Dear Mark,
This episode happened to me recently in Las Vegas. I was playing blackjack
making $10 wagers when I was approached by a pit boss asking if there was
anything he could do for me. "Sure," I replied. Can I get a dinner
at the steakhouse?" His response was, "Let me track your action
for a few minutes and I'll tell you what we can comp you." Well, as
luck would have it, the cards weren't going my way and I left without following
up on that steak dinner. But I still want to know what the pit boss meant
by tracking my action for a comp? Stanley K. Gladstone, MI
First, Stanley, the comp (steak dinner) is nothing more than a reward system
for the worthy play of high volume players.The casino thanks you
by rebating back some of your losses because you played at such a level,
for such a period of time, and because they have such an advantage over
you; the longer you play the more they win. So here's your carrot and please
come back again.
Tracking your play means taking your average bet and multiplying it by the
hours played, speed of the game and the casino advantage. This, in theory,
should equal your loss.
In your case, Stanley, you mentioned betting $10 a hand. With two hour's
play, averaging 100 hands per hour, coupled with the house advantage of
five percent they hold over the average blackjack player, this tells Mr.
Pit Boss you're going to lose $100. Because mathematically you'll lose that
Ben Franklin, the casino can afford to rebate your losses in the form of
a corn-fed beef dinner.
The warning here is that to give comps, the casino is going to demand action,
preferably losing action. They also want you to bet a decent chunk of change
for an extended period of time to justify giving you freebies.
Of course, Stanley, I always recommend grinding any comp you can get out
of the casino, but I caution all players never to gamble just to receive
them. It's much better to make sensible, low house advantage wagers, which
will increase your winning opportunities.
Dear Mark,
You said in a recent column that it was easier to hit my state lottery than
to get a sequential royal flush. I can't be sure, but it seems I've gotten
the latter but was never fortunate enough to hit the lottery. Are you sure?
Shirley L. Freemont, CA
Using a software program called Statistics Menu from Spreadware, I find
that the numbers crunch this way. The chances of hitting the California
lottery are 18,009,460 to one. For an ascending royal flush in any suit,
the chances are one in 311,875,119, a difference of elephantine proportions.
These "gimmick" bonus jackpots are nothing more than a marketing
scheme to induce play. In most cases, Shirley, it's more than a challenge
to win, it's impossible.
Dear Mark,
Simply, I want to know what the difference between a dealer that stays on
soft 17 or hit 17. Excuse my English I am Italian. Angelo C. Naples, Italy.
Internet
Ciao, il mio amico confonduto Italiano!
Angelo, it's much better to play on a table where the dealer stands on a
soft 17. When the dealer, by house rules, hits an ace, 6 (soft 17), it helps
the dealer improve an otherwise bad hand for the casino.
Arriveder La!
Before I Shuffle:
"Baccarat is a game whereby the croupier gathers in money with a flexible
sculling oar, then rakes it home. If I could have borrowed his oar I would
have stayed." Mark Twain
Got a question about gambling? Write to: Deal Me In, 774 Mays Blvd.
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