Questions Casino Gamblers Want Answered

Casino gamblers have a lot of questions about their chosen hobby, and often the answers are spread out in a variety of hard-to-find sources. In order to make things simpler for our readers, I've decided to compile some of the most common queries in one spot, as well as their accompanying answers.

You may have been wondering about some of these for years, while others may have never crossed your mind. No matter what the case, you should come away from this article with a greater understanding of the gaming industry, from the validity of the Martingale System to winning strategies (or lack thereof) for slots.

How Much Do Blackjack Dealers Get Paid?

For blackjack dealers in Las Vegas, the median annual salary in 2015 was $15,619. While this isn't much at all, keep in mind that blackjack dealers also get to keep tips.

The tips aren't always consistent, however, as lots of players seem to delight in being cheap with their dealer. Some casinos also have a policy of tip sharing, which means all tips from a shift are distributed evenly among employees. This works great if your tips are low, but it can be rough on those who excel at gaining gratuities from customers.

How Hard is it to Pick Up a Cocktail Waitress?

Most cocktail waitresses are just there to make a living, and they have little interest in engaging in one-night stands with their customers. I'm sure George Clooney could score a waitress, but I'm betting that most of us don't possess his bankroll or level of fame.

That doesn't mean it's an impossible proposition, however. With a combination of luck, charm, and good looks, you might find yourself waking up next to a single mom in the morning.

Is Card Counting Really Illegal?

Card counting isn't illegal, and most casinos aren't usually concerned with the practice. That's because most self-styled card counters are only dangerous to themselves, and they'll end up dropping their money at the blackjack tables just like everyone else.

If, however, you manage to win huge sums of cash by obviously employing card counting techniques, don't be surprised if the casino asks you to leave. This is well within their right, and some of the more successful card counters have spent years wearing disguises in order to slip back into casinos where they're otherwise unwelcome.

Is it Legal to Gamble at an Online Casino?

The legality of online gambling depends on where you live. Some counties forbid the practice, while others leave the decision up to government on the state level.

The Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act doesn't make gambling illegal, but it does prohibit financial institutions such as banks from accepting transactions that are tied to offshore gambling. States such as Nevada and New Jersey now offer licensed internet gambling for anyone within their borders, while Washington State forbids the practice and goes after gamblers and websites alike.

How Do You Win at Slot Machines?

The snarky answer to this question would be, "Get the correct sequence of symbols during a spin." If that response doesn't satisfy you, then keep reading.

There's no proven system for winning at slot machines, and it's impossible to do so on a consistent basis. The main reason for this is the random number generator, a computerized device that ensures all spins are independent of one another.

You should also take the house edge into consideration, as even the most generous slot is going to give an advantage to the casino over the long term. There's a distinct reason why these machines are the biggest profit generators for gaming establishments, and that wouldn't be possible if someone knew a way to routinely defeat them.

How Likely Are You to Come Home a Winner?

Players come home from the casino as winners roughly 30% of the time, but the ones who win usually make a minimal number of modest bets and quit while they're ahead. The more you play, the more likely it is that the math behind the house edge is going to catch up with you. The next time you're on a hot streak, be sure and remember the previous sentence.

Why Can't You Use Your Cell Phone in a Casino?

Actually, you can use your cell phone in most casinos. Since people have become addicted to talking and texting, casinos have realized that banning these devices would possibly drive away customers. For that reason, they've greatly relaxed their policy.

In some cases, a player might be asked to step away from the table to make a call, but this is more about courtesy to the other patrons than anything else. In the old days, however, casinos were concerned about mobile devices being used by card counting teams, and they were known to eject anyone who didn't heed their initial warning.

Why Aren't There Any Clocks in the Casino?

There's a very simple explanation for why casinos don't have clocks on the walls: they don't want customers to know what time it is. If a person is able to glance up at a clock, they might think to themselves, "Gee, I've been here for five hours. Maybe it's time to call it a day." Otherwise, they may continue to play for several more hours.

This tactic worked wonders for decades, but the proliferation of cell phones has made it something of a moot point. Now almost anyone can check the time, but it hasn't seemed to hurt the overall business of casinos.

How Do You Get Free Stuff (comps) From the Casino?

There's only one way to get comps from the casino: spend money at the establishment. Once the casino becomes aware of your patronage, they'll do their best to keep you coming back, especially if you're losing a tremendous amount of money on their property.

The best way to help with comps is to obtain a player's club card. These are offered for free by all major casinos, and they allow the house to view your spending habits at various games. If they see that you're consistently providing them with business (and revenue), it's likely that you'll start to receive offers for free shows, complimentary hotel rooms, and much more.

Does Dice Control Really Work in Craps?

Dice control theory has been gaining momentum since the turn of the century, although it's still a hotly debated topic. Proponents include gaming experts such as Stanford Wong and Chris Pawlicki, while most in the industry remain skeptical.

It has been demonstrated that dice can be controlled if they are properly gripped and rolled to gently touch the back wall of the craps table. This allows the dice to remain on the same axis, greatly reducing the otherwise randomizing effect of the roll.

This takes an immense amount of practice, especially since craps players are only able to use one hand when rolling the dice. Casinos are aware of this practice, so anyone who proves too successful can expect to be shown the door (just like card counters).

What's the Biggest Casino in the World?

For a short time, the title of "largest casino in the world" belonged to the WinStar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma and its 519,000 square feet of gaming space. That's no longer the case, however, as the American casino has been surpassed by The Venetian Macao in China.

This massive complex boasts 550,000 square feet of casino space, and it also happens to be the seventh-largest building in the world by floor area (as of this writing). The gaming area is divided up into sections such as the Golden Fish and Red Dragon, and there are more than 3,000 slots and 800 table games.

Who Creates New Casino Games?

When it comes to creating new casino games, the only real requirements are a novel idea and a strong desire for success. As long as you possess these qualities, anyone can create a new addition to the world of gambling.

Take the game of Three Card Poker, for example. It was the brainchild of Derek Webb back in 1994, and he pitched it unsuccessfully to casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. But then he found an interested party at the Grand Casino Gulfport, and the game has since grown to be included in casinos throughout America and the United Kingdom.

Does the Martingale System Really Work?

The Martingale System calls on the player to double their wager following each loss. The idea is that a win should recover all previous losses, as well as generate a profit.

In theory, a player with infinite funds should be able to make this system work. Unfortunately, no person on the planet has infinite funds, and therefore the Martingale is doomed to fail. While it might prove successful over short stretches, the combination of independent results and the house advantage will inevitably result in the player losing money faster than they can recoup it.

There's also a system known as the Anti-Martingale, which calls on players to double up after a win instead of a loss. As you might have guessed, this system is equally useless.

Conclusion

The questions that casino gamblers want answered can range from the sensible to the ridiculous. For every individual looking for secrets regarding card counting or dice control, there's another who's more concerned with seducing a cute cocktail waitress.

While you probably weren't wondering about every question on this list, I hope you found at least a few that proved useful. Going into a casino with misinformation or unanswered questions can be dangerous, especially when it comes to your bank account. By shining a light on the truth, I hope to make our readers smarter and wealthier.