The smarter you play, the
luckier you'll be
11 May 2007
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark: Why is it that I always lose in the
casino? Am I simply playing the wrong games?
Rachael M.
Hey, Rachael, I'm just guessin' here, but are
you playing any of the games I recommend? Are
you employing a solid strategy on those games?
If not, then you have just answered your own
questions.
Unless you're making wagers that have a casino
advantage of two percent or less, you're like a
greyhound at the track, chasing Rusty, the fake
rabbit of gambling riches.
What you'll need to do first is treat casinos as
green felt jungles where you're playing
no-holds-barred war. The gurus of guerrilla
gambling will tell you that you can fight back
only by making bets that have a two percent
house edge or less. When you do, you'll stand a
good chance of turning the tables back in your
favor, staying in action longer, starting to
smile, and yes, stopping the flow of your
hard-earned cash into the casino's
well-manicured hands.
I have a simple solution for you, Rachael, or
any other reader who's interested. How about a
laminated Casino Strategy Card that lists all
the "Best Bets" in a casino, plus a list of the
Money Management techniques the Pro's use. Allow
me to send you, or anyone else a complimentary
Best Bets Card. Yes, those same ones you see in
gaming publications and casino gift shops for up
to $5 can be yours for FREE, zippo, zilch, and
don't forget nada. All I ask is that you send a
self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to: Mark
Pilarski, ATTN: Best Bets Card, P.O. Box 1234,
Traverse City, MI 49685.
Now how simple is that?
Dear Mark: Maybe this is a dumb question, but it
occurs to me that in roulette, if one were to
put a dollar on each number, one through 36,
that player would loose $35 but win $35 plus
their dollar back. This cannot be true because
it changes the odds to being on the bettor's
side. Can you explain this illusion for me? Pete
S.
They put warnings on hair dryers that say, "do
not dry hair while standing in a puddle of
water" for the same folks who e-mail the real
incoherent inquires, and, of course, I answer
those too. Remember when Gurth asked if I
thought they would put a casino next to Yucca
Mountain (Nevada), the nation's first long-term
geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel and
high-level radioactive waste?
Your question, Pete, stems from layout
confusion, plus not knowing how the house does
get its edge in roulette.
What you're missing is that the casino's
advantage of 5.26% in roulette comes from the
presence of the 0 and 00 on the layout. You
admit to the belief that the casino pays all
wagers according to how the odds would be if
there were just 36 numbers on the wheel. But It
ain't so, my friend. Include the 0 and 00, and
add 'em up again. 38, right? That's what pays
the light bills. The true odds of hitting your
number are 1/38, yet winners are paid only 35-1.
By playing on a single-zero game, you can cut
the house edge in half; the house will still pay
you 35-1, even though the true odds are improved
for you to 1/37.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "When the card you
need rises to the top of the deck to greet your
delighted yet confident eyes, it is as close as
I have ever come in my life to a religious
feeling." --Mario Puzo
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