5-Count Don't betting and big VP and slot wins!

Hi Frank:

I read your book “Casino Craps: Shoot to Win!” and was fascinated by the 5-Count. It will save me some money! But if the 5-Count reduces one’s exposure by betting on only 43 percent of the random rolls, wouldn’t it be advantageous to bet the Don’t Pass on the other 57 percent? It would seem that one could place a minimum bet on the “Don’t Pass” for each new shooter and then switch to the Pass Line if/when the shooter makes his point.

Thanks for your comments.

Fred P.

Dear Fred:

Your plan, unfortunately, doesn’t work. The very first roll when the shooter is coming out is the killer for the “Don’t Pass” bettor as he has eight ways to lose and only three ways to win – and those numbers explain why the house has an edge over “Don’t” bettors.

Your plan will not help you and will merely have you face the house edge on the “Don’t” -- saving you no money at all.

For your letter, I am sending you a free copy of my book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos,

Frank Scoblete


Dear Frank:

I’d like to add my story.

I was playing blackjack at the Imperial Palace on the Vegas Strip back in 2002. Whenever I’d lose $50, I’d go over to a multi-denomination video poker bank and always win back enough to go back to the tables.

I had to check out of my hotel the next day to drive back home to Colorado, so around 2 a.m. I went back to the video poker bank with the thought to play a few hands. I kept hitting on quarters, and it was getting so late that I upped it to play the 50-cent denomination. It still kept paying, so around 3 a.m., I switched to dollars. I was so tired that at first I didn’t realize what was happening when the machine “froze” with an all-red screen. Then I realized I’d hit a diamond royal flush. An attendant walked by about that time and said, “Oh, you just won $4,000!” I replied, “No, I won 4,000 credits” and then realized I was playing dollars!

My hands were shaking so when they counted out those $100 bills that I could hardly hold onto them. Then — after tipping everyone — I had to put on a sad “Oh, I lost all of my money” face to walk back to my hotel a block away at 3:30 AM. That was the 4th Royal I’ve ever hit in 40 years of playing — the others were on nickel or quarter machines — and it was really memorable.

Hazel

Dear Hazel:

Those rare monster wins are so much fun -- too bad they don’t happen all the time!

For your letter I am sending you a free copy of my book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete


Dear Frank,

I enjoy your articles, but being a citizen of the United States I have the right to sometimes, but very seldom, disagree with your articles. I used to be the person who sought out new slot machines. Not only did I win regularly when they were first placed on the floor, but I won small jackpots regularly. These machines were also hard to play as everyone else must have had the same results as me.

A few months after being on the floor the wins become fewer and fewer and access gets easier and easier. A year or so later no one is playing the game. When I get a head, I sometimes try these machines again and usually there are no bonuses or even small wins. If you do get to the bonus it is a small payout and sometimes no payout at all. I suggest the casinos have the machines set for frequent payouts in the beginning to get people playing, then they set them to infrequent winnings with no small payouts.

To keep legal as to payout percentage they are programmed for one large payout at the payout percentage set for that machine. That way when someone does win they tell all of their friends who continue to chase the big jackpot and the casinos are the winners as they keep people coming back. The machine still pays out the same percentage but they get more word of mouth from it. The more people they have coming back the more they make. No one talks about a $50 win but everyone hears about anything over a $1,000.

From Years of Experience,
Howard

Dear Howard:

You stopped playing the machines because you stopped winning. If others are not playing the machines for the same reason, a few big jackpots here or there will not bring them back. They haven’t brought you back.

I think that your individual experiences with new machines, while great, is no indication that machines are changed. The hit frequencies and payouts generally stay the same. It is not common for casinos to change the programming of new machines.

Still, I am quite happy that you have won on those new machines the first few go-arounds.

For your letter I am sending you a free copy of my book “The Virgin Kiss.”

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.