| Youbetcha.
Random is random, but sneaky is also sneaky. You identify
tightness or looseness of a video poker machine by standing
tall in front of it, introducing yourself with a smiling
hello, and INSPECTING THE MACHINE¹S PAYTABLE. The
sneaky-peeky that¹s called. Memorize that. The
paytable reveals what the casino pays for a pair of
Jacks-or-better, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, flushes,
a full house, etc. Math laws set the odds, but the accountant
sets the price. |
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Take your standard Jacks-or-better
machines, for instance. A 6/5 paytable (6 coins returned
for a full house, 5 for a flush, with one coin inserted)
would be considered tight, no, very tight; whereas
a 9/6 machine (9 for a full house, 6 for a flush,
with one coin inserted) would be considered loose.
If you were playing on an 8/5 machine (8 coins returned
for a full house, 5 for a flush with one coin inserted)
you¹d be giving the house an additional 3% edge
over what they¹d get from a 9/6 machine. You
see, Tom, random surely is random, but a slight alteration
on the paytable brings that sharp grin to the face
of the casino owner.
Another example the key to evaluating the potential
return on the very popular Deuces Wild machine is
the payoff on four-of-a-kind. If that hand is paid
out at 20 for 5, with one coin inserted, rather than
25 for 5, the machine is considered tight.
Why? Well, four-of-a-kinds occur frequently, and this
lower payoff drops your percentage return by well
over six percent. Ouch!
But with your own mental screwdriver, you can tinker
even that machine into the loosest cow in the casino.
With maximum coin play and perfect strategy, a five-coin
return for four-of-a-kind gives you a slight edge
against the house a 100.76% return versus 94.34% if
the machine returns just four coins.
As illustrated above, Tom, with a modest mental tool-kit,
you can create your own loose and tight machines.
Dear Mark,
Since you love to slam my favorite game of Keno all
the time, how¹s about your views on bingo, especially
as played in casinos. Ray D.
When you are down to
your last fiver, trying to score free hooch, perhaps
even needing a place to sleep, the keno parlor can
seem a gambler¹s oasis. But, when you need a
calculator zapping out exponential notations just
to figure out the payoffs, even you might get a bit
crusty on good old keno
.
But, when it comes to playing bingo, Ray, bingo can
be sound gambling. Yep, you¹re reading it right;
that was no misprint. Bingo is one game the casino
offers that generally operates as a loss-leader for
the house. Casinos can actually show a net loss for
bingo by paying out more in guaranteed prizes than
they take in. If you think $5 is a hefty price for
a buy-in, try any special
non-cash game yes, FREE -- that some casinos occasionally
advertise.
Yo, keno players, are you hearing this? Bingo does
offer a great return and is a nice, relaxing change
of pace when you¹re on a losing streak and need
to slow your losses.
Gambling quote of the
week: "Video Poker is here to stay, and if it
is here to stay then it is taking in far more money
than it¹s giving out." Rob Singer, gaming
author.
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