The Flexible Gambler

I’ve been reading over some of the blogs I’ve been writing recently, in which I’ve been trying to give practical hints for players coping with the difficult casino environment we’re up against these days. And it occurred to me that one word can sum up all that information: “flexibility.”

The most successful gamblers are flexible. Flexibility is so important, I’m moving it way up on my list of descriptions of an effective gambler, right up there with “self-disciplined” and “hardworking.”

Someone looking for the best plays rarely sticks exclusively with a “favorite” casino. When I’m asked the most frequent question by people who know we came from Vegas — “What’s your favorite casino?” — my stock answer is, “Wherever there’s a good game or juicy promotion!”

Back in my early writings, I recommended having a “core” casino before branching out to others. That was good advice 20 years ago. And it can still be a good start or a firm foundation on which to build. But a good gambler these days is always a searcher, looking across the street, down the road, in the next city. And those whose personal lives give them wider freedom, you may find in casinos anywhere across the country looking for good-value plays.

A flexible gambler is not just looking for value in various venues, but also exploring games other than their usual ones. Many live poker players add video poker to earn more comps. Brad and I gave up blackjack in our early casino days because we were getting more abundant rewards from the players clubs from video poker. And today there are game possibilities you might have never considered in the past.

Bonus slots is a recent major opportunity. I had just a taste of that way back when with Piggy Banking, one of the first slot machines that you could watch in order to step in for the bonus when the bank was almost full. These new bonus slots require some fairly complicated math to figure out when they’re playable with an advantage. The problem, which I can’t help you with, is knowing which machines to play and when to jump in and play them. There’s some help on the Internet, but not all of it is math-trustworthy. Most players find these opportunities by talking to their math-proficient friends, many of whom are in skilled-gambler groups who share such information with one another, but not with the general public.

Another new possible game opportunity (though like bonus slots, with an advanced-math requirement) comprises the new electronic table games, particularly craps and blackjack. If, like me, you aren’t a math expert, you need one as a friend! Recently, I ‘ve stressed how important it is to cultivate relationships with other players. In my conversations with skilled players over the years, I find that they almost always mention getting valuable information from a friend or acquaintance.

Another technique many players use to find good plays, more accessible to more players without being an Einstein, is watching for things that change in a casino. I won’t disagree that many casino changes aren’t good for the player. But it’s a little like panning for gold; sometimes, when you shake out all the dirt and debris, you’ll find something of value. Look for a change of marketing executives; a new one just might be more player friendly and loosen up the mailers, at least for a while. Look at a newly revised players club system. Some changes might work in your favor, even if others do not. Watch for a change of owners; don’t assume everything will be downhill. New owners sometimes run we-are-now-better promotions. (Thousands of us are hoping this for the Palms in Las Vegas!)

When a new casino opens, it’s a given that a flock of savvy players will be there, checking out the machines, the table games, the players club. There is always a chance that in the hustle and bustle of getting the casino open quickly, the casino will make mistakes that will provide a good player opportunity. But these players don’t limit themselves just to the big Vegas openings. They travel anywhere to look for new opportunities, big or small. In fact, sometimes gems will be found in the smallest and/or out-of-the-way gambling locations. They might not even be bona fide “casinos,” but instead, small slot parlors, or a few slots in a truck stop or convenience store, or games in a local bar. (The Las Vegas Advisor, for example, tracks the local-bar scene day in and day out.)

And not surprisingly in this digital age, many players are checking out online casinos. Obviously, you have to live in or visit a state that has legalized them. But if you do, you can explore them for possible advantage plays. Some have generous bonus programs – I call them “players clubs in space” – that can give you good value for online play on various games. I’ve never played online, so I can’t give you specific details. But I’ve had reports from readers. One was about some good VP games on a CZR-branded online casino where you can build up tier and reward points. On another, some are earning points to add to their M life players club account at MGM. The Wynn Rewards program is being integrated with its online platforms, so you can earn rewards both through mobile and desktop platforms, in addition to in-person play at the brick-and-mortar casinos.

A gambler committed to finding good plays is flexible in where or what he or she plays, but also when. A promotion starts at midnight? It doesn’t matter. A flexible gambler never expects a 9-to-5 schedule. He doesn’t set his hours; the opportunities dictate his timetable.
And when one opportunity goes away, you don’t find the successful gambler sitting around and crying about “greedy casinos.” He knows no good play lasts forever. He’s learned to stay flexible, so he can adjust to change.

The most successful gamblers are scramblers!