You can nudge your odds at craps table

The most frequently rolled number in craps is 7, with 6 and 8 being next in line. That’s because of 36 possible combinations of two six-sided dice, six total 7, five add up to 6 and another 5 add up to 8. Seven is a …

Not all video poker paybacks created equal

There’s a quirk in Illinois gaming regulations that makes it impossible for casinos within the state to offer video poker players some of the top-shelf games they see in Nevada, Mississippi and other states. Whereas all states require a minimum payback percentage on electronic gaming …

Ameristar revamps, links to Las Vegas

As Chicago area casinos slowly recover from the big hit they took in the recession, Ameristar Casino in East Chicago is trying a couple of ways to differentiate itself from the competition. One way is to team up with MGM Resorts to give Ameristar customers …

Odds good you’ll like Paula Deen’s Kitchen

Celebrity chefs and casinos seem to go together like slot machines and video touch screens — relatively new pairings that popularity has turned into industry staples.

But while Las Vegas is practically home away from home for the likes of Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali, …

Sports book odds not a 100 percent game

If you’ve been in a casino with a sports book, you know the temptation. “As long as I’m here, why not put down a few bucks on the Cubs/White Sox/Bears/Bulls/Blackhawks to win it all?” I know I’ve succumbed. Cleaning out a desk drawer last week, …

Unusual play is tough to fathom

There are certain plays in blackjack that will draw attention in the pit. “Splitting 10s,” I’ve heard the dealer call out to the pit supervisor. Or “Doubling on hard 12.”

The pit supervisor might just glance over and nod, taking note of the player making …

Tipping dealer not always so simple

It’s a fact of casino life that dealers make their living on tips — or rather “tokes,” for tokens of appreciation. Dealers are paid a low wage, and the tokes keep them going. Most of the tokes come from players on a winning streak who …

Jacks or Better is good start to video poker

Every video poker game has its own expert strategy. If you want the most out of Double Bonus Poker, you won’t play exactly the same strategy as Jacks or Better, and you’ll need to adjust to something a little different for Double Double Bonus Poker. …

Craps odds help manage house risk

For craps players on a budget, the free odds are best used to reduce wagers on pass and come. Pass and come each have a house edge of 1.41 percent, while there is no house edge on the odds, a bet that can be made …

Once in awhile, a mistake turns out well

One of my standard warnings to players is to never overbet your bankroll. If you bet too large a percentage of your budget for the day’s entertainment on each bet, the usual result is that you’ll be heading home early, or worse, digging for extra …

Horseshoe all-in for Poker Classic

In three short years at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, the Chicago Poker Classic has become more than a local staple. It’s a favorite on the Midwestern card players’ scene. “It’s as prestigious event as any,” said Horseshoe poker room manager Jason Newman. …

Cheating is the worst gamble

Even with a dealer, a floor supervisor and a pit supervisor, and even with electronic surveillance, sometimes things happen on table games that shouldn’t. Payout mistakes are made, and usually caught. A player is mistakenly given a card he doesn’t want, and that gets corrected, …

Yes, same slots may have varying RNGs

There’s a large subset of my e-mail that comes from slot players who start by saying, “I get that the games are random, but . . . ” Then they tell of a slot experience that doesn’t seem quite right to them. The latest came …

Two publications worth checking out

As a casino value-seeker both by inclination and bankroll, I look forward each year to the Las Vegas Advisor’s member rewards booklet and to the new edition of the American Casino Guide. Both are on my desk now, and I look forward to plotting out …

Random results are the name of the game

A shuffle through the Gaming mailbag:

Q. Do video poker machines with progressive jackpots on royal flushes deal fewer small winners to make up for the bigger jackpots?

Ed, St. Charles

A. No, the programming in video poker doesn’t allow for a lower frequency of …