Dear Mark,
Why is it that when I bet real cash instead of swapping for chips, I'm
frowned on by the casino? Gerry G. Reno, NV
A casino goal, Gerry, is to create a fantasyland experience for its patrons.
One wily way is to devalue your money by having you bet chips instead of
legal tender. Think of the deceptive nicknames chips have. A $5 chip is
a "nickel" and a $25 chip a "quarter." Your best self-defense
is to continue to bet with your own greenback. This way you'll always realize
its genuine value.
If you do turn your bankroll into chips, take a moment and carefully think
about the exchange. You must always treat chips as hard-earned cash-like
the money you save for your child's college tuition, mortgage payments or
your retirement.
Dear Mark,
In many of your answers you reference 9/6 video poker machines. How do
you know if a machine has a 9/6 payback? I hoped I asked that correctly?
:-) Sandie, Internet
In earlier columns, Sandie, the message was perfect but the messenger
wasn't. Ding-dong me sometimes forgets my reading audience hasn't been in
the gaming business for 18 years. Sorry.
A 9/6 payback is your return for a full house (9) and a flush (6) with
one coin inserted. Your typical 9/6 Jacks-or-Better paytable will look like
this:
Royal Flush 250
Straight Flush 50
Four of a Kind 25
Full House 9
Flush 6
Straight 4
Three of a Kind 3
Two Pair 2
Jacks or Better 1
And how does the casino tighten a Jacks-or-better video poker machine?
Simply by paying out less for a full house and flush. This is why on a Jacks-or-better
machine I ceaselessly recommend shopping for value by finding the highest
payout possible for a full house and a flush.
Dear Mark,
Almost every weekend I visit the casinos in Joilet. My brother-in-law believes
they tighten the slot machines on weekends because the crowds are much larger.
How do I know for sure that a casino won't change the return on their machines.
Randy C. Chicago, IL
Fear not, Randy.Illinois, having rigid gaming regulations,
requires two keys just to open a slot machine. One is held by a casino employee,
the other by a state gaming regulator. This prevents changes in
a machine's payout rate.
Dear Mark,
After reading a recent column of yours, I've realized that I've been making
the worst possible bet on the roulette table. Furthermore, you also educated
me on looking for a single zero roulette wheel on my next trip to Las Vegas.
But how much was I giving away to the casino on the five number bet before
you helped me see the light? Wrongdoer, San Jose, CA
Dear Wrongdoer (Lessons Learned would be a nicer name): The five number
bet you were placing, 0/00/1/2/3 pays 7 for 1, with a return of .9211 on
the dollar, or a house edge of 7.89%. Glad I could help you see the light.
Before I Shuffle: Sound advice from a silver screen great. "If
you're on your tod and earning money, you can bet what you like. But if
you're betting money which should be used to buy food or pay the rent, then
that's wrong." Omar Sharif
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.
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