Playing bingo can be
sound gambling
18 June 1999
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
Horrific as it sounds, it seems that the only
game I'm able to win at lately is bingo. The
thing is, for a comparatively small amount of
money I can get a pretty good return. It also
makes a nice relaxing change of pace if I'm on a
losing streak and need to slow down my losses
but I just don't want to leave the casino yet.
Agree? Rick M.
Most players don't realize it, but bingo is one
game the casino offers that generally operates
as a loss-leader for the house. Casinos can
actually show a net loss by paying out more in
guaranteed prizes than they take in. Now for
those who think $5 is a hefty price for a
buy-in, try a special non-cash game-yes,
FREE-that casinos occasionally advertise.
Rick, you answered your own question correctly.
Bingo does offer a great return and is a nice,
relaxing change of pace if you're on a losing
streak and need to slow down your losses.
Dear Mark,
I am planning my first trip to Las Vegas. The
only game I play is Video Poker. Any
recommendations on where to play? Annie C.
One of the great things about playing video
poker, Annie, is that the casino actually tells
you which machines are better than others. How?
Just by reading the paytable displayed on the
machine's faceplate. So who has the best
paytables in Las Vegas? Have your cabby drop you
off at the Stratosphere. By offering "certified"
100+ payouts on quarter machines, the
Stratosphere may very well be, according to
their claim, "the best place to gamble on the
planet." My personal favorites are their 10/6
and 9/7 Jacks or Better machines. With perfect
play, the 10/6 machine will return 100.7 percent
and the 9/7 machine 100.8 percent. Throw in some
slot club card perks, Annie, and the
Stratosphere is actually paying you to gamble.
Dear Mark,
How do you judge one casino as being better than
another? Missy D.
Tastes will always vary, Missy, but when I'm
asked which is "the best" casino to play in, I'm
particular. Yes, a casino offering a 99¢
breakfast special is enticing, a $3.49 prime rib
buffet tempting, a comp to a Broadway musical is
worth kissing up to a pit boss for, but my
answer will always remain the same. I judge a
casino "the best" by where gaming rules maximize
a players chances of winning.
Examples: Single versus double zeros on a
roulette table; blackjack dealt from a single
deck with liberal rules like doubling on
anything, resplitting and surrender; a crap game
offering five or ten times odds in lieu of
two-times odds; a mini-baccarat table with low
limits; casinos that advertise 98.5% paybacks on
their slot machines, then tell you which
machines those are when you ask; and finally, my
favorite, 9/6 video poker machines.
The other casinos? They can keep their 49¢ hot
dogs and free coffee mugs. I suggest that if
you're willing to find "the best" casino my way,
you will have a much better chance of winning.
And isn't that what we're really there for?
Dear Mark,
Who has the best shrimp in Las Vegas? Tom T.
I'm partial to a joint downtown called the
Golden Gate. They're cheap-99¢-have no filler
(generally 50 percent celery), and the servings
are huge. You'll find these bargain shrimp
cocktails in the deli near the rear of the
casino. I'll be in Las Vegas next month to
field-test these denizens of the deep, again,
for the tenth time, to make sure I'm not giving
out erroneous information.
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