Ask The Wizard #59

Dear Wizard, I want to express my appreciation for the exceptional quality of your service. Additionally, I’m curious about the possibilities of making a living through gambling, or perhaps using it as a way to increase one’s income, either on the internet or at physical casinos. I understand that for many, this might seem like a risky path, but for some individuals, it could yield satisfying results. Moreover, I would like to know how casinos set limits on betting amounts and how this might influence potential returns or performance during a gaming session. It appears that lower limits may benefit the casino more than the players because statistically, the longer you engage in gaming, the more likely you are to incur losses. It also seems more practical to start with lower bets and gradually increase stakes rather than beginning with large amounts. Another question I have is whether a player can shift the odds in their favor over time with a specific strategy in an online blackjack game.

Could you shed some light on the numbers displayed on the right side of the slot machine screens? There are three figures shown there – what do they signify? How can I leverage this information to gain an edge?

In Stanford Wong's publication, \"Optimal Strategy for Pai Gow Poker,\" he offers an in-depth analysis regarding the decision-making process when holding two pairs. Have you conducted a similar breakdown? If not, do you believe his conclusions lead to the best possible strategies?

What are the chances of obtaining a royal flush in Texas hold-em on the river?

For those unfamiliar, the river refers to the fifth and final community card dealt in Texas hold-em. Players must construct the strongest possible poker hand using their own two cards in conjunction with the five community cards. Therefore, your inquiry is about the probability of a player completing a royal flush among seven cards, where the seventh card must also be part of that royal hand. Before taking into account the relevant cards, the probability of making a 5-card royal flush from 7 cards is calculated as 4 times the combination of 47 taken 2 at a time, divided by the combination of 52 taken 7 at a time, yielding 4324 over 133784560, or approximately 1 in 30940. The chance that the seventh card is part of the royal flush is 5 out of 7. Consequently, the final probability equates to 21620 over 936491920, or about 1 in 43316.

I have a fundamental question. Do casinos on major cruise ships generally offer slots and games like Caribbean Poker, Three Card Poker, and Let It Ride at less favorable odds than those found on land?

I cannot say for certain. The only cruise I ever experienced was a brief trip from Florida to the Bahamas that lasted around eight hours. This was prior to launching my website, so my focus on the house rules wasn't as intense. What I do remember is that the blackjack terms were quite unfavorable, and I ended up losing quite a bit! Other sources I’ve encountered support the idea that casino games on cruise ships tend to have tighter margins. After all, there aren't many alternatives for gaming aboard. However, since the games you mentioned already possess higher house edges, perhaps there is no necessity to modify the rules. I've also learned that Caribbean Stud Poker often features a more generous pay table in Europe and Africa, so it’s possible they utilize that version.