, the Las Vegas World used to sell “$1000” vacation packages for $400. Of the alleged $1000 value $600 was in promotional slot machine play. In his book “Million Dollar Video Poker,” Bob Dancer writes that he did this deal numerous times over, and estimates the value of the free slot play to be about ten cents on the dollar. March 29, 2007
I was playing one on one double-deck Black Jack in a casino in Louisiana. I had a large bet that I doubled down on a 4 and 7 against dealer's 4. I opened my cards and place them infront of my chips and dobled down the bet. Dealer continued and opened his cards, 4 and two, then drew a ten and a three. We then noticed that the dealer had forgotten to deal me my double down card. The floor ruled that I lost the hand since I had eleven against nineteen. I asked the floor to give me the ten and draw a card on 4+2+3. Floor said that the cards cannot be backed up! and the best he can do is to return my bet. The next card in the deck was a ten, which would have been my 21 against dealer's 19. I have decided to meet the casino manager for table games for compensation. I need advice on how to approach the manager on this matter. Is it common to get compensated for this type of casino error? – John from Austin
Casinos don't like to back up cards because it may cause some players who won because of the mistake to lose. The general policy is that if there is a mistake more than one card back then the hand is ruled dead. However often casinos will bend the rules a bit to keep the players happy. For example, last month I was playing blackjack at the Venetian by myself, when I doubled down. The dealer never saw me make the double down bet, thinking I stood, turned over his cards, and hit is own hand with a 4. I then brought the mistake to the dealer's attention. The pit boss gave me the choice of accepting the 4 as my double down card or it could be burned for the next card in the deck. I chose to burn it and the next card was another 4, and I ended up losing. Although I was happy with how it was handled the pit boss told the dealer to push my bet anyway, which I thought was very nice and beyond the call of duty. To get back to the issue, as long as the floor gave you back your full bet then I think that was procedural.
December 13, 2006
Dear Wizard, I played at
South Point in Las Vegas under a promotion where I can get double the value of my cashback in the form of Chevron Gas cards. There was no limit on gas cards stated on the rules. However, I when I went to redeem, they told me I was limited to $500 at most in gas cards. I know that other players were allowed to get more than $1000, so I think that I am being treated unfairly. Do you think that this is fair thing for South Point to do? I lost a lot of money trying to earn those gas cards and expected to get a lot more than $500. Thanks.
- Joe
I’m familiar with this promotion. When I was last at the South Point there was a leaflet for the promotion, but it hadn’t officially started yet. The leaflet didn’t mention anything about a limit. When I asked an employee he said he didn’t know. While I sympathize with your side, I think you would have a stronger case if you had verified before you started playing that the cards were unlimited. It is an unprofessional practice, in my opinion, to run a promotion with vague rules, letting the casinos interpret the details to their own advantage after the fact. That is why I like to ask questions before I play, rather than make assumptions.
If it were up to me to design a promotion then I would consider every possible question or situation that may occur, and write the rules to preempt such issues. Inconsistent application of the rules, I agree, is unfair. It is fine of them to put you on an undesirable list of players subject to a limit, but I think they should have reserved such a right in the fine print of the promotion, allowing you to inquire if you were on the list. This is all getting a bit out of my area of expertise, so please take my comments with a grain of salt.
December 13, 2006
From a Casino operators stand point, what factors should be considered
when setting table minimums and maximums. What constitutes an even spread without setting yourself up for big swings? Is there a 'rule of thumb' i:e. 10 x the minimum bet? – Terry from Corpus Christi
I asked this question of “Brain”, a casino manager. Here is what he said.
Table minimums are basically the price point at which we can "sell" the games. These fluctuate based on the clientele in-house, hotel occupancy, individual customer needs, etc. We use a 10X multiple for our maximum to protect us from large betting swings or counters.
We will get complaints from guests such as: Why don't you lower this blackjack table to a $5 minimum? They don't understand that one $10 player is worth more to the casino than two $5 players. Or that one $25 player is worth more than three $10 players.
Most casinos monitor capacity by counting the number of players periodically (e.g., every hour) and comparing it to the number of spots available. This is tricky because there is an actual capacity (total number of spots on a table) and what I consider a comfortable capacity, which is how many people can comfortably sit at a table. Unless there are no options available, most people prefer to play at a table with one or two open spots so they have room to stretch out and aren't rubbing elbows.
Based on capacity, at any time during the evening we may lower or raise our table limits.
My personal philosophy is to have lower limit tables near the entrances and high traffic areas to give the appearance that we are busier. I rarely raise a minimum on a table in play, but may lower it. If I do raise a minimum, I always "grandfather" the seated players in.
Brian didn’t get into the ratio of the maximum to the minimum bet but a similar question was asked before. I asked an executive with a major Las Vegas casino about it at the time and he said they like to corral their big bettors into the high limit areas.
November 10, 2006
When I first got a casino player card to rate my play, I had two cards for the account and shared one with my mom so we could get a higher rating. Eventually she got her own card and now when we play side by side, spending the same amount of time and money, she will rate higher returns in bonus cash. She also rates higher returns at other casinos even though we never shared a card at them. Do casinos share player ratings? And why after a number of years of playing individually am I still not receiving the same player rating as my mom when we basically play the same way? The casinos give me no answers on how they rate players. Also, a friend of ours goes to the casino maybe once or twice a year, spends about the same as we do per visit (yet we go 6 to 8 times a year, spending more), and she gets even higher bonus cash than both of us combined! Can you explain this and advise how to correct it? – Michelle from South Amboy
I wish I had a good answer for you. Usually cash back or free play is a percentage of points earned. However, it doesn’t sound like this is the case with your casino. Mailers are often a mystery. Here in Vegas, professional gamblers often exchange information about play vs. mailer, to try to determine the least amount of play required to get the best mailer. It also sometimes has to do with the average play per trip. So often it can hurt you to play just a little bit per day. Tournaments and comps can get even more mysterious. Yes, casinos do indeed share information with other casinos in the same company, which sometimes results in getting offers from casinos you rarely or never play at. It also sometimes helps to play hard-to-get. If you play on a regular basis, the casino’s rating formula may peg you as somebody who will play regardless of incentive. However, an intermittent player may need more enticing to get through the door. If the casino told you everything about how it rewards players, managers would be concerned that you may discover the system and begin playing as little as possible to get the greatest reward.
October 4, 2006
Since taking/laying odds is an even-edged play, do you know if casinos generally include or exclude those from their comp calculations?
That is a good question. Here in Vegas it varies by casino. I would say that most of them exclude odds in comp calculations, others only count odds up to a point, like 2x, and some count the full amount. I would love to name names but casinos are protective of their comping policies and much of what I know was given “off the record.”
October 4, 2006
What is the reason people don't put mirrors on flat roofs in Las Vegas. Wouldn't that cut down on the expense of air conditioning?
I asked my father this question since he has a Ph.D. in physics and also a solar panel on his house. Here is what he said,
It would help, but the economics might not justify it. Probably less than 25% of heat enters houses through the roof. The reflectivity of the mirrors would probably degrade to 60% or less as they age and get dirty. It makes a lot more sense to use that space for water heaters or solar electric panels. On a sunny day, my roof panels provide enough power to run both the A/C and the pool pump, which are my biggest power eaters. When one or both are off, my meter runs backwards. The pool heater panels had the pool temp up to 90 degrees last week. I had to cut back on the pumping time.
September 13, 2006
Playing blackjack, at what average dollar bet can I
Expect:
-
Free Food & Beverage
- Free Lodging
- One of those high roller suites
- Free golf at Wynn
- A new car
- Free airfare.
Thank you. –
Ed from New York
The basic formula for comps is that the casino will give you back a percentage of your theoretical loss. That percentage can vary by game, the higher the house edge the higher the percentage. I asked a former Vegas casino manager and he said the comp rebate is about 15%. Other pertinent pieces of the equation are 60 hands per hour in blackjack with an average house edge of 1%. So the value of comps you could expect would be (average bet) × (hours played) × 60 × 1% × 15%. Let’s assume 16 hours of play. You can then back out the average bet required. Let’s assume food and beverage has a value of $500. Then the average bet required would be 500/(16*60*0.01*0.15) = $347. A free room might be worth $1,000, so an average bet of $694 would be required. There is a whole spectrum of suites, roughly ranging in value from $1,000 to $10,000 a day, so an average bet of $1,389 to $13,889 would be required. Free golf might be worth $500, so back to $347 for that. I’ve heard of Vegas casinos comping shopping sprees at the Fashion Show mall, but they don’t sell cars there. If we assume $2,000 for airfare then $1,389. At high levels of play this may also be subject to skill level, the better you are the less you will get. They also might have some sympathy and give you more than you are entitled if you had a really bad run of luck. For rooms, you will have more bargaining power if you ask for one during a slow time when they have vacancies anyway.
August 24, 2006
My question is why are casino floors green in color and why are the ceiling plain? – Paul from Irving, TX
Floors are not necessarily green and ceilings plain. I went to a talk once on casino design and the thinking is you want the floor and ceiling to be colorful and loud, while what is at eye level should be in neutral colors. That will keep the eyeballs straight ahead on the more soothing colors, where the player will more likely be distracted by the games. Of course this is getting outside my area of expertise. I welcome other comments on this one.
July 22, 2006
Can you give some of the best sites, books references and online resources in detailing how one should start an online offshore (out of USA) casino? Thank you and very nice informative site. – Matthew from Toulouse
Sorry, I don’t know of anything like that in print. However, here is my own two cents.
- You should have at least a million in reserves to cover the normal ups and downs of gambling.
- Go with a high-end experienced software company with a good reputation.
- Abide by your own rules. If a player outsmarts you on a bonus or promotion, pay him and then cut him off if you wish.
- Take it easy on the bonuses. I would rather reward players after they play according to the value of their action.
- It is hard to overstate the importance of good customer service. Try to get to know your players, especially the best ones, on a personal level.
Remember, you can sheer a sheep many times but you can slaughter it only once.
July 22, 2006
Hi Wiz. First I love the site. You are turning me into a Spanish 21 Player. MY wife and I hit Laughlin once on a trip to LV. I enjoyed the vibe. Why can't I find any good sites on Laughlin? We play BJ, S21 and Craps. We are going to NV in September and would enjoy stretching our playing budget. Where do you play when your on the river? – Wavy from Danbury, CT
When in Laughlin I prefer Harrah’s. Although it is also the most expensive in my opinion, it is worth the extra money. I find the service at every other casino to be slow and poor, and the median age of the clientele to be about 65. However, when I get in the mood for something less corporate and polished I head to the Riverside, the only family owned casino in town.
July 11, 2006
With the continuing gains in popularity of slots/VP and new table games (3 card poker, let it ride, caribbean stud, etc.), have any (major) casinos stopped offering the "classic" table games (blackjack, roulette, craps, etc.)? – Dean M., Toronto, Ontario
Interestingly, the Casino Royale here in Vegas has zero legitimate blackjack games. I believe they have four Blackjack Switch games and one 6 to 5 game. They still have craps and roulette.
June 9, 2006
I've heard that casinos are looking at using RFID in chips to speed up counting, reduce errors, and defeat fakes. Is the use of this new technology expected to eliminate the ability to use those inadvertently pocketed chips from one casino at another one? Thanks for the site and your time. - Mitch from Hopkins
For those who may not know,
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. I'm not an expert on this topic but it is my understanding they will be used to track player betting patterns, which will help for both comping and catching card counters. However counterfeit chips seems to be a growing problem and that may be another benefit. Currently casinos like it when you leave with chips and never cash them. That is why they create so many chips for special occasions, hoping chip collectors will hoard them. Again, I'm not an expert, but I don't think it would be cost effective to create these chips if the expense were more than the face value. So I think you'll be safe pocketing chips.
March 20, 2006
I'm coming out to Vegas next month during March Madness. I'll probably be bringing a couple thousand dollars with me, some of my own, and some for some friends I'll be placing bets for on the NCAA games. I'm not sure I'm comfortable carrying that amount of cash around. Would I be able to get a casino marker for a few thousand dollars or are they typically only issued for 'whales', and can you draw on it for non-table gaming such as the sportsbook? Are there any costs or pitfalls associated with getting a marker (other than having your personal banking information in another database). Thanks for the great site and your time. - Mitch
Gamblers in your range certainly do use markers. You should try to establish credit with the casino before you go. Alternatively you can wire the casino money, that way you won't have to go through a credit check. Either way, do so at least a week in advance. The use of markers and wire is very commonplace in the casino and from what I hear the process usually goes very smoothly.
March 20, 2006
Just wanted to let you know that while tickets do expire, generally speaking you can still have them cashed in at the cage. Most of the time they won't say anything to you at all and if they do, they will cash it in with any sort of pushback from the guest. -- Trent from Las Vegas
You are not the only one to take me to task over my comments on ticket expiration dates in my Feb 1, 2006 column. To ascertain whether casinos honor expired tickets I plan to do an experiment. My next trip to the Strip I will get tickets from several casinos and deliberately let them expire and then try to redeem them. Stay tuned for the results. However I can say that Jerry's Nugget refused to honor the follow winning sports ticket that I tried to cash about six months after it expired.
You can see from NFL.com that New England won that game 27/19.
March 13, 2006
Hi. I was upset when I returned from LV and later found I had placed a paper ticket from a poker machine into my purse (being in a hurry to meet someone). When I discovered it at home it had expired! Although it was only for $8.00 I felt the Aladdin had already gotten enough of my dough. Do you agree? - Bev from Akron
Yes, I agree 100%! Most slot vouchers expire in 60 days, with a range of 30 to 90 days. I have had tickets expire on me too under similar circumstances. There can be no reason for the short lives of the vouchers other than the casinos are greedy and are hoping to minimize the percentage of tickets cashed. If customer service was more important than short-term profits, there would be no expiration at all. After all, you can cash in chips from table games a year later so why not machine tickets? This is getting off topic but I also have a pet peeve about gift certificates. Retail stores market them aggressively in part because they know the redemption rate is only about 85%. In my opinion gift certificates are a terrible gamble. That would make the house edge on gift certificates 15%.
Feb. 1, 2006
I am a German student and I was looking for a casino article ranking the worlds best 100 casinos (real world). But I couldn't find any. I hope you can help me on my question. - Mathias from Berlin, Germany
The Ultimate Casino Guide has various top ten lists. Here is their list of the ten most elegant casinos in alphabetical order.
- 50 St. James, London, England
- Atalantis at Paradise Island, Nassau, Bahamas
- Casino Baden-Baden, Germany
- Casino Bellevue Marienbad, Czech Republic
- Casino de Montreal, Montreal Quebec
- Le Casino, Monte Carlo
- St. James Club, Antigua
- Taleon Club, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Venetian, Las Vegas, Nevada
Jan. 3, 2006
I'm getting married in October. Since my fiancé
and I are inveterate gamblers, we're going to honeymoon in
Antigua at a resort with a casino. Are there any particular
differences between gambling in the states and the
Caribbean? Also, do you believe gambling to be an
aphrodisiac? -- Todd from New York
Speaking only for the Bahamas and Curacao, the
gambling is similar to the U.S.. Don't expect to find any
great rules. The blackjack is played with six decks and
the dealer hits a soft 17. Gambling is a good aphrodisiac
if you win. Sept.
25, 2005
I have reviewed your site and am looking for casinos
in Nevada and Mississippi that have the best pay out
schedules for each table game (I prefer 3 card poker). Do
you have a listing or link that shows the "loosest table
games" casinos?
I have thought about that many times but always
shoot down the idea because it would be very high
maintenance to keep it up to date. I do know they have a
full pay 1/4/6/30/40 pay table on the Pairplus in Three
Card Poker at the Pioneer in Laughlin. At least they did
when I was last there a few months ago. As far as I know
every casino in Vegas follows the stingier 1/3/6/30/40
pay table. Aug.
28, 2005
By what method do casinos pay you when you cash out?
For example, if you were to win say $10,000-$15,000 playing
Roulette or Black Jack can you get that money in a cashiers
check, money order, etc.? As one certainly doesn't want to
be walking around with or driving back to Canada with a
bunch of cash on them!
I believe the policy at most casinos is that for
large transactions you can have the funds any way you
want. Before you consider laundering money by turning
cash into checks, be aware that casinos ask for a Social
Security number and make a record of any transaction
involving $10,000 or more. March
10, 2005
I wanted to know if casinos put caffeine in their
drinks they serve, to keep people awake, or is this an urban
legend like the oxygen? - Jennifer
I've never heard this one but I'm sure they do
not spike drinks with caffeine.
Nov. 19, 2004
The casino industry has millions of customers,
wagering and losing billions of dollars, and a percentage of
them unhappy enough to claim that they were cheated by lying
advertising. Do you think the trial lawyers are a definite
threat to do to this industry after what they have done to
asbestos, tobacco and others?
I hope not. If anyone brings such a lawsuit I
hope the casino wins. As long as the casinos are
operating honestly and fairly, which in general I believe
they are, then if the player loses more than he can
afford, it is his own fault. I'm not a lawyer but nobody
here in Vegas seems very worried about this.
Sept. 30, 2004
Do you ever test the slot machines in Ontario, Canada.
I'm worried that since the government has a monopoly on
gambling in Ontario they are setting the machines
tight.
I never tested the machines in Ontario but I did
test a machine in Montreal. Quebec casinos are also
government owned so the concern should be the same there.
The 5-cent machine (equivalent to 3 U.S. cents) I played
was set to 89.975%. For a small coinage this isn't too
bad and is comparable to the Las Vegas Strip. I have played
blackjack at the casino in Niagara Falls, as well as
Montreal, and the rules were the same as in Atlantic
City, resulting in a house edge of 0.41%. I think this
goes to show that the government there is not abusing
its monopoly but giving the players a decent bet. See
my slot machine
appendix 3F for more information.
Aug. 23, 2004
Do you have any articles about etiquette and/or
nuances about gambling in Europe, versus normal American
casinos? Specifically, I'm targeting German casinos, and
even more specifically, Blackjack and Poker. I have the
opportunity to gamble a little on an upcoming trip to
southern Germany, and I'd like to know what to
expect.
I've played in Berlin, Hamburg, and Monte Carlo
and the etiquette is more or less the same as in the
United States. The main difference that I can think of is
I didn't see much tipping the dealer in any of these
locales. Now that I think about it, the German players seemed
to take their gambling very seriously and the casinos,
especially in Berlin, were unusually quiet. In Monte
Carlo the famed Grand Casino is very stuffy and formal
but the Paris Casino and Sun Casino are much more fun and
lively, not unlike an American casino. Have a good time!
Aug. 23, 2004
Any advice to us folks in Connecticut, with the
absolute worst video poker machines in the world? Is there
an accepted way to pressure a casino to improve their
selection when the market doesn't necessarily require
it?
That is what happens in an environment with
almost no competition. Asking the casino for better
machines won't help. If players will play games with
lousy pay tables why should the casinos change anything?
Your only hope is to write to the lawmakers in
Connecticut and ask them to end the two-casino monopoly
on gaming in that state and allow others to compete.
July 28, 2004
Recently I was watching an episode of the new
"reality" show, The Casino. In one scene, the show featured
a "high-roller" playing, I believe, blackjack. Apparently
this gentleman hit a rather bad losing streak because as he
started to lose more and more, he would tear up the cards! I
would have thought this a severe breach of etiquette, if not
some actual gaming commission regulation, but when asked to
stop, he was insulted that they would ask him! Is this sort
of thing generally tolerated and I've just never seen it, or
is this guy just used to being allowed to get away with that
sort of thing because he's losing tons of money, or
something else entirely?
Baccarat (at the big tables) is the only casino
game in which players are allowed to damage the cards. An
explanation I heard is that Asian players bend the cards
anyway as they slowly peek at them so that they only use
each card once. So, as long as the dealer replaces cards
after one usage, they may as well let the players do
anything with them. Furthermore, being able to identify cards is
of little value to baccarat players because the
dealer doesn't take a hole card as in blackjack. Additionally, the
player has no choice as to whether to hit or stand.
However there are also gaming regulations that the tapes
must show all the cards should lest there be a dispute.
However, the player didn't know this and I think both
parties handled it badly, which led to the hard feelings
that the show captured. Had I been the casino manager I
would have explained what I just explained to you and then I would have asked the player to
lay the card on the table, after which it would be okay
to rip it into tiny pieces.
On a related note yours truly will be on The
Casino sometime this season. The story is some
college students try to parlay $1,000 into $5,000 as
quickly as possible. They seek my advice on how to
achieve this goal. July 11,
2004
I would like to respond the question about
"pumping oxygen" into the
casino. Although I doubt very much if any casino
pumps pure oxygen (as you know oxygen is only one component
of the air we breathe) into the environment I am ABSOLUTELY
sure that there are some that use ozone generators. As you
know ozone is a form of oxygen. I know because I worked at
one in Washington State for two years that did exactly
that!! Of course I never confronted them (they would deny it
was taking place) but the fact of the matter is I know
intimately the distinctive smell of ozone. I was involved
with marine (saltwater) aquariums for many years and ozone
generators were used by the more serious hobbyists. Also I
have recently been a number of times at a popular card room
in Renton, Washington that has been in business since 1976 I
believe (you probably know which one I am referring to with
this information) and the place absolutely reeks of ozone. I
can only comment about Washington State. I have been to Las
Vegas and Reno numerous times (the first time about 1973)
and cant recall ever smelling ozone in any casino. So I must
respectfully disagree with you that it is an "urban legend"
(at least as pertains to ozone; but of course you may be
correct when mentioning oxygen specifically).
This is getting outside my area of expertise so
I bounced your comments off of my father, who has a Ph.D.
in physics. Here is what he says:
"He may be right. Ozone (O3) does have a distinctive
smell. And yes, it is a 'form' of oxygen. He may have
inside information that ozone generators were being used
in the Renton WA casino. There is nothing illegal or
dangerous about generating ozone in small quantities to
'freshen' the air. It can make it smell like the air
after a lightning storm, which some might find
stimulating, especially if there is smoking going on in
the room. Like many deodorants, its main effect may be to
mask other odors. As a strong oxidizer, it may also react
with some odorous hydrocarbons and help to get rid of
them faster. Manufacturers make claims about supposed
benefits of ozone, but I do not believe there is any
proven effect on health or 'happiness'. You may quote me
if you like. Also check this out: IAQ
Publications - Ozone Generator Fact Sheet" - William
L. Shackleford.
So you are probably right that ozone is pumped into
some casinos. However, as the urban legend goes, casinos
pump oxygen to keep players awake and euphoric, which is
not the motive with ozone. April
4, 2004
Hi. I love your site. (I try to use your Amazon link
when I can. Keep up the good work.) My question is about
casino food. Why do casinos offer buffets as their
restaurant? Why would buffets be so much more profitable in
Vegas than in every other city? Maybe it is something to do
with being open 24-7? Maybe they just want to encourage the
hedonistic environment of gambling?
Thanks for using the Amazon link. That is an
easy for anyone to support the site. I've noticed that
lots of hotels everywhere have buffets. They serve a need
to get guests fed quickly who would rather be doing other
things (like gambling). Also, foreign guests may not be
familiar with American food and not know what to order
from a restaurant. With a buffet what you see is what you
get. So I would argue that the ratio of total buffet
meals served to total hotel guests is not that
disproportionate in Vegas. There are lots of buffets
simply because there are lots of rooms.
April 4, 2004
I see that the return on a full pay deuces wild video
poker machine is 100.76% with the strategy you have on your
website. Obviously, this is with infinite play. My question
is how many hands would you have to play to get that return
with, let's say 90% certainty?
p.s. Where can I find full pay full pay deuces wild in
Vegas?
There is no number that will give you a 90%
probability of attaining or exceeding that percentage.
Although the more you play the closer your return will
get to 100.76%. About half the time it will be above and about
half the time it will be below. Perhaps a better question
is, how many hands would I have to play to have a 90%
probability of getting to 100.66%?
The standard deviation of full pay deuces wild is
5.08. The standard deviation of the sample mean is
5.08/sqr(n), where n is the number of hands. I'll skip
over the rest of the math and get to the answer, which is
42,383,720 hands. That is a lot! Suppose your goal is to
simply come out ahead with a 90% probability. Then you
would only need 733,790 hands. This is still a lot, which
just goes to show how volatile your bankroll will be in
the short run. The general formula, in Excel, of your
sample return being at least x with a probability of p
is (normsinv(1-p)*5.08/(1.0076-x))^2. In the case of my
first example you would put the following in any
cell:
=(NORMSINV(1-0.9)*5.08/(1.0076-1.0066))^2
This formula can be used for any game by substituting
the correct standard deviation per hand.
I think all the Stations and Fiesta casinos have full
pay deuces wild in the quarter coinage only. Green Valley
Ranch has it too. When I moved to Vegas three years ago it was
much easier to find. March 6,
2004
The Hollywood casino in Tunica started offering a FREE
progressive side bet on two $5 tables. The rules are six
decks and dealer hits a soft 17, all other rules are
standard. They swear there are no rule changes to the game
(Dealer hits, DAS, 4 splits, 6 decks). Suited sevens of
diamonds gets the progressive, which starts at $1,000. All
other triple sevens pay $50. So how high would the
progressive need to be to get to breakeven?
The probability of three seven of diamonds is
combin(6,3)/combin(312,3) = 0.00000398937. The
probability of three unsuited sevens is
(combin(24,3)-combin(6,3))/combin(312,3) = 0.000399735.
According to my blackjack
calculator the house edge is 0.6233%. The expected
loss on a $5 bet would be 3.12 cents. Just the value of
the $50 for 3 unsuited 7's is $50*0.000399735 = 2.00
cents. To make up the other 1.12 cents, the meter would
need to reach $2,802. Feb. 27,
2004
Many senior managers in casinos today have an
educational background similar to yourself rather than
coming up through the gaming floor. I was just wondering if,
with your interest in gaming you had ever considered going
to the dark side and making a move into casino
management.
I'm tired of professional gamblers referring to
those who work in or for casinos as the "dark side."
Casinos provide thousands of jobs across the country,
revenue to government, and a source of entertainment to
millions. I don't remember the source, but I read that
something like 90% of visitors to Las Vegas leave with a
gambling loss, yet 95% leave happy. The other side is
quick to argue that casinos contribute to the problem of
compulsive gambling. Yes, there are some compulsive
gamblers who abuse what should be done in moderation.
However, I believe that the majority should not be denied
the opportunity to place a bet because of the problems of
a minority. In other words, I believe that the benefits
that come from legalized gambling far exceed the costs.
I fully admit I consult for casinos and gaming
businesses. I have to because this site doesn't make
enough money to support my family. My bankroll is not
large enough to make a living as a professional gambler.
However, I make no apologies for what I do. To answer your
question, yes, if the right offer came along I would
consider employment in casino management.
Feb. 13, 2004
Is it true casinos pump oxygen in the casinos to keep
them happy and awake.
No, not true at all. It is an urban legend.
Jan. 31, 2004
For whatever reason suppose I do not wish to
immediately cash in casino chips won in a major casino in
LV. Can I walk across the street (or next door) to another
major casino and put my chips in play (or cash them in)
there? If such chip "travelability" is permitted at all,
would it be limited to major properties owned by the same
corporation such as Park Place or MGM Properties? Please
comment when convenient. Thank you.
Most casinos accept an exchange of chips from
other casinos in the same locality, even if the casino is
a direct competitor. For example, if you walked a $100
Mirage chip to the Venetian and politely asked at a table
to exchange it for Venetian chips, I think they would
allow it. Do not try to bet a foreign chip without
asking. I once did that in Atlantic City with a $5 chip
and although I got away with it, when the dealer finally
noticed a foreign chip in his tray he was clearly
annoyed. Fortunately, it was a full table so nobody could
pin the blame on me ;-). Jan.
20, 2004
At the new Seneca/Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls NY
they refuse to give me a copy of their house way for pai gow
poker. I would like to know the house way before I play. Do
they have to provide that info?
They probably don't have to. Once, at the
Tropicana in Atlantic City their pai gow poker rules said
the house way was available upon request. So I requested
it and they ran out of public copies and couldn't show me
a house copy because it didn't have the Gambler's
Anonymous disclaimer on it. In my opinion, the player
should always have the right to know the rules of a game,
but unfortunately all gaming authorities seem to think
differently. Oct. 15,
2003
Hello, thanks for the great website. There is a lot of
helpful information. I hate to bother you, but I wanted to
let you know about a variation of blackjack that I played
recently. I was at the Oneida Bingo & Casino in Green
Bay, Wisconsin. They had a few tables that at first glance
looked like 2 deck pitch blackjack. Upon further examination
they were using automatic shufflers and according to the
rules they listed, this game consisted of eight decks and
the automatic shuffler dispensed approximately 100 cards.
The game was dealt using these 100 cards. The dealer put the
cut card approximately half way in the 100 card deck and
then dealt. When the cut card was reached, the dealer would
put the cards back in to the automatic shuffler and take 100
more cards from the machine and start dealing again. In this
game you could not double down after a split, and you could
split up to 3 times. I'm not sure whether the dealer stands
or hits on soft 17. Thanks, Rob Seelen
Mathematically speaking this is the same as
playing from an eight deck game. Players have been known
to be fooled, incorrectly thinking these are double deck
games. For card counting purposes the penetration is 50
out of 416, or 12.02%. May 26,
2003
Hi, I just have a general question. It is about the
Poker Table Games. Why is it that almost every casino
carries "Let it Ride", "Caribbean Stud Poker", and "3 card
poker"? Some of those other Poker games I was reading about
on your website sound cool, but they aren't around at the
Atlantic City locations. Is it because the above games are
more popular, or just because the casino makes more money on
them? Just wondering since Bally's and Caesars in Atlantic
City are testing the Boston 5 Poker game, and I like that
game the best so far. i hope they keep it there. It is nice
when the dealer doesn't have to qualify (the reason why I
try to avoid Caribbean stud poker) Thanks for your time, Joe
Ultimately, the games that you see in the casinos
are the ones that make the most money for the casino. For
a game to make money the players have to like it. So
these games you mention are what players find the most
fun. It also helps that they are owned by big gaming
companies that have the resources to get them out there
in the first place. March 7,
2003
To begin, I am not a mathematician but I am a casino
player. I have followed some of your articles in Casino
Player magazine and I subscribe to your on-line newsletter.
By the way, I hope you had a wonderful time with your family
and friends in Seattle.
I just had an eye-opening experience at Casino
Windsor. Nowhere do they publish their percent payback on
slots. However, that aside, I was going to play quarter (my
comfort level) video poker. I was really taken aback when I
put up the paytable. They were 5/4 machines. I am talking
Jacks or better was only 5 coins on a full house and 4 coins
on a flush. I looked at about 20 machines and only found one
that paid any better and that was a 6/4 machine.
As I stated, I am not a mathematician but I think that
payback percentage must be in the very low 70s. Needless to
say I didn't play video poker there because I know that the
longer I would have played the greater the loss I could have
expected with the house taking approximately $30.00 from
every $100.00 put through the machine. That is not a gamble
with some expectation of winning, it is a sure loss for
players. On the Detroit side of the river, MGM Grand has
their machines at 7/5. Not really great but a whole lot
better than 5/4.
Could you please tell me the exact percentage payback
on the 5/4 and 7/5 machines. Since none of the area casinos
post their average payback on slots I am (and this is
dangerous) assuming that their reel slots payback the same
percentages. Best regards, Mort Firsht from Walled Lake,
Michigan
Actually, with perfect play, the 5/4 pay table
return 92.78%. That is still one of the worst pay tables I have
ever heard of. Have you tried the Greektown casino in
Detroit? I don't know what games they have but I do know
they have had security remove several winning video poker
players from the building, including a old lady who hit a
royal on a machine with a 97% pay table. They must have
something good enough to warrant throwing winners out
for. Here is an article for more information: www.freep.com/news/metro/dicker27_20021127.htm
Feb. 4, 2003
In Washington state some of the small non-Indian
casinos offer "no-commission" pai-gow so you only lose
equality on 'copies'. Without getting into the various house
ways can you give some idea of how this improves the player
odds? - R. Schleiff from Seattle, US
In regular pai gow poker, the house edge as a
player is conveniently about 50% because of the 5%
commission on winning and 50% because the banker wins on
copies. The total house edge is 2.85%, or without the 5%
commission the house edge drops to 1.44%.
Nov. 28, 2002
Have you calculated any of the odds for the slot
machines at Harrah's Cherokee Casino? NC law requires games
of skill. As a result of this law all of the common slots
such as Double Diamond, Red-White-Blue, etc were installed
with a two spin option. After the first spin you may hold or
respin any of the three rows to obtain final results. Charts
are available on every machine to show the total number of
each symbol and blanks in each row. Since these machines are
IGT machines I assume that the symbols are weighted and
randomly selected as posted. If this is true then the
payback % can be calculated just as it is in video poker.
Just curious if you had any info. - David Burns from
Peachland, North Carolina
I've been asked about these North Carolina slot
machines so many times I'm tempted to fly there just to
see them for myself. Yes, if they did give the
probability of each symbol for each reel then an optimal
strategy and a return could be fairly easily calculated.
However, I have never actually seen such a table and have
never worked out the odds. Aug.
4, 2002
My question is a very basic one. Are the odds for
slots and the payoff tables for games like Caribbean Poker,
Three Card Poker and Let It Ride typically lowered on board
the cruise ships from major cruise lines? - Paul Robinson
from Novi, Michigan
I'm not sure. The only cruise I ever took was
from Florida to the Bahamas and it only lasted about
eight hours. This was before I ever started this web site
so I didn't pay close attention to the rules. However, I
do recall that the blackjack rules were stingy, and that
I lost a lot! Other things I have read corroborate that
cruise ships casinos are tight. After all, where else can
you play? However, the games you mention already have
rather high house edges so perhaps they won't mess with
them. I also know that Caribbean Stud Poker has a more
generous paytable in Europe and Africa, so maybe they use
that one. Jan. 15,
2002
What casinos have super fun 21 could you give me a
list? - Moe from Philadelphia, USA
I've seen it at the Regent, New York New York,
and Palace Station. I hear it is also at the Sunset
Station and Santa Fe Station.
Aug. 18, 2001
I was at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant, MI
this past weekend and while I was there I noticed a game
called "Pitch" blackjack. The game uses 6 decks, which are
put into a shuffle machine, and then the machine delivers
one "deck" to the dealer. Dealer cuts and deals (usually
only two hands for a full table). Then he takes the deck,
puts it back in the shuffle machine, and retrieves another
52 card "deck" from the machine. The rules are the same as
for a standard shoe game except that the player is allowed
to double down with 3 cards if they total 9, 10, or 11. I'm
always suspicious of "special" games, so I wondered how the
house advantage on this game would differ from a standard
shoe game. Does the house have a greater or lesser
advantage? - Bruce Keaton from Champaign, Illinois
I've seen these things at the Las Vegas club,
only they cut off two decks out of six, I believe. It is a
deceptive way to appear to be using fewer decks than are
actually involved. Mathematically speaking the house edge
would be the same as for the total number of decks in the
shuffle machine. Penetration does not matter for the
non-card counter. Thus, it would not matter whether a
machine or a human being cut off two decks from a
six-deck shoe, the cards were taken from a six-deck shoe
either way. July 18,
2001
As a math/statistics instructor, I must say that your
site should be required reading before anyone ventures into
a casino. I like to bank when playing Pai Gow Poker in
Nevada casinos. In Tahoe I can usually bank every other
hand. I'm in Vegas far less often and there are more casinos
to check out. Do you know which ones will allow you to bank
every other hand at a full table (if no other players wish
to bank)? It seems to be one in seven some places and one in
twelve others. Also, some Tahoe casinos have a jackpot game
based on how a players five-card hand. A sucker bet, but as
a banker I like it when other players bet it. They'll often
set their hand for the jackpot (paid by the house) at the
expense of there standard wager (against me) by splitting
two high pair to play a straight with 2 singletons, or
keeping a full house together and putting two singletons up
instead of 3 down, pair up. Do you have any idea which Vegas
or Reno casinos do this? - Tom from Fairfield, USA
Thanks for your kind words. Actually I have been
asked about teaching a coarse on the mathematics of
gambling at UNLV. Pai gow poker is not my game so I don't
follow the details very closely. I do know, as you
stated, that some rotate and some zig zag the banker
between the players and dealer. However, I don't keep
track of who does it which way, sorry. I've also seen
that progressive side bet at lots of casinos around town.
Again I don't keep track of who specifically has it.
However, that is a great idea of banking against it, I
have never thought of that. Sorry I wasn't of much help.
I read on your web site that you recently had a chance
to visit Tunica, Mississippi. I play very often at the
Grand. I am sure you have heard of the side bet known as
Triple 7s. I don't consider myself a good card counter or
even an average one, but say no 7s had been played at all in
6 would the odds not be in my favor to play the side bet? -
Austin Brown from Germantown, Tennessee
Yes, I've seen that bet in Tunica. I address it
in my blackjack appendix
8. I'm sure the odds would swing to your favor if no
sevens had been played deep in the shoe. However, for all
practical purposes they probably limit the size of the
wager, either in total or relative to the blackjack
wager. That rule likely keeps the counters away. I have
never heard any serious discussion about it in serious
blackjack forums. April 15,
2001
What are your casino choices in AC for craps and
Spanish 21? When you mention that it is wise to take full
odds on a bet while playing craps, do you mean to match your
bet with an equal odds bet, or to make the highest allowed
odds bet along with your bet (ex: at a table with 10x max
odds place a $1 bet with a $1 free odds bet, or a $1 bet
with a $10 free odds bet). I'm a little confused on that. I
love your site, and honestly see it as "a diamond in the
rough" among gambling advice web sites. Personally, I like
to know what the mathematical odds are when it comes to
wagering my hard earned money! Thanks in advance for
answering my questions! - Dave Palmer from Roanoke, Virginia
Thanks for the compliment. The Spanish 21 rules
are probably the same across Atlantic City. I only know
of two that have the game, the Tropicana and the
Claridge, but there could be others by now. If I'm not
mistaken the best craps game is at the Sands, which
offers 5X odds. When I say to take the maximum odds I
mean bet the maximum allowed on the odds. Or $10 after a
$1 line bet, to use your example. Keep in mind you won't
win more money by taking the odds, you just get to bet
more without losing more in the long run.
April 15, 2001
Where is the best place to play Blackjack in Atlantic
City and why? - Mike and Taffy M. from Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
The Claridge is the best. As far as I know it is
the only Atlantic City casino to offer late
surrender, which lowers the house edge from 0.43% to
0.36%. Jan. 14, 2001
Where is the best casino in las vegas to play Spanish
21? ñ Michael Mignogna from Philadelphia, USA
The Venetian. To the best of my knowledge, it is
the only casino in Las Vegas which stands on a soft
17 in Spanish 21, lowering the house edge from 0.76% to
0.40%. Jan. 7, 2001
Is there a casino that teaches how to play craps?
ñ Marty from Houston, USA
There are lots of them. Many casinos give free
gambling lessons in the mornings when things are slow. To
name just one, I know the Silver Legacy in Reno offers
lessons. Dec. 24,
2000
Are Indian Casinos held to the same standards as
non-Indian? Is the pay out regulated as overall per month or
regulated per machine? If payout is overall, couldn't a
casino adjust payouts for any machine at any time of day or
week? 3. When walking into one of these "Indian" casinos, I
can stand for 5 min, listen to the bells and tunes, and know
if it will be a good day. Take 300 slot machines with fixed
payouts and listen, given the same number of players should
produce the same frequency of sounds. It doesn't. I think
all of the new machines are networked and changed based on
overall psychological factors of gamers. ñ K Foster
of Temecula, California
In general Indian casinos are either
self-regulated or not regulated at all. Don't assume any
kind of minimum return on the slot machines. Changing the
overall return on the slots would require opening each
machine and changing the e-prom chips. This could be done
overnight, I suppose, but I don't think they would be this
devious. Your sound level hypothesis sounds interesting
but I would need more information on decibel levels,
number of players, and playing speed before I am
convinced the difference isn't due to chance, different
playing speed, standing in a different part of the
casino, or incorrectly estimating the number of
players. Sept. 26,
2000
Biloxi, Mississippi casino has singledeck black dealt
to the buttom. What is the casino's edge on this game? Does
the basic strategy for blackjack still hold still hold for
this game? but the way, blackjack in this game pays even
money. ñ Roger from Baton Rouge, U.S.
Dealing to the bottom of the deck would not help
the basic strategy player but greatly benefits the
counter. There would be no changes to the basic strategy.
However, this game may be of interest to card counters.
Vegas World (now the Stratosphere) in Las Vegas used to
have such a game but I don't think card counters ever
took it seriously because of other adverse rules like a
blackjack only paying even money.
Sept. 26, 2000
Can you tell me the best casino in Mississippi?
Odds wise? - Anita of Madison, Indiana
I have only been to Tunica and their
blackjack and craps rules seem to be the same in all the
casinos. However, the Grand has single zero roulette, I
have to give them credit for that.
July 16, 2000
Do you have any info on the Indian casinos?
Particularly the super 6 lotto slot machines. I am curious
if the Indians are regulated at all? Any info would be
appreciated. Thank you. - Mike Nangle of Coral Springs
I'm afraid I don't know anything about the
super 6 lotto slot machines. In general the Indian
Casinos are either unregulated or self regulated. This is
not my area of expertise but I believe the big ones hire
independent companies to audit their games to make sure
they are fair. April 29,
2000
Why don't you hear about people trying to
counterfeit casino chips? It seems to be way easier than
trying to print US money. - Bob Pierce of ?
I had to defer to Gus FanFassian of the
Game Salon for this question. Here is what Gus says,
"The reason you don't hear more about people
counterfeiting poker chips is because of the cost and the
intricate methods that are required to produce the chips.
There are very few poker chip manufacturers. It costs
hundreds of thousands of dollars to have the machinery
and different commodities neccessary to make poker chips.
It costs, on average, $10,000 to $20,000 just to have
your own mold manufactured, let alone counterfeiting
casino chips.
The other factor, is the formula used in making the
chip. Just pouring clay into a mold doesn't cut it. If
you don't have the correct amount of ingredients, your
going to have a piece of clay that might resemble
something close to a poker chip, if it doesn't fall apart
first. Making poker chips might sound easy, but in truth,
it isn't.
Besides, the casinos are very alert to counterfeit
chips and can spot them almost immediately. I heard of a
case in Canada, where some counterfeit chips were being
circulated at a casino. They were spotted right away. The
casino immeditately removed the chips from ALL THE
TABLES, and replaced them with back ups, of different
color and marks. The guys passing the bad chips were
caught and when their car was searched, some $80,000
(Canadian) worth of bad chips was found in the trunk. The
quality wasn't that good, to begin with. It's just to
costly and to demanding to counterfeit chips...that's the
bottom line."
Thanks Gus for your help. For gambling supplies I
highly recommend his business. I have purchased poker
chips there and was very pleased with the product and the
service. Mar. 18,
2000
I really enjoyed browsing through your web-site,
although I am no big gambler. Great work here!! I have a
question: Where can I find some good information about the
business of gambling/casinos etc. I am interested in things
like profitability, what it takes to start a casino: online
or conventional, the legalities etc. I look forward to
hearing from you.
-Deva P. of New Jersey, USA
This is not my area of expertise but a good Internet casino will cost at least a million dollars to start and may not show a profit for at least a year. Land casinos cost much much more. Feb. 19,
2000
How much does a Las Vegas casino chip weigh...in
grams? -Travis of Albuquerque, USA
According to Gus FanFassian of The
Game Salon, casino quality chips weigh 9 to 11
grams each and are made of clay and other composite
materials. Feb. 19,
2000
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