GAMING GURUS: LATEST FROM OUR STRATEGY EXPERTS

Planning and Preparation Pay Off

Casino gaming can be fun and exciting. It can be a relaxing getaway from hum-drum everyday life. Casinos work hard to present themselves as a fantasy world where you can forget all your cares. They want you to totally escape from your normal life and spend time (and money) trying to capture the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Forgetting your cares and relaxing for a few days is fine...read more

Veteran Tom McEvoy still living a dream in Vegas

In 1978, Tom McEvoy was a 34-year-old accountant in Grand Rapids, Mich. where he and his wife were raising three young children. He had been working for the same firm for five temperamental years when his boss finally reached a boiling point and called McEvoy into his office...read more

How Should I Play a $500 Bankroll at Craps?

Dear Frank: Got a question to see if you could help me. I have $500 and want to make the most out of it in a short session, winning a little money. I want help. I need the most with what I have. What would you do? Play long shots? Please answer if you don't mind. Sincerely, Jim ...read more

The IRS Doesn't Play Games with Gambling Winnings

Now that income tax season is over, it's time to start planning for 2008. If you're a recreational casino gambler, this can mean some unusual record keeping, especially if luck is on your side and you win a jackpot playing the slot machines. Collect a slot jackpot of $1,2...read more

Online Gaming Conferences 101: A manual for new (female) employees

During my brief Casino City hiatus, something very exciting happened. We hired someone to join the Online Casino City/GPWA team and she starts three days before Pokerconference.com and CAP Spring Break in Cyprus. Yes, "she", and yes, she is coming to Cypru...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. What can you tell me about Blackjack Switch? I saw a table and was intrigued, but couldn't bring myself to sit down and play without learning more about the game first. I guess I lack a little of that gambling spirit. A. If the gambling spirit includes going into a game unprepared, I guess I lack it too...read more

Playing It Smart: Can you save more by betting more? Part 4: Blackjack

Blackjack players not only can keep the edge extremely low, but sometimes switch it to their side. This, by choosing games with the best rules and following optimum playing and betting strategies. None of these things come free, though. Lowering house advantage, and flipping it so solid citizens are favored, generally require raising the amount of money up for grabs. The number of decks from which cards are drawn affects edge...read more

How Do They Get Machines to Hit Jackpots on Commercials?

Have you ever watched a casino commercial where the jackpot for a slot comes up, 7-7-7? How do they fix that machine to do it? Just the fact that they can fix a machine to do it is a little bit disturbing. That means that they can control a machine, maybe any machine, to win or possibly to lose. Thanks, Mike Gee, Mike, that's quite a leap to make from something you saw on a commercial...read more

Advice for the husband of a slot-playing wife

Dear Frank: I just joined the Golden Touch Craps private site (www.goldentouchcraps.com). Do you have any advice for my wife who is a slot player and really continues to lose? She is losing all my craps money! Sincerely yours, William Dear William: You are now a member of the ...read more

What are the secrets of Oscar's grind?

Pssst… Wanna know a secret? How about the secret of Oscar's Grind? Oscar's Grind is a very basic system that seems to work well if you adhere to a strict win goal and a loss limit. It is sold via mail order for up to $50 because it usually works if you follow the instructions. Wanna know how crap...read more