Where'd my money go?
Dear
Mark,
When on a fast paced crap game, I tend to lose track of
my come bets.
Sometimes the dealer is handling my money so fast that I
cannot see where he put my money. The layout is confusing
enough, but how do I really know for certain that my money
is properly put where it belongs, and being paid, especially
when the dice are moving so fast?
Jerry C.
As
intimidating as a crap table layout looks, it is intelligently
designed so that the dealer can track all the play on the
table, even on a jam-up game when dice and dollars are flying.
If you loose sight of your come bet, Jerry, or any bet for
that matter, fret not. The dealer has geographically
placed your wager in the correct box and in alignment with
your playing position on the crap table, so it will not
be mixed up with others. The only way your money will get
"lost in action" is by making poor bet choices
on the game, wagers that could have a house edge as high
as 16%.
Dear Mark,
Exactly what do you mean by the term "bankroll?"
Hank M.
A bankroll is a pre-set amount of "disposable" cash set aside for leisure activities, like gambling. If you lose it, you still have enough money to get home in your own car not a $200,000 Greyhound put food in the refrigerator, and braces on junior's teeth. If gambling is your sole profession, your bankroll naturally shrinks to allow for alimony and child support payments.
Dear Mark,
An accepted method for geezers to hold off the ravages of
senile dementia, Alzheimer's or other debilities of age,
is vigorous mental activities thus to avoid the buildup
of nasty amyloid clumps/tangles which push us of the senior
persuasion into la-la land. Gotta' keep the old brain moist
and working. Sure, library visits, lecture attendance, thinking
helps, but let's have a little fun here; I love the challenge
of Las Vegas. Anyhow, I came across your Deal Me In column
in our Washington newspaper. Being a charter member of your
KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) club, I usually hit on a 16
if the dealer shows 7 through A. Am I using all my gray
matter? Ray. R
I
would say so, Ray. Based on your entertaining prose, you
are doing just fine. And your inclination to hit those worthless
16's, yep, your brain cells are still firing at 100%. Many
players believe they get more than their fair share of those
pesky 16's. But actually a breakdown of the 1326
possible hands of a deck of 52 cards, shows the hard 16
wielding its ugly face 6.003% of the time. Probabilities
books, computer studies, the experts, they all say the same
thing: Whack that 16 when the dealer shows a 7 through Ace.
Dear Mark,
Does the casino base how much I receive in comps by how
much I win or lose on a slot machine? Mary N.
Neither,
Mary. The casino does not base its slot club benefits on
your win/loss totals. True, it does keep records of when
you win or lose, but comp decisions are based on the amount
of money you insert in their one-armed bandits. Here's how
it works. The casino will take your original
buy-in, plus the winnings you have re-inserting, either
by coin or credit, then figure your value to them as a patron,
rewarding comps accordingly. For example: If you were to
cycle $500 an hour through a 25¢ video poker machine,
your total after an eight hour stint would be $4,000. With
that kind of action again, win or lose your worth to the
casino would warrant a freebie spread (of $40 and $120 depending
on the casino) of rooms, food and beverages (RFB's in gambling
jargon).
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