NOVEMBER - DECEMBER 2022 - VOL. 24 ISSUE 6 GAMINGANDDESTINATIONS.COM $5.00
POKER:
CALLING WITH SMALL PAIRS PAGE 14
READERS’ CHOICE
VOTING BALLOT: VOTE TODAY! PAGE 22
WINTER GAMING
GETAWAYS:
OUR TOP PICKS PAGE 4
PLUS: TIPS ON BLACKJACK • CRAPS • VIDEO POKER & MORE! Covering casinos in Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, and more!
THERE ARE CASINOS AND THERE ARE CELEBRITY CASINOS
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©2022 Celebrity Cruises Inc. Ship’s registry: Malta and Ecuador.
IN THIS ISSUE DON’T MISS OUT!
SPOTLIGHTS
STRATEGY
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Readers’ Choice Awards … Vote Today! It’s time for our annual Readers’ Choice Awards presented by Celebrity Cruises and your chance to win the Ultimate Casino Getaway. Check out the voting ballot on page 22 for details and how to enter your picks for the best casino in the region… Good Luck!
Casino Scene: Hot Happenings at Our Preferred Properties Get the scoop on what’s happening at our preferred properties around the region.
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Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort Mt. Pleasant, Michigan
ON THE COVER 4
Winter Gaming Getaways:
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Our top picks for great properties from around the region.
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Property Profile:
Property Profile: Island Resort & Casino Harris, Michigan
Craps: Pass Line & Come Bets
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Roulette: Cashing in on Half-Back
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Poker: Texas Hold ‘em Calling with Small Pairs
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Sports Betting: Check out the odds for future sporting events and the betting trends of each. Find your spot and wager when ready!
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GAMING AND DESTINATIONS
CASINO SCENE
HOT HAPPENINGS AT OUR PREFERRED CASINOS, RACETRACKS AND MORE. We are excited to continue to publish our top picks for entertainment, promotions and other features from Preferred Properties of Gaming and Destinations. These properties are supporters of G&D and we encourage you to check them out on your next gaming adventure. For more hot happenings and gaming news, visit GamingandDestinations.com.
(Philadelphia, MS) Pearl River Resort is one of the premier gaming and entertainment destinations in the South. Featuring two hotels and casinos with the Silver Star Hotel & Casino and the Golden Moon Hotel & Casino boasting over 1,000 rooms, a luxurious spa, award-winning dining and more, your options of luxurious living won’t run short. Also take advantage of two-championship golf courses at the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club that are regularly featured as top courses to play in the country. Pearl River is also known for having some of the best entertainment in the South including Travis Tritt on November 12. For reservations and more information, call 1-866-447-3275 or visit PearlRiverResort.com. (Baton Rouge, LA) L’auberge Baton Rouge - L’auberge Baton Rouge is Baton Rouge’s premier gaming, dining, entertainment, and lodging destination! Enjoy live entertainment in The Event Center featuring Better Than Ezra (Nov. 4), Grits & Glamour (Nov. 11), Trace Adkins (Dec. 2) and a Big New Year’s Bash (Dec. 31) that you won’t want to miss! Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets. Riverbend Terrace II is also now open! Featuring 2,400 sq. ft. of open-air gaming, over 91 slot machines, 5 table games and an entertainment bar. For more information, call 866261-7777 or visit LBatonRouge.com. (Hot Springs, AR) Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort – Don’t miss great gaming and headlining entertainment at Oaklawn including Little River Band (Nov. 26), comedian Ron White (Dec 30), Great White & Slaughter (Jan. 21) and Tracy Byrd (Feb. 25). Plus, stay and play on your next visit in Oaklawn’s new luxurious hotel and enjoy a resort-style pool and the relaxing Astral Spa. For more information and reservations, call 1-800-625-5296 or visit Oaklawn.com (Tunica, MS) Hollywood Casino Tunica – Get a taste of the glitz and glamor of the stars at Hollywood Casino Tunica. After checking out the amazing collection of memorabilia around the property, guests can enjoy the award-winning Fairbanks Steakhouse for one of the best dining experiences in the region and then stay in a 5-story tower overlooking the casino floor and an 8-story tower next to the largest indoor pool in Tunica. Also check out the River Bend Links Golf Course and for a sweet treat, try a delicious Frappuccino at the new Hollywood & Grind coffee shop to round out your stay. For more information, call 1-800-871-0711 or visit HollywoodCasinoTunica.com. River Bend Links Golf Course and the Epic Buffet to round out your stay. For more information, call 1-800-871-0711 of visit HollywoodCasinoTunica.com. Celebrity Cruises - Discover luxury cruises to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska and more with a variety of options and destinations with Celebrity Cruises. Offering ports of departure in Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Tampa, Florida, as well as California, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Washington, cruisers should be able to find a convenience destination to start your vacation. There are always special offers and packages to take advantage of at CelebrityCruises.com. Check it out and start your adventure today! 2
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(Mount Pleasant, MI) Soaring Eagle Casino Resort – If you are looking for great gambling and a full resort experience, look no further than Soaring Eagle. With 210,000 square-feet of gaming space, five hundred rooms and suites, and a Spa & Salon with everything you need to relax and be pampered. Also be sure to check out the array of dining options to fill any appetite that include Legends Diner, Ascend Sports Book & Lounge and more. Plus, don’t miss headliner entertainment with Babyface (Nov. 11), A Johnny Mathis Christmas (Dec. 3), Loverboy & Night Ranger (Dec. 9), Little River Band (Dec. 17), Flor Rida (Dec. 27) and Pam Tillis and Lorie Morgan (Dec. 29) and be sure to check out their New Year’s Eve 2023 Party (Dec. 31). For information, and reservations, call 1-877-232-4532 or visit SoaringEagleCasino.com.
(Bowler, WI) North Star Mohican Casino Resort – As if you ever needed a reason for a gambling getaway, North Star certainly has plenty of them to ensure your stay is great from the second you step in the lobby. Guests enjoy great gambling with over 1,200 machines, plenty of table games including blackjack, Three Card Poker, Let it Ride, Craps and more. Also, book a room in their luxurious contemporary hotel or the 57-site RV Park with 20-30-and 50-amp service, pull thru sites, picnic table area and pet friendly. Also check out top entertainment and events at North Star including Tracy Byrd (Nov. 12) and Marie Osmond (Dec. 16). For more information and reservations, call 1-800-952-0195 or visit NorthStarCasinoResort.com. (Harris, Michigan) Island Resort and Casino – If you are looking for great gambling, golf, entertainment, dining and more, look no further than Island Resort and Casino. The hotel offers casual, modern rooms that include flat-screen TVs and premium mattresses, and the suites have sitting areas and whirlpool tubs with some having kitchenettes and casino floor views. There are four dining options at the property, an indoor pool, spa, fitness center and championship-style golf course. When it comes to entertainment, Island Resort rolls out the red carpet with a variety of acts across all genres. Don’t miss country star Mitchell Tenpenny (Nov. 18), A Magical Christmas with Elvis feat. Doug Allen Nash (Dec. 8), A Sawyer Brown Christmas (Dec. 16) and The Purple Madness Prince Tribute (Jan. 7). For more information and reservations, call 1-800-682-6040 or visit IslandResortandCasino.com. (Coastal Mississippi) As the website says, “When you visit The Secret Coast, you will be met with warm welcomes and 62 miles of shoreline dotted by unique coastal communities.” This is a perfect description of the Southern destination loaded with casinos, great golf, restaurants and more. Get more information about the area and other events and entertainment at GulfCoast.org.
(Vicksburg, MS) Ameristar Casino Hotel - Ameristar is committed to creating a magical experience for every guest, and that goes for their room rates too. In addition to AARP, AAA and other discounts, the property also honors a “Best Rate Guarantee” that ensures you will get the best possible rate when you book your room and if happen to find a lower rate within 24 hours of making your reservation, they will happily match the rate. Enjoy! For reservations and more information, call 1-601-630-3786 visit AmeristarVicksburg.com. G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
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WINTER GAMING GETAWAYS: OUR TOP PICKS
Celebrity Cruises® 1-888-751-7804│CelebrityCruises.com Celebrity Cruises® knows that as a player you want the best of everything when you go on vacation. That’s exactly what you’ll find aboard Celebrity Cruises’ award-winning fleet of 16 stunning ships. The moment you step aboard and see the attention to detail in everything, you will know you’re in for an extraordinary journey. Enjoy stylish accommodations, the finest dining at sea, personalized service, and of course, a first-rate casino. Additionally, you will travel the world and experience both unforgettable and unique adventures. The casino team spared no expense in reinventing the casino concept to deliver a unique gaming experience at sea. Inspired by the finest gaming establishments around the world, the Celebrity casinos offer the same excitement and captivating atmosphere with extra touches including complimentary cocktails while you play. Enjoy your favorite table games and the latest slot machines. In addition to a refined but vibrant gaming environment, there is also personalized gaming experience options that include limits adjusted to your playing profile, late hours, and actionpacked tournaments for players of all levels. For a gaming getaway you’ll never forget place your bets on Celebrity Cruises. Are you new to Celebrity Cruises? There has never been a better time to sail. Visit CelebrityCruises.com/casino or email bluechipclub@ celebrity.com to learn more about the unique gaming vacation experience that awaits you. 4
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L’auberge Casino Hotel Baton Rouge 1-866-261-7777│LBatonRouge.com Luxury is the name of the game this winter at L’auberge Baton Rouge. Cheer your team to victory in the brand-new Barstool Sportsbook, complete with a full bar and restaurant, a 22x12 foot big screen TV, and a state-of-the-art sports betting area. Then, up the ante at one of 50 table games, take a pull on one of 1,400 slot machines, or try your luck in a hand of poker. At the end of a long day, cozy up next to one of the larger-thanlife fireplaces with a fresh cup of local coffee from PJ’s Café and take in the sweeping views of the mighty Mississippi. Rest easy in a luxury guestroom or spice it up in a suite. Call up an in-room massage to take your experience to the next level. L’auberge Baton Rouge is the ideal spot for a relaxing Winter gaming getaway.
Pearl River Resort
(Philadelphia, Mississippi)
1-866-447-3275│PearlRiverResort.com Pearl River Resort is the South’s premier gaming getaway featuring two casino properties with each offering an array of luxurious amenities and offerings for guests. The Golden Moon Hotel & Casino is a marvel of modern architecture with a sweeping structure ascending to a large golden moon sitting on top of the highest point. Inside the hotel, guests will find 600 rooms, 1,150 slots machines, 25 table games and a 14-table poker room. Also on the property is Silver Star Hotel & Casino that has an additional 500 rooms, a 90,000 square foot casino floor and several great dining outlets and amenities. Together, the two properties offer ten delicious and diverse dining options from premium steak and seafood at Phillip M’s to more casual cuisine at Stat’s Sports Bar & Grill or Mama ‘n’ Em. Guests can relax in the world-class spa located at Silver Star, and in the warmer month’s play golf at two premium golf courses at the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club. Pearl River Resort is a great gaming getaway any time of year and we recommend staying for a few days to be able to enjoy all they have to offer.
Hollywood Tunica (Tunica, Mississippi)
1-800-871-0711│ HollywoodCasinoTunica.com Hollywood Casino in Tunica, Mississippi is home to more movie memorabilia than anywhere in the region. In addition to the bat mobile, movie props and a sinking Titanic, the property boasts 400 rooms in a 5-story tower with rooms overlooking the casino and an 8-story tower with rooms overlooking the massive indoor pool. Whether it’s live or electronic tables games, the latest slots and video poker machines or betting on your favorite teams in the sportsbook, you will live it up like a Hollywood star from the moment you step onto the property. There are several dining options from casual bites at Celebrity Grill or Hollywood & Grind to the elegant and fancy Fairbanks Steakhouse. Treat yourself like a star and be sure to check out Hollywood on your next trip to Tunica.
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Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort (Hot Springs, Arkansas) 1-800-625-5296│Oaklawn.com In the early 1900’s, Oaklawn Park was known as a “Gentleman’s Resort of the Highest Class”, offering the wealthy and elite a place to entertain and be entertained. Now known as Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort, the destination has certainly lasted the test of time and is a premium regional gaming resort offering first class thoroughbred racing as well as world-class gaming and amenities. The luxurious hotel offers all of the amenities you could want with plush rooms overlooking the racetrack, a full-service spa, outdoor pool and several dining options and lounges to kick back and relax. Also enjoy live music in the casino and bars and headlining entertainment in the event center.
Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort (Mt. Pleasant, Michigan)
1-888-732-4537│SoaringEagleCasino.com Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is one of Michigan’s top gaming destinations featuring a lavish hotel, great casino action and dining options for everyone. The hotel offers a variety of rooms ranging from a Deluxe Fireplace Room or Air Jet Tub room to the ultra-posh Imperial King Suite featuring a fireplace a king size bed and more. Dining options range from the likes of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Siniikaung Steak & Chop House and Ascend to more casual bites at Legends Diner or Water Lily Lounge. Guests can also enjoy a massage and some pampering at the Spa and Salon located at the property and is a great place to unwind and relax. When it comes to entertainment, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has been voted the Best Outdoor Concert venue in Michigan, and has won countless awards for bringing in toptiered talent to the middle of the state. Be sure to check out their website for the latest headliners coming to the stage at Soaring Eagle. And last but certainly not least, the casino at Soaring Eagle is second to none and is Michigan’s largest gaming floor. Whether you like to play triple sevens, Texas Hold ‘em or table games, you will be sure to find what you’re looking for to keep you entertained for hours.
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North Star Mohican Casino Resort (Bowler, Wisconsin)
1-800-952-0195│ NorthStarCasinoResort.com North Star Mohican Casino Resort is a premium Wisconsin gaming destination located about an hour northeast of Green Bay. The property is home to a lavish casino, a luxurious hotel, headlining entertainment, full-service RV Park and a championship-style golf course giving guests everything they need right at their fingertips. In the casino, enjoy the latest slot machines and table games where you can kick back and relax in a spacious and well-lit gaming floor with friendly staff to make your experience the best it can be. Be sure to check out North Star the next time you are in the area.
Island Resort and Casino (Harris, Michigan)
1-800-682-6040│IslandResortandCasino.com Plan the perfect Winter Getaway to the Island Resort and Casino. The Splash Island indoor pool area includes a large hot tub, two waterslides and a lazy river. Treat yourself to a refreshing and tranquil oasis at the Drift Spa with one of the many professional Spa and salon services – manicures and pedicures, revitalizing facials, soothing massage options, seasonal body treatments and the new Float Therapy. The Drift Spa also has a fitness center and an adult-only saltwater pool. Your total experience also includes over 450 guest rooms with plenty of indoor fun including gaming, casual and fine dining, live entertainment, sports betting, and a gift shop with Island souvenirs, jewelry, and unique gift items.
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Escape to
pearl River resort
Pearl River Resort is a spectacular blend of casino thrills, family-style fun and dazzling live entertainment with down-home Southern hospitality and warmth. Escape to the historic, rolling hills of Choctaw, Mississippi, and engage in infinite diversions with world-class casinos, timeless and comfortable accommodations, a 14-table Poker Room, marvelous restaurants, two award-winning golf courses, European-style Spa, full-service Sportsbook, and so much more!
PLAN YOUR VISIT AT PEARLRIVERRESORT.COM OR CALL 1.866.447.3275
CHOCTAW, MS
PearlRiverResort.com
G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
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PROPERTY PROFILE:
SOARING EAGLE CASINO RESORT MT. PLEASANT, MICHIGAN | 1-888-732-4537 | SOARINGEAGLECASINO.COM
YOUR GETAWAY. REIMAGINED.
As you can probably guess, one of the hardest things about any group trip is making sure everybody has a good time. That’s why it makes sense to go to a place where they can do it all. At Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort, guests can experience it all – whatever their idea of fun is. Everything from an action-packed gambling casino to awesome restaurants to a full-service salon and spa, planning the perfect group trip has never been easier. Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is the ultimate place to have a winning time; and with good reason, as it is home to Michigan’s largest gaming floor! Whether they love playing for triple sevens or putting on a mean poker face, all guests can really win big with one of the largest collections of (and biggest variety of) slot machines and table games in the whole State of Michigan. In addition, guests can continue their hot streak over at the bingo hall. So, no matter
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how they like to play, a full day of winning and excitement awaits them. Then, when a day spent winning leaves, and guests feel like they need to recharge, they can always relax and rewind at Soaring Eagle Resort’s Salon & Spa. An array of body treatments, facials, signature massages and more welcome them to an experience of relaxation they’ve always dreamed of. Guests can unwind from a week’s worth of muscle aches and pains thanks to deep-tissue massages. Or maybe their idea of stress relief is a nice manicure and pedicure. Rest assured after a day spent in absolute “pampering”, guests will be looking good and feeling good for the big night ahead. Getting hungry? Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort presents a variety of top-notch, award-winning dining options that’ll suit anyone’s fancy from a thick, juicy steak or an All-American burger and milkshake. Or,
if looking for something more casual, grab a quick slice or a deli sandwich piled high, no matter what their palate is looking for, guests will experience the kind of dining they’re looking for. Plus, catch all the latest sports action and place bets at Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort’s Ascend Sports Book & Lounge. And what’s dinner without a show? When it comes to entertainment, Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort has been voted the Best Outdoor Concert venue in Michigan, and has won countless awards for bringing in top-tiered talent to the middle of the state. Be sure to check online at SoaringEagleCasino.com for upcoming concerts and events. With some really great Entertainment Event packages, you can easily purchase tickets plus a discounted hotel rate especially created for you! Soaring Eagle Casino & Resort is YOUR GETAWAY. REIMAGINED.
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PROPERTY PROFILE:
ISLAND RESORT & CASINO HARRIS, MICHIGAN | 1-800-682-6040 | ISLANDRESORTANDCASINO.COM
THE ISLAND RESORT & CASINO BECKONS – EXPERIENCE MORE. Growing by leaps and bounds since the early 1990’s, the Island Resort & Casino, located just 15 miles west of Escanaba in the scenic Upper Peninsula of Michigan, has become one of Midwest’s largest golf, casino and entertainment resorts. Known as a getaway destination that’s always adding more, it leaves people continually asking – “What’s new at the Island?” A $30 million expansion was completed in December of 2021, giving people even more great reasons to visit –starting with the addition of a third hotel tower. There are now more than 450 well-appointed rooms, including golf and spa suites. That’s more than any hotel north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. On the first floor of the new tower is a pool with waterpark features, including a large hot tub, two waterslides and a lazy river. The top floor of the new tower is home to Horizon’s, a high-end steakhouse, that truly is a feast for the senses with 180-degree views of the surrounding Northwoods, including a birdseye view of the nine and eighteenth holes at the casino’s Sweetgrass Golf Club. In early 2022, Sweetgrass was named Jamsek National Golf Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association, being recognized for exceptional course quality and management excellence. In addition, Sweetgrass was named Michigan Golf Course of the year in 2021 by the MI Golf Course Association, is ranked among Golfweek’s Best Courses and recognized by GOLF Magazine and Golf Digest as a Best in State ranking. 12
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Sweetgrass is just one of the Island’s two championship golf courses. Sage Run Golf Club is located just seven miles from the casino and offers an equally exceptional, but dramatically different experience. While Sweetgrass is a prairie links style layout with some of the game’s most fun greens to putt, Sage Run winds through beautiful Upper Peninsula hardwoods and open vistas with dramatic views. A natural drumlin, or elongated hill or ridge formed by glacial ice long ago, is the primary feature on Sage Run. A variety of golf holes meander off and around the hill offering a scenic variety of shots creating a fun thrill ride for golfers. Golf has become a favored attraction for patrons old and new, many of whom take advantage of the variety of Stay-and-Play packages available. Added in 2022, The Reef, offers quick bites and delicious Reef Pizza and a designated Sportsbook room with walls of big screen TV’s and sportsbook kiosks are perfect for live betting on game day. Island’s Sportsbook room is a great place to watch and wager on all your favorite sports! The Island’s luxury Drift Spa has now added relaxing Float Therapy to its list of services. A pod is filled with water laden with Epsom salt to create an environment free from gravity that allows guest to float and fully relax in skin temperature water. The Drift Spa also offers manicures and pedicures, facials, a variety of massage options, seasonal body treatments and an adult only saltwater pool.
These amenities are in addition to the resort’s already substantial 400,000 square feet of casino with 1,200 of the latest slots and video games, a poker room, gaming tables and a bingo hall. The Island also offers a scenic RV Park, a headliner entertainment showroom and comedy and free live music in the Club 41 lounge. In addition, the expansive and customizable convention space is available for everything from small meetings to large weddings and conventions. Island’s Convention facilities boast a professional staff, flexible space that allows up to 13,000 square feet and 650 people, state of the art audio/visual equipment, an outdoor courtyard, catering services, decorating expertise and materials and a fullservice bar. Many patrons have downloaded the Island Resort and Casino’s mobile app allowing them to check their point totals, see current promotions, schedule time at the spa, buy tickets to shows and so much more. So even before they arrive, guests can make plans for their stay. Visit IslandResortandCasino.com to see all the Island has to offer. And get yourself ready to experience more! [The Island Resort and Casino is an easy twohour drive north of Green Bay, WI on Hwy 41. Or is easily accessible via two regional airports in Escanaba and Marquette connecting through Detroit, Saginaw, Lansing or Grand Rapids.]
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PLAYER STRATEGY
CRAPS: Pass Line and Come Bets Craps is divided into two distinct types of betting choices. You can be a Rightside player, sometimes called a “Do” or Lightside player, or you can be a Darkside player, also known as a “Don’t” or Wrong player. The Rightside player is hoping the shooter makes his Point and doesn’t throw the 7; while the Darkside player hopes the shooter doesn’t make his point but instead rolls the 7 to end his turn with the dice. These two types of players also have two other good bets they can make. For the Rightsider that would be Come bets; for the Darksider that would be Don’t Come bets. Since 95 percent of all craps players are Rightside bettors, this column is devoted to maximizing the Rightsider’s Pass Line and Come bets; in short, this means reducing the house edge on the money the Rightsider bets. The Pass Line and Come bets are essentially the same type of bet, just done at different times in the shooter’s hand. The Pass Line bet is put up immediately when the shooter is on the Come-Out roll. Once the shooter establishes his point, then a Rightsider can place a Come bet. The house edge on the Pass Line and Come bets is a smallish 1.41 percent. In economic terms, that is a player expectation of losing $1.41 per $100 wagered. Not too bad. However, these bets can be enhanced by taking the Odds. Some casinos offer 2X odds, meaning you can put two times your Pass Line or Come bet in odds behind or on your bet. Many casinos now offer 3X, 4X, 5X – all the way up to 100X odds. So if you are betting $10 on the Pass Line or Come, you can take $20 to $1,000 in odds on these wagers, depending on what odds the casino allows. The house edge drops dramatically when you figure in the odds bet. Take a look at this chart to see the effects of some of the odds bets on the player expectation: Odds Allowed 1X Odds 2X Odds 3X Odds 5X Odds 10X Odds 20X Odds 100X Odds 14
House Edge Expected Approx Loss per $100 0.848 percent 85 cents 0.606 percent 61 cents 0.471 percent 47 cents 0.326 percent 33 cents 0.184 percent 18 cents 0.099 percent 10 cents 0.021 percent 2 cents
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by
FRANK SCOBLETE
Now a major misunderstanding exists in the craps world about what taking odds actually means. If you are a $10 Pass Line bettor, your expectation is to lose approximately 14 cents per $10 wagered. You can take 1X odds or 100X odds and your expectation is still to lose that 14 cents. The odds bet does not decrease how much you will actually lose on the Pass Line, it merely reduces the house edge on the total money wagered. Thus to make the best use of the odds bet to actually reduce the house’s impact on you money I recommend the following mind set when using the Pass Line or Come bets. Let us say you can afford to bet $60. You can put all $60 on the Pass Line and your expectation is to lose approximately 85 cents. Or a much better way is to bet that $10 on the Pass Line and back it with $50 in odds if the game is a 5X odds game. Now your expectation is to lose 14 cents. You are still betting $60 but the casino’s take on your money has been reduced dramatically.
Frank Scoblete is casino gambling’s number one best-selling writer. For a free catalogue call 1-800-944-0406 or visit Frank’s web site at www. goldentouchcraps..com
Now, let us look at another scenario and my recommendations for this one might not sit well with many craps players. Let us say you have that same $60 at a 5X odds game at a $10 minimum table. What is better for your bankroll – to make two bets of $10 (one on the Pass Line and one on the Come) backing them with $20 in odds – or to make one bet backing that one with $50 in odds? The answer is in the incontrovertible math of the game. Two bets of $10 each with $20 in odds will lose you 28 cents; one bet with $50 in odds will only lose you half of that – 14 cents. So, making one bet is the preferable way to play. Since many craps players feel some kind of need to make more than one bet at the game, calling such bets their “action,” what they are really saying is they want to give the casino a bigger shot at their bankrolls with those multiple bets as opposed to a smaller shot with a single wager. If you can refrain from the compulsion to make multiple bets at the game, the use of a small Pass Line or Come bet and odds is the best way to play the game.
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G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
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PLAYER STRATEGY
POKER: Calling With Small Pairs Most theories agree that you should be the first
given the K-Q the chance to use deception. The K-Q
your small pair you should usually make it two
right here. You can’t call the fist bet, because you have
raiser with a pair before the flop, that is, that with bets to go. But when it is already two bets to you, a popular theory says you can either call the two bets or fold. Some top pros want you to call two
bets with these pairs in order to lure other players into calling and therefore “ build the pot” before the flop in the hope that you’ll flop a set. So
they’ll have you passively call someone else’s raise before the flop, leaving you hoping that others will call two bets before the flop as well.
Although this sounds good on paper, keep in
mind that you’ll flop a set roughly once in every
eight tries. One advantage “ calling to build a pot” does have going for it is that if you miss the flop,
you can generally just fold your hand and be done with it. If you flop your set, then you jam it, but if you have a bad flop, then you just fold your hand right away.
Reraising with Small Pairs, before the Flop I like to reraise with a small pair before he flop
and then “ represent” whatever hits the flop (to your opponents, you seem to have started with
something before the flop, and to have hit it on the flop). This is a more deceptive approach,
allowing a chance to win every pot you play.
Imagine having made it three bets with 4-4 over
the top of your opponent, and now the flop comes down A-8-2. Your opponent checks to you, and
then you bet out with your 4-4, just as if you have
A-K. Your opponent now folds his K-Q , and you have won this pot fairly easily.
But let’s suppose you play this hand according
to the mainstream “ calling” theory. You call the two bets with 4-4, and one other player and the
big blind also call. The flop comes down A-8-2,
and now the big blind checks. Now the original
raiser bets out with his K-Q , hoping that no one calls him. By just calling the preflop raise, you’ve 16
| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M
by
PHIL HELLMUTH, JR.,
is now representing an ace! You have to fold your hand to fear that someone has an ace, or maybe the big blind
has an eight. You have gone from a position of power to
a position of weakness simply by not reraising before the flop- quite a difference. By reraising, you’ll win more pots, but you’ll also get yourself into trouble more often. Consider the following scenario. You have three bets in with 4-4, but the original raiser has K-K. He decides just to call your raise and then play his hand hard on the flop if an ace doesn’t come. This is a common strategy for people who hold aces or kings. The flop comes down 7d-8d-2c. This appears to be a good flop for you. After all, it’s unlikely that the original raiser has a seven or an eight in his hand, so unless you’re up against a big pair instead of the more likely two big cards, you’re winning at this point. The K-K bets out and you raise him, and now he reraises (three bets) you.
Phil Hellmuth, Jr., is a sixteen-time World Series of Poker Champion. He has two New York Times best-seller books; Play Poker Like the Pros and Bad Beats and Lucky Draws. This column is an excerpt from his latest book, Phill Hellmuth’s Texas Hold ‘em released this summer. Phil’s books and products can be found at PhilHellmuth. com and bookstores everywhere.
You have a fair amount of money already invested in this pot. If you had known your opponent had kings, you would have thrown your hand away, but it’s also possible that he could have been playing a big flush draw this way. You end up calling him all the way down, only to have him show you the K-K. You have just lost a fortune using my reraising approach! Every approach offers its own risks and its own possibilities. Now let’s look at the play of the hand using the mainstream calling approach. You just call two bets with 4-4 before the flop, and now both blinds call. The flop is 7d-8d-2c, and the big blind (who wouldn’t have been in the hand using my approach, because the reraise would have pushed him out) bets out, and now the K-K raises to protect what he correctly feels is currently the best hand. You now fold, having lost only three small bets. Clearly, the mainstream approach has done well in this situation. I like my approach because it is mathematically more likely that the first raiser has two big cards than that he has a big pair. But remember, my aggressive approach does lead to more fluctuation in the size of your bankroll across time.
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17
PLAYER STRATEGY
ROULETTE: Cashing in on Half-back Roulette should need little introduction.
Holland: Same rule as Berlin, except if zero is hit
old could understand and play however;
imprisoned. In this case two consecutive wins are
It is a simple game of luck any 10-year-
knowing the house edge and a few basic facts can help stretch your winnings.
To get started, there are two basic wheel
two consecutive spins, the bet becomes double necessary to release the bet. Any further zeros result in a loss. This results in a house edge of 1.37% on even-money bets.
variations that can greatly affect the house
Hamburg: If the ball lands on zero, half of all
number of zeros on the wheel. In almost
house edge of 1.35%.
edge. These variations have to do with the all cases, there are either one or two zeros
on a roulette wheel and some casinos offer different variations of what happens when it hits. While the single zero wheels are
most common, try to stay away from the
double zero wheels if possible as the extra zero can cost you in the long run.
Some casinos offer what is called Half-
Back, where the player loses only half their wager on even money bets when the ball
lands on zero or double zero. The chart on this page shows the house edge based on
four combinations. Single zero, Half back, even money bets and all other bets.
European roulette wheels generally feature just one zero, plus the half-back rule on even money bets (often known as “en
prison”), or some variation. Following are
the unfavorable double zeros and no half-backs on losses. However, there are exceptions. In
Atlantic City, the double-zero wheels feature the half-back rule. There are also plenty of singlezero wheels in Atlantic City, but they don’t
feature the half-back rule. Las Vegas has several
single-zero wheels around town, often with high minimums (but not always; Nevada Palace and
Stratosphere have run low-minimum single-zero games for several years now.) The Grand Casino in Tunica also features a single-zero wheel.
The best rules can be found at select high-end
Las Vegas casinos (e.g., Bellagio, Mirage, etc…), which offer single-zero roulette with the halfback rule. Strategy
Berlin: If the ball lands on zero, all even
play single zero rather than double zero when
spin results in a win, the bet is released and returned to the player without winnings. Otherwise the bet is lost including on a subsequent zero. This results in a house edge of 1.39% on even-money bets.
with favorable rules. Most important is to possible. This may sound obvious, but on
occasions where both are available side by side. Players will usually be split between them, the
double-zero players are oblivious to the fact the casino edge is cut almost in half just a couple of
steps away. If the half-back rule is in force, make even-money bets only. Always stay away from
the 5-number combination bet offered in double18
| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M
Michael “the Wizard of Odds” Shackleford is the author of is the author of Gambling 102 covering the best proven strategies for all casino games. He holds a degree in mathematics/ economics and is a prominent gambling consultant and acclaimed computer programmer.
Most roulette games in the United States feature
The only strategy in roulette is finding wheels
spin is used to resolve the bet. If the next
MICHAE L SHACKLEFORD
even-money bets are returned. This results in a
some other rules you might come across. money bets are “imprisoned.” The next
by
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PLAYER STRATEGY
ROULETTE: Cashing in on Half-back (Continued) zero roulette. Otherwise, there is no strategy in predicting
numerous occasions about the effectiveness of wheel tracking.
seat of your pants.
that, due to muscle memory, roulette dealers spin the ball
numbers, bet size or bet placement. You may as well fly by the
Believers in a theory known as “dealer signature” maintain at the same speed every time. Thus, they believe the player
Betting System
Contrary to popular belief among roulette players, no event (number, color, column, etc.) in roulette is ever “overdue”. It
doesn’t matter how many times in a row the ball has landed
on red; the odds of a red on the next spin are always equal to those of black. Roulette has been around for some 300 years
and throughout its history, players have searched for a way to
can predict where the ball will land according to the wheel’s position at the time of the ball release. I’m very skeptical the
human eye is precise enough to accomplish this and have seen no evidence it has ever been done successfully. No credible gambling writer that I know of has ever endorsed this as a viable way to beat roulette.
overcome the house edge. Some players believe (incorrectly)
On the other hand, roulette is known to have been beaten
believe (incorrectly) that methods of bet-size variation can
prediction. The former involves finding a wheel with a
that the odds favor numbers that are overdue to hit. Others
cause wins to exceed losses. It is mathematically impossible to
gain an advantage over a fair game of roulette. No one has ever done so and no one ever will. The Encyclopedia Britannica recognizes the futility as follows:
by exploiting biased wheels and with computer-aided
pronounced mechanical deficiency that favors certain numbers. The latter involves using (hidden) modern
technology to ascertain wheel speed, ball speed and ball
position to predict at least what part of the wheel the ball
will land in. In 2004, a team in London using laser scanners
“The oldest and most common betting system is the
Martingale or ‘doubling-up’ system, in which bets are doubled progressively.” This probably dates back to the invention of
the Roulette wheel, but every day of the week some gambler
and microcomputers was believed to have won 1.3£ million
with roulette prediction before being caught. Before you get excited, using a “device” to gamble in Nevada is illegal.
somewhere reinvents it, or some variation of it, and believes
Summary
winning systems have been dreamed up, but regardless of what
you play. Look for wheels with a single zero or half backs on
he has something new. Over the years, hundreds of ‘sure-fire’
system is used, in the long run it cannot overcome the house’s advantage of the 0 or 0 and 00. This house advantage is the only system that consistently wins in the long run.
As in keno, it isn’t the numbers you bet on that matter when losses if the ball lands on a zero, or better yet, both. Good luck!
Dealer Signature and Biased WheelsI have been asked on
Single Zero
Half Back
Even Money Bets
All Other Bets
Yes
Yes
1.35%
2.7%
Yes
No
2.7%
2.7%
No
Yes
2.63%
5.26%
No
No
5.26%
5.26% G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M |
19
FUTURE ODDS Check out the latest odds for major sporting events. For the latest up-to-the-minute odds, visit GamingandDestinations.com NFL SUPER BOWL LVII – FEBRUARY 12, 2023 STATE FARM STADIUM (GLENDALE, ARIZONA)
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September July
May
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4/1
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6/1
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9/1
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18/1
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20/1 21/1
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27/1
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Team
Team
November
Houston
11/1
November
September July
Ohio State
3/1
4/1
5/1
Georgia
3/1
5/1
3/1
Alabama
5/1
2/1
2/1
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16/1
11/1
12/1
Michigan
16/1
47/1
50/1
Tennessee
17/1
N/A
N/A
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41/1
N/A
N/A
*All others are higher than 50/1 **Odds courtesy of VegasInsider.com 20
| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M
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12/1
Kentucky
12/1
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15/1
Baylor 16/1 UCLA 17/1 Arizona 21/1 Creighton
26/1
Michigan 26/1 Texas Tech *All others are higher than 30/1 **Odds courtesy of VegasInsider.com
30/1
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| G A M I N G A N D D E S T I N AT I O N S . C O M
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