Swain Scheps - Casino Gambling For Dummies

2 C. This could be a trick question because Annie Duke has bluffed and flirted on the same hand. However, rapid eye blinking is often an indicator of bluffing.

3 C. Surprisingly, playing high-stakes blackjack can be easier on your wallet than low-limit slot machines. Assuming you know basic strategy (see Chapter 6), your loss in a good single-deck game should be less than $14 an hour. Likewise, video poker (9/6 Jacks or Better) is a good bet and also will only set you back about $14 an hour. Neither one of those is very bad, considering that three quarters going into the slot machine every spin adds up to more than $15 an hour.

4 A. No matter how many times one color or number comes up, the odds for the next spin aren’t related to past spins. And the answer isn’t 50 percent because there are also two green numbers (0 and 00) on the roulette wheel (in addition to the 18 red and 18 black numbers).

5 A. Currently, 48 states offer some form of legal gambling, but just 20 years ago, there were casinos in only two states, so C was a reasonable answer. However, if you picked B, you may want to retake that high school geography class.

6 C. Seven is an automatic winner for pass line bettors on the come-out roll (first roll). B is incorrect because prowess at Yahtzee rarely translates into winning at the craps table — the pit boss is never happy when you try to throw all five dice.

7 B. Even though a Major League Baseball game is sometimes an official result after 4½ innings, an over/under bet is invalid unless the game goes at least 8½ innings.

8 C. Video poker has many versions, but all are based on five-card draw. So, you never need to worry about losing your shirt (or your socks) at this game.

9 A. Keno is one of the few games in which you don’t have to be present to win. It’s even possible to play from your room or the buffet line.

10 B. Believe it or not, the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma, has more gaming square footage than any other casino on the planet. No, this wasn’t some colossal surveyor’s error; Winstar is the only option for two major markets: Dallas/Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.

Chapter 2

IN THIS CHAPTER

Educating yourself about the casino environment

Finding your way around a casino

Identifying the characters whom you meet at the casino

Avoiding trouble through security

When you step into a modern megacasino, prepare to be dazzled. Blinking lights and ringing bells signal jackpots. Glittering chandeliers and rich furnishings and fabrics often mimic the sequined gowns and dapper dress of the folks at the high-roller tables. Clinking ice chills your drinks, and courteous staff appears to serve your every whim. When you see and hear these characteristics, you know you’ve walked into a fantasy world where every hand you play can be a winner, and every spin of the slot reels could make all your dreams come true.

Lucky gamblers make fortunes every day, but the reality is that most money ends up on the other side of the table. And the casino, or the house, is willing to pour millions of its profits into making sure you walk inside, stay inside, and — most importantly — gamble inside.

Always remember that, in addition to wanting your business, casinos provide a service to you, so you have every right to shop around for the establishment that best serves your needs. To assist you in your shopping, go to the web and take a 360-degree virtual tour of the place, then look it up on a travel site to see what others are saying about their recent experiences.

This chapter prepares you for what to expect when you step foot into a casino. You’ll get a glimpse of the neon and sequin razzle-dazzle designed to distract you but also the blueprint of the typical casino. It’s important to know why this goes here, that goes there, and the people you’ll encounter. Finally, you’ll learn about who’s watching you while you venture forth with your hand on your wallet and mind in the painted clouds on the starlit ceiling.

The shrewdly packaged allure of the casino starts the minute you set eyes on the neon-washed facade. From flashing lighted signs to valets to the smooth hum of the sliding glass doors, the modern casino entrance is designed to attract you. Every possible consideration is given to design, color, and lighting.

The scheme doesn’t end at the front steps, however. As you proceed through the casino’s front door, every square inch of floor space entices you into moving forward. Like a siren call, the sounds of winning jackpots beckon you onward, as do the color schemes, floral arrangements, glittering lights, slot machines, and table games. If you aren’t prepared, you can become disoriented inside a casino. The master plan behind the traffic flow is to bring you (and your wallet) into close proximity with the slot machines or table games at every opportunity. The pulsating pace of the gambling world is seductive and makes it hard for you to leave a winner.

Feeling overwhelmed — and not a little manipulated? It can be deflating to discover that the sounds, sights, and even smells are devised to lull you into handing over your cash. But a casino visit doesn’t have to go like that. Read on.

Don’t let the harsh realities of the casino world turn you off; instead, embrace them. Knowledge is power. By understanding the psychology of casino design and getting to know the employees who perform their duties, you put yourself in a better position to enjoy the casino as an entertaining leisure activity and maintain the level-headedness and critical thinking required to succeed at your gambling ventures.

Your mission — if you choose to accept it — is to educate yourself before you enter these temples of chance. If you build your understanding of the components of a casino and the people who make it run, you’re more likely to make rational decisions when it comes to the games you choose to play — and less likely to part with the contents of your pocketbook because of some subliminal pull.

Whether you’re in Macao, Nassau, or Oklahoma, most casinos of the world are laid out in a similar floor plan. Even at the smaller clubs, you will recognize many of the same aesthetic and functional characteristics found at the megaresorts. This common design is no accident. Casino owners have an intimate knowledge of the gambler’s mind, and they design the interiors to make their guests comfortable with parting with their cash.

This section takes a stroll through a typical casino to prepare you for the sights and sounds you encounter when you walk through those neon-bathed doorways. Preparation is the key to maintaining control. You’ll understand what I’m saying when you find yourself subconsciously reaching for your wallet before you finish the chapter.

Remember that gambling is the ultimate impulse buy. The casino’s layout encourages this impulse. Taking away the mystique is your first step toward improving your odds and coming out a winner. You should repeat a real-life version of this virtual walkthrough whenever you arrive at a brick-and-mortar establishment before you drop your first dollar on the table or pump a coin in a slot. Prepare yourself: Stand still, take a deep breath, and look around.