Dear Mark,
I recently received a flyer in the mail from a casino showing some of their
current specials. One was being paid 2 to 1 for blackjacks on Wednesdays.
A good deal for the player? Louise J. Appleton, WI
Geez, Louise, I just love it when the marketing department of a casino makes
the rules. They may, or may not have known it, but when that casino decided
as a promotion that it will pay you 2 to 1 for a blackjack versus 3 to 2,
by God, they gave you an edge over the house. How much? Well if you played
perfect basic strategy on a $5 game, you'll gain an extra $2.50 once every
20.7 hands. That's an improvement of 12 cents a hand-enough for some extra
greenback in your wallet and a cheap buffet as well. But what's most important
here, Louise, is that opportunities like this do happen occasionally, and
anytime you can one-up the casino, jump on it!
Dear Mark,
When a pit boss brought in new cards on our blackjack game, a friend I'm
with tells me to lower my bet on the first shuffle. Does it really make
any difference? John P. Milford, NH
Whether I answer yes or no, John, it's still bound to stir an argument among
purists on both sides of the issue.
First, a study I recently read stated that a new deck of cards only becomes
random after it's been shuffled seven times. It's also my experience that
most casinos only require a dealer to shuffle, even with a new deck on the
game, from three to five times. So why are these statements important? Because,
when a new deck of cards arrives on your game fresh out of the box, they
come in a predefined order (A-K hearts, A-K clubs, K-A diamonds, K-A spades),
which contain 10-value card clumps not completely broken up by the initial
shuffle.
So though my answer leans towards yes, albeit mildly, I do confess I also
back off until the second shuffle-which should make the cards as random
as they can be.
Dear Mark,
I just saw a movie which portrayed Bugsy Siegel as the founder of "the
Strip" as we know it today. Is this historically accurate? Bobby C.
Incline Village, NV
You're probably referring to the 1991 movie "Bugsy" where Siegel
(Warren Beatty) jumps out of a car and proclaims "Upon this sand I
will build my casino," or something to that effect. Well, contrary
to this popular conception, he didn't stake a claim in the middle of nowhere-he
just built a few blocks south of existing casinos. Siegel opened the Flamingo
in December of 1946, but development on Highway 91 (the future Strip) was
already under way in the 1930s, with properties like the Pair-O-Dice (later
to become the 91 Club) and the Last Frontier (today called the Frontier).
As for the first luxurious hotel/casino on the strip, it was the El Rancho
Vegas. Built in 1941, it stood across the street from where the Sahara now
stands.
Before I Shuffle:
How would you like to find, all in one location, room deals in Las Vegas/Reno/Tahoe/Atlantic
City, scores and early lines from the Stardust, daily Lotto numbers, current
Vegas entertainment schedules, handicapper picks, plus loads of links to
casino destinations all over America? You can, if you have Internet access
with the WEB page I've just created. Check it out at (http://www.winner.com/winner/).
You'll find all the above mentioned, plus many other interesting gaming
sites, including my past "Deal Me In" columns. Enjoy.
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