Blackjack

Q+As and Briefs

We expected to be back in Las Vegas today after two weeks in GA visiting family.  But Southwest changed our plans, canceling our flight.  We couldn’t find another convenient one – we only do  non-stop these days – until Saturday, competing for seats with all those basketball fans wanting to come in for the Sweet Sixteen.

This may be the longest time ever we have not been around casinos since we moved to Vegas 20 years ago.  Our vacations have normally been planned around casino offers and comps – free hotel rooms, free cruises – and then combined with visits with friends and family.  And some people, hearing that we will be gone for 19 days, have already been asking whether we are getting bored and antsy to get back to VP.  And my answer is indicative of our change of attitudes and interests as we are getting older.  Yes, no matter how much one enjoys vacations, you are always glad to get back to your own home and a routine.  But we have not missed our casino life at all.

Yes, we will be back “in action” in April, but at the slower pace we had already embraced before this trip.  We no longer go out to a casino every day –just 3 or 4 days a week.  Of course, part of this is because of the decrease in good advantage-play opportunities, but more is based on our reduced energy level.   The days we do visit a casino our sessions are usually just 2-3 hours.

Now for answers to reader questions and some tidbits of information that I have found as I have had time to go through my files.

Q: My concern is a tax diary for my daily trips. Any chance maybe you and Bob Dancer can get together and collaborate on a diary to sell? At least we know it’s coming from highly reputable sources.

A: Thank you for your kind words! It would be hard to standardize a diary that would fit all gamblers’ need.  I put a couple sample diary forms in Tax Help for Gamblers, one an electronic example and one a hard-copy version.  If you aren’t skilled with electronic record-keeping, I think nothing beats a little calendar notebook in which you can, after each session, jot down all sorts of info you need/want to remember.

 

Q: Have you and Brad stopped playing blackjack?

A: We rarely play BJ unless we come across a coupon play or we are on a cruise ship and want to join friends in a purely social entertainment environment.

 

BRIEFS

I like it when casinos give detailed information about a promotion.  Here was the explanation from an Arizona Charlie’s about bonus points:

     7X Bonus Points: Every Sunday and Thursday in March, all players club members will receive 7X points on all same-day base slot points earned. All players club cards must be removed and reinserted no later than 11:59 p.m. on each promotional date to receive credit.

This is something you need to watch for.  At some casinos, when you are earning drawing entries, you need to remove your card before the stated deadline when the drum will close so your current play will count in figuring your virtual ticket total.

Something I don’t like casinos to do.  Give incomplete promo details that make you feel “tricked”:

SWIPE N’ WIN: Win up to $100 Free Slot Play!

And you win a scoop of gelato!

 

Frugal transportation hint:

Discount tickets for Nevada residents are available at all of the Monorail’s customer service ticketing offices upon presentation of your valid Nevada driver’s license, State of Nevada government-issued identification card or Nevada Sheriff Card. Local fare is $1 per ride.  Maximum purchase: two single ride tickets per person per day OR one 20-ride ticket no more frequently than every ten days.

 

Looking to learn how to play a new game?  Many casinos give free lessons, often during not-so-busy daytime weekday hours.  Here is a good one if you are in downtown Las Vegas:

Learn to play a new game or perfect skills with Golden Nugget’s free daily gaming lessons. Lessons are held on the casino floor.

  • Three Card Poker, Crazy 4 Poker, Let it Ride, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em and Mississippi Stud Poker

Daily – 10:00 a.m.

  • Craps Lessons

Monday-Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.; Thursday-Sunday at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

  • Blackjack Lessons

Daily – 11:00 a.m.

  • Roulette Lessons

Daily – 11:30 a.m.

 

And in the I-hope-it-happens-but-I’d-bet-against-my-living-long-enough-to-see-it department:

The AGA (the American Gaming Association, which lobbies for the gaming industry ) recently highlighted six key policy areas that they were working on, one of which was “updating gaming tax policy, including an increase to the jackpot reporting threshold from $1,200 to $5,000.”

More Info from the “Frugal” File

Harrah’s Cherokee

First, a short report on our 7* visit to Harrah’s Cherokee.  Still our favorite location for a casino; you can’t beat the Smoky Mountains for a fall trip.  We were a little early for the full-blown leaf color change, but after living in the desert for the last 20 years, miles and miles of nature green is a welcome sight.

Although we love this casino, this might be our last trip there.  The main reason for us choosing it is the availability of NSUD machines, the only ones left in the Caesars kingdom.  But even with the high EV of 99.7% and the fact that we love deuces, we found playing them this time was “work” and not “fun.”  Bad maintenance with mostly sticky buttons that slowed down our play to a crawl, having to check every hand carefully that the machine was holding the cards we had chosen. One doesn’t want to make even one mistake when you are playing $25 a hand.  Fortunately, we hit one set of 5K deuces to pull out a nice win for our swan song.

For years Brad and I had both reached Harrah’s  7* status, but as the benefits have drastically been reduced, we decided this year to play just enough to keep me at this tier level and be able to have the one retreat trip for family visits.  Most of our play has been or will be in Harrah’s Tahoe, our 2nd favorite casino location, and hopefully it will keep the 9/6 JoB machines that are disappearing in so many places.

One perk we enjoyed in Cherokee was the ability to opt out of daily housekeeping and receive a $20 free-play voucher.  We teased the grandkids that they could clean up the three rooms we had and they could split the $120 in vouchers to add to their gambling bankroll!  This is becoming a more frequent casino policy but sometimes isn’t widely publicized.  So, if you are interested, be sure and ask when you check into a hotel if there is such a program in effect.

Caesars Palace Buffet

They are no longer serving a separate breakfast and lunch schedule. Instead they offer brunch 7 days a week. Most frugal option is to go on a weekday, just before brunch ends at 3 p.m.  You will pay the lowest price available at this venue, $39.99, and then can enjoy the expanded dinner selections that start at 3 p.m. – without paying the higher dinner price.  Prices go up on the weekends but you always save if you enter and pay before the changeover from brunch to dinner.

This is one of the best money-saving techniques all over town you can use when a buffet does not close between meal changeovers.  Related to that is the hint that when a restaurant serves both lunch and dinner, the lunch menu is almost always lower in price!  And sometimes there is a reduced early-bird budget dinner option.  It pays to check out restaurant time schedules if you want to save money!

Switching Games

My friend Henry Tamburin, a long-time BJ player, wrote an interesting article about how he made the switch to mostly VP in later years. He tells about how Lenny Frome, the pioneer VP guru, got him interested in this new game choice, but then he said, “But what pushed me over the edge was Jean Scott.”

Once in awhile I’ve had people say I’ve gone a little “far out” on some frugal gambling techniques, but I guess Henry was complimenting me here! 😊

Answering Your Questions

Every once in awhile I check my “Question File” and try to address those subjects that need more explanation or details.

Q:  Do you know anything about bus transportation between Las Vegas and Laughlin?

A:  This seems to be a very fluid subject. I remember taking free bus day trips from Las Vegas many many years ago that usually included a sightseeing feature or two on the way down and a free lunch buffet after you got down there. I have heard of several such programs down through the years but don’t know if any are running now.  And sometimes I’ve heard of inexpensive bus schedules both ways.  Best advice is to google for current info.  Someone recently mentioned a Silver Rider bus and I found this phone number on their website where you might get more information – 702-298-4435.  If you have taken one of these bus trips recently – free or with a paid ticket, it would be great if you could put details in the “Comments” section below.

Q:  You often mention promotions or information you find in the local Vegas newspaper.  Do you think that I should subscribe to it even if I am an out-of-towner?

A: Although as a local and a person who reads “The Review-Journal” daily, and I do find out some helpful information this way, there are almost always online resources where this same information could be found for free.   Here are the ones many people check frequently:

  • Individual casino websites
  • Scot’s Bonus Point List
  • The ACG’s “Vegas Values,” a weekly report that gives you details on the best Las Vegas Casino Promotions.  
  • Then there is this blog, where I scour many other sources and try to fill in with details that might not be given in other places.

Q:  Was there a Blackjack Ball this last year?  I didn’t read any reports about it.

A: Yes, although the usual date in January was changed to April this year.  Henry Tamburin attended this event and wrote a detailed description of all the action.  Part 1 of the “Inside Scoop on the 2018 Blackjack Ball” talked about the famous and always insanely difficult test that the attendees faced.  Part 2 gave the answers to that test and named the winner who gets bragging rights as the “World’s Best Blackjack Player.”

Smile of the Day

I love schoolteacher jokes and here is one that made this English teacher chuckle:

Q: What do you say to a crying grammar teacher?

A: There, they’re, their.

Early March Promos and News

A new holiday!  From a press release from the Rampart Casino:

Celebrate National Blackjack Day with Free Lessons and Special Offers at Rampart Casino

 March 2 (3/2) Brings Recognition to the Centuries-Old Game and a Celebration of the Few Casinos Which Still Boast the 3:2 Odds

WHAT:

National Blackjack Day was created to bring attention to one of the biggest casino games – Blackjack! Not only the game, but the declining number of casinos who still offer a 3:2 payout – hence the day falling on March 2nd (3/2)!

Casino guests can join the team at Rampart Casino who will be offering the following to celebrate National Blackjack Day:

  • Free Blackjack lessons throughout the day: 8 a.m., 10 a.m., Noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.
  • A special Black Jack Cocktail will be featured at all casino bars for $3.20 – a mix of Jack Daniels, Kahlua, and Grand Marnier with a splash of Lemon Juice that can be served as a shot or cocktail
  • Clubhouse Deli (which is currently in its first phase of opening), will offer a $3.20 pastry selection

 WHEN:

Friday, March 2, 2018

Activities beginning at 8 a.m.

WHERE:

Rampart Casino

221 N. Rampart Blvd.

Las Vegas, NV 89145

Social Gaming News

From Mark’s Las Vegas:  myKonami Slots is part of the myVEGAS family. In addition to all of the usual myVEGAS Rewards, they have their own special myKonami Freeplay Reward.

Bargain Movies for Seniors 50+

(Check websites for details and exclusions.)

The Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, and Sam’s Town – Part of the Wednesday Young at Heart (YAH) senior promotion:  One (1) $4 movie voucher valid on the Wednesday that the voucher is printed. Valid for movies prior to 6 p.m. at properties with theaters only.  The kiosk voucher must be claimed by 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

Station Casinos (excluding the Palms) – Part of the MyGeneration senior promotion – $4 Movie Matinées.  Present your Boarding Pass at Regal Cinemas or Century Theatres to redeem your offer. Valid Wednesdays before 6pm.

South Point – Mondays – part of their Prime Time senior promotion – and Wednesdays.     $4 all day both days.  (This seems to be a rather recent change for their senior movie discounts.)

Movie theater note:  Cinemark Theaters on March 1 will put in a “security and safety” measure, banning all bags or packages that measure over 12″by 12″by 6″, a maximum size limit at many sports and entertainment arenas.    Most other theaters who don’t have a specific size ban will inspect or reserve the right to inspect oversize bags.

 

 

GAMBLING INFO FROM THE INTERNET

I was recently interviewed on the popular “Cousin Vito” gambling podcast. This 40-minute chat covered wide-ranging topics, from our first casino visit 33 years ago right up through the recent publication of The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide. It was a fun-filled discussion with a lively and knowledgeable host, starting about 11 minutes into the podcast.  You can stream the interview on the website or here is a direct link to the MP3.

New Casino Offerings

Casinos are always looking for new ways to attract a younger generation of potential casino visitors.  Many of them would not interest me or most of the people of my age group.  Take the new free-roaming virtual reality arena in the MGM’s Level Up gaming lounge.  Fighting zombies is just not on my bucket list.

However some of the new concepts, particularly the new electronic versions of the old standard table games, do interest me.  I’ve been reading about the new “stadium-type” format for traditional casino games and have seen some smaller electronic versions of these, but really didn’t know many of the details.

Therefore, I was glad to see a very comprehensive discussion of stadium-blackjack, written by fellow gaming author Henry Tamburin, at the 888 Casino website.   This piece includes pictures, description of the set-up and how it is played, and explanation of the rules.

 

 

This and That

People often ask when they might run into Brad and me in a casino. One of our usual casino visits is on Wednesday afternoons at the Gold Coast, where we are playing NSUDs until the virtual drum closes at 4:15 for the Young at Heart Drawing. After that is a good time to stop and say hello and/or have me autograph books when we are waiting around for the 4:30 drawing. I don’t carry any copies of my new book with me – too heavy! But you can always bring any of your own copies.   And Brad and I are always glad to chat with long-time and new frugal friends.

Another scheduled casino visit:  We will be at Harrah’s Tahoe April 30-May 1.

——

A recommendation for those who might be interested in knowing what goes on at the famous annual Blackjack Ball, here is a detailed article that Henry Tamburin wrote and published in the March issue of his “Blackjack Insider Newsletter.

Anyone can read the first seven pages of the report, which describes everything that went on at the recent Ball. What they can’t read without a subscription is the 21 Blackjack Ball test questions, which is at the end of the report. I recommend a subscription to this newsletter even if you don’t play much blackjack.  It contains articles on VP as well as fascinating stories by gambling experts and those who know the inner workings of the casinos. It is only $19.95 for 12 issues.

Talking Blackjack

Today I want to talk blackjack. Although video poker has been our core game for about 25 years, we haven’t forgotten our first 6 years when blackjack took center stage in our casino life. And we still hit the BJ tables occasionally, when we have a coupon for that game or we are on a cruise ship and want to have some social activity with friends and relatives at a gambling option better than the machines offer.

I still keep up on blackjack news and take note of new BJ resources that would especially be valuable for recreational players. Recently my friend, Henry Tamburin, who has been a BJ player and gaming writer for many years, has just finished a book rightly called the Ultimate Blackjack Strategy Guide. It is a comprehensive introduction to the casino game of blackjack that is a step-by-step handbook for the beginner and can help more experienced players fine-tune their game. The Guide includes an Index and Glossary and is fully illustrated with graphics and color-coded charts that make it fun to read and easy to understand. It is more than just about blackjack strategy; it covers many related topics, like the history of the game, side bets and variations, tournaments, and the famous practitioners at the Blackjack Ball. Best of all, it is the ultimate frugal read since it is FREE to access online.

And if you ever wondered how big BJ players operate, you will love this story Henry discovered in his recent interview with Donald Johnson, a piece that appeared in “Casino Player” magazine. I had heard how Johnson beat several casinos for $15 million dollars betting $100,000 a hand, and I – and most everyone else – thought it was due to the lucrative rebate on losses he negotiated with the casinos. However, in this interview Henry found out that there was much more to this story, amazing details that hadn’t come out before. You can read all about it here.

For more on Don Johnson, go to this podcast at “Gambling with an Edge,” where he and Anthony Curtis and Max Rubin talk about this year’s Blackjack Ball, at which Johnson was inducted into the Blackjack Hall of Fame.

 

Back Home

Still “recovering” from a long and busy out-of-town trip, one that, as usual, combined casino activity and family celebrations.  This picture records the first family event when we got to GA, Zachary’s graduation from Police Academy, where he scored two  of the three awards given – top shooter and highest overall PT achievement.  All that ROTC and parkour/karate experience is reaping great dividends.  He will be one busy Man in Blue.  As well as his job on the Columbus, GA police force, he will be juggling a fledgling online business, Army National Guard duty, and being a thoughtful husband to Taylor and involved father to 2 1/2 Asher and on-the-way Bowen who will be arriving in March.

family-graduation

After celebrating an early Christmas in Columbus, our next stop was at granddaughter Kaitlynn’s apartment in Atlanta, where she is working on her master’s in communication, specifically video production and related areas.  She has connected her hobby of geocaching to her studies with a YouTube site chronicling her adventures at home and abroad.

Then it was on to Cherokee Harrah’s in North Carolina’s Smoky Mountains, one of our favorite casinos,

Covering Vacation Time with a Guest BJ Rant

Brad and I will be flying to Georgia in a couple of days, combining, as we often do, a family visit with a casino stay.  First, we will be attending grandson Zachary’s graduation from Police Academy, part of his training for his new position with the Columbus, GA police force.  Then the whole family will celebrate an early Christmas together.  This year we just have a single “little one,” great-grandson Asher, but at two-and-a-half he is quite able to generate a lot of joy and excitement.  However, he won’t have to go it alone for long.  Come March he will have a little brother arriving to help with holiday mayhem!

Then the fun continues with a short road trip (4 1/2 hours north) to Harrah’s Cherokee Casino in North Carolina, where most of the family can join us as their work schedules permit.  This is a 7 Stars trip, and as usual, they are glad to help use up accumulated comps!  We will be there from December 15 until the 18th so, if any of you happen to be there too, please stop and say hello if you see us.

Departing from my usual subject of video poker temporarily, I will leave you an interesting article to ponder over while I am absent here.  It was written by my friend Henry Tamburin and taken from the October issue of Casino Player magazine:

Blackjack Survival in X-Rated Strip Clubs

More Good Reads and Gaming Resources

At the top of this blog page, you will see a link called “Casino Strategies.” This goes to an interesting blog, one on the 888casino website. Although you cannot gamble at this online casino in the United States unless you are physically in the state of New Jersey, where it is a legal place for real-money games, anyone can visit their blog. I recommend it because it contains an abundance of gambling information from many experienced gambling writers, including an article I wrote that traces Brad’s and my casino path down the last 30+ years.

The blog features two comprehensive game guides, on blackjack and slots, and numerous articles on many other games and gambling topics. Browse around it for interesting and helpful information.

 

 

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