When you go to Vegas you should have some sort of betting guideline that you should follow. If you do not it can cost you some significant cash. Here are some betting guidelines that you should follow when heading to Las Vegas or any land-based casino for that matter.
• Never bet more than you can afford to lose. If you will be bummed out when losing a certain amount of money have a gambling bankroll that is less then that amount. You should be heading to Sin City to have fun not for financial gain. Gambling is fun and the gambling bankroll you use should be an amount that you do not mind losing, as there is a possibility that you will lose it.
• When heading to Las Vegas you should expect to leave your bankroll behind. The chances are that you will lose your bankroll, as there is a reason why casinos make money. The house has an edge with every game and overall they will win more then they lose at your expense. What makes you win is the good streaks that you hit while playing the games.
• When you hit a hot streak and you are ahead go ahead and quit. Don’t press your luck and ride a hot streak longer then you should. Streaks will end quickly, so if you are ahead bank your winnings and walk away, as you are sure to leave with more then when you came. If you are cold right off the bat it may be a good idea to switch games or casinos.
• Don’t get down when luck is not with you. If you have a bad session where Lady Luck is not on your side do not get depressed. Those types of bad sessions happen and it is how you ride out the cold streaks that will determine how well you do.
• Never chase your bets. Chasing bets is increasing your next bet after a losing one in order to get your money back. This is the easiest way to lose a significant amount of cash. This is a telltale sign that greed and desperation are kicking in. It is always better, and more likely to happen, to chip away at your losses rather then trying to win all your losses back in one play. Keep to your original bet totals and stick with them. The only time when you should increase them is when you are on a major hot streak and you have already banked some money.
• If you are losing lower your bets. If you hit a cold streak it is a good idea to lower your bets until the cold streak is over. Play lower bets until luck is back in your corner.
• Never buy a system or book that will guarantee that you will win money. You will see a lot of systems and books, especially online, which will guarantee that you will break the casino. Do not fall for these, as they simply are not true. Every casino game is a game of chance, with the exception of poker, so there is no surefire way that you can use a system to break the casino and win big bucks. Sure, there are systems that you can use, but they should be ones that you can find for free and they tend to deal with betting systems not ones that will beat the games.
August 15th, 2024 | Posted in Blackjack, Casinos, Craps, Gambling Thoughts, Roulette, Table Games | No Comments
Why go to Las Vegas casinos, or any land-based casinos, and spend all of your time and cash playing the easy to follow games of video poker or slots? Table games can be the most exciting games in the casino and they are also much more social with you interacting with other players and the dealer. There is nothing wrong with playing slots or video poker, but you can have a lot more fun when playing table games. Also, the odds for slots and video poker favor the house more then they do for table games.
Here are some simple tips that you can follow and some basic rules that can make it easier for you to play table games.
• Almost all casinos will offer free lessons for the table games they offer. Check with the casino to see when these lessons are and never play the game for real money before you really know the ins and outs of the game.
• Take some time and watch the game you want to play before you play it. This is even the case if you have gone to the table games lessons and you know how to play. If you do this you can pick up some insights like where you can place bets and how to interact with the dealer. It will also allow you to see if chatting with other players is OK and what not to do at the table.
• Don’t be afraid to ask the dealer questions if you have them. The dealers have rules they have to follow and they are not betting their money, so they really have nothing to hide. Again, make sure you know the game, as other players can get a bit annoyed with you if you ask too many questions and are slowing down the pace of the game.
• Make sure you know the table limits of the game before you start to play. This seems pretty obvious, but you have to know what you are getting into when you play.
• Don’t let the pit bosses at the casino intimidate you. It is their job to look at everyone like they are cheating. Since you are probably not cheating so you have nothing to worry about. If you are having a problem do not be afraid to sit out a hand, roll, or spin and go up to a pit boss to voice your concerns.
• The payout odds will vary between casinos. Make sure that you check with the dealer or look on the table to confirm the odds you are getting for the game.
• Don’t think you can’t use your player’s card when playing table games because you can. Generally, you can put the card on the edge of the table, but make sure the dealer sees the card, so you can get your comps and points.
August 7th, 2024 | Posted in Blackjack, Casinos, Craps, Gambling Thoughts, Roulette, Table Games | No Comments
Ever wonder what those signs are near a craps table? Well, they explain the table odds, minimums, and maximums and in this article I will do that as well, so you do not look like a beginner when you look like a deer in headlines when you see the signs.
Table Odds
When you are playing craps and you make a straight bet (come, don’t come, pass, don’t pass) and a point has been established, you can then bet on the Free Odds bet. The amount that a casino allows you to wager on the Free Odds bet will vary and it is referred to as Table Odds. These odds will be in a multiple of your straight bet (1x, 2x, 5x, 10x and so on). Table Odds will generally be posted on the tables with signs. Most will post them, but some do not. It may be the case where you will have to ask the dealer with the table maximums and minimums are.
Table Minimum
The table minimum refers to a minimum bet for the bets of Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Field, or the Big 6 and/or 8 bets. Generally minimum bets do not apply to proposition (prop) bets. For instance, a Craps table with a $10 minimum you may be able to bet $5 on prop bets.
Table Maximum
The table maximum refers to the most money you can wager on the Pass Line, Don’t Pass, Field or Big 6 and/or 8 bets. Also, it is the most money you can wager on Place Bets, and usually the max amount you can make on prop bets. The maximum is a bit confusing since it does not apply the Free Odds bets. For instance, on a craps table that has 2x Table Odds and that has a maximum of $500 you can make a wager of $500 straight bet on the Pass Line and bet another $1,000 behind it for Odds when your point is established, for a total of $1,500. There are some casinos that will have a limit on the Free Odds bet and that will be posted on the signs at the table.
Generally the policy and limits on maximum bets is established by the Box-man.
You can exceed the maximum bet by placing another bet, even on the exact same number, which is the point. For instance, on a craps table with a $1,000 with 2x odds you can bet $1,000 on the Pass Line, $2,000 odds on 5 point, and then make a buy on the 5 for another $1,000. There is nothing that says you can’t do this because you are just making a Place Bet as well as you Pass Line bet. The Box-man may not like this, but you can do it. Placing the point is not uncommon on craps tables that have 2x odds where a player may not have a lot of money on the Pass Line with odds and they think that they will make the Point. This is basically a chance for a craps player to exceed the 2x odds limit, or any table with low limits odds for that matter, when they are a hot shooter. Obviously, the house will not advertise this, as even casinos where the advertise craps tutorials will not readily tell this to players. Not many craps dealers will offer to give you good advice to press your bet like this.
July 20th, 2024 | Posted in Casinos, Craps, Table Games | No Comments
You have to have good etiquette when you play Craps in Las Vegas or any land-based casino for that matter. When you are not using proper Craps etiquette it will not only annoy the dealers, but they also may not help you make the best bet possible. If you want the dealers on your side, which can increase your chances of winning at craps, then avoid these mistakes.
Don’t throw your bet at the dealer
A solid Craps player will place their bet clearly on the table and state their bet. Proposition (prop) bets can placed and booked by the dealer on Base and then put out on the stacks by the table workman. Dealers do not like it when they have to chase chips over the table and it also slows down the game, which not only annoys the dealer but other players as well.
Don’t mess around with the dice before your throw
Setting the dice fast is fine, but you should throw them without taking too much time. If you have a lucky way to throw the dice do it and do not waste time of the other players who have money on the table.
Don’t throw the dice on the table but toss them
Craps players that throw the dice hard and slam them around the table are not popular with dealers. Players like these will slow the game down and, many times, offend players at the table, especially ones that tend to be superstitious.
Don’t toss the dice into the working stack of the dealers or into the mirror on the player side of the Craps table
If you do this it will slow the game down and the dealers, as well as the other players, will get annoyed. Dice should be tossed in the center of the Craps tables and have to bounce off the wall at the opposite end of the player throwing.
Don’t toss the dice with two hands
When you toss the dice you should always use only one hand. You will look like an amateur when you toss the dice with two hands.
Don’t hide the dice beyond or take the dice beyond the edge of the Craps table
This is something else that will slow down the game. The reason that hiding or taking the dice beyond the table slows the game is that the dealer or the box-man will have to inspect the dice and they may have to use new dice to make sure you are not switching them out.
Before you throw don’t shake the dice too much
Many Craps plays like to shake the dice before they throw, but over shaking them will only slow down the game.
Never place bets after the shooter already is holding the dice
There is nothing that annoys a dealer more then a player making a late bet. Bets should be made before the stickman gives the dice to the shooter. Many late bets tend to be prop bets that are thrown at the stickman. This does not only force the dealer to call the bet, but it also may hit other bets on the table and make a mess of the bets already there. This makes it hard for the dealer to keep track of the bets on the table. Also, dealers want to see players win their bets and late bets that the dealer will call no bets will annoy a player if that number is rolled. Many casinos cannot take or call a bet until they can see the money. All bets should be completed when they can see the money and before the stickman gives the dice to the person shooting.
Don’t be a whiner
This should seem pretty obvious, as whining and complaining at the Craps table will not make you any friends at the table and it will annoy the dealer.
July 16th, 2024 | Posted in Casinos, Craps, Table Games | No Comments
Winning money when playing at the casinos in Las Vegas, or any other casino, is not impossible but you have to know that the odds are not in your favor and in the long run it is not likely that you will win. You should be aware of the odds of the house for Vegas casino games so you know how the odds are stacked against you.
Slots
Slots is the easiest casino game to play and there is no real knowledge that you have to have about the game. Slots will keep around 3% – 25% of money and that will depend on the slot machine you are playing at and the casino you are in. Slots players that are losing on one machine may feel that they are due and they keep playing on it. This is incorrect, as slots machines are controlled by a Random Number Generator (RNG), which will figure the payout course over a few thousand spins. Basically, there is no way that you can know that a machine will hit or not.
Keno
For every $1 bet on Keno the casino will keep 30%. You should know that when you play Keno it is very much like playing a mini-lottery. As it stands now 20 out of a possible 20 numbers has never been won at any casino anywhere and not just in Vegas.
Video Poker
When you play video poker try to find a Jacks or better video poker game that pays 9 coins when you get a Full House and 6 coins when you get a Flush. In a game like this the house odds will fall between 0% and 5%. Video poker has better odds then slots and if you play smart you can come out ahead when you play.
Roulette
Many people think that they have a 50/50 chance when playing Roulette by betting on either the black or red, odd or even, or 1-18 or 19-36. This is simply not true because of the green 0 and 00. The green 0 and 00 give the casino a house edge of 5.25%. If you have the time try to find a European Roulette game, as it will lower the odds of the house since there is only one green 0 on a European wheel.
Blackjack
When you play Blackjack the house edge with be around 0% to 3%. You should try to find single hand Blackjack games, as they will give you better odds. One thing that may casinos are doing thee days are paying out 6:5 on Blackjack rather then 2:1. This is generally the case with single deck games, but you should stay away from games like this, as it can raise the house edge by 1%. To get the best advantage when playing Blackjack you should:
• Split aces and eights
• Double down with 10 or 11 if a dealer has an up card of 2-9.
• Stand when you have 12-16 if a dealer has an up card of 2-6.
• Hit with 12-16 if a dealer has an up card of 7,8,9,10 and Ace.
• Stand on 17-21.
• Never ever take the insurance option,
Craps
Stay away from the high odds bet on the craps table. You should only play the line bets, which are the line bets, pass and don’t pass bets, and come and don’t come bets. If you do this the odds will be about 1.4% in favor of the casino. There are some casinos that will offer a game that is called crap-less craps, but beware as even though it looks to be a good game, in terms of odds, the game actually is one that gives the house more favorable odds.
Maybe the best tip you can have when hitting Vegas or any casino is to know when to “walk away” or cut your losses.
July 12th, 2024 | Posted in Blackjack, Casinos, Craps, Gambling Thoughts, Roulette, Slots, Table Games, Video Poker | No Comments
