Your Casino bankroll requires planning. How much money to bring to the casino depends three questions:
what games will you be playing?
what denomination will you be playing at?
how long do you expect to stay?
I am often asked, “How much money should I bring to the casino?” In other words, what should your bankroll be? Think of it this way – “Retirement is like a long vacation in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy it the fullest, but not so fully that you run out of money.” — Jonathan Clements. If you think about it, every time you visit the casino, that’s the goal. To enjoy it the fullest, but not so fully that you deplete your bankroll.
Consider these before your next visit
1) “How long am I going to stay?” Decide before you go.
2) If using bus transportation, “Do I have plans on how to spend my free time?” (Time without bankroll)
3) “If I get ahead on a slot or video poker machine, how will I establish a stop value to cash out?”
4) If it’s a longer visit that spans over a meal time, “Do I have a plan for dividing your sessions?” and “Am I taking enough money to include downtime, tips, and meals?”
5) MOST IMPORTANT – “Does my allotted bankroll equal the allotted time for my visit?” In other words, will your time expectations match the $$ you brought? (If not, be careful not to make that ATM your friend)
Keep in mind that the following are suggestions. While a suggested bankroll might give you the best run at a certain percentage of lasting, the opposite is also true. The house edge might not change in your session, but your success can get crazy bad or crazy good in a short session – after all, it is casino gambling. Remember, your casino bankroll requires planning.
SLOTS – John Grochowski says, “….as a general rule of thumb, to have a 90% chance of staying in action for three hours on the slots, your bankroll should cover 250 bets. If you’re betting 40 cents a spin on penny slots, a $100 bankroll gives you that 90% chance. If you’re betting 75 cents on quarter slots, the bankroll need rises to about $187.50, and when you bet $3 per spin on dollar slots, it’s $750.”
Ticket In, Ticket Out! TITO
BLACKJACK – according to CountingEdge.com, “….always buy-in with at least 50 times the minimum bet. No exceptions. In other words, to play at a $5 minimum bet table you need to buy-in with $250. At a $10 table you need $500, and so on.
CRAPS – Its my understanding to bring to the table 7 to 10 times the amount you are betting. So a $5 table with 3-4-5x odds pass line w/ odds only ave betting $25.00, so $175 to $250.
VIDEO POKER – 150 bets to cover 400 decisions per hour (average player with perfect strategy). In other words, playing quarter VP and five coins per single line, $1.25 X 150 = $187.50 (round up to $200). Of course, the lower the pay table pay out, the more you will need. Also, higher the volatility (Triple Double Bonus Poker as compared to Jacks or Better) would me a higher bankroll.
They Represent Real money! Treat these chips as real money.
OTHER TABLE GAMES – Casino Player writer Basil Nestor, from “Casino Player” writes “…Blackjack and other table games are best played with a minimum of 50 bets. The only exception to this rule is Let It Ride, which requires 150 bets. For table poker, it’s 100 bets.”
Remember, my fellow recreational gamblers, it’s great to win. But if you lose, only lose the bankroll you bring and the money you can spend for fun.
Jean Scott is the “Queen of Coupons” and in her many posts and newsletters, she included one must read with her “10 Casino Money-Saving Tips.”
Everyone like to save money at the casino. These money-saving tips should be part of every casino visit. Those considered “good” gamblers learn the best strategies on the best games and use any legal method to increase their odds and lower the casino’s advantage, thus, saving-money and lengthening their bankroll. Jean Scott is one of those authors who practices what she preaches. Before continuing on, check out two of her websites Jean Scott’s Queen of Comps & Jean Scott’s Frugal Vegas. For related posts in NETG, click on Big Data, Casinos, & Jean Scott & Playing Video Poker Like Jean Scott – The Monday Link
Jean Scott is the author of the best-selling book “The Frugal Gambler,” (a must for every gambler) a casino guide for thrifty low rollers, plus a sequel, “More Frugal Gambling.” She stresses sensible, responsible gambling and shows how to stretch out casino fun time whatever your gambling bankroll.
Retired from the high school English classroom, her passion is still education while she continues as an active player in casinos all over the country. Today, Jean Scott, who, in her words, is just an “ordinary grandmother,” is the world’s most famous low-rolling gambler and her fans are legion.
While all of Jean’s suggestions are with Las Vegas in mind where she resides, her 10 Money-Saving tips in the Casino are great ideas to use or modify in our New England Casinos. Here are her tips:
10 Casino money-saving tips from the Frugal Gambler
1. Study before you go.
Libraries and bookstores have oodles of casino and gambling books that will guide you on a money-saving path. The Internet is full of information on the various casino games. Learn which games have the smallest casino edge, or have a skill factor you could learn, or that enable you to risk your money more slowly. All of these will allow you to lose less and/or stretch your bankroll further.
Shooting at the Craps Table – have fun whatever your game is.
2. Treat gambling as a form of entertainment and budget it just as you do whatever else you do for fun, such as movies, eating out, and vacations.
Nothing takes away the fun factor more quickly than losing money that you need for life’s essentials. Do not take your checkbook or ATM or credit card to the casino with you. Decide how much you can afford to spend (lose), and take that amount in cash or safe traveler’s checks as your gambling bankroll. Make your gambling bankroll last the whole time you plan to be in a casino by dividing it into segments, i.e., in thirds if you are staying three days, in three-to-four session bankrolls for each day. Then never “borrow ahead” from the next session bankroll.
3. Join every casino player’s club you can, even if you don’t plan to gamble there.
You can join many online before you get to Vegas. Membership is free and many casinos give discounts to player’s card holders in their restaurants, gift shops, and for rooms.
4. Use your player’s card EVERY TIME you play, no matter how small the amount or short the time.
This allows the casino to track your play and thus know how much to reward you with comps, those freebie meals, rooms, shows, and other benefits that the casinos want to give their players.
Mohegan Sun’s Momentum Players Club
If you play machines, there is a place for you to insert your card. If you play the tables, you merely hand the card to the dealer of any game and ask that your play be tracked. Casinos cannot give you comps if they don’t know you are playing in their casino.
An added benefit of joining and using a player’s card is that casinos often send mail offers to everyone in their database, sometimes even to those who have played little or not at all. You will be surprised at the money-saving offers that will appear in your mailbox when you get home.
5. Don’t drink too much alcohol, even if the drinks are free. It will cloud your judgment.
More Money-Saving Tips From Jean Scott
6. If you are losing too fast, lower your denomination.
Change from the dollar slots to quarters or from quarter to nickels. At the tables, bet the lowest-value chip allowed.
7. Slow down your play — savor the noisy, fun-filled atmosphere.
The bells and whistles, the clanking coins, the high fives at the tables, the excited screams of winners — this is what makes the casino such an entertaining experience.
Remember the days of casino trips with coupon books?
8. Look for coupons and specials for discounted meals, shows, and sightseeing tours.
You can find many of these in the freebie magazines around town: at the bell desk, at rental car agencies and motels, at the airport, and right in your room. Read the marquees for menu specials.
9. Look for promotions that will add value to a game you play:
a. bonus players club points, like double points on holidays or on a certain day every week;
b. bonuses for certain events, like the top jackpot on slots, a certain quad in video poker, or a special hand in blackjack;
c. drawings for which you can earn tickets by playing your favorite game.
10. Make your bankroll last longer by taking frequent non-gambling breaks.
Take in a show, go sightseeing, have a long, leisurely meal, take a tour or go shopping. Get your proper rest. A tired gambler is a gambler who will make decisions he will regret. Get a full night’s sleep and take a nap, if possible. Gambling is hard work!
The Royal Queen of Coupons has spoken! Check out her books at Amazon
Remember, when gambling & comp-harvesting, embrace the math not the Myth.
It was a dark, cold and dreary night in New England. Over 400 Video poker players were present for a Tournament that would go on, on, …into the night. It was intense, it was stressful, it was……
Who am I kidding, it was just a video poker tournament……
Video Poker Machines at Mohegan Sun
Ok, so actually, it was a nice peaceful event, with good food that lasted from 8 – 11:00 pm. While this was not my first VP tournament, it was different in one very important aspect – I won money! Tenth place out of the ten paying spots, with over 400 people invited! Ya-hoo!
While the payout was small, the badge of honor of winning after years of practicing paid off. Yes, you read that correctly – I practice. I prepare three video poker games constantly – Jacks or Better, Bonus Poker, and Double Double Bonus Poker. I have been practicing for years since, we all know, Video Poker does involve skill and luck. Correct strategy goes beyond basic strategy. Knowledge of penalty cards, strategy changes according to different pay tables and other nuances just might buy a few extra hands to try for that illusive Royal Flush and essential for keeping your bankroll intact.
Strategy cards are available and legal.
Friend of NETimeGambling.com and one of the leading gambling strategy gurus, John Grochowski knows the importance of correct strategy. In one of the many publications he writes for, John suggested these software programs to help improve your strategy and speed. “As for software, at different times on different computers, I use Bob Dancer’s Video Poker for Winners, Jean Scott’s Frugal Video Poker and Dean Zamzow’s WinPoker. All can be set for different games and pay tables and will alert you when you are making mistakes. Video Poker for Winners and Frugal Video Poker will generate strategy tables. WinPoker doesn’t do that, but I find it the easiest to use when I need to adjust to a pay table that’s not one of the basics already included on the software.” You can see these programs below with links.
So, practice, practice, practice. The staple to any VP beginner’s book library would be John Grochowski’s “The Video Poker Answer Book.” It’s a great place to start.
Remember, a good gambler isn’t reckless about betting, it’s someone who tries to get the best chance to win, be most prepared and lower the house edge in any legal way.
RESOURCES FOR SUCCESS
BEST WEBSITES:
The Wizard off Odds – “if you’re going to gamble you should have the best information possible so you can have the best chances of winning, and can minimize your losses if you do lose.” Such is the philosophy Michael Shackelford (who is) The Wizard of Odds website. Included at this exclusive site are essential topics like Odds & Strategies, Video Poker game simulators, and various other important gambling information. Especially helpful are the Wizard’s Video Poker Hand Analyzer and strategies for every all sorts of video poker games and variations.
VideoPoker.Com – www.videopoker.com – VideoPoker.com is a legal, non-wagering Web site
No gambling takes place on VideoPoker.com. People play and practice so they can improve their chances of winning in casinos – or just play for fun! There are free contests where people can win cash and prizes, but because the contests are free to enter, it is not considered online gambling.
In addition to practicing and playing their favorite video poker games, there are other member benefits that keep people coming back to the site including:
Participating in Free Contests to win cash prizes and merchandise
Learning more about the games they play and optimal play strategy
Participating in an active Forum
Tracking their play over time using Tracking Mode (GOLD members only)
Real time training using Training Mode (GOLD only)
Challenging fellow members to individual or group contests (GOLD only)
Real time chat with fellow GOLD members (GOLD only)
Playing brand new games before the games hit the casino floors (GOLD only)
A Players Club that keeps track of their game activity on the site
An excellent site to practice any video poker game out there – even before it reaches most casinos. This is a free site. But for a monthly fee under $10, you have access as a Gold Member to lots of additional perks (notice above.)
vpFREE2: Their goal is to provide a complete inventory of the best video poker games available and make that information available for free. They currently cover 448 casinos in the US and Canada.are maintained by volunteer casino monitors and an active community of video poker players who help keep are information up-to-date by sending us updates. This is a free site.
the similar Shuffle Engine as the Video Poker in a real casino.
the same Pay Table as the Video Poker in a real casino
the similar graphical user interface as the Video Poker in a real casino
Game Center for your ranking.
The Max Cash is $400,000,000.00
You can play 10 games.
– Jacks or Better
– Bonus Poker Deluxe
– Bonus Poker
– Double Bonus Poker
– Aces and Faces Poker
– Royal Aces Bonus Poker
– Triple Bonus Poker Plus
– Super Aces Bonus Poker
– White HOT Aces
– Deuces Wild
This isn’t just a game. This is a simulator for Video Poker.
WinPoker by ZAMZOW $9.99
I feel this is the best $10.00 investment for anyone who wants to improve their VP skills.
Learn how to correctly play video poker. Single play, triple play, 5 play and 10 play options that can be played with all of the 31 included video poker games!. Change modes from the options screen, or just swipe up to pull up 3, 5 or 10 hands or swipe down to take it back down.
You can also create any game you want by changing the pay table of one of the built in games. You can also run a game analysis for any pay table created. This is especially helpful if you play in a casino that doesn’t have good pay tables.
31 video poker variations – Highlighting some best known video poker games like: All American, Bonus Poker, Double Bonus, Double Double Bonus, Double Jackpot, Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild, Joker Poker – Kings or Better, Joker Wild – (Atlantic City) 5K Jackpot, just to name a few.
Three Different Modes of Play **Auto-hold** WinPoker holds the correct play for you. **Warn** You hold the cards and WinPoker alerts you if your hold is not the play that has the highest expected return, or **No mode** Use this mode to duplicate the Casino experience. You play just as you would in a casino only now, you can stop and view the session and check to see if you made any errors. (You don’t have that luxury in a Casino)
Statistics show your wins, losses, total hands played, errors, the magnitude of those errors and what those errors potentially could cost you in cash!
BEST BOOKS:
I suggest two:
Bob Dancer’s “Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner” or “Million Dollar Video Poker.” Both books give insight, strategy, and more into playing like a VP pro.
Frugal Video Poker was written by Jean Scott and Viktor Nacht and was published in 2006. This book is intended for any audience whether you’re looking to prolong your time in the casinos. The authors introduce you to the basics of the game and paytables, how to identify good and bad paytables and which strategies to use based on the machines. They also cover tournaments, progressives, and promotions.
BEST COMPUTER SOFTWARE: Bob Dancer’s “Video Poker for Winners” $49.95
With this software on your home computer, you can learn at home by playing the most popular casino games right from your desktop. It includes Master winning strategies, bankroll and comp calculators, And much much more! If you go the Video Poker for Winners Website, you can sign up for a free trial.
BEST STRATEGY CARDS
When you are ready to head for the casino to play you can take your strategy chart along with you. When you are dealt a hand that you are unsure of, you can look up the proper play on your strategy chart. A strategy card will show you the correct way to play each hand that you are dealt. By following the cards advice you will keep the hand that offers the highest possible return. Two of the best are Zamzow’s BDPWinpoker software and strategy cards generated from Tomski’s VPSM Video Poker Strategy Master. You can buy excellent cards at Bob Dancer’s site as well. These cards are acceptable to use in the casino, so take them with you!
So, practice, practice, practice. The staple to any VP beginner’s book library would be John Grochowski’s “The Video Poker Answer Book.” It’s a great place to start.
The Wizard off Odds
