Dear Mark,
I have always been a bit suspicious of casinos and especially their ability
to cheat players. Come clean, Mark. Do the casinos tell the dealers to cheat
the customer? Ron T. Chicago, IL
If you follow my column regularly, Ron, you will notice my commentary ordinarily
puts me on the side of the player. With machete in hand, I am always willing
to slash through the green felt jungle for my readers. Most would call me
a casino adversary/player advocate. Thank you. But in the case of a casino
cheating a player, Ron, I would be remiss if I didn't say with 100 percent
conviction that the casinos are in no way out to cheat you.
There are two key reasons why casinos don't play the game of deception.
First, most casinos are publicly traded companies on the NYSE not interested
in exposing their gaming license to loss with any inkling of cheating going
on. Also, here in Nevada, you won't find a more regulated industry chock-full
of regulations that would close a casino down for defrauding the public.
A second, if not even more significant reason, is the way casinos reap their
profits-paying players less than the true odds. Meaning, every game offered
to the player is mathematically in the casino's favor. Example; when you
flip a coin there is a 50/50 chance of you winning. But instead of getting
even money for every dollar you wager, you are paid 99¢, or 83¢,
or maybe even 75¢. This in a nutshell is how casinos operate their
license to print money, paying you less than even money on every bet you
make.
Now, if every single wager placed in the casino is based on that principle,
why, Ron, would they ever want to swindle you? That's not to say that a
rogue employee on his own never tries to manipulate the cards in the casino's
favor. That is why the casino manager watches the shift manager, who watches
the pit bosses, who watches the floorman, who watches the dealers-with the
eye in the sky (camera in the ceiling) watching everybody. It doesn't take
long for a dishonest employee to be weeded out.
I would also note that in 17 years of casino employment, working in seven
different casinos, I have never been asked to do even the slightest thing
that borders on fraud. I have been asked to speed up my hands per hour dealing
blackjack, or pick up the pace on a crap game, but that's to get the math
to work in the casinos favor-never to cheat.
So, Ron, I would be more suspicious of the wagers you make, not the casino.
Let me ask you this: Are you getting back 75¢ (keno) for every dollar
bet, or 99¢, (perfect basic strategy in blackjack)?
Before I Shuffle:
Recently, Gaming Today magazine did a feature on my internet (Web) site.
Besides a glowing commentary, they sized up my Web Page by saying; "This
site is truly one of the premier casino gambling information sources
on the internet." I don't plan on losing that distinction anytime soon,
so plan on continued efforts on my part to keep it the best gambling location
on the information highway. I invite you to stop by and visit. (http://www.winner.com/winner/)
For those without internet service, find a friend who can be bribed with
pizza and invite yourself over and give "surfing the internet"
a try. You will find this whole information highway stuff truly fascinating,
particularly for gamblers.
Got a question about gambling? Write to: Deal Me In, 774 Mays Blvd.
Suite 10, Incline Village, NV 89451 or e-mail:winners@winner.com
· To order Mark Pilarski's "Hooked on Winning" audio cassettes--laminated
win cards package ($12.95 plus $2. S&H) call (800) WINNERS.
Return to Main Menu