Do Not Assume these Statements about Casinos Part 2
In this two-part article, I discuss 20 assumptions held by a multitude of casino players, many handed down by tradition and authority that are indeed false, illogical, dangerous and dumb. We continue with #11-20.Assumption #11: The pit boss always ignores me when I want to get his attention.
On occasion, a pit boss might purposely ignore a player, if that player is obnoxious, loud, drunk, or otherwise a ploppy. But most of the time when you think you are being ignored, you aren’t. If that pit boss, or floor person, is at the computers, it probably means he or she is checking on a comp or a rating. One pit boss, one floor person, is in charge of many tables and they do have many responsibilities. Chances are they don’t see you waving. When they do, they’ll usually say, “I’ll be right with you.” In such cases, patience is a virtue. One caveat to the above; if you are trying to get the attention of the pit boss in order to ask for a comp -- stay seated but stops playing! Don’t risk any more money as you wait for your comp.Assumption #12: Dealers make a lot of money, that’s why they all wear so much gold on their arms.
Some dealers do make a lot of money. Some dealers don’t. It all depends on which casinos they deal in and, sometimes, what games they deal. It also depends on what you consider a lot of money. But most dealers’ salaries are marginal at best, sometimes not more than minimum wage. They need tips to make ends meet. Dealers are in the “service” part of the casino industry, very much like waiters, waitresses, bartenders, valet parkers and bellhops. As to the gold that festoons many a wrist, finger and forearm, those are there for decorative purposes. Many dealers realize that their hands/arms are watched carefully and they actually take pride in adorning these. I’ve noticed female dealers will often polish their nails in truly creative ways. Male dealers will have interesting rings. Often these displays are sources for conversation. Since I can’t tell legitimate from faux, I have no idea if all that gold I see is real gold or fool’s gold.|
Where the fun begins in every game! 
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Assumption #13: If a craps table has been hot it will continue to be hot. If it’s cold, it will continue to be cold.
Many casino players, not just craps players, look for trends and then bet with or against the trend. It is an old law of gambling that the “dice have no memory.” That is, what happened on the last decision has no influence on what will happen on the next decision. That is absolutely true as long as the game is random and no one is controlling the outcome through physical means. Craps is an independent-trial game and what happens now will have no effect on what happens next. However, there is some truth to the assumption that whiles the dice might not have a memory, certain shooters do. These shooters, called rhythmic rollers, might be able to influence the game by the way they physically roll the dice thereby increasing the likelihood of some numbers appearing and decreasing the likelihood of other numbers appearing. So here’s an instance where an assumption is false except if it’s true.Assumption #14: Professional blackjack and video poker players make millions every year.
The number one video poker expert in the world is on record as stating he makes about $50,000 per year playing. That’s about 500 hands per hour at a one dollar VP game at five dollars a pop at a machine that returns 101 percent of all the money played, playing eight hours a day for five days a week for 50 weeks a year. There’s no medical, no dental, and no pay if you don’t play and, horrors, no pay many days and weeks even if you do play! And he’s the best, mind you, the very best.The best blackjack pro I ever met was the late PK who played five nights a week 52 weeks a year. He earned between $20,000 and $30,000 per year playing blackjack.
He had to supplement his blackjack income with a job in a bookstore. He was the best, mind you, the very best at what he did. For most mortals the sky is not the limit on VP or blackjack winnings, the ceiling of a typical lower middle-class house is.
However, for the recreational player who has no illusions about being a “professional,” it is always better to play with an edge over the casino than to play without an edge. Obviously, you want to play the very best games that excite you and play them in the very best way. But millions? I’m afraid it ain’t in the cards for the majority of players.
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