The Casino/Gambling Thread

[Lucky]

So I'm going to my first casino resort in a week, and I'm taking it entirely too seriously and researching a bunch of information on the probabilities of different games. I want to learn as much as possible so I'm not a misinformed neophyte who blows all his money the first day. As of right now, I feel that craps is the safest way to play that also seems the most fun. I already have a craps system developed that seems fairly reliable -- I've only played for free online but I've never been more than $25 under while using it with $2 bet minimums (the min bet at the craps tables at the casino I'm going to).

The other game I've taught myself which is very simple and easy to master is Let It Ride. The problem is it's hard to win on that one. While playing online with a $3 min bet I've ranged from -$100 to +$100 in the same session. I don't have the mindset of a gambler yet, so losing $100 in one session seems pretty scary to me. The thing I like about the game is that it's against the house and not other players. It's a comfortable setting for beginners and you also have substantial control over your bet compared to other table games. Low risk appeals to me.

Anyone gamble regularly? What do you play? Got any tips for beginners? Any casino etiquette I should be aware of? Any information like that would be greatly appreciated.

[shaun]

I'm a pretty regular poker player, both live and online. I sort of grew up around it since my father has played mid-higher stakes Stud for a living the past 15 or so years.

I only started taking the game seriously in the past couple years and I think I'm a fairly respectable winning player at the admittedly lower stakes games that I play. Limit games makes me want to jump off a bridge so I tend to stick to playing NL Holdem and Pot Limit Omaha... 2/5 when I'm at a casino and lower online since live players are much much worse. Usual casino is The Borgata in AC.

All pit games are -EV over a large enough sample size so I don't typically play them. I will make an exception for craps though because it is by far the most fun you can have in a casino. It's also a great way to let out some steam after taking a few beats at the poker table.

Play the Pass Line minimum and give it max odds once a number has been rolled. Odds is the only neutral EV value bet on the table so you might as well take advantage of it. Avoid betting the field (and the no pass line since players will hate you) and then just place bets in semi-rational ways (Place 6 and 8) and hope for a good run of dice. I've seen an entire table get cleaned out in one orbit when no one could keep a roll going more than 2-3 throws. I've also been at a table when a woman rolled for 25 minutes and made everyone a ton of money. The base dealers at the craps table are happy to answer any questions if you're uncomfortable or new. They want you to stay there after all.

Have fun. I'll be in Vegas most of next week to gambool and party with some friends.

[Ezee E]

I haven't gambled either. I prefer to bet on games and such, and drink sorrows away, or buy a round for everyone depending on how the games go.

Just have fun.

[Benny Profane]

Usual casino is The Borgata in AC.





Dude, we gotta meet up. I have a shore house nearby and hit AC pretty often.

[Thirdmango]

I too am an avid poker player and have been playing money as of late, mainly due to the fact that you get better players when you play for money. I am only a tournament player though, I will not play cash games as I'm a patient player who likes to strike when needed. Tournaments fit my bill perfectly and I tend to get in the money more then I don't and so I make a steady stream of low amounts of money off of it. If you do want to learn poker tournaments I suggest doing play money for a while and freerolls and see if you can handle it. I prefer playing in person to online gaming, but most of the time online is the only option. But I will always go in on a 20 dollar live tournament. I play more variety then Shaun probably just because I do like limit, but even though my first ever win was in a razz tournament, razz is the most aggravating game on the planet. I also have a tough time playing stud hi, but I like stud hi/lo. My preferred is Omaha.

[shaun]

Dude, we gotta meet up. I have a shore house nearby and hit AC pretty often.Sure. I'm game.

Vegas trip went decently, up 1700ish playing 2/5NL, and ended up giving a few hundred back at random drunken table games. Made enough to pay most of the trip anyways (lol @ Venetian's $50 hangover room service breakfast).

Table selection was pretty simple. 90% of the players from 9pm-3am are terrible recreational types that like to spew money and think top pair is the nuts, while the daytime players are mostly elderly nits that just pass blinds back and forth. One is super profitable and the other makes you want to find the nearest bridge. Easy peasy.

[Lucky]

Wow, I think I'll hold off at least six months before my next casino visit. I've learned a couple of things...

1) Don't reach across the table to grab your chips (haha, this happened in my first 15 min there).

2) Don't hit on 14 at the blackjack table (I'm sure the odds will tell you to, but I'm pretty sure I busted every. single. time.).

3) Stick to drinking beer if you feel compelled to drink (the gin and tonics I ordered were probably flammable).

4) Don't play slots drunk (also see Rule #3).

5) Old people can be pretty fun, but also really annoying when they're giving you "gambling tips."

6) The food is pretty damn good and incredibly priced unless you order hungover room serviced breakfasts (again, see Rule #3).

7) Just because you're up $50 doesn't mean you can't be down $200 in a mere 3 hours.

8) The number 7 is evil.

9) Betting a corner of four numbers in roulette is surprisingly profitable, and it's one of the more fun things to do in the casino. It reminded me of the good ol' mouse game at the fair, except you win money instead of a stupid little stuffed animal.

10) When your friend asks if you want to throw one last $20 in on the blackjack table the morning before you leave, say no. That $20 will turn into another $20 and then you feel like shit the whole ride home.

[Lucky]

Made enough to pay most of the trip anyways (lol @ Venetian's $50 hangover room service breakfast).

Haha, we did the SAME exact thing our first morning.

[shaun]

Bump!

If anyone follows the WSOP, a woman hasn't made the final table of the main event since 1995 when Barbara Enright did it with 273 entrants. This year they had roughly 6700 entrants. Last night they played down to the final table with 2 women still in the field, Elisabeth Hille and Gaelle Baumann. They finished 11th and 10th for $590k a piece.

Still a great showing but with no "name" players making the FT, I'm sure ESPN would have liked at least one of them to make it just for the storylines.

[Thirdmango]

I'm going to be watching the October 9 live on monday and tuesday so I'll post things here with reactions. You going to be watching Shaun?

[Dukefrukem]

I could never get into Poker. I understand the rush, but the thought of losing my money angers me.

[shaun]

I'm going to be watching the October 9 live on monday and tuesday so I'll post things here with reactions. You going to be watching Shaun?
I'll have it DVR'd. I still wish they'd play it out at the time of the tourney because it's so much harder to get excited for it during football season.

Informally rooting for Jacob Balsiger since he was playing massive quantities of $4.40 180-man sit-n-gos on Poker Stars about 2 years ago. Pretty good story.

[Thirdmango]

I'll have it DVR'd. I still wish they'd play it out at the time of the tourney because it's so much harder to get excited for it during football season.

Do you know about it being on a 15 minute delay on espn3? So the day of you can actually watch the table as it slowly whittles instead of just seeing the highlights when they air on espn.

[shaun]

Yeah, it'll be on the 15 minute delay. Back in 07 or whenever Jamie Gold won I paid for a $15 PPV of the live final table. There weren't any hole cards but it was at least a month before ESPN would broadcast it so it was the only way to get up-to-date info short of following a PokerNews blog. It lasted like 18 hours I think.