Generally, charity blackjack events turn pushes into wins for the casino. Real casinos do not offer such a hard-line rule, because players would never belly up to the table when the odds are so stacked against them. There is an exception: Double Exposure blackjack. Here, as compensation for losing in pushes, all dealer’s cards are dealt face up, However, (there’s always an “however”) because you get to view both of the dealer’s up-cards, the playing rules are adjusted...
Read more about House Edge When Blackjack Pushes Go To House Wheel of Fortune Slot Machines - March 9, 2008If you have ever seen the slot machine Wheel of Fortune at your local casino then you probably know just how popular it is. I have seen players waiting nearly an hour just to get a sit for the chance to take a few pulls and a chance to win grand prizes. Since the game is so popular we figured we would take a look at the payback percentages on these machines, the frequency of payoffs, and how often a bonus spin appears for the play. The game is produced by International Game Technologies and is...
Read more about Wheel of Fortune Slot Machines How Do Casinos Make Money - March 9, 2008It seems pretty obvious that casinos make money. I mean how else would they build the fancy hotels and spend so much money luring the player into their pits. There are some of you out there though who look at this and still don’t understand how it is done, so this article focuses on how casinos make their money. Casinos make money on their games because of the mathematics behind the games. The house has a well-calculated advantage on each and every bet wagered. If they didn’t have...
Read more about How Do Casinos Make Money What is a String Raise? - March 8, 2008At our newly formed Thursday night poker club, I was informed that I couldn’t call a bet, and then raise. I used these words; “I’ll call your $20, and raise you another $20.” Someone objected and said that I couldn’t do that. I have seen this form of betting many times before, so enlighten me, am I wrong? Jeb S. Where you have seen “I’ll call your twenty, partner, then after a swig of JD, the gambler utters, I’ll raise you another twenty” is most...
Read more about What is a String Raise? Single Deck Blackjack – Common Rules & House Edge - March 8, 2008It seems like single deck blackjack games are becoming more common once again, but the trend in some casinos is to make the payoffs for blackjack 6:5 instead of the customary 3:2. Keep reading to see how this affects the overall dealer advantage. We advice players to play single deck blackjack games because if you play using perfect basic strategy on a single deck game the house edge shrinks to a meager 0.15%. Most casinos used to have single deck 3:2 games. But today, they are rarities, replaced...
Read more about Single Deck Blackjack – Common Rules & House Edge Skill in Throwing Craps Dice - March 8, 2008I was at the casino recently playing craps in a game where a guy threw the number seven about a dozen times without the point ever being made. Of course I was happy to be enjoying his luck until he starting telling us that he had the skill of willing the number seven. Of course, two hours later, he was broke. Now I don’t think there is such a thing as willing the numbers, but it got me wondering if there was any skill involved in throwing dice? The dice though have no idea who is throwing...
Read more about Skill in Throwing Craps Dice Simple Basic Strategy for Blackjack - March 8, 2008When people head out to Vegas they often want a crash course in how to play blackjack. Well it’s not quite that simple but we can make sure that you play as good as possible given your time constraints on learning the game. So here is the basic strategy that you are going to want to learn: If dealer shows 2 or 3 take cards until you have 13 or more. If dealer shows 4 5 or 6 take cards until you have 12 or more. If dealer shows 7 8 9 10 or Ace take cards until you have 17 or more. If you...
Read more about Simple Basic Strategy for Blackjack Odds on Natural Royal Flush in Video Poker - March 8, 2008You could almost bet someone a large amount that they would never be dealt a natural royal flush on a video poker machine and feel pretty safe that you are never going to have to pay up. With a 52-card deck there are 2,598,960 possible hands, and what you’re asking for is that one of them to be dealt straight away. Those are long, tall odds. And what about all that time and money spent chasing down a natural Royal flush in hearts? Well, here’s the barnyard math. At a buck and a quarter...
Read more about Odds on Natural Royal Flush in Video Poker Video Blackjack Odds - March 8, 2008If you want the video blackjack odds then take a look at the house edge and different strategies to help you win. We have frequently been asked about the house edge on Video Blackjack and how different rules and playing perfect strategy affect the odds against you. Many players like the smaller wager limits with the video version and the fact that they can play at my own slower pace. These visitors are right in that there are plenty of advantages to video blackjack with the low minimum bankroll required,...
Read more about Video Blackjack Odds Things to Do in Las Vegas - March 8, 2008With the Bodog.com Marketing Conference set to take place on July 23-25 we thought you might want to be prepared to get the most out of your trip to Sin City by giving you a list of things to do in Las Vegas. Yeah, we know – we here at BodogNation love drinking and gambling too – but what do you do if you need more from your Vegas experience? Perhaps, you’ve been to Vegas a thousand times, stayed at the MGM, swam at Mandalay Bay, ate at Nobu and got loaded at Rum Jungle, and now,...
Read more about Things to Do in Las Vegas Splitting Eights in Blackjack - March 8, 2008If you have ever taken a look at a basic strategy card, book on blackjack, or an experts column online then you will always see they recommend splitting eights against a dealer 10. However, many players realize that they are going to end up losing even with two different 8′s going against the dealer 10, so they depart from optimal play and just hit instead of splitting. While this is a hand that hurts most players, you have to realize that the perfect strategy tries to minimize losses at times...
Read more about Splitting Eights in Blackjack Spanish 21 - March 8, 2008Spanish 21 is a variation of blackjack that is one of the best bets in a casino. In locations where the dealer stands on a soft 17 or redoubling is allowed, Spanish 21 is probably a better bet than blackjack, depending on the specific blackjack rules. If you are looking for a change of pace from traditional blackjack but insist on a game with a low house edge you may find new excitement in Spanish 21. The Rules Spanish 21 uses six or eight Spanish decks, each deck consisting of 48 cards —...
Read more about Spanish 21 Roulette Rules in Atlantic City & Las Vegas - March 8, 2008Many of you would be surprised to find out that the Roulette rules in Atlantic City are different than they are in Las Vegas. That is good news if you are in AC but bad news if you are in Sin City. When you make an even-money bet (red/black, odd/even, 1-18/9-36) in Atlantic City, you lose only half your wager if the roulette ball lands on 0 or 00. These outside wagers cut the house edge down from 5.26 to 2.63%. Keep in mind that this advantage is only in effect for even-money bets. For even better...
Read more about Roulette Rules in Atlantic City & Las Vegas Do Casinos Pump Oxygen? - March 7, 2008There is a popular myth out there that the casinos in Las Vegas pump oxygen through the air conditioning system to enrich the air. The theory behind this is that the oxygen keeps you from sleeping as long and therefore you will be more inclined to gamble your money away. However, this is an old urban legend that doesn’t have any real fact behind it. What comes to mind every time I hear this rumor are the three Apollo astronauts who died when a small spark combined with oxygen ignited their...
Read more about Do Casinos Pump Oxygen? No Call Bets - March 6, 2008There may have been a time at the craps table when you heard the dealer call out no call bets. Here is a typical kind of situation. You have been playing for an extended session when you run out of chips with the exception of a lone $5 chip in hand, and whatever you had on the the Pass line and its odds. You toss your $5 chip on the table and yell out to place the 6 for $25, then reach for your wallet for the additional money when the dealer yells back “No Call Bets” and shoves...
Read more about No Call Bets How Random Number Generators Work on Slot Machines - March 5, 2008We’ve all seen it happen if we have spent enough time in the casino. You go through your roll of quarters on a cold machines and then make your move hoping that your luck will change. Then some other patron steps up to the machine that you just left and starts pumping quarters in, only to hit a $10,000 jackpot in the first minute, leaving them incredibly happy and you scratching your head on how you could have been such an idiot to leave that machine. However, don’t let this fool you. A...
Read more about How Random Number Generators Work on Slot Machines Las Vegas Restaurants - March 4, 2008When you need a break from gambling and are looking to get refreshed, check out our Las Vegas restaurants to enjoy the best dinning experiences. Some of the best chefs in the world can now be found at these massive and expensive hotels. There are a bunch of reasons why people head to Las Vegas. There’s gambling, shows, the fact that you can stumble around with a beer and you won’t get arrested. Now there is the food. The tradition of fine dining in Las Vegas is a long one and it’s...
Read more about Las Vegas Restaurants Las Vegas Golf Courses - March 4, 2008Some people like to gamble, others need a break and they will look for the best Las Vegas golf courses available. Let us be your guide if you are looking to get away from the casino for a bit and enjoy yourself in the Vegas sun. When you come to Las Vegas you’re not looking to get the same old song and dance that you can get back home and Vegas understands this. The courses you find in this city are some of the most beautiful and challenging in the world. No wonder more and more people are going...
Read more about Las Vegas Golf Courses Best Las Vegas Bars - March 4, 2008If you are making a trip to Sin City then you need to know this list of some of the coolest and best Las Vegas bars. With so much happening, Vegas can be a little overwhelming, so here are a few of the more fabulous (and infamous) bars to check out. Rum Jungle – The Mandalay Bay If you’re in Vegas then you’ll probably be interested in taking in some of its more carnivalesque bar atmosphere. Rum Jungle is a zoo with a dress code; go-go dancers in cages, waterfalls, trapeze artists flipping around...
Read more about Best Las Vegas Bars Large Bets at Binions - March 4, 2008There was an episode of CSI that talked about a guy who went into a Las Vegas casino and bet one millions dollars on one roll of the dice. He lost. Even though this is a fictional TV show and not real life, this story is based on some fact. The old Binion’s Horseshoe Casino was a favorite among people who wanted the best odds in town without a lot of extras. One of our favorites stories from this casino was that of an adventurous gambler named William Lee Bergstrom from Austin, Texas. Bergstrom...
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