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ABOUT KENO

2008-02-26T00:06:00.000-08:00

Keno is a lottery-like or bingo-like gambling game played at modern casinos. A traditional live casino keno game uses a circular glass enclosure called a "bubble" containing 80 ping pong-like balls which determine the balldraw result. Each ball is imprinted with a number 1 through 80. During the balldraw, a blower pushes air into the bubble and mixes the balls. A "caller" presses a lever opening a tube, where the balls lift one at a time into a "V" shaped tube called the "rabbit ears". The caller and a "verifier" record each of 20 balls drawn, and the computerized keno system calculates all wagers based on the numbers drawn.

Players wager by marking an "X" over the "spot" choices on a blank keno ticket form with 80 numbered selection boxes (1 to 80). After all players successfully place their wagers, the casino draws 20 balls (numbers) at random. Some casinos automatically call the balldraw at preset timed intervals regardless of whether or not players are waiting to place a wager.

Each casino sets its own series of pay scale choices called "paytables". The player is paid based on how many numbers drawn match the numbers selected on the ticket and according to the paytable selected with regard to the wager amount. Players will find a wide variation of keno paytables from casino to casino and a large deviation in the house edge set for each of those paytables. Additionally, each casino typically offers many different paytables and specialty keno bets for customers to choose from, each with its own unique house edge. No two casinos' keno paytables are identical. There are several Reno and Las Vegas casinos offering as many as 20 or 30 different paytables from which the player can choose.

The house edge ranges from less than 4% to 66%. The typical house edge for non-slot casino games is between 0% and 5%

Keno history

Keno originated in ancient China in the Han Dynasty between 205 and 187 B.C. Chinese immigrants brought the game to America in the 19th century.

The word "keno" has French or Latin roots (Fr. quine five winning numbers, L. quini five each), but by all accounts the game originated in China over 2000 years ago. Legend has it that the invention of the game saved an ancient city in time of war, and its widespread popularity helped raise funds to build the Great Wall. According to one source, results of keno games in great cities were sent to outlying villages and hamlets by carrier pigeon. Eventually, Chinese immigrants introduced keno to the West when they sailed across the Pacific to help build the American trans-continental railroad in the 19th century

Keno odds

Keno payouts are based on how many numbers the player choses and how many numbers are "hit", multiplied by the proportion of the player's original wager to the “base rate” of the paytable. Typically, the more numbers a player chooses and the more numbers hit, the greater the payout, although some paytables pay for hitting a lesser number of spots. For example, it is not uncommon to see casinos paying $500 or even $1,000 for a “catch” of 0 out of 20 on a 20 spot ticket with a $5.00 wager. Payouts vary widely from casino to casino. Most casinos allow paytable wagers of between 1 and 20 numbers, but some limit the choice to only 1 through 10, 12 and 15 numbers, or "spots" as keno aficionados call the numbers selected.

The probability of a player hitting all 20 numbers on a 20 spot ticket is approximately 1 in 3.5 quintillion (1 in 3,535,316,142,212,180,000 to be exact). If every person now alive played one keno game every single second of their lives, there would be about one solid 20 jackpot-winning ticket to date. If all these possible keno tickets were laid end to end, they would span the Milky Way galaxy -- and only one of them would be a winner. Even though it is virtually impossible to hit all 20 numbers on a 20 spot ticket, the same player would typically also get paid for hitting “catches” 0, 1, 2, 3, and 7 through 19 out of 20, often with the 17 through 19 catches paying the same as the solid 20 hit. Some of the other paying "catches" on a 20 spot ticket or any other ticket with high "solid catch" odds are in reality very possible to hit:

20 Spots 0 Hits: 1 In 843.380 Or 0.11857057%

20 Spots 1 Hits: 1 In 86.446 Or 1.15678605%

20 Spots 2 Hits: 1 In 20.115 Or 4.97142576%

20 Spots 3 Hits: 1 In 8.009 Or 12.48637168%

20 Spots 4 Hits: 1 In 4.877 Or 20.50318987%

20 Spots 5 Hits: 1 In 4.287 Or 23.32807380%

20 Spots 6 Hits: 1 In 5.258 Or 19.01745147%

20 Spots 7 Hits: 1 In 8.826 Or 11.32954556%

20 Spots 8 Hits: 1 In 20.055 Or 4.98618021%

20 Spots 9 Hits: 1 In 61.420 Or 1.62814048%

20 Spots 10 Hits: 1 In 253.801 Or 0.39401000%

20 Spots 11 Hits: 1 In 1423.822 Or 0.07023351%

20 Spots 12 Hits: 1 In 10968.701 Or 0.00911685%

20 Spots 13 Hits: 1 In 118084.920 Or 0.00084685%

20 Spots 14 Hits: 1 In 1821881.628 Or 0.00005489%

20 Spots 15 Hits: 1 In 41751453.986 Or 0.00000240%

20 Spots 16 Hits: 1 In 1496372110.872 Or 0.00000007%

20 Spots 17 Hits: 1 In 90624035964.712 Or 0.00000000%

20 Spots 18 Hits: 1 In 10512388171906.553 Or 0.00000000%

20 Spots 19 Hits: 1 In 2946096785176811.500 Or 0.00000000%

20 Spots 20 Hits: 1 In 3535316142212173800.000 Or 0.00000000%

Modern keno

The balldraw occurs at the "keno booth". The balldraw is typically determined by one of four devices:

1. Traditional “Rabbit Ear” blower

2. "AKV": Automated blower in which the balls are encoded, read by a computer, then sent to a computerized keno system for processing

3. Random Number Generator: An electronic number selection device approved by gaming authorities

4. “Hand Cage”: A spinning the metal ball cage which rolls the numbers into a slot where they are validated by a person

"Keno runners" walk around calling, "keno!" and offer to carry players' wagers to the keno booth for processing. The keno runner is handed the wager payment and the “inside ticket” (keno wager forms filled out by the customer) and takes the wager and ticket to the keno counter for processing. The keno runner returns with an "outside" ticket, which is the official wager receipt. It is incumbent on the player to check the ticket for errors before the game balldraw is drawn. Any errors not corrected before the balldraw begins are not normally rectified and the "outside" ticket receipt governs in any disputes.

In modern keno, players are offered the option of playing multi-race keno, which books a keno ticket for a number of sequential keno races up to 1000. The races must always start on the next sequential race to be drawn. When the sequence of wagered games is finished, the player is able to redeem any winnings within the time constraints specified in the casino's rules booklet.

After picking wager numbers, recording them at the keno booth and obtaining the “keno ticket” (official wager receipt), the player watches the balldraw in progress as the spot (number) selections light either on an electronic keno board or on a video monitor. Keno displays are typically found throughout the casino and sometimes even appear on a television channel in casino hotel rooms. Nowadays, after playing keno at a participating casino, keno players can even take their multi-race keno tickets out of the casino to watch the live balldraw or check historical draw results at [www.kenousa.com] anywhere there is a computer and an Internet connection.

In the past, a winning ticket needed to be taken to the keno booth for collection immediately after the race results were posted, and drawings usually took place approximately every five or six minutes. In days of old, if the player tried to redeem a winning ticket after the next sequential race began, the ticket was declared expired and no money was paid out even if it won. Nowadays most casinos set their "late pay" window to accommodate the player, however there is great variation in the published late pay window from casino to casino. Tickets played for 21 races or more typically offer one year for collection in most major gaming jurisdictions. Tickets played for under 21 races have a great disparity of late pay rules from casino to casino. Keno players are wise to read the rules published in the host casino's keno paybook to determine when a keno pay will expire and become uncollectible. Gaming authorities require that all pay scales and keno rules be posted in a prominent location in keno areas.

An embellishment of keno is “way” keno or “combination” keno. When playing a way or combination keno ticket, the player circles groups of numbers within the spots marked and specifies combinations of groups which combine together to make different "ways". For example, if a player marks four numbers, and circles two groups of two spots each, a combination ticket could be made in which the gambler plays one 4 spot and two 2 spots (2-2). If an additional group of two were added and circled, the player could play ways 1/6, 3/4 and 3/2 (2-2-2), which at $1.00 per way would create a $7.00 per race wager. Serious keno players use great imagination on keno tickets to make complex combinations of groups and ways with varying numbers of spots in each group. There is literally no limit to the way players can circle spots of like or a differing number of spots and in the resulting “ways” they can choose to play on a keno ticket.

As alternatives to traditional paytables which offer the selection of 1 to 20 spots, a number of special paytables are available and are often offered as a wager choice. For example, with the Top/Bottom paytable the keno player does not select any spots. Rather, the player is betting that the balldraw top 40 and bottom 40 ball distribution will be uneven. Top/Bottom typically begins paying on a 7/13 or 13/7 ball distribution between the top half (1 to 40) and bottom half (41 to 80) of the keno grid and the payouts increase with each higher balldraw distribution disparity. The same principle is applied for the Left/Right or Odd/Even paytables. Other specialty paytables are Top Only, Bottom Only, Left Only, Right Only, Odd Only, Even Only, Parlay, Exacta, Edge, Square, or eXtra Million, which is proprietary to XpertX Keno Systems. However the traditional 1 though 20 spot pick is by far the most popular variety of live keno.

Lottery versions of keno are now used in many National Lotteries or state licensed Lotteries around the world. The games have different formulas depending on the wanted price structure and whether the game is slow (daily or weekly), or if it is a fast game with just minutes between the draws. The drawn numbers are typically published on TV for the slow games and on monitors at the point of sale for the fast games. A video keno machine sometimes has a greater customer edge than a traditional keno game. However, because live keno payouts are configurable at will by the host casino, some live keno paytables house hold percentages match or are even lower those for video keno machines, which almost always have fixed paytables that don't change.

Detailed mathematical analysis

The version of Keno played in Maryland serves as a case study in the precise calculation of win probabilities and expected return —the latter referring to the result to be realized in the long run from each unit invested.

In Maryland, anyone may play keno at any of thousands of establishments that are wired with a television screen and an impossible-to-overlook, hot pink machine resembling a cash register. The player uses a pencil to complete a small slip; the attendant feeds the slip to the machine, which generates a computer-printed ticket that is protected from tampering via cryptographic checksum. Games—which are played every four minutes or so—can be viewed over the accompanying television monitor. The computer selects twenty numbers between one and eighty. The payout is calculated based upon how many numbers were chosen and how many were matched. Intriguingly, for the nine-spot and ten-spot games, there is a payout if the player fails to match any numbers—it obviously being an unusual event for zero of nine or ten selected numbers to match any of the twenty "dealt," so to speak, from the pool of eighty.

The probability that k of the n numbers chosen by the player, i.e.,

P n (k)

occur in the twenty numbers chosen by the computer can straightforwardly be derived:

1. The number of possible outcomes equals the number of combinations of eighty numbers taken twenty at a time.

2. The number of ways in which k of the n numbers selected by the player occur in the twenty numbers selected (putatively at random) by the central Keno computer is equal to the number of ways in which k numbers can be chosen from a set of n numbers.

3. The number of ways in which the remainder of the numbers do not occur in the twenty numbers selected is given by the number of ways in which 20-k numbers can be chosen from a set of 80-n numbers.

Combining the foregoing, one finds that:

The payouts for each result can be read from the Maryland keno Web site. For the purposes of our discussion, if the player participates in the n-spot game and ends up matching k of the twenty numbers selected, we will refer to that payout as:

W n (k).

The expected payout for the n-spot game can be determined by summing, over all values of i from one to n (from zero to n if the game pays out in the case of zero numbers matched), the product of the payout for that result and the probability of occurrence of that result:

which could alternatively be represented as the inner product of the vector of probabilities and the vector of payouts.

One finds that the best game for the player is the three-spot game, which realizes an expected return of approximately 62 cents for every dollar invested, or approximately a 38% loss. The seven-spot game ranks close behind, returning just over 60 cents per dollar. Perhaps not surprisingly, despite the astonishingly high payoff for strong performance, the ten-spot game is by far the poorest from the player's perspective.

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2008-02-24T04:07:00.000-08:00

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Bodog – Watch the Hottest Shows at Bodog TV

2008-02-23T22:11:00.000-08:00

Bodog TV is where it’s at for the edgiest and hottest in world–class visual entertainment. With a number of already successful shows ranging from music to poker to mixed martial arts, Bodog TV is constantly upping the ante by producing new, cutting–edge shows to add to its roster.

Bodog Music Battle of the Bands: Partnering with Bodog Music, Bodog Music Battle of the Bands gave unsigned bands across the U.S. a chance to win a $1 million record deal with Bodog Music. Starting March 2006, 7,500 signed up to participate and fans began voting online for their favorite band. From there, 10 bands went on the road to see if they could live up to the rock star lifestyle. Cameras followed as bands were given challenge after challenge, including penning a score for the soundtrack to horror flick Saw III, by the judges, which included Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, Canadian punk–rock princess Bif Naked and Billy Duffy of the Cult. The finale of the show saw three remaining bands battle it out at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip in California until a winner was crowned.

The series, which can be seen on Fuse TV, contains 10 60–minute episodes of pure rock ‘n’ roll. Hot on the heels of Season 1’s success, Bodog Music Battle of the Bands Season 2 is already in the works and is scheduled to premier in 2008.

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Shot in Hi–Definition, the series contained 12 one hour episodes, and aired in 44 million homes on FOX’s Sports Network.

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Shot in Hi–Definition, Bodog Fight is broadcasted to nearly 90 million homes and can currently be seen on The Score Network.

Founded in 1994, Bodog Entertainment, with its head office in the lovely island country of Antigua in the Caribbean, is one of the world’s fastest growing media and digital entertainment companies and has offices world wide. Bodog offers a host of entertainment services, including
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Bodog Gaming is operated in North America under License by Morris Mohawk Gaming Group.

About Bodog Casino Review

2008-02-22T23:11:00.000-08:00

Bodog – Play Hard in the Casino

Step into a full Vegas-style online casino, and play more than 80 flash and downloadable games. In 2006, Casino Player Magazine ranked Bodog No. 1 for customer service and casino promotions in the online gaming industry. See Bodog Casino.

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In addition to Bodog Casino’s downloadable games, it also provides the opportunity to play seven of the most popular Las Vegas games without having to download a thing. Just click to play Bodog Casino’s Flash games and players are ready to go.

On call 24/7, customer support staff adheres to a strict policy that demands e-mail inquiries are replied to in 15 minutes or less, and that telephone calls are answered on the first ring.

Another benefit of the Bodog Casino is the Casino School, designed to teach prospective players all the ins and outs of the games. The Bodog Casino offers a number of games to its growing community of players - including Blackjack, Caribbean Stud, Tri-Card Poker, Craps, Roulette, Let'em Ride, Pai Gow Poker, and 20-Line Slot Machines – therefore, Bodog knows it’s important for players to become familiar with the games in order to fully enjoy the casino experience.

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At Bodog, you'll always get your winnings fast with unlimited free payouts and you’ll have the benefit of customer service that’s unparalleled in the online gaming world!

Bodog Gaming is operated in North America under License by Morris Mohawk Gaming Group.

Baccarat - 1.History - 2.Rules - 3.Strategy

2008-02-21T22:05:00.000-08:00

Baccarat History

The word baccarat is derived from the Italian word baccara, meaning zero, and refers to the zero value given to all of the face cards and tens. In Europe, the elegant game of baccarat is one of the most popular casino games. The game baccarat has long held the attention of gamblers and an early version was played with cards from a Tarot deck back in the Middle Ages. The game may have originated in Italy around 1490, but by the early 1950's baccarat had become the game of choice for the French nobility. Eventually baccarat evolved into European baccarat and the French game chemin de fer. What is known as American baccarat actually originated in England and spread to South America. The version of baccarat that is played today came from the Capri Casino in Havana, Cuba.

When baccarat was introduced to Nevada in the late 1950's, casino's tried to instill the glamorous aura associated with the European game. In most casinos, baccarat is played in a roped-off area, is closely monitored and sometimes even guarded.

While the grandiose atmosphere of baccarat may attract the well-dressed high roller, baccarat is a simple game of chance that involves no degree of skill on the part of the player or dealer. Players may sit in any of the 14 open seats at the table, as seating position does not affect the play in any manner. Each seat corresponds to a number on the layout, one through 15, excluding a spot numbered 13 to avoid bad luck. Three dealers service each table. The dealer standing in the middle is known as the croupier or the caller. The croupier makes the calls on each hand as they are dealt, and directs the players on the procedure of the game. The other two dealers are responsible for handling the payoffs.

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Baccarat Rules

How to Play Baccarat

Part of what makes Baccarat a great game is that it's so simple. The Player's decision is limited to deciding what kind of bet to make. From there on it's in the dealer's hands and you collect or pay when it's over.

In Mini Baccarat, which is the only version most of us will ever see in play, you don't even get the option of handling the cards. In the "whale" games of European Baccarat they get to mangle the cards whenever they like just for personal entertainment. But then they're dropping $1000 or more a hand and you can bet that that buys a lot of replacement cards.

Betting

Bet on your own hand (Player) and you face a house edge of 1.24%. Bet on the Banker's hand and the edge is either 0.6% if there's a 4% House cut or 1.06% is their cut is 5%. Finally there's the Tie bet which at best gives the house almost a 5% edge (Pay 8:1) and at worst 14+% (Pay 9:1). Forget the Tie bet for obvious reasons. Unless you can find a game with 4% vig on Banker bets, betting Player or Banker is six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Strategy

The first thing a casino player asks themselves when stepping up to a game is "how do I improve my odds?" The answer in Baccarat is easy: you don't. Other than avoiding the Tie bet there's nothing you can do.

What about card counting you ask? After all, everyone seems to do it on TV. Save yourself the trouble because it's a facade. Statistical analysis has shown that card counting in Baccarat is totally ineffective until the game hits the bottom of the shoe and even then it's a miniscule advantage. It basically boils down to paying yourself $10 an hour for risking $1,000,000. You're better off getting a squeegee and washing people's windows for spare change.

As to playing the game, that's it. As to knowing what's going on, it's a matter of strict and fixed rules, and here they are:

The Objective

The objective of Baccarat is to draw a two- or three-card hand that totals closer to 9 than the banker.
10, J, K, Q count as 0, A is a 1 and all other cards are face value.
If your total is more than ten, you drop the ten. So a 7-9 hand totals to 6 (16, drop ten).
There is no such thing as a "bust" hand.

The Rules

The banker and the player each draw two cards.
If either the player or banker total 8 or 9, both automatically stand, no exceptions.
If the player's total is 6 or 7, the player stands.
If the player stands, the banker hits on a total of 5 or less.
If the player's total is 5 or less, the player automatically hits and the banker gives the player a third card.
If the player receives a third card then the banker draws a third card according to the following:
- Banker's hand totals 0,1,2: Banker always draws a third card.
- Banker's hand totals 3: Banker draws if Player's third card is 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-0 (not 8)
- Banker totals 4: Banker draws if Player thirds 2-3-4-5-6-7
- Banker 5: Banker draws if Player thirds 4-5-6-7
- Banker 6: Banker draws if Player thirds 6-7
- Banker 7: Banker stands.
Once the final cards are dealt, the one with the total closest to 9 wins.

Baccarat Strategy

Riding trends

Every baccarat table will have plenty of scorecards and pencils for baccarat players to keep track of the outcome of every hand. Most baccarat players will do so religiously and carefully analyze their card for trends as the winning hand switches back and forth from the banker to player. This is a big waste of time! The smart baccarat player will bet on the banker every time and leave the scorecards alone.

Where to play baccarat
The game baccarat is becoming a hard game to find. In Las Vegas only the largest casinos generally offer the game. Of the four megacasinos at the intersection of Tropicana and the Strip (MGM Grand, New York New York, the Excalibur, and the Tropicana) only the MGM Grand offers baccarat. In downtown Las Vegas only the Golden Nugget offers baccarat and only on weekend evenings. Many places that do offer baccarat only deal it at night (the Luxor and Hard Rock for example).

The baccarat table minimum is usually very high. During my last Vegas trip I inquired about the minimums at the MGM Grand: one table was $500, one was $1000, and another was a private game. A sign at the baccarat room at the Stardust indicates they have a $25 minimum game (nights only) which is the least I have ever seen. I believe the Las Vegas Hilton has a $100 minimum. The Silver Legacy in Reno offers big table baccarat in the main casino for a $10 minimum. While I was there nobody was playing baccarat other than myself.

Slot Machines - 1.History - 2.Rules - 3.Strategy

2008-01-15T03:57:00.000-08:00

1-Slot Machines History

The term slot machines was originally used for automatic vending machines as well as for the gambling devices, but in the 20th century the term became restricted to the latter. The first such gambling devices in the United States were mere novelties that did not return coins but presented gambling opportunities, such as two toy horses that would race after a coin was inserted. Such devices set on a bar in a saloon attracted wagering between patrons.

The first actual slot machines were built by Charles Fay in 1887 in a small machine shop in San Francisco. He built nickle slot machines by hand and rented them to the local gambling halls. His first machine was not, as some believe, cruder and bulkier than modern slot machines, nor did its reels carry the fruit symbols commonly used today. His original slot machine, called the Liberty Bell, was somewhat smaller than modern machines, and operate basically the same way.

Fay's slot machines were a huge success, and he couldn't build them fast enough in his small shop. Many larger gambling supply maufacturers tried to buy the manufacturing and distribution rights, but Fey refused. However, in 1907, Herbert Stephen Mills, a Chicago manufacturer of arcade-like machines, began production of a mahince very similar the Fey's Liberty Bell. The Machine Mills produced was called the Operator Bell. By 1910, slot machines could be found in every cirt and nearly every hamlet in the country.

Forces of morality, and then of law, opposed the operation of slot machines. Throughout the 1920s, the slot machines were popular throughout much of the United States, especially in resort areas, and they continued to be popular into the Great Depression years of the '30s. In the late 40's Bugsy Siegel added slot machines to his Flamingo Hilton hotel in Las Vegas. Originally, the slot machines were installed as a way to entertain the wives and girlfriends of high rollers, but revenue from the slot machines soon began supplanting that of the table games. In the mid 1980's the popularity of slot machines and table games were on par with each other, but by the 90's slot machines had taken over and now account for over two-thirds of casino revenue in the US.

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2-Slot Machines Rules

The rules of slot machines consist of inserting coins into the slot and then pulling the lever to set the reels in motion. The object is to line up specific patterns to win money. Depending on the slot machines chosen, you can bet up to three or four coins on each spin. To be eligible for the Progressive Jackpot, you must play the maximum number of coins per spin and be betting with $1 or $5 denominations. You may hit the "bet max" button to play for the maximum amount of coins and the reels will automatically begin to spin. If you prefer, you may deposit one coin at a time and then pull the lever to start the reels spinning. Each game has different payouts which are displayed on slot machines. Winning combinations are displayed in the center of the reels as marked by the pay line.

Below are some of the biggest myths about slot machines.

Myth; slot machines stop on any possible set of stops with equal probability.
Truth; This is not true of modern slot machines. Some stops are much more likely than others.
Myth; slot machines are programmed to go through a cycle of payoffs. Although the cycle can span thousands of spins once it reaches the end the outcomes will repeat themselves in exactly the same order as the last cycle.
Truth; This is not true at all. Every trial on a slot machines is random and independent of all past trials.
Myth; slot machines are programmed to pay off a particular percentage of money bet. Thus after a jackpot is hit the slot machines will tighten up to get back in balance, and when a jackpot has not been hit for a long time it is overdue and more likely to hit.
Truth; The only part of this that is true is that slot machines are designed to pay off a particular percentage. However the laws of probability dictate that the longer the slot machines is played the closer it will come to its target payoff, even with every trial being completely random. A jackpot is equally as likely to be hit right after the last one and if it has been fifty million spins since the last one.
Myth; Hot/cold coins are more likely to yield good returns.
Truth; The temperature of the coin does not matter. It also does not matter how long it has been since the coin was last played.

Common slot machines terms

Carousel - a group of slot machines.
Payback - The percentage of winnings lot machines will payout in relation to the amount put in.
Pay for Play slot machines - These are generally one-two-three coins option slot machines with staggered payoffs. The more coins you put the better the payoffs.
Payline - The line at which the symbols must align to win.
Progressive Slots - A group of slot machines called a Carousel linked together to pay one common big jackpot.
Reels - The rotating narrow barrels on which the symbols appear.
Take/Pay Cycle - Based on the assumption that most slot machines work on cycles, it is when to expect slot machines to pay out following a certain amount of coins fed into it.
Tilt - When a slot machines stop operation, usually following a malfunction.

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3-Slot Machines Strategy

General Tips

Here are some other miscellaneous tips to help you cut down the house edge while playing on slot machines.

Most slot machines reward you for playing the maximum coins. For example the jackpot may pay 2000 coins with 2 coins played, but 4000 with 3 coins played. In most cases it is advisable to play the maximum coins.
Never leave or play a slot machines that owes you money. Sometimes a slot machines will run out of money before it is finished paying you off. If you get up someone else can sit at your slot machines and claim they hit your jackpot. If you put another coin you may lose the evidence so don't touch anything until you are paid off.
Look for who is advertising loose slot machines and quoting specific payback percentages. These casinos are eager for your business and are willing to reward you with a looser slot machines for coming in.

Start off finding a slot machines that pays double for two coins played. Decide what your total bankroll will be before you start playing. Now start playing the slot machines. Play with one coin at a time until you win. When you win, play with two coins, one from your original bankroll, and one from the previous winnings. Continue playing with two coins until you lose, then revert back to using the single bankroll coin.

After you have played your entire bankroll, count your winnings. If you won more than your starting bankroll, put aside your winnings. Good work. However, if you wound up with less than your starting bankroll, this will be your new bankroll. Find another slot machines and try again.

If you do end up with no coins, quit for the day. This system does not guarantee you will be a winner. It will however help you stretch your playing time while risking less of your bankroll on one slot machines. If you only want to play slot machines for a little fun this might be the system for you.

Video-Poker - 1.History - 2.Rules - 3.Strategy

2008-01-13T21:11:00.000-08:00

1-Video Poker History

The game of video poker is a fairly recent phenomenon, dating back to only the mid-'70s. Although early slot machines used cards and poker hands as payoff symbols, players had no choices to make; the reels stopped wherever the machine determined they would.

The increasing popularity of video poker can be traced to several factors and characteristics it has in common with many of the more popular casino games. For instance:

video poker is fast (like craps).
video poker gives players the opportunity to make decisions and a reasonable control over the results (like blackjack).
video poker is similar to poker (like many of the newest casino games).
video poker gives the possibility of a large payoff and is not intimidating (like slot machines).

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Video Poker Rules

How to Play Video Poker

Video Poker is what you get if you cross Stud Poker with a slot machine and throw in a few wild cards. It's fast, almost like playing Stud, and you've got a huge range of options. You can choose Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, All American, Joker Poker or a number of other variations. Each game has its own personality and rewards a particular kind of play.

Also, the machines let you play anything from 1 through 5 coins, with the payoffs improving at the high end of the scale. So if you know your Poker hands and take the time to learn your game, Video Poker can be fast, fun, and rewarding.

Old Poker salts should keep in mind that each game has its own strategy. All American, for example, pays better than the others on straights and flushes, so that will effect your approach to card selection. When I first started playing Video Poker, I thought it would be a lonely hearts version of the real thing. Not so. The games do indeed have their own individual winning strategies, and taking the time to learn your game means better payoffs.

Objective

As with all forms of Poker. the player aims to get the best hand possible. The payoffs are marked right on the face of the Video Poker machine so it's a fast lesson in what the hand ranks are. All Video Poker variations rank hands the same, though a given variation may add an extra rank or two.

Betting

As you would expect from a slots version of Poker, betting is pretty straightforward in Video Poker. On any given machine you can typically choose $0.25, $0.50, $1, or $5 games. And the bets are 1x, 2x, 3x, 4x, or 5x (Max Bet) whichever game you're playing. So if you're playing a $1 game, you can place bets of $1, $2, $3, $4, or $5.

Payoff

The first thing to note is that the game face shows you the payoff for each betting level. Invariably playing Max Bet pays off better, overall, than any of the lower multiples. Smart players pick the betting level they are comfortable with and choose their game accordingly.

In other words, if you're comfortable with a $5 bet, then pick a $1 machine and play at Max Bet for $5. If $25 bets are more your speed, pick a $5 game because Max Bet (5x) puts you at the $25 level. In either case, you're getting the best payoff odds you can for that game. This is similar to Slots strategy.

Also of key importance is the fact that the payoff ratios vary from game to game. Where Jacks or Better may pay 25:1 for Four Of A Kind, All American typically pays 30:1 and Joker Poker only pays 20:1. These ratios do not necessarily reflect the true odds, so again, knowing your game helps you play smarter.

Video Poker Strategy

The odds

The odds on a given hand vary from game to game, of course, but generally speaking the house edge on Video Poker games is pretty small, even 0% in some cases. Where the Video Poker games get an edge is with players who do not follow an optimum strategy. In other words, winging any given game based on a loose understanding of Poker is going to lose you money.

Each Video Poker variation has its own quirks when it comes to the odds and optimum player strategy. In the next section we'll give you a rough guide to the most popular games, but detailed strategy guides would take pages. If you're serious about Video Poker, try some of the material in our reference section. Smart players can do pretty well at Video Poker.

Jacks or better

Jacks Or Better strategy can get a little complicated. For a full analysis check our references below, or follow this rough strategy guide:

Keep any hand that already pays. Possible exceptions, by potential value, are:

Hold four card Royal Flushes to make Straights or Flushes.
Four card straight flushes, inside or outside.
High card Pairs rank here.
Three card Royal Flushes.
Four card Flushes.
Low Pairs rank here, trying to build Three Of A Kind.
Four card Flushes.
Four card Straights. Hold inside Straights only if you've got three or more high cards (J, Q, K, A).

If you've got nothing worth money, here's a general strategy, in order of preference:

Keep any two suited high cards. Discard unsuited high cards.
Four mixed-suit high cards:
- keep any three suited, toss the unsuited.
- otherwise, keep them all.
Three unsuited high cards:
- keep all three of K-Q-J.
- with A-K-J or A-Q-J, discard the A.
Keep any two unsuited high cards.
Keep any single high card.

Tens or better

Same strategy as Jacks Or Better where 10 is now a high card.

Deuces wild

General strategy includes, best options first:

Hold any 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush.
Else, if you've got four 2's: keep 'em!.
Else, if you've got three 2's:
- hold any made 5 Of A Kind or Royal Flush
- otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
Else, if you've got two 2's:
- hold any made Straight, Five Of A Kind or Royal Flush.
- hold any 4 of a Kind.
- hold any 4 of a Royal Flush.
- otherwise, keep the 2's and discard the rest.
Else, if you've got a single 2, keep any made hand EXCEPT:
- hold four card Royal Flushes over made Straights, Flushes and Straight Flushes.
- keep four card Straight Flushes of all types.
- hold three card Royal Flushes.
- pairs: with two pair, keep one, but not both.
- hold four card Flushes.
- hold four card Straights.
- hold three card Straight Flushes, including gaps.
- hold four card inside Straights.
- hang on to two card Q or J high Straight Flushes.
- discard two card Royal Flushes.
- if you've come this low in the list, discard everything and try again.

Jokers wild

Remember that only K and A are high cards: this is a Kings or Better game.

General strategy:

Keep a Joker if you get it. You'll only see in once in ten hands, on average.
Don't keep an inside Straight.
Straight Flushes are a good payer and they occur considerably more frequently than in a game like Jacks or Better

All American

Straights and Flushes pay well here so it tips the usual strategy in their favour:

Prefer inside Straights over one or two high cards.
Prefer 4 card outside Straights and 4 card flushes over pairs, even high ones.
Hold any three cards to a Flush.

Blackjack History - Rules - Strategy

2008-01-11T23:03:00.000-08:00

1-Blackjack History

The History of Blackjack & Calculating Odds

BLACKJACK HISTORY

Playing cards are believed to have been invented in China and/or India sometime around 900 AD. The Chinese are thought to have originated card games when they began shuffling paper money (another Chinese invention) into various combinations. In China today, the general term for playing cards means "paper tickets". The contemporary 52 card deck used in the U.S. was originally called the "French Pack" (circa 1600's) which was later adopted by the English and subsequently the Americans.

The history of the blackjack card game itself is still disputed but was probably spawned from other French games such as "chemin de fer" and "French Ferme", although blackjack is also claimed by both Italy and Spain as well. The game blackjack originated in French casinos around 1700 where it was called "vingt-et-un" ("twenty-and-one") and has been played in the U.S. since the 1800's. The game is named blackjack because if a player got a Jack of Spades and an Ace of Spades as the first two cards (Spade being the color black of course), the player was additionally remunerated.

In the early days of western card rooms, poker and craps were the preferred games of the high rollers and 21(blackjack) as it was played at the time had not really caught on. To make the game more enticing some clubs began offering a whopping 10 to 1 payout to any player who got a very special hand on his first two cards: Ace of Spades plus a Jack of Clubs or or Jack of Spades -- thus "21" became "blackjack" because of those two cards. Nowadays the payout of 3 to 2 (150%) is standard in most casinos, regardless of which face card accompanies the Ace. But the game remained more or less unchanged until the early days of the computer age. It took the high-powered number crunching of mathematicians like Edward Thorpe to prove that the house edge could be virtually eliminated. Thorpe and others calculated the one optimal play for every possible card combination. This set of moves became known as Basic Strategy and has been the basis of all legitimate winning blackjack methods.

But casinos did not sit idly by as Basic Strategy began eroding their advantage. They developed ways to counteract players' latest ammunition. These include multiple decks, shuffling machines, frequent and early shuffling, player tracking computers and more. But savvy players can beat even these techniques, especially with card counting.

2-BLACKJACK RULES

The game of blackjack is played with one, two, four, six or eight decks of cards. In single and double deck blackjack games the dealer holds the cards and deals them out. In multi-deck blackjack games the cards are dealt out of a tray like box that is called a shoe. The casinos are starting to look at continuous shufflers that are a shoe that shuffle as well as hold the cards.

In hand held games the cards are dealt face down and the blackjack player is allowed to pick up his cards. In a shoe game the cards are dealt face up to the player and you are not allowed to touch your cards. The basic play for either version of blackjack is the same.

The objective of the game is to beat the blackjack dealer. If your cards total higher than the blackjack dealer's cards without going over 21 you win. You are not trying to get close to 21. If your hand or the blackjack dealer's hand goes over 21 you "Bust." If you bust you automatically lose. The player must act first. If the player busts he loses regardless if the dealer busts or not. The suits of the cards have no affect on the game of blackjack. Cards 2 - 10 are counted at face value without regards to their suit. All face cards have a value of ten. An ace can count as either one or eleven. A queen and a five would equal 15. An ace and a five would total either 6 or 16. A hand that does not have an ace is referred to as a "Hard Hand" in blackjack because it has only one value. A hand that contains an ace is referred to as a "Soft Hand" in blackjack because the value can change. If you draw to a soft hand and the three cards total a number where counting an ace as eleven puts you over 21 then the hand becomes a hard hand. Example: You are dealt an ace and a three. You have 4 or 14. If you then draw a ten you now have a hard 14 because if you count the ace as 11 you would have 25, which would bust you.

Common blackjack terms:

Action - The amount of money risked by a player during an entire blackjack session.
Betting Limits - Establishes the minimum and maximum amounts that can be wagered on one bet in blackjack.
Blackjack - A hand whose first two cards total 21.
Burn Card - The card placed on the bottom of the deck or in the discard tray after a shuffle and cut.
Bust/Break - To exceed a total of twenty-one.
Chip/Check - A casino term for tokens used instead of money.
Cut - To divide a deck into two parts.
Cut Card - A different colored card used to cut the decks.
Early Surrender - To surrender or give up after a player receives their first two cards but before the dealer checks for a blackjack. Player loses half of their bet.
Even Money - In blackjack, to get paid the same as you wagered plus your original wager when the player has a blackjack and the dealer has an ace showing.
Expected Win Rate - The percentage of the total amount wagered that the player can be expected to win or lose over time while playing blackjack.
Face Cards - The King, Queen or Jack of each suite.
First Base - The first seat nearest the blackjack dealer's left hand.
Hard Hand - Any blackjack hand that does not contain an ace valued at eleven.
Hit - To take another card.
Hole Card - The blackjack dealer's face down card.
Insurance - A side bet that the dealer has a natural 21 that is offered when the dealer's upcard is an ace. If the dealer has a natural, the player is paid double. If the dealer does not have a natural (a blackjack), the insurance bet is lost.
Natural - A hand whose first two cards total 21. Also known as blackjack.
Push/Tie - When the player and the dealer have unbusted hands with the same point total. No money changes hands.
Shoe - A plastic or wooden device that holds multiple decks of cards to be dealt.
Soft Hand - Any blackjack hand that contains an ace valued at eleven.
Stand - To refrain from taking any more cards.
Surrender - To give up half your wager to not have to complete the hand.
Upcard - The dealers card that is face up.

3-BLACKJACK STRATEGY

Generic basic strategy is designed to be used against the baseline rules of blackjack. With blackjack basic strategy the number of decks used in a game of blackjack have no bearing on the situation. Each recommended play does not guarantee that you will win, but offers the highest odds of winning with any particular blackjack hand. Understanding basic strategy can make the difference between winning and losing, and blackjack is the only casino table game where players can employ skill to affect the outcome of their play against the house.

The foremost important and prevalent decision a blackjack player has to make is whether to hit or to stand on their hand. There are a few straightforward rules for both hard and soft hands in blackjack.

For hard hands in blackjack, if the player's cards amount to 12 or higher, there are three rules:

Hit if the player hand totals 12 through 16 and the dealer has a seven or higher.
Stand on any hand totaling 17 or higher.
Stand if the player cards total 12 through 16 and the dealer has two through six.

For soft hands there are only two:
Always draw to soft 17 or less.
Only draw on soft 18 if the dealer has an eight, nine or ten.
Doubling down is the main method by which a player can eliminate the blackjack house edge so it is very important to remember when to utilize this option.

For hard hands, there are three basic rules:

Double down when the player's cards total 11 and the dealer has a ten or less.
Double down when the player's cards total 10 and the dealer has a nine or less.
Double down when the player's cards total nine and the dealer has a four, five or six.

For soft hands, there are also three basic rules:

Double down with a soft 13 and soft 14 when the dealer has a five or six.
Double down with a soft 15 and soft 16 when the dealer has a four, five or six.
Double down with a soft 17 and soft 18 when the dealer has three through six.

There are six easy rules that apply to splitting pairs in basic blackjack strategy:

Always split a pair of aces or eights. A pair of aces totals either two or twelve but when you split them each card is worth eleven. When you split eights you are breaking up 16 which is the worst hand to have.
Never split fours, fives or tens.
Split twos and threes only when the dealer has four through seven.
Split sixes when the dealer has three through six.
Split sevens when the dealer has three through seven.
Split nines when the dealer has two through six, eight or nine.

Here's the same basic blackjack strategy in chart form.
Hard Totals

				Dealer's Hand
		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
	8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
	9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
	10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
Players	11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
	12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
Hand	13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
	17-20	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Soft Totals

				Dealer's Hand
		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
	A 2	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
	A 3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Players	A 4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
	A 5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
Hand	A 6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
	A 7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
	A 8	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A 9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

Pair Splitting (DAS)

				Dealer's Hand
		2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	T	A
	2 2	P*	P*	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
	3 3	P*	P*	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
	4 4	H	H	H	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
Players	5 5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
	6 6	P*	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
Hand	7 7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
	8 8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
	9 9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
	10's	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	A's	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P

*=Hit if double after splitting is not allowed
H = Hit S = Stand D = Double P = Split

Poker rules :Rank of hands

2008-01-11T03:18:00.000-08:00

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Royal Flush:
Ten, Jack, Queen, King, Ace of the
same suit.

Straight Flush:
Straight
with all five cards in the same suit.

Four of a Kind:
Four cards of the
same number or face value ("quads").

Full House:
Three cards of one
number or face value and two cards of another number or face
value. If more than one player has a full house, the full
house with the highest ranking three of a kind ("trips")
wins.

Flush:
Five cards of the same suit.
If there is more than one flush, the hand with the highest
card(s) wins .

Straight:
Five cards in sequence.
Cards can be in any suit. An Ace can be used in the highest
straight (10, J, Q, K, A) and the lowest straight (A, 2, 3, 4,
5) .

Three of a Kind:
Three cards of the
same number or face value ("trips") .

Two Pair:
If two players have two
pair, the hand with the highest pair wins. If they have the
same high pair, whoever has the second highest pair wins. If
they have the same two pair, whoever has the highest fifth
card ("kicker") wins .

One Pair:
Two cards of the same
number or face value. If two players have the same pair, the
highest outside card(s) wins .

High Card:
The hand with the highest
card(s) wins.

Texas Hold'em

2008-01-10T22:59:00.000-08:00

Hold'em poker (also known as Texas Hold'em) is the most popular poker game in the world. In Hold'em, players get two down cards and five community cards (which are face-up in the middle of the table). Your hand is determined by using the best five of those seven cards (in any combination) and the best hand wins the pot. Click here to see Rank of Hands. (The pot may also be won by someone betting and no one calling prior to getting seven cards.)
There are four rounds of betting in Hold'em. In Limit Hold'em, one bet and three raises are allowed for each betting round. To continue to play, players must call all action to them on each betting round (unless they are "all-in").Here is the procedure for Hold'em:
1) Prior to dealing the cards, two blinds (the Small Blind and the Big Blind) are placed in the pot by the two players to the immediate left of the dealer (indicated by the dealer "button").
2) Everyone is dealt two down cards ("hole cards"). The action begins with the player to the left of the Big Blind folding, calling, or raising and continues in a clockwise fashion. This is the first betting round.
3) The dealer turns over three cards (community cards known as "The Flop"). This is the second betting round. Beginning with this round of betting (and throughout the remainder of the hand), the player to the left of the button acts first.
4) The dealer turns over another card (known as "The Turn" or "Fourth Street"). This is the third round of betting. (In Limit Hold'em, the amount bet doubles on "The Turn".)
5) The dealer turns over the last card (known as "The River" card or "Fifth Street"). This is the final round of betting.
7) Upon completion of the final round of betting, the best hand wins the pot. Note: The Blinds are determined by the size of the game.

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