Index I - II - III - IV - V - VI - VII - VIII - IX - X

• Acquire Skills at Home Before You Expose Your HardEarned Money
  -- Dear Mark: Before going to the casino I run practice hands on the kitchen table. The problem with this method is that play in a casino on both video poker machines and blackjack is much faster. Any suggestions? Tammy D...more >>

• Always think two percent or less
  -- Dear Mark,
  You mentioned in a previous column that players should never make a hard way bet on a crap game. Why not? Norman G...more>>

• Analogies of greed and pomposity
  -- Dear Mark,
  On my last six trips to Gulfport, MS, I've come home a winner playing slots. I believe it's beyond luck now. I just have this certain feeling when to play a particular machine. I've been so successful lately that I feel I should go to dollar machines, or higher, versus the quarter ones and win even more money. Am I on to something here? Jon S...more>>

• Are birthday numbers really luckier?
  -- Dear Mark,
  In a past column you stated that you only play the lottery when the jackpot approaches true odds plus playing quick-pick (random) numbers. I can see your first point, but I, like most people, play my family's birthday numbers because of the luck factor. What is wrong with that?...more>>

• Bad checks, loaded dice and coin flips
  -- Dear Mark,
  Trick question. If a friend and I flip a coin in the air and bet on its result, would the coin be considered an unlawful gambling device? Josh L...more>>

• Bankroll to bankrupt in three minutes
  -- Dear Mark,
  I see your logic, if you call it logic, but it isn't. What you are describing is called the Martingale System, a historic name for doubling up after every loss. In essence, you the gambler double your previous bet (after a loss) to recoup that loss plus win back your initial wager...more>>

• The name is Bond, James Bond
  -- Dear Mark,
  Since I don't gamble very often and chances of losing eight in a row are very remote, don't you think it's logical to double my wager every time I lose? Albert M...more>>

• Bring your kids-sort of
  -- Dear Mark,
  I wish I had read a past column you wrote called Split Decision before I made a recent trip with my family to Las Vegas. I was appalled at the amount of handbills advertising sex being pushed down my throat on the Strip right in front of the MGM Grand. Who in their right mind would bring a family to Las Vegas? Clifford M...more>>

• Buffets are a Nevada State treasure
  -- Dear Mark,
  I enjoy going to Las Vegas not only to gamble but to feast on all the different buffets. Why do you think they don't offer buffets with the same fanfare in the Midwest casinos as they do in Las Vegas? Chuck M...more>>

• Casino loyalty deserves slot club compensation
  -- Dear Mark,
  I understand the latest rave in slot play is joining a slot club. Numerous casino slot hosts continue to approach me asking if I would be interested in participating. I don't want to waste my time filling out applications, but, I reward myself by searching out 9/6 video poker machines that pay a decent return. Am I missing something? George R...more>>