Casino loyalty deserves slot club compensation
Dear Mark,
I understand the latest rave in slot play is joining a slot
club. Numerous casino slot hosts continue to approach me
asking if I would be interested in participating. I don't
want to waste my time filling out applications, but, I reward
myself by searching out 9/6 video poker machines that pay
a decent return. Am I missing something? George R.
Missing something? Yes! Just by being a certified card-carrying
member of a slot club you can receive up to a one percent
cash rebate while playing video poker. On a full-pay Jacks
or better 9/6 video poker machine with an expected return
of 99.6%, you now command a positive expectation of 100.1%.
Yes, George, this is a mathematical edge against a cybernetic
one-armed bandit the whole time you're playing.
Though the equation for perks differs from casino to casino, this is what I typically receive with my Tropicana's Island Winner Club card after eight hours of play on a 25¢ video poker machine: four free meal comps, a $60 room discount and at least an $80 cash rebate. In addition, they send me goodies in the mail-two-for-one buffet coupons, room discounts, invitations to casino events and even free gifts.
The
Tropicana pays me for my loyalty. And what are you getting?
ZIPPO!
In
the future, George, make yourself a sought-after guest.
Simply fill out as many slot club application cards as you
can get your hands on and start making the casinos compete
for your business. Join me in the VIP line at the buffet.
Dear Mark,
Please end a discussion among friends. When using your club
card in any game machine or slot, exactly what does it track?
Paper or coins in, payment out, time and date? R. H.
Most casino slots today have a fully automated player tracking
system, or SMART-Slot Marketing and Revenue Tracking. With
the swipe of your slot club card, onboard software knows
your name, address, interests, denomination of play, favorite
machines, how much you have invested, your winnings at any
given hour and if you have a dog named Sparky. Tell a slot
host any pertinent information about yourself and it's fair
game for the casino's computer database.
On
the plus side, your information helps them with direct-mail
campaigns informing you of promotions, upcoming slot tournaments,
parties, reduced room rates, casino events and most importantly,
comps, comps, comps.
Shades of 1984? Probably, but player gratuities far outweigh
Big Brother knowing the date of your wedding anniversary.
Dear
Mark,
I have been going to my local casino for about six months,
and I mostly play blackjack, but recently have been playing
the electronic roulette machines. Is the sequence of numbers
pre-programmed, or is it a random number determined by the
machine at the time of the roll? Also, what is the best
bet to make when playing roulette? I have seen players blanket
the whole board, and some just keep betting on the same
numbers until they come up. Barry S.
Assuming
programming integrity, all spins are random, which, Barry,
is what you can expect in regulated casinos as there is
no reason for the house to risk breaking the law and lose
their valuable casino license by programming the machines
to beat you.
As for the best bet in roulette, there really isn't any.
All bets on a double zero roulette table hold the same 5.26%
house advantage, with one exception; the five-number bet
(0, 00, 1, 2, 3). The casino edge on that wager is 7.9%.
Dear
Mark,
What are some of the advantages the casino holds over the
player in blackjack? Bart D.
The ONLY advantage the casino has over the player in blackjack is that the casino plays last. If you bust and so does the dealer, the house already has your money in the tray. Player skills, or lack of them, are really what are going to determine your success in a casino. The casino, Bart, doesn't beat you; it merely gives you the opportunity to beat yourself.
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