E-25: Comp Psychology

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Casinos design their player programs to make their patrons feel important. Player programs are usually set up in a teir system and the higher you are in the club, the more comps and benefits you are entitled to.

Everybody likes to feel important and the tiering system is a great way to encourage players to gamble more.

In the industry this is known as comp envy. You see what a $25 bettor gets in comps and he sees what a $100 bettor recieves and up the ladder it goes. Always tempting you to gamble more.

You are always paying for comps at the tables and most times it would be cheaper to gamble less and just pay for your dinner or show tickets etc from your own pocket.

Comps are a great addition to your gambling, but shouldnt be your reason for doing so. Always play the games at the level you feel comfortable with.

The player with the highest comps is typically the player with the biggest losses

E-24: Comp Basics

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Definition: The word comp means complimentary and is the term used for the rewards that casinos give to players for gambling in their property.

Comps are a reward for your average daily theoretical loss (A.D.T)

Comps are one of the most misunderstood aspects of Las Vegas. Most players believe that comps are only for high rollers, who spend thousands of dollars each day. But this is not true.

There are different levels of comp, depending on how much play you give the casino. Most players can usually get something for their play if they have played in the same casino for a decent amount of time.

Players Programs & Slot Clubs: To be eligible for comps, the first thing you need to do is sign up to the casino players club. This is always free to join and you often will be rewarded with free slot play or meal vouchers just for signing up.

Ensure you use your player's card whenever you play slots or video poker. When playing table games, hand your card to the dealer

Getting Comps: The easiest way to obtain comps is to just ask. If playing slots, ask a slot an attendant to call a casino host and if playing table games, the pit boss will call one for you.

When the casino host comes over simply ask them politely if your play qualifies for food, show tickets or a reduced room rate.

 

A low level player will never be approached by a host, but you may be surprised what you can get just by asking.

Before you checkout, always call the front desk or ask to be connected to a host and ask whether you are eligible for a reduced room rate. Several properties will now do this for you when you are at the checkout desk, but it is still best to call ahead.

So, be bold and ask for a comp, but be polite about it. Las Vegas has enough douche bags. Remember to tip the host if they help you out. Its a relationship that is worth building on, as they will help you in the future.

E-23: Intermittent Reward

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Understanding what encourages you to gamble is one of the most important aspects of gambling knowledge. If you know how your mind works and the tricks casino use to take your money, you are much less likely to fall victim to the traps.

The human mind generally works by positive reinforcement. When we do something and achieve a positive result, we feel good and want the feeling again. But, this is not the most effective way to condition the mind to gambling.

If I was to pay you a $1 for every time you jumped on the spot, you would keep doing it for quite a long time. But if I was to suddenly stop paying you that $1, you would quickly stop jumping as you would realise there is no reward for you to continue.

Intermittent reward is the concept of rewarding someone’s actions randomly.

Now I ask you to jump and pay you the dollars randomly, maybe 3 in a row and then a break and then another 2 and so on. You would jump for hours, as you never know when the money is coming and would want to achieve as much as you can.

Many forms of casino games are designed this way, in particular slot machines.

You don’t win on every spin on a slot, it is always random. This makes them highly addictive as you are always hoping for another win. If you were to win 5 spins in a row and then lose 5 spins in a row, you would quickly lose interest.

But when you are winning randomly it can be very hard to stand up from the machine, as you think another payout is coming. You are constantly thinking about the win you got earlier and because it’s random, think it may be on the next spin.

Be aware of how you are conditioned by a casino and understand that being rewarded for an action does not mean that you will be again.

E-22: Group Gambling

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This may not be favoured by everyone but this tip is: 

Splitting your Bankroll with a Gambling Partner and Playing Together.

If you are going to Vegas with a close friend we recommend gambling and sharing your equal bankroll. Always buy in for the same amount and share the wins or lose evenly, regardless of what is lost or one by whom.

If you play the games mathematically and don’t rely on luck and superstition, then you will never have  a disagreement on what one of you did during a game.

Poker: Even in a game like poker, which does not necessarily have a set way to play, you still wont disagree with each other because you can always see the other persons reasoning for doing something.

Roulette/Money Wheel: Which are completely random, it makes no difference what one of you bet on. There is no skill involved and it’s just the size of the bet you need to agree on.

Blackjack/Video Poker: Which have a proper strategy to follow, you know the other person will make the right decision and trust each other, because you have learnt the correct method.

Reasoning:
The 2 reasons to do this, is to have a decent bankroll to play against the house with. Secondly and more importantly, it means you both experience Vegas in the same way. It will really enhance your gambling experience.

It is no fun to lose your cash and then watch your friend win while you just standing there pissed off. You are angry you lost and then your friend feels guilty that he won and you didn’t.

E-21: Video Poker Myths

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Myth 1: A video poker machine is due to hit its royal flush if it hasn’t for a while.

Fact: Again like slots, this is not the case. Video poker machines also use a random number generator to create the poker hands. Past hands do not affect the future.
Think of it like the hand is dealt, the cards are collecting, shuffled and re dealt again. It is completely random.

Myth 2: You should always play max coin when playing video poker machines.

Fact: This is actually true, but maybe not in the sense you are thinking. Playing max coin doesn’t actually increase your odds of being dealt a better hand, but makes you applicable for the royal flush bonus, which is proportionately higher than the other payouts.

Myth 3: Playing the different variations of video poker, such as Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus and Deuces Wild is better than the standard Jacks or Better.

Fact: It is true that these games are better for the player, but only if those games are using the full pay table. So ensure you check the pay table first

Myth 4: Machines are programmed to display close hits, such as 4 to a royal flush.

Fact: This is just a matter of player perception. Because of the random number generator the cards are completely random. It’s just that you are much more likely to remember a hand that you only just missed on rather than the hundreds of hands you had nothing.

Myth 5: Machines are looser on weekdays and are tightened up by the casino on weekends and holidays.

Fact: This one is untrue. Casinos simply do not have the man power to change the pay tables of machines every week. It’s just not cost effective. Plus it must be witnessed by an outside regulator when they do change them.

E-20: How to Play Caribbean Stud Poker

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Caribbean Poker is a very simple game to learn and can be a good starting point if you want to start playing table games

Method:

You must first place a bet in the Ante box and an optional $1 bet in the progressive jackpot spot.

Five cards are then dealt to each player and to the dealer, with one of the dealers cards exposed to the players.

You then look at your cards, but must not show your cards to another player.

You now decide if you want to keep going or forfeit your ante and jackpot wager.

If you decide you want to play on, you must place a wager that is double your ante bet.

You then place your cards face down on the table and wait for the dealer to take the folded hands and bets.

The dealer will then expose his 4 other cards.

For the dealer to qualify and pay all bets, he must have an ace and a king or higher. (pair, 3 of a kind etc)

If he does not qualify, the dealer will pay even money on the ante bet and the bet/raise wager will be considered a tie or push.

Obviously if the dealer does qualify and his hand is ranked higher than yours, then he will take both your ante and raise wagers.

If he qualifies however, and your hand is higher, then you will be paid both your ante and raise bet based on the pay table displayed.

This is the standard pay table for most Vegas casinos.

For a pair and lower you are paid at 1:1
Two pair 2:1
Three of a kind 3:1
Straight 4:1
Flush 5:1
Full House 7:1
Four of a kind 20:1
Straight Flush 50:1
Royal Flush 100:1

The side bet will be paid depending on the casinos house rules and jackpot pay table.

E-19: Emotional Bankroll

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Determine your emotional bankroll. It is just as important to think about your comfort level than it is to plan your actual gambling

First figure out what sort of gambler you are. Most people fall into 1 of 3 categories.

The Conservative Player

The Serious player
Or The Extreme Player

The Conservative Player is usually more concerned with the price of entertainment than the game itself. They will have a small bankroll and will control it carefully each day. These players will usually stick to slots or $5 table games. They are often just gambling because that’s what they feel they should be doing in Vegas.

The Serious Player is aware of the odds of the games he is playing and knows the best and worst bets in the house. They will usually have a larger bankroll than the conservative player and be placing larger bets.

The Extreme Player is often only concerned about the actual gamble, rather than the result. They are chasing the action and enjoy the thrills of large wins and large losses.

You should play at a level that gives you a thrill, but you don’t want to be stressed out on every bet.

It’s always best to start gambling at the level you feel comfortable with and then if in time you find it no longer is enjoyable, move up a level.

If moving up a level is too stressful, do not hesitate to move back down.

Everyone has different comfort levels and you should never be embarrassed by how much you gamble