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Give your Pit Boss Credit

Sun, 19 May 2013 16:36:41 +0000

Casino jobs can be great, but dealing with the public, especially a public that is drinking and losing money, takes some skill. Table game dealers usually have their hands full with players, but they get the benefit of constant tips (they hope) to reinforce that they want to keep working, but then there is the poor Pit Boss. The job used to be glamorous, now it just takes patience and guest skills to keep from screaming. If you don't believe that, consider taking two dozen little kids to the zoo. That's what a pit of five or six table games is like on a Friday night for a Pit Boss!

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MLB - Big Contracts don't get you a Pennant

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:36:20 +0000

As with most Major League Baseball seasons, there are some surprises. No, the Houston Astros are still going to lose over 100 games, and the Oakland A's are still competitive in a small market with a small payroll, but there are three teams that overspent big-time this past year to fill their rosters with starts, but that hasn't translated to more wins.

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A Poker Dealer Audition

Sat, 11 May 2013 16:20:22 +0000

I was playing in a local poker tournament last week and they brought in a dealer to practice and audition on our game. Not only did it slow down the tournament, but it made the players mad. As with most tournaments, the blinds went up quickly and I was anticipating four more hands before the blinds passed me and we went on break. Instead, the new dealer spent nine minutes getting out two hands. Hey, it's tough doing an audition, that's not the problem. The issue was that the blinds were $2k and $4K, but instead of being on the button, I was the small blind at $5K with the big blind of $10K coming up. Sorry, but $15K instead of $6K was a big difference at that point with 14 players left and heading to the final table.

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Casino Credit in Missiouri and Delaware

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:27:00 +0000

For years the casinos of Nevada and Atlantic City have offered credit to their casino players. The good part of establishing credit at your favorite casino is that the loan is free of interest. The bad part is you may be playing with money you really shouldn't risk gambling. Always use your best judgement!

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Is Patience a System?

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 19:42:57 +0000

I'm not sure patience can be considered a system, but being patient usually works for me. And when I'm not patient, I make mistakes. Dumb ones. I once hurried onto a rope swing across a creek and wound up doing a double-back flip onto my head (yeah, that's what did this to me) because I wasn't patient enough. Simple as that. So, my main system for gambling is being patient and taking advantage of the times when a good streak comes along.

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Full Tilt Poker Founder Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:19:00 +0000

According to the AP, the founder of Full Tilt Poker (you know, the one that took like $450 million in player deposits, but only had $150 million in cash), Raymond Bitar, pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges and was sentenced to time served (7 days after his first arrest) and had to give up his assets. The prosecutors said nearly $300 million in player deposits were missing. His own lawyers said he was helping recover money. Bahhh! Bitar was quoted as saying,"I'm very sorry for the problems that Full Tilt Poker got into." Hey, Full Tilt didn't get into problems, you, Mr. Bitar, spent your players money!

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Beat the Dealer - Still the #1 Blackjack Book

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:46:38 +0000

As amazing as this may sound, Dr. Edward O. Thorp's Book, Beat the Dealer, is #1 at Amazon for blackjack books. It's amazing because the book is 50 years old! Are there any other books in the world, that old, that are number-one best sellers on Amazon? I doubt it.

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Casino Gaming Evolution

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:46:30 +0000

Ever see that chart with the evolution of man, from Neanderthal, Cro-Magnon, to Modern Man? Ever wonder what a casino gaming evolution chart would look like, for say the last few hundred years? Well, to start with, the casinos in Europe were dominated by roulette, so think of a big roulette wheel for the first part - table games. Next, as the American West (alright, Mississippi and New Orleans too) expanded, poker joined-in as the next favorite, and because it has evolved, it's still huge as the second part! And finally, after the invention of the Liberty Bell Slot (reel slot machines), slots came along and they too have changed over the years and now dominate the financial end, pulling about 70-percent of the revenues for the average casino. Wow.

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Chip Collectors 2013 Convention Coming to Vegas

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:37:55 +0000

The Casino Chip and Gaming Token Collectors Club is coming to Las Vegas at the end of June. The annual show brings thousands of casino memorabilia collectors to Sin City for a little fun, but relaxation is never on the agenda. Every convention includes meetings, trade sessions, an auction, a room packed with casino items the collectors have for sale, banquets, poker and blackjack tournaments, and lectures about whatever might be new, or newly found!

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Things I Hate About Casinos

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:40:30 +0000

I've spent an inordinate amount of my life in casinos, and for the most part, I love 'em. Of course there are a few things I do hate, like cigarette smoke, which is only slightly better than cigar smoke, which is only slightly better than death. I also hate when the tables and slots are so jammed together that I can't get comfortable. I need my space. I love properties where I can go find some quiet place to play video poker and relax.

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