I play occasionally, twice a week
Dear Mark,
I've got a dinner riding on this. My husband believes that
you, being conservative when it comes to casino gambling,
would never play the lottery. Do you? Rachel P.
I once asked a friend of mine if he ever played the lotto
and he fired back, "I play occasionally, twice a week."
Slightly different than my personal approach, mainly because
I come from a background of evaluating odds in every playing
situation. So yes, I'll come clean and confess I play, but
only when the jackpot is close to the true odds of hitting
a (California) 6/51 ticket-which happens to be one in 18,009,460.
Now as for lotto strategy, I just play quick-pick numbers.
Quick-picks provide a more random spread of numbers coupled
with the fact that the pot isn't divided up as much as when
you play birthday or sequence numbers. Obviously this will
result in a much larger payoff if you win.
Here's what I mean, Rachel. One of the most popular number
combinations in every state lottery is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Illustrating
this, I'll use the September, 1990, Florida $106 million
jackpot as an example. Won by six players, the jackpot netted
the chosen few $17 million apiece. Sure, we'll all take
that without complaining, but for that same jackpot, more
than 52,000 people played the numbers 1-2-3-4-5-6. See how
playing a sequence combination of numbers will affect the
payoffs to eventual winners? The same can be said with those
lucky birthday dates as well.
Over 65% of the numbers played in most state lotteries are
under 31.
So, Rachel, you win the dinner, and that's how I play. Close
to true odds, and random numbers.
Dear Mark,
One thing I like about the casino I play in is the way they
handle coins. They don't. You insert bills and play on credits
only. When you cash out, the machine prints a ticket and
you take it to the cashier's cage (within 2 hours). It really
is cleaner. Do you agree? Donny M.
Donny,
you didn't mention the casino by name, but I suspect it's
on an Indian Reservation because many operate using this
method of coin exchange-for which I firmly give two thumbs
down! Why? Because you become prisoner to one machine-which
has a huge built-in mathematical edge-putting the casino
in position to grind the $20 right out of you.
Let's get realistic here. Who really has the discipline
to get up from that cushy seat, walk over to the cashier's
cage, turn in the credit slip for cash, and then find another
suitable machine? Far too many undisciplined players just
won't free themselves from this ball and chain scenario
and, unfortunately, will play their credits down to nothing.
So $20 inserted most likely becomes $20 for the casino.
Dear
Mark,
What is the difference between a soft comp and a hard comp?
Leta R.
Before you try strong-arming a casino to get your fair share of comps, it behooves you to know the difference between a hard comp and a soft comp. One is much easier to get from the casino than the other. Hard comps are reimbursements for airline tickets, golf, concerts, off-site casino shows or anything else that would cost the casino real out-of-pocket dollars. Soft comps are cocktails, restaurant expenses and shows that the casinos produce themselves. Whales (high limit players) can get anything their hearts desire, but if you're a low-limit player, go for a soft comp because casinos technically purchase them wholesale and bill them to a comp account retail.
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