 
Treat
casino chips as hard earned cash
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.
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 M.
In
earlier columns, Sandie, the message
was perfect but the messenger wasn't.
Ding-dong me, I sometimes forget
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 Joliet. 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. Dirk C.
Fear
not, Dirk. 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
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.
Dear
Mark,
What is the value of doubling down
on a blackjack game? Am I not exposing
additional money which I could lose
to the casino? Ross S.
Sorry,
Ross, I'm a huge fan of doubling
down. Here's an opportunity where
you now know what the dealer's up-card
is, and the casino is allowing you
to bet more money.
In blackjack, Ross, it's the natural
blackjacks, splitting pairs and
the ability to double down that
bring your bankroll from red to
black. If you're playing perfect
strategy, not winging it, doubling
down becomes the offensive strategy
you use when the chances of winning
the hand are better than the dealer's.
Why? Because betting more when the
casino is at a distinct disadvantage
will increase your potential return
more than if you were to just hit
your hand.
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