|
Have Screwdriver, will
gamble
Dear Mark,
When Iım at a video poker machine, I sometimes hear
people say that these particular machines are looser
(sometimes tighter) than some of the other video poker
machines they have played. If every game uses a 52-card
deck, how can a video poker game be any different than
any other machine? Shouldnıt the odds all be the same
at every machine? Tom T.
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 MACHINEıS PAYTABLE. The sneaky-peeky
thatıs 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.
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)
youıd be giving the house an additional 3% edge over
what theyıd 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 examplethe 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 housea 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, howıs 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 gamblerıs 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, youıre 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
gameyes, 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 youıre on a losing streak and need to slow your
losses.
Online 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 itıs giving out."
Rob Singer, gaming author.
-------------------------
|
