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Create A Game Plan And Then Follow It

When most players plan a trip to the casino, they really have no idea what they are going to play. They will wander around until something catches their attention and sit down. If you go to the casino thinking that you are going to lose $100, that’s probably exactly what will happen if you don’t have a plan.

May I suggest that before you head out to the casino you put together a game plan. The first rule is to keep your emotions out of your game. Just like in life, if you have emotions involved in a decision you tend to make bad choices. When you look at something from a logical point of view, you tend to make better decisions. The second rule is to have a loss limit and stick to it. If you have a problem doing that, leave your ATM and credit cards at home. If you’re a slot machine player, compare payouts. Many machines that look the same have different pay schedules. Knowing which ones pay the best will help your money last longer too. If you’re a video poker player, compare payouts. The same machine with the exact game can have different payouts in different parts of the casino.

If you are going to play blackjack, at least know basic strategy and be able to play it without hesitation. Flashcards are a good way to practice at home to help you master basic strategy. While at the table, focus on the game. There is nothing more frustrating for players at the blackjack table than someone not paying attention when it’s their turn to stand, hit, split or double. It slows the game down and other players may not say anything but they are not thinking happy thoughts about you. If you’re a beginner, it’s not a bad idea to go on a slow night and get one-on-one with a dealer who is willing to help you. After all, we were all beginners at one time. Being considerate of other players goes a long way in making sure everyone has a fun time at the casino.

The main point here is to learn everything that you can about the game or games that you intend to play. There is a lot of information in this magazine about most games. Find out all you can about a game, then you can decide if it’s a game you want to play. There are many ways to go about doing your research and I must caution you about information available on websites, posts or videos on social media, and YouTube videos. There is a lot of noise out there online, most of it is inaccurate at best. I personally have two video poker machines at my house that were once used in the casino. As a result, I can tell you everything there is about the different games and the way they can be set for odds.

One thing that you will find that is true with all casinos is they are very good at taking your money. Ultimately, a casino is a business. Businesses make money. By being an informed player you can make their job more difficult and at the same time make your money last longer.

If you would like to be the one that has the winning edge over the casino, my new book, How To Become A Blackjack Jedi by TJ Jorgensen, is available on Amazon in both hard copy and eBook format. I teach how to overcome the house advantage. After all, it’s much more fun to win than it is to lose. Who knows, you might even improve your overall blackjack playing skills too! $

Writer TJ Jorgensen has been a professional Blackjack player for over 20 years. He is well known for his tournament play and has beaten some of the top tournament players in the world. He has also won the World Series Of Blackjack. His newest book “How To Become A Blackjack Jedi” is available online at Amazon.com.

GET A HUNCH—BET A BUNCH

A Word Of Caution For The Sports Wagering Impulse

The lure of sports wagering is that it’s easy, right? Just pick your favorite team and win every time they win! But don’t do what the title says! Betting on a hunch leads to bankroll blues.

Sports wagering is finally legal in Arizona, from Chase Field (Caesars Entertainment/Diamondbacks) to WynnBET at Apache Gold Casino and 14 other sites. Much of the wagering will be via mobile, but each partnership must be anchored to a physical place, like Footprint Center or the Phoenix Raceway. That’s a win for the local sports locations and casinos. But is it a win for you? Only if you do your homework!

Smart Sports Wagering

To start with, be careful betting on teams you love! Most of us like action on games we watch but don’t let sentiment make your decisions for you. Some players go as far as to never wager on their favorite teams. You could do worse to start!

You learned the rules of blackjack before you raised your bets, right? Do the same with sports wagering. Learn the system, and you’ll do much better – just like learning basic strategy at blackjack.

To begin with, the vigorish on sports wagering starts at about 9%. A standard wager is $11 to win $10, and it gets tougher from there. That means if you make all your football wagers this season at 11/10, you’ll need to win 53 games and lose only 47 to break even. If you are wagering on the winner/loser of the game, there’s also that sticky point spread thing.

If you bet $110 on the Cardinals at home to beat the ‘Niners but have to give up 3.5 points, you’ll lose your wager if the ‘Niners win outright or if the Cards win by less than 4 points. What to do?

Our Best Sports Wagering Advice

Like all forms of wagering, you should set a bankroll for your action. Whatever that bankroll is, break the total down to at least ten bets; 20 would be better. Then make the same wager on each game. Having a hunch that Team “A” is going to do well Sunday, so you’ll bet a bunch is a flawed system! You can’t know with certainty which game is worth a larger wager.

Watching some games is essential, not just recaps that tend to make you think Joe X is a great quarterback when the truth is that he had one good game. And, keep track of which teams have top players on the disabled list and won’t play. The line will move with that information, but if you count on a star who’s out of action, you’ll find your bankroll is soon out of action too.

Finally, be aware that popular teams (Saints, Cowboys, Packers, and now the Bucs and Chiefs) may get lopsided point spreads. Consider taking the underdog if the spread is ugly to keep your bankroll pretty!

If you take the underdog on the money line, you don’t have to win that many wagers to make a profit. Betting on close games where the underdog is at home and getting +1.50 or more can boost your bankroll significantly. You might also consider splitting your bankroll into point spread and money line wagers and see how you do! $

Writer Al Moe has worked in the casino industry for many years. He has lived and worked in Las Vegas, Reno, and Lake Tahoe. He also attended the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an avid writer and blogger. His book, “Vegas and the Mob," is available online at Amazon.com. He is also the proud father of four beautiful girls.