Ask The Wizard #200

I’m thrilled to introduce my 200th installment of the 'Ask the Wizard' series. When I began this journey on February 5, 2000, I never anticipated reaching this milestone. It took me a little over four years to publish the 100th column, and now three years and nine months later, here we are.

Although these columns might appear straightforward, they demand a significant investment of my time. It’s not simple to keep the door open for questions; I’ve been inundated with requests ranging from math tutoring to evaluations of previous gambling experiences, critiques of ineffective betting strategies, basic gambling inquiries from those unwilling to do their own research, personal relationship advice concerning supposedly cheating partners, and even lengthy life narratives.

Regrettably, I’ve recently made the tough choice to stop accepting new questions. Once I manage the current pile of inquiries, I will briefly reopen them. Looking ahead, my goal is to have scheduled periods when questions can be submitted intermittently. I hope those with meaningful questions will patiently wait for the next opportunity, while I wish the less thoughtful questions would not take so long to submit.

Some inquiries featured in the column are quite intricate and require extensive responses. For instance, my previous mention in this column regarding the impact of using different decks for players and dealers took countless hours to program the necessary modifications in my blackjack simulator. Many other statistics require similar amounts of time and attention. Typically, writing each column demands around two days of work.

In April 2005, overwhelmed by the flood of gambling-related questions, I halted the column indefinitely, perhaps even permanently. However, due to a strong outcry from my readers, I resumed in August. Currently, I find myself once again experiencing 'Ask the Wizard' fatigue. Instead of quitting altogether, I’ve decided to reduce the frequency to just one or two columns per month.

I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to my proofreader, Don Schlesinger, for his highly valuable assistance in correcting my English mistakes over the past few months. His contributions have not only enhanced the readability of the column but have also uplifted my overall writing skills.

I also wish to convey my heartfelt appreciation to all my readers for your unwavering support through the years. Ultimately, it is this reader base that provides for my family and ensures my children receive a quality education. I hope that my insights have assisted you in achieving wins or at least minimizing losses in casinos by relying on mathematical strategies instead of superstitions. Until next time, aim for your highest aspirations!

I believe you might be tipping excessively. A reasonable tipping range is between 2% to 5%, with the percentage decreasing as the winnings increase.

I empathize with your situation. The availability of 9/6 Jacks or Better is dwindling, even in local casinos, but they are still out there. Certain MGM/Mirage locations have them in their high-limit sections. The Wynn Casino, in particular, is renowned for having numerous 9/6 Jacks machines scattered throughout. For the latest information on video poker options in Las Vegas, I highly recommend checking various resources. VP Free 2 .

Update: Since this response was last published, the Wynn has removed nearly all their 9-6 Jacks machines, leaving only those at the $5 denomination and above.

I assume the player is required to pay the 50-cent fee. According to my calculations, the house edge under these conditions, excluding the tax, is around 0.36%. Once you factor in the additional 0.5/10 (which is 5%), the total house edge amounts to approximately 5.36%. Personally, I would advise against participating in this game on principle. blackjack house edge calculator At a specific casino, their video poker machines claim to pay out 80% of the time or better. This seems contradictory to your estimate of around 53% for throwaway hands. Is this discrepancy a tactic to make the game more enjoyable yet result in lower payouts?

In Pennsylvania, we have blackjack games produced by Shufflemaster in which players interact with terminals to compete against a video dealer displayed on a screen. Technically speaking, only 'slots' are permitted in Pennsylvania. I’ve heard claims that the game was 'retrofitted' to comply with the definition of a slot. What does this entail? If this is merely an upgraded slot machine, do I truly retain any control over the outcome? pull tab Indeed, you do. According to Shufflemaster, to adhere to the classification of a slot machine, one player’s actions cannot influence others, as would occur in a traditional blackjack game. To navigate this regulation, each player and dealer are dealt from unique six-deck shoes. This means you control your own outcomes, but not those of the other players or the dealer. The game operates on preprogrammed six-deck settings, and my simulations indicate that using separate shoes for the player and dealer contributes an additional 0.06% to the house edge.

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