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5 Secrets To Winning On Slot Machines

5 Secrets To Winning On Slot Machines Image by pikisuperstar on Freepik

Who better to learn some tips from the author and editor of the American Casino Guide. Steve and Matt Bourie run a YouTube channel called The Jackpot Gents and have almost 200,0000 subscribers. To add to their clout, this particular video, which inspired me to write this post, has 1.8 million views in 2 years. Let’s get stuck into their top 4 secrets on winning on slot machines.

Introduction

Most people who go to the casino will play slots. In fact, almost 70% of the casino revenue comes from slots. Let’s face it we all know how slots work, but what we want to know is how to win more often. Basics: A slot machine is just a computer that’s made to pay out less money than it takes. That’s in the long run, as we know, anything can happen in the short run. In the long run you’re not going to win money unless you are a cheat. Learn these handy tips which will make your money last longer which means you have more chance of hitting the jackpot which is probably the difference between winning and losing when you play on the slots.

1) Always Join The Players Club

I must admit, I’ve never heard of this before. It sounds like a lot of people are against joining the Players Club. However, for all the bad publicity this isn’t true. The casino has the house edge so they know long term they will win. The good side to joining the Players Club is that you will get a lot of bonuses, which means you have better value and makes it worth it. This allows you to cut down the casino edge. If you love playing slots you need a way of cutting the house edge which steals all your money. They will often give you free spins which gives you an advantage and make your play last longer. The Players Club lets the casino know how much money you have played and they can rebate some of that back to you. In addition, you get gifts and other freebies, show tickets, buffet, hotel rooms, meals and all sorts of stuff. You won’t get this if you haven’t joined.

2) Set A Budget

Wise words from the father and son here. Let’s imagine you go to Vegas with the thought of gambling $1,000. The worst thing you could do is lose that money in the first day of your week on the Strip. It happens. Be realistic with the budget you set. You really don’t want to be playing $5 slot machines on a limited budget. Think about how fast your money will go. You may be better off playing nickel or penny slot machines. Remember gambling, for most people, is entertainment. Playing slots you have the thrill of the experience. On the good side, you might win money. Have some fun but be realistic about it and set a budget and stick to it like glue.

3) Don’t Bet The Max Coins

Being a novice, I have no idea what this means. You may want to bet the max coins if you are playing one of the progressive slots and it has millions up for grabs. If not, you are building up that pot for someone else to win. It could be the difference between winning $10M and $1000. Just for the sake of a dollar. Sadly it has happened to some punters. Imagine that happening to you. It would be pretty upsetting. Bet enough to be eligible for the bonus rounds. You might not need to bet max coin to get this but it’s worth remembering. If you cover the pay lines it’s usually enough to get the bonus rounds. Bonus rounds are good because you are not betting any money Also, you need this to get the highest payback on the slot machine. It differs from machine to machine how you get to these bonus rounds. If you are not sure, go into the game rules and look.

4) Speed Kills

The faster you player the machine the more you lose. So you need to find ways to slow the game down. That’s to do with your behaviour not the machine. Slowing down your game play is a good idea. As the young man in the video says: ‘Playing a slot machine is a negative expectation game.’ You shouldn’t expect to win but you can hope. In the long run, you are guaranteed to lose money. You may be playing a slot with 90% payback, which means when you run through your money you will lose 10%. That’s $100 if you go through your grand. The difference in the rate of play can be quite considerable. You could spend from $100 an hour to $500 on a dollar machine. You’re getting more spins but your money may not last so long. It won’t unless you get a few wins. If you think by pressing the button faster or slower makes a difference to your winning. It doesn’t. When you press the button the random number generator clicks into action. Just let the reels spin as it will slow your play and make your money last longer. The worst thing you can do is play two machines at once. Not only can’t to pay attention to both you are losing money fast. Also to slow the game down go partners with someone so you are rooting for each other. Half the winnings but double the time playing.

5) Caveat

Remember playing slot machines in a casino is for entertainment. It’s like going to a concert where you spend $200. If you see people in the casino they will be doing all manner of superstitious things like knocking before hitting the spin button, wearing their lucky tie or whatever you think works. In the long run, that’s not going to make any difference to your winning or losing. You really shouldn’t be in a casino playing slots and being miserable. You should have fun doing it. If you are having fun you should save your money and go home.

by slots 0

5 Ways Las Vegas Prostitutes Scam You

5 Ways Las Vegas Prostitutes Scam You Image by gstudioimagen1 on Freepik

Searching for stories to write in the classic format of 5 things you should know about. Well, I’m not sure if this is a good or bad idea but searching on YouTube for a touch of inspiration (I think that’s the word) and I find this video about Las Vegas prostitutes. I’m looking for the magic number 5. I found it. As a disclaimer, I’ve never been to Las Vegas or had any interest in soliciting the services of a prostitute. I’m sure she would say: ‘You’re one of those talkers, hey?’ Anyway, if you find yourself in Vegas then these five pointers may just save you some embarrassment, cash, ultimately arrest or death.

So much for Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas.

Lets get down to the good stuff!

No wonder it’s called Sin City. It’s a strange how all these vices are somehow legal.

(Well, mostly legal).

Prostitution is Legal in Nevada but not all parts of Nevada. In fact, 10 of the 16 counties it is legal. However, it is only legal in certain places and inside a brothel. Any county with a population over 700,000 cannot have legalised prostitution. Las Vegas and the Strip has over 2 million residents. So it is not legal in Clark County. However, escorting, which is simply paying someone for their company, is perfectly legal. This is regardless of how much or little clothing they are wearing. If you are arrested for a first time offender for prostitution you can face up to 6 months in jail or $1000 fine. Plus a $400 fine and $200 civil penalty. This may be dismissed from your record if you pay a fine, do a little bit of community service or go to an AIDS awareness class [often called John’s School]. Now you have the basics lets take a look at the 5 ways you could get scammed.

1) Walking along The Strip…like you do. If you are in a group or walking on your own along the strip you may bump into a group of prostitutes who show you a little bit of affection while stealing a phone or your wallet out of your back pocket who hands it to another one. If you notice you’ve lost something and ask about it they will show you their hands and say: ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about!’ And they simply walk off with your property.

2) If you are out at a bar or a restaurant with a prostitute they may drug your drink. The bloke in the video recounts a time when a man walked in off the street with three prostitutes into a strip club. All of them sat down at a table and one of the strippers joined them. That was unusual because generally strippers hate prostitutes coming into the club because they are competing against each other to try to make money. Long story short, one of the hosts has to carry the guy to the front door. He was zonko and almost a dead weight. Worse than it drunk. It was found out that not only did they drug the bloke but also the stripper. Whether they robbed the man wasn’t told but the only reason they drug someone is to get their hands on his money. Thankfully he was in a place where people looked after him. If he had been somewhere else he would have put himself in real danger.

3) If you make it back to the prostitutes room you have even more to worry about. This is the best of three scenarios. So listen up. This could happen if you are on the Strip, which, isn’t a legal setting for prostitution. You’ve talked to her, agreed to a sum of money, and you agree to go back to your hotel. You may get what you paid for but if you’re going to get robbed [best case scenario] she takes your wallet and runs out of the room! You may have been drugged, go to the bathroom, it could be any number of things. It’s an opportunist theft. Even if you catch her and make a scene you’re in trouble. Someone will call security. They will ask what happened for their report. That may lead to the police being called. You may be thankful you simply lost your wallet, cash, identification and bank cards. At least they can be replaced.

4) This is one of the worst case scenarios to be in [but not the worst]. You make it back to your room. However, she texts someone your room number. This could be a pimp, several guys, or even someone dressed as a policeman. They come up to your room and you are not ready for it. That’s why you need to be careful about giving your room number as a condition of her going to it. They may say it’s so she feels safe by letting a friend know where she is. It all sounds fair and square. You are totally unprepared. You may even have your pants down. You will be outnumbered, probably have a gun pulled on you to guarantee you will be forthcoming with the goods. You’re money, bank cards, watch and anything else of value. The only hope is that with some bigger establishments is that people will be stopped by security or not have a key to the elevator. Those long corridors may just give you a little bit of time if you see someone following you.

5) This is the worst scenario. You go to her room rather than your own. This is truly a terrible idea. She controls that setting and what is going to happen. If you find yourself in this position you are probably going to get robbed. You may find you have a gun in your face. The south end of the Strip has a lot of sketchy hotels and guest houses. To be fair there are a lot of shady places all over the world. But these are the kind of places you don’t want to end up going. If you think about a small motel verses one of the major casinos. A lot of things that can protect you are gone. There’s no barrier to people getting to you. In fact, your room is a knock on the door away. There’s no security, no police on site, no security cameras, so it’s much easier to set someone up to get robbed. Someone could be waiting outside or even in your room. You simply have no idea.

Enjoy your stay at Las Vegas but keep safe and be one step ahead of the scammers who may have their eye on you.

Your Guide To The Perfect Casino Trip

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A trip to the casino can be a great experience. Whether it is for an afternoon, evening or weekend it can really make a special occasion with others and you may even get lucky and win some cash. However, like all trips it is best to plan what you are going to be doing just to keep you on the straight and narrow. Sure, you want to enjoy your time but you don’t want things to get out of control and return home with regrets. This article details a brief checklist of things you should do before heading to the casino.

How To Manage Your Bankroll

To be fair, a lot of people don’t even think how much money they should be taking to the casino. Perhaps you just rely on topping up any losses with a credit card. This can get very messy if you don’t have some idea of what you are doing. The classic maxim: ‘Bet what you can afford to lose!’ I know it might sound like your Dad talking to you about the birds and the bees but you don’t want to be naive. If you don’t know where to find that stop button you will spend, spend spend until you have a face like a wet weekend. Set out the money you want to play with and go from there. You shouldn’t just think how much money you will spend but also how much each game. Many experts suggest playing from 3% – 5% of your bankroll. However, it really depends on the time you are betting too. Whatever you choose, stick to your bankroll.

Which Games To Play

Whether you are an experienced player or betting for the first time, it’s likely you are more familiar with some games than others. For example, I tend to play roulette or blackjack as the house edge (especially playing in Europe with the single zero) is more favourable. You may enjoy playing poker best. It pays to have a plan an idea of what games you want to play. If not, you will be attracted to everything and anything. Like Shiny Object Syndrome, where you go from one game to the next or those with the most excited crowds. Also, slots with their flashing lights and noise can be attractive. They have some of the highest house edges so make pretty poor value. Stick to the games that give you the best chance of winning.

Who Are You Going To The Casino With?

This might seems an insignificant question. However, it is important for a number of reasons. The people who you are with can have a big impact on the day you are likely to have and how you behave. It’s best to go with like-minded people who are interested in winning money rather than having a crazy time. You should bet, drink and behave in a manner that suits you as an individual rather than keeping up with others. It can be a recipe for disaster and may even find you getting put in jail. By the way, did you eve hear about a prison with a casino? Or leave those big venues to one side and visit the smallest casino in the world. Don’t bet more that you can afford to lose. You know your friends and be careful not to get carried away. It never ends well.

Play Online Before

This isn’t a prerequisite but it may do you a favour. Why? Because it is good to familiarise yourself with different games so you understand the rules and so you can enjoy the experience rather than learn at the table which may be frustrating for the croupier or others around you. You can play online with fake money or get a free bankroll which means it doesn’t cost you to learn. This gives you a chance to learn about bankroll management and progressive betting systems. Experience is the most valued tool for any casino gambler.

Know When To Walk Away

Kenny Roger’s classic Gambler Song said it all: ‘Know when to walk away’ because this has been a weakness for many a gambler. It would have resulted in a much better outcome. Sometimes winning can be as much a problem as losing if you don’t know when to stop. For example, you are winning £200. You consider you would like to win a little bit more before calling it a day. It seems more appealing. However, this mindset will lead you to problems. You will always be looking for that little bit more but it has no end. It will lead you into the red and you will regret ever thinking about building your winnings to a higher level. You need gambling discipline and set a winning limit. A sum which sees you walk away with extra money in your pocket. You’ve met your goal and can go home with no regrets. Make sure the number is realistic and not too lofty. You don’t want to set yourself an impossible task. When you hit that number keep to your own advise.

Conclusion

A trip to the casino can be some of the best fun you’ve had all year. Win or lose the excitement is usually worth the trip. The outcome of all play is out of your hands. You are relying on lady luck. Stick to your plan and you will have a great time.

by casino transport travel upgrade 0

5 Reasons Why You Need Gambling Discipline At The Casino

5 Reasons Why You Need Gambling Discipline At The Casino Image by YuliiaKa on Freepik

How did that song go: ‘Money talks, money talks, dirty cash I want you, dirty cash I need you, ooh.’ The song Dirty Cash (Money Talks) By The Adventures of Stevie V (1990).

Who doesn’t want some clean or dirty cash?

The chances are if you gamble without some element of wisdom you simply won’t have any cash at all. It will be stolen before your eyes by something called the house edge which has seen a million and one people just like you have that empty-pocket feeling. Wise up and do yourself a favour. I looks to me like you need a little bit of knowledge and build your gambling discipline.

Take a look at these 5 aspects of gambling discipline.

The Wise Gambler Built His House Upon The Rocks

You may be thinking that has a religious foundation. You’d be correct. Without a strong foundation you will have no balance. That’s standing as well as bank balance or casino bankroll. To be fair, learning those wise gems of gambling wisdom don’t come easy. They have been found while you’re down on your luck and wondering how did I find myself in this situation. Think about what gambling means to you. How does it motivate you? How does it make you behave? And, ultimately, how do you feel the next day when the dust settles? Those particles of dust shining in the light are like wisdom. You need to stop, look and think about the whole experience. If you assess your gambling you will learn. If you don’t it will be like water off a ducks back. Except you will still suffer the losses which never come easy. Learn lessons from others are they are cheap gains. But ultimately you only learn true lessons from your own experience. Build your gambling knowledge and discipline from a strong foundation. That often starts with safety first.

1) Strict Budget & Bankroll

The problem with all gambling is that without a limit there may be no limit. This can lead to serious problems and huge regret. This isn’t just for gamblers on a losing run but those who are on a winning streak and then nosedive like a plane with no wings. There isn’t a parachute either. Even with skill based betting you need to impose a strict budget and what you call a sustainable loss. Financially and emotionally, how much can you afford to lose? This differs from person to person. But within the average bettor a loss of a few hundred is a day day and beyond that you are in that area of regret. Casino games are fixed odds. That means, the longer you play the more you will lose. That’s just a simple average but it pays to deal with facts rather than imagine something to justify why it’s ok to carrying on betting when everyone and everything around you is saying it’s a bad idea. Ideally you should put a cap on your betting when you lose x-amount. If you don’t, you will build bad habits and you will be a lost cause. Set a limit, then stop. Ideally, leave when you are winning.

2) Identify & Play The Best Games

You know what we mean by best games? Those with the smallest house edge. It’s remarkable how many people go to the casino and they don’t have any idea about the house edge for different games. This can be very bad news if you enjoy playing a game such as double zero roulette compared to the European single zero. We are talking about a difference of 2.7 percent. The same can be said for many slots which have a very high edge. Some up to 15%. This is terrible news for a gambler. You literally have much less chance of winning than say playing blackjack which is more like 2%. No wonder slots equate for about 70% of the casinos earnings. They just syphon your money into their bank account. Play a game which gives you a chance to win. Also, if you strike lucky early it is probably a good time to go home than play and lose.

3) Brain Game

Gambling is basically 100% mental. You use your brain to make decisions and you need to keep in top mental shape. In this world of distractions such as social media and tinpot TV shows, people do everything to avoid being wise to the gambling game. Your body and mind need exercise to function to their best. When you feel your mind isn’t sharp stop gambling. This can be due to tiredness, drinking alcohol, taking drugs or just lacking focus. Mistakes when gambling can be very costly and if you make one you will make more. At the very least you may need to go outside and get some fresh air. Ideally you will call it a night and come back another day refreshed and wiser for the experience.

4) Focus

It’s easy to forget about focus but the best gamblers are very focused people. If you haven’t considered focus within your gambling then you are probably naive or someone who simply hasn’t learned much over the years. This can happen if you solely bet for fun. Losing money isn’t fun. Lacking focus and losing a lot of money is pointless and regrettable. Casinos are designed to fill your head with distractions. The noise of slots, the crowd, and the environment can see you make mistakes. As the definition explains, you need to be in the state or quality of having or producing clear visual definition and pay attention. You need to be mindful of how you focus and practice. This can be quite tiring at first but it can help you achieve a higher level when gambling. Slots don’t need any focus to play them but your focus should be on how much you are betting and if losing to know when to stop.

5) Stop Betting

Every gambler needs the discipline to walk away especially when you hit the limit on your losses. It can be difficult to stop betting if you are losing more money than less so good reason why you should bet small stakes. I have found slots quite difficult to leave and it has made me question playing them at all. Without a bankroll or staking budget you simply have no limit. This is a disaster of a mindset. Remember having discipline is a strength. Focus on that strength.

How To Improve Your Gambling Discipline

Simply make the decision
Be 100% committed to being disciplined
Keep focused
Reinforce good discipline
If you are really struggling with discipline break it into timely segments, say 30 mins
Expand those segments over time
Keep a journal or make assessments of your casino trip pros and cons

by casino Gambler Mindset psychology 0

5 Reasons Gambling Is Anti Social

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So you love a little flutter?

‘I’ll do as I wish!’

However, the problem with being interested in gambling or desensitised if not normalised to it is that we are blinded by how we can be stigmatised by our peers, that old lady standing outside the bookmakers or making small talk in the confessional box at your local church.

You’ve become so habituated to it’s ‘evils’ (I say that with a smile) that we don’t realise that we may have tarnished ourselves. Just imagine, if you saw Rev Furlong, of St John’s Church, standing outside the local convenience stored with a scratch card, feverishly rubbing away the silver hopeful, if not daring to pray, for a win.

Perhaps you would never look at him in the same way again.

Each to their own. I guess. But life, actions and discourse aren’t value free and you may have wished you’d kept your gambling as a dirty little secret. Let someone else spread the gossip behind your back.

Yes, I paint a picture with words. Even more so if they were written in blood.

But why is gambling anti social?

Here are 5 examples I have noticed. I’m a gambler so I can only imagine how the normal, average person may think.

1) It’s You’re Favourite Subject

You know your subject matter. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. You know lots of stuff other people don’t know. For example, how many seconds it takes a horse to run a furlong, how many metres are there in a furlong etc. You have facts and figures coming out of your ears. You find you want to share your ‘gems of wisdom’ with anyone you meet. It’s like a meet and greet without the person really being interested at all. The lady who works on the till at Sainsburys hasn’t even ever thought about a thoroughbred horse, let alone think about betting or making a bet. She’s going to look at you as if you’ve got two heads – one your bonce and the other a manic horse who can’t stop chatting. Be careful that the person you just love to tell enjoys the conversation or gets something from it. Your favourite subject may be theirs but you will understand if a tree hugger starts talking to you about how you grow an oak tree to encourage squirrels.

2) Let’s Play The Slots

I’ve found myself in this position before. My cousin loves to play the slots. In the UK we are more likely to call them one-armed bandits (if you have grey hair) or fruit machines if you have have some aspect of youthfulness about you. Whatever you call them, it can be a very anti social act when with company. If your slot-playing friend is playing the slots then don’t try to engage in small talk. In fact, don’t talk about anything even fruit machines. They won’t be interested in a single word you are saying, unlikely to reply and you’ll question whether they have gone deaf. To be fair, you are the problem rather than them because I know for a fact they wouldn’t invite you for a chat as that first coin or note goes down the throat of the beast. So it’s you inviting yourself to the party and then being given the cold shoulder. Sure it’s anti social but that’s the life of the gambler. Those flashing lights and sounds block the brain from social interaction.

3) Chatting In The Pub

Unless you live in a vacuum or enjoy chatting to yourself in a sound-proof room your conversation about gambling may well be in the public arena. Someone may be earwigging your conversation. If they wear a hearing aid they may have the luxury of switching it off. Not that will help them too much unless they can lip read. For example, you are going to the horse racing and sitting in the pub before the first race. To be fair you are in your environment. However, even if you are the font of all wisdom you will be viewed as a prat (who either knows too much or too little) because you can’t please everyone all the time. In fact, you are unlikely to please anyone even the person you are having the conversation with. Do yourself a favour, don’t say anything about your fancy in the next race or reasoning. Drink, chat about anything else, and be merry.

4) You Know Nothing

If you are successful at gambling, making a few quid, and have something to tell the world, I wouldn’t bother. You will be viewed as anti social if not contempt. Why? Because very few people, including punters, can get their head around the fact that you know enough to make your betting pay. They reason if they can’t do it why should you be able to. Perhaps they have the same understanding with anyone who makes money. Gambling breeds an audience of contempt. They know nothing but illogically they know more than you. They simply cannot understand how it is possible. Win and you got lucky. Lose and they are correct. Basically ‘you know nothing!’

5) Don’t Say A Word About Gambling

The best approach to not being anti social in your gambling is to skip to number (5) and just don’t experience the toils and tribulations which hit you on the head like one of those whack-a-mole games. All people will bring you is a sack load of problem, knock your spirits and you’ll feel abused by a bunch of idiots.

by Fear And Loathing in Las Vegas gambling psychology 0

5 Secrets To Winning On Slot Machines

5 Ways Las Vegas Prostitutes Scam You

Your Guide To The Perfect Casino Trip

5 Reasons Why You Need Gambling Discipline At The Casino

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