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Gialmere
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March 3rd, 2020 at 6:31:27 PM permalink
Episode #14
Stream Date: 12-19-2019
Length: 01:02:52
Topic: Questions from the LCB (Latest Casino Bonus) website (Part #1)

Subjects
Where did the title "Wizard of Odds" come from?
The Wizard and Heather in movies
What is the process for analyzing a new casino game?
The Wizard's favorite New York restaurant
What's the odds of getting a dealt royal flush in video poker?
Should you hold a kicker in video poker?
Inside straights in video poker
Holding high cards in video poker
Thoughts on poker books
Where are the loosest slot machines in a casino?
Coin flip probability, fake numbers and taxes
Volatility, variance and returns in slot machines
What is the return to player on Lightning Roulette?
Hybrid table games
Craps: Does dice setting work?
Do slots have different returns based on denomination?
Can you tell a slot's volatility from its pay table?
Should you bet more on slots to invoke extra features?
Are betting strategies useful for slots?
How many pay lines should you play on a slot machine?
Is the double up feature a good bet?
Gambling games you'll see when traveling the world
Is it legal to exploit a casino error?
Legal vs illegal in gambling




[Note that the Wizard is wearing a Hard Rock T-shirt.]
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Gialmere
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March 4th, 2020 at 7:04:29 PM permalink
Episode #15
Stream Date: 12-26-2019
Length: 01:10:59
Topic: Questions from the LCB (Latest Casino Bonus) website (Part #2)

Subjects
Christmas trivia quiz
Honesty and integrity in gaming
Casino winner walls
Regulating and rating online casinos
Slots: house edge, best locations, highest paying machines, bonuses
Random number generators (and cheating)
Casino provable fairness
Andre Agassi trivia question
Yee Hah Hi
Slots: local vs pooled progressive jackpots
Dealer cheating during live blackjack
Money management and betting systems for blackjack
Tight pay tables in video poker
Skill based slots
Arcades vs casinos
Capped casino bonuses
Do bad players hurt good players at the blackjack table?
Is Sic Bo played in Vegas?
Slots: AGS must hit progressive jackpots

Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
odiousgambit
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March 5th, 2020 at 3:25:30 AM permalink
Question for the show: have you come out ahead in your "no jackpot winner in Powerball" wagers?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
Wizard
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March 5th, 2020 at 5:31:19 AM permalink
Reminder about today's Live Stream -- Accepting questions here.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
unJon
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March 5th, 2020 at 10:16:37 AM permalink
Do you have any superstitions around gambling or otherwise, which you observe even though you realize they are irrational?
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that is the way to bet.
SkittleCar1
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March 5th, 2020 at 12:02:43 PM permalink
If you were to rearrange US currency to match the casino system, who would you put on the $25 bill.
Wizard
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March 5th, 2020 at 2:01:13 PM permalink
Quote: odiousgambit

Question for the show: have you come out ahead in your "no jackpot winner in Powerball" wagers?



I haven't kept good track, but think I'm a little down.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Gialmere
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March 5th, 2020 at 5:09:25 PM permalink
Tiger Split Baccarat sounds interesting. I'm guessing you had some fun designing the house way. Is this the table for it?



[edit] Also, why no OMBC video?

Also, would you consider this video to be evidence of mild superstition (per unJon's question)? Or would you say you were merely rooting for an outcome and playing the part of a Price Is Right contestant?

Last edited by: Gialmere on Mar 5, 2020
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Gialmere
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March 5th, 2020 at 5:31:59 PM permalink
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Wizard
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March 5th, 2020 at 7:32:55 PM permalink
Quote: Gialmere

Tiger Split Baccarat sounds interesting. I'm guessing you had some fun designing the house way. Is this the table for it?



Yes, that is the table. It was indeed fun fine tuning the rules and house way for the game.

Quote:

Also, why no OMBC video?



I hate to ask, but what does OMBC stand for?

Quote:

Also, would you consider this video to be evidence of mild superstition (per unJon's question)? Or would you say you were merely rooting for an outcome and playing the part of a Price Is Right contestant?



That is a good one! Yes, I would say I was just acting like a TPIR contestant. The video would have been no fun if I just stood there. I've been watching TPIR for about 45 years (man I'm old) and when I had a chance to spin that wheel, of course I was going to enjoy the experience.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Gialmere
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March 5th, 2020 at 11:13:01 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

I hate to ask, but what does OMBC stand for?


I just meant an Odds Must Be Crazy video at youtube (which may or may not get posted at WOO). It's strange you didn't do a G2E video of your own creation.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
scrooge
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March 5th, 2020 at 11:14:24 PM permalink
Thanks for helping to expose a crooked casino
Wizard
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March 6th, 2020 at 7:34:09 AM permalink
Quote: Gialmere

I just meant an Odds Must Be Crazy video at youtube (which may or may not get posted at WOO). It's strange you didn't do a G2E video of your own creation.



They strictly prohibit shooting videos at G2E. Otherwise, I would have liked to. Heather, I think, made one anyway.

Quote: scrooge

Thanks for helping to expose a crooked casino



You're very welcome. Thank you for your help!
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
SkittleCar1
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March 6th, 2020 at 7:40:53 AM permalink
I really like your answer for my question of the $25 bill. Sacagawea. Exploring new frontiers. Changing the money system would be a new frontier.
Wizard
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March 6th, 2020 at 10:21:39 AM permalink
Quote: SkittleCar1

I really like your answer for my question of the $25 bill. Sacagawea. Exploring new frontiers. Changing the money system would be a new frontier.



Thanks! I hope this won't violate the rule against controversial opinions, but I strongly favor abolishing the penny and paper dollar. I would leans towards getting rid of the nickel too, but one thing at a time. There is a particular president on paper money now I'd like to replace with Sacagawea, but forum rules prevent me from saying who.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
unJon
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March 6th, 2020 at 10:27:00 AM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Thanks! I hope this won't violate the rule against controversial opinions, but I strongly favor abolishing the penny and paper dollar. I would leans towards getting rid of the nickel too, but one thing at a time. There is a particular president on paper money now I'd like to replace with Sacagawea, but forum rules prevent me from saying who.



This would make a good topic for your next Livestream.
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong; but that is the way to bet.
smoothgrh
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March 6th, 2020 at 12:53:48 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Thanks! I hope this won't violate the rule against controversial opinions, but I strongly favor abolishing the penny and paper dollar. I would leans towards getting rid of the nickel too, but one thing at a time. There is a particular president on paper money now I'd like to replace with Sacagawea, but forum rules prevent me from saying who.



I agree! The costs of manufacturing pennies and paper dollars just isn’t worth it. Not to mention the time costs of having to wait for change down to the penny.

But apparently there’s a zinc lobby that advocates for keeping the penny.

Also, it makes sense as inflation continues to have a $25 bill. Carrying four $25 bills instead of five $20 bills will likely become the norm, unless we’re all dead by then.
Wizard
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March 6th, 2020 at 2:21:38 PM permalink
Quote: smoothgrh

Also, it makes sense as inflation continues to have a $25 bill. Carrying four $25 bills instead of five $20 bills will likely become the norm, unless we’re all dead by then.



I would not oppose that. I would make it a higher priority to make the bills different sizes, like for the Euro. I also like the look of the currency of just about every country over the US.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
SkittleCar1
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March 6th, 2020 at 4:43:15 PM permalink
Would you be in favor of coloring the bills something other than green? Red $5, green $25, black $100...etc?
Gialmere
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March 7th, 2020 at 2:11:57 PM permalink
Episode #16
Stream Date: 01-16-2020
Length: 01:00:12
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
The Snow Queen, Disney films and Panama City
Comps on full pay video poker
Stingy comps at Caesars properties
Craps: hop bet, center bet, horn bet, C&E bet, world bet
Low house edge table games
Finalizing futures bets in sports
Craps: field bet, buy bet, place bet, fire bet
Video Keno house edges
The Wizard's weight loss wager
Statistical fluctuation or luck?
Using another person's player card
Dice influence: fact or fiction?
Lottery jackpots so huge that multiple winners become likely
Errors in game analysis
Slot advantage play: US vs Europe
Taxes on gambling
Cheating and outside influence in sports
Beating the Michigan and Massachusetts state lotteries
Tacos El Gordo and Vegetarianism

Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Wizard
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March 7th, 2020 at 5:11:08 PM permalink
Quote: Gialmere

Episode #16...



Thank you!
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Gialmere
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March 8th, 2020 at 3:22:49 PM permalink
Episode #17
Stream Date: 01-30-2020
Length: 01:00:26
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Delays, pineapples and breakdancing
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #1)
Wizard's 2019 betting and thoughts on new games
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #2)
Risks of buying picks from touts
Praise for Rampart Casino's expired ticket policy
Slots vulnerable to advantage play
Money left in a slot and the Chinese New Year
Rant: bad customer service at Riverside casino
Computer coding for gambling games
Collecting Chinese New Year chips (and license plates)
Finding video poker machine locations
People born on February 29th
Wizard's favorite negative EV game
Will there be a backlash against casino greed?
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #3)
Restaurants on Fremont St
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #4)
Taking pictures in a sportsbook
Vegas: the mob days vs the corporate days
How did the Wizard and Heather meet?
Thoughts on Kobe Bryant
Are bubble craps machines rigged?
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #5)
The Wizard's lot in life during the late 80's
Video poker pay tables for different denominations


Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Gialmere
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March 11th, 2020 at 7:45:39 PM permalink
Episode #18
Stream Date: 02-13-2020
Length: 01:01:48
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Slots: Do the number of jackpot symbols change based on credits played?
Singing the blues over Youtube taking down gambling videos
Slots: Do jackpot chances increase when the symbols appear more frequently?
Slots: near misses, random number generators and reel weighting
Update rant on bad customer service at Riverside casino
Should Americans be allowed to wager on US presidential elections?
Odds for 2020 presidential election [02-13-2020]
Bitcoin gripe
Do higher denomination video poker machines pay better?
The value of points for video poker
Should the Super Bowl be moved to Saturday?
Did the Wizard ever gamble at a mob run casino?
Holidays: the good, the bad and the ugly
What is Mrs Wizard getting for Valentine's Day?
Advice for Valentine's Day cards.
Internet gambling scams
Circa vs Resorts World
How do pit bosses rate players?
Triple Double Bonus video poker pay tables (and the Wizard's book)
What is the real purpose of Burning Man?
The Wizard's resume, Disneyland and fighting characters
Coronavirus closes Macau casinos
The Wizard's idea for a new book
Craps: parlaying bets
A hard eight ha-ha

Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Gialmere
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March 14th, 2020 at 11:12:22 AM permalink
Episode #19
Stream Date: 03-05-2020
Length: 01:05:37
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
How Wixiplay casino cheats
Player recourse against internet casino cheating
A Wizard internship
Vegas escape rooms
Low house advantage table games
The Wizard's favorite game the he himself designed
Blackjack book: "Beyond Counting"
Does the Wizard have any gambling superstitions?
Whose picture should be on the $25 dollar bill?
A brief François Blanc bio
The expression to "86" someone
Vegas values resulting from the coronavirus
Favorable rules for blackjack
Leap babies and the birthday paradox
Double deck blackjack at the Mirage
2020 Vegas table game surveys
Playing table games live vs online
Wizard TV and movie appearances
Wizard of Odds livestream prize giveaway
How will the universe end?
Machine malfunctions voiding a jackpot
Does barring online gambling discriminate against the disabled?
How has national legalized sports betting affected Vegas?
Casino Quest
T-shirts, Texas A&M and Burning Man
Card symbols on slot machines
Heather's YouTube woes


Question: Will the "Gambling 102" books being given out as livestream prizes be signed copies?
Last edited by: Gialmere on Mar 14, 2020
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Gialmere
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March 17th, 2020 at 7:50:24 AM permalink
Is there a livestream this week? Or is it, like everything else these days, on hold pending revaluation?
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Wizard
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March 18th, 2020 at 5:26:55 PM permalink
Quote: Gialmere

Is there a livestream this week? Or is it, like everything else these days, on hold pending revaluation?



There is! As always, feel free to post your questions here. Live Stream tomorrow at the usual time.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
odiousgambit
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March 19th, 2020 at 3:20:31 AM permalink
of course you will be covering the virus. Include your current forecast on deaths and "show your work" to some degree please.

what have been the surprises for you with the crisis? [we know one surprise you had, ie vegas casinos closing]

how are the plans for your online 'casino 99' going?

are you considering more of these live ask-me-anythings during the crisis?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
Wizard
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March 19th, 2020 at 3:25:20 AM permalink
Thanks! Keep 'em coming.

I notice Aye hasn't submitted a question lately. I hope he's not mad I had to suspend him a while back for making a political statement.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Gialmere
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March 19th, 2020 at 5:53:33 AM permalink
Which of the imploded Vegas casinos do you find yourself missing the most?

Tell us about your biggest winning gambling session.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Wizard
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March 19th, 2020 at 7:46:43 AM permalink
Thanks, keep 'em coming.

Also, I'll be on Heather's show at 2:00 too. Her channel is Vegas Aces. Her format will probably be AMA, but I'm not sure. It probably will turn into that even if there is a topic.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Gialmere
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March 21st, 2020 at 2:37:09 PM permalink
Episode #20
Stream Date: 03-19-2020
Length: 01:00:16
Topic: Ask Me Anything / Coronavirus Episode

Subjects
Coronavirus in Vegas
People who wear glasses
The Wizard's best gambling win
Coronavirus closing down the Vegas casinos
Poetic license in Vegas movies
Dealer strategy in blackjack
Coronavirus mathematics
6/5 blackjack and casino profitability
Coronavirus and Vegas schools
The Wizard counting cards
How to get the Wizard of Odds newsletter
Craps: Laying all the numbers on the come out roll
Wizard of Odds livestream prize giveaway and virus schedule
Thoughts on live poker
Update: Casino 99
Pai Gow Tiles: splitting high 9s, gongs and wongs
Update: Heather's book
Finding Spanish 21 tables in Vegas
Exposing online casino cheating
Craps: bankroll size for $5 and $10 tables
The color of money and counterfeit cash
Can you card count online blackjack?
How casinos choose a house way
Scientific Gaming and buying casino stocks
Bankroll management betting strategies
Blackjack: calculating the true count
How many gumballs are in the jar?
Will the coronavirus boost online gambling?
Thoughts on new carnival games
Do sportsbooks back off winners?
Flashing blackjack dealers

Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Gialmere
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March 21st, 2020 at 4:11:03 PM permalink
Here are the first twenty Wizard of Odds livestreams....


Episode #1
Stream Date: 05-09-2019
Length: 47:44
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
WOO website
Winchester Mystery House
How did Wizard and Heather meet?
Best one-time-only casino bet
Wizard's mountain climbing plans
Skydiving
South Point and Silverton casinos
Game of Thrones TV show
Casino table game placement
Games the Wizard hasn't played/Slot design
Splitting 9s in blackjack/Taking heat for proper play
Is craps beatable?/Dice setting/Hedging bets
Money management
Angela Wyman
Sports buyback hedging
Was the Wizard ever a dealer?
Good craps bets
Baccarat is boring
Smart vs fun betting
Pro bj card counter or pro poker player?




Episode #2
Stream Date: 05-23-2019
Length: 1:01:02
Topic: Burning Man

Subjects
Happy Birthday Wizard!
Burning Man overview
Principles of Burning Man
Burning Man art
Getting tickets to Burning Man
Ticket frustration
EDC (Electric Daisy Carnival)
Musical tastes
What is Burning Man?
Cost of attending/RV rental
Gambling at Burning Man
Nudity and the Orgy Dome
Playa crime and theft
Organizing Burning Man
Proper footwear and care




Episode #3
Stream Date: 05-30-2019
Length: 1:02:18
Topic: Things To Do In Las Vegas Besides Gambling

Subjects
The actuarial profession
Vegas hiking and climbing
Mountain and road biking
Wetlands Park
Sunrise, Frenchman and Lone Mountains
Kayaking on Lake Mead
Hot springs
Best craps casinos
Horse riding
Games the Wizard enjoys
Snow White and the Mandela effect
Slot machines
Game shows
Deal Or No Deal math
Fun off Strip casinos
Ziplining
Characters on the Strip
Naming the decades
What is the Wizard up to now?




Episode #4
Stream Date: 06-06-2019
Length: 56:32
Topic: Jeopardy James was Right

Subjects
Tournament strategy overview
Daily Doubles
Jennings vs Holzhauer style of play
The Jeopardy clicker
Analysis of Holzhauer's last game
Final Jeopardy analysis
Anger, conspiracy theories and aftermath
Does the Wizard know Jeopardy James?
Would the Wizard be on a game show?
Cheating on The Price Is Right
Deal Or No Deal/American Ninja Warrior/Survivor/Fear Factor
Wizard websites
Mount Everest
Sports betting
Brain farts
Must-hit-by slots
Dice




Episode #5
Stream Date: 06-13-2019
Length: 55:48
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Parking ticket rant
Free parking on the Strip
Movie "Inside The Edge"
Trespassing advantage players
Future Wizard videos
Vertigo activities
Craps place, lay and buy bets
Nelson's Landing cliff jumping
Sunscreens
Underwater statues
Sauna Cave
Lava tube spelunking
Bats
Variable state slot machines
Odds bets during the come out roll
Loss rebates




Episode #6
Stream Date: 06-27-2019
Length: 1:13:56
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Wizard's DNA test results
TV series finale shows
A Clockwork Orange book vs film
Bitcoin and the US Dollar
Yermo Sculpture Garden
Tiananmen Square protest
Tourism
Movie: Inside The Edge
Unrealistic Vegas films
Wizard's IMDb page
Gambling and Taxes
Video poker books
Accruing comps
Advantage play vs cheating
Simple video poker house edge calculation
Casino mergers
Growing up in Las Vegas
Nuclear waste in Nevada
Zombie Apocalypse
A genie's wish
Cutting off drunk players




Episode #7
Stream Date: 07-18-2019
Length: 58:27
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Rude players rant
Should you point out poor strategy?
The Book says...
The Wizard in Texas
Massive starling/grackle flock
Games where other players affect you
Gambling for a living
Adjusting video poker strategy
What is the best sportsbook?
Encore Boston blackjack lawsuit
The chicken nugget challenge
The Wizard of Odds trademark
Ultimate Texas Hold'em
Games too good to be true
Should you play craps proposition bets?
Uno (card game)
Board game cheating confession
Craps dice setting
Wizard's favorite casino and board games.
Craps table dice randomizers
Mississippi Stud
Good gambling movies and documentaries
The preacher who married Mr and Mrs Wizard
Online poker
Burning Man photo book
Sensible shoes and sitting vs standing for dealers
Craps popularity
The Unofficial Pet Cemetery of Boulder City
Craps: Can the odds bet ever give you an advantage?
Progressive slots breakeven point
Earthquakes (and how they effect a craps shoot)




Episode #8
Stream Date: 08-15-2019
Length: 01:04:46
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock
Craps: The vig when buying the 4 or 10
Did Phil Ivey cheat at baccarat?
Encore Boston blackjack lawsuit
Hiring the Wizard for gambling math help
Marijuana in Vegas
Should Vegas have a red light district?
Pot smoking dealers
Current Blackjack News (newsletter)
Worst games/bets in a casino
South Point Casino
Burning Man 2019
2020 election issues and candidates
Primaries vs caucuses
Total eclipse (of the heart)
Betting on elections
Allowing pro sports teams in Vegas
The ethics of killing zombies
What do sports bets like -125 or +150 mean?
The Wizard's 2019 Cutting Edge plans
Earthquake, fire and nuclear war drills




Episode #9
Stream Date: 08-29-2019
Length: 01:00:04
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Airline fees rant
Bummed about missing Burning Man
Real casinos vs online casinos
Taxes on table game payouts
How would the Wizard run Burning Man?
Sparkle ponies
Tipping based on attractiveness
Printing a table game layout
Setting the betting line on political elections
Wizard's favorite Reno casinos
Craps: Taking down a put bet
Continuous shuffle machine vs shoe
Craps: Field numbers
The current state of Keno
Craps: What is a put bet?
Strategy cards at the blackjack table
Promoting your own table game
Comment cards and diplomacy at Cutting Edge
LV Raiders' effect on the local economy
Computer coding for dice games
Blackjack tournament strategy
Side bets are sucker bets
Pai Gow tiles hand setting
Blackjack card counting basics and exercise
Making a living playing table games
Five Card Charlie
Mister Rogers trivia and earworm songs




Episode #10
Stream Date: 09-12-2019
Length: 01:09:06
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Lake Powell and Lake Las Vegas
Placing only side bets
Baby Shark, cinema tastes, and the Muppets
Money management
Gambling and dopamine
Pai Gow Poker
2024 solar eclipse preparation
Video Poker Wizard App
Games as a measure of intelligence
How and where to watch a solar eclipse
Dealer and player pet peeves
Is blackjack a dying advantage game?
What's the house edge for Face Up Pai Gow Poker?
Taking a car vs taking a bicycle
Tracking your wins and losses
Luck vs random variation
Heather and the Wizard discuss their upcoming books
Calculating a good video poker progressive amount
What's the Wizard's ideal place to live?
Cellphones in a sportsbook
The best way to ask the Wizard a question
Vaping pros and cons
Artificial intelligence and gaming
Triple 0 roulette
Naming a casino
Burning Man: Feeling the burn (and bike theft)




Episode #11
Stream Date: 10-03-2019
Length: 01:03:52
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Good Wizard questions and interviews
Lake Powell trip report (part1)
Vegas water parks
Video Poker pay tables
Wizard's favorite card counting system
Poker books and improving your game
Blackjack and continuous shuffle machines
Wizard's Book: Gambling 102 second edition
Working at Disneyland
Craps: Free odds, pass vs don't pass, place bets
Giving advice to other players at the table
Good blackjack books
Gambling addiction
South Point and Rio casinos
Ziplining at the Rio
A pride dollar
Can some side bets be beaten?
Lake Powell history and trip report (part 2)
Bacteria danger in Lake Mead
Face Up Pai Gow Poker




Episode #12
Stream Date: 10-24-2019
Length: 01:13:30
Topic: Halloween Special

Subjects
Father Michael and Lieutenant Ferris
The Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball
A reverend and a red shirt walk into a bar...
A Starburst candy story
Heather's Halloween tales
Thoughts on electronic craps games
Video game gambling
Confession: I advantage play food apps
Legalizing Marijuana
Feast of the Ascension vs Feast of the Assumption
Confession: I use the Hard Rock casino as free airport parking
The seven deadly sins (and Gilligan's Island)
Confession: I leave an empty bowl on my porch for Halloween
Confession: I empty the full bowl on the porch for Halloween
Scolding other parent's kids
Confession: I bet the Hard 8 and then parlay the wins
Gambling sins and bad casino etiquette
Confession: I trick-or-treated until I was 16 years old
Haunted houses and corn mazes
The Shining
2019 Global Gaming Expo
G2E: Star Trek photo op
G2E Jeopardy: The Wizard vs Jeopardy James
Wizard of Oz trivia
A disc golf hole-in-one
The sin of lust
Scary Halloween Movies




Episode #13
Stream Date: 11-14-2019
Length: 01:02:09
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
2019 Fetish and Fantasy Halloween Ball report
The physics of spanking
Jinx! Buy me a coke!
Childhood games
Special relativity vs general relativity
Praise for the Rampart casino sportsbook
Gift card rant
Wizard of Vegas website 10th Anniversary
Policing a web forum
Rude people in Vegas
New table games in Vegas
Will there be 0000 roulette?
Spanish 21 vs blackjack
An AP workshop in town
Favorite board games
Meeting forum members
Future casino implosion possibilities
Reporting site bugs to the Wizard
Pros and cons of professional gambling
Continuous shuffle machines in blackjack
Calculating the house edge in casino games
Is the Wizard God?




Episode #14
Stream Date: 12-19-2019
Length: 01:02:52
Topic: Questions from the LCB (Latest Casino Bonus) website (Part #1)

Subjects
Where did the title "Wizard of Odds" come from?
The Wizard and Heather in movies
What is the process for analyzing a new casino game?
The Wizard's favorite New York restaurant
What's the odds of getting a dealt royal flush in video poker?
Should you hold a kicker in video poker?
Inside straights in video poker
Holding high cards in video poker
Thoughts on poker books
Where are the loosest slot machines in a casino?
Coin flip probability, fake numbers and taxes
Volatility, variance and returns in slot machines
What is the return to player on Lightning Roulette?
Hybrid table games
Craps: Does dice setting work?
Do slots have different returns based on denomination?
Can you tell a slot's volatility from its pay table?
Should you bet more on slots to invoke extra features?
Are betting strategies useful for slots?
How many pay lines should you play on a slot machine?
Is the double up feature a good bet?
Gambling games you'll see when traveling the world
Is it legal to exploit a casino error?
Legal vs illegal in gambling





Episode #15
Stream Date: 12-26-2019
Length: 01:10:59
Topic: Questions from the LCB (Latest Casino Bonus) website (Part #2)

Subjects
Christmas trivia quiz
Honesty and integrity in gaming
Casino winner walls
Regulating and rating online casinos
Slots: house edge, best locations, highest paying machines, bonuses
Random number generators (and cheating)
Casino provable fairness
Andre Agassi trivia question
Yee Hah Hi
Slots: local vs pooled progressive jackpots
Dealer cheating during live blackjack
Money management and betting systems for blackjack
Tight pay tables in video poker
Skill based slots
Arcades vs casinos
Capped casino bonuses
Do bad players hurt good players at the blackjack table?
Is Sic Bo played in Vegas?
Slots: AGS must hit progressive jackpots




Episode #16
Stream Date: 01-16-2020
Length: 01:00:12
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
The Snow Queen, Disney films and Panama City
Comps on full pay video poker
Stingy comps at Caesars properties
Craps: hop bet, center bet, horn bet, C&E bet, world bet
Low house edge table games
Finalizing futures bets in sports
Craps: field bet, buy bet, place bet, fire bet
Video Keno house edges
The Wizard's weight loss wager
Statistical fluctuation or luck?
Using another person's player card
Dice influence: fact or fiction?
Lottery jackpots so huge that multiple winners become likely
Errors in game analysis
Slot advantage play: US vs Europe
Taxes on gambling
Cheating and outside influence in sports
Beating the Michigan and Massachusetts state lotteries
Tacos El Gordo and Vegetarianism




Episode #17
Stream Date: 01-30-2020
Length: 01:00:26
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Delays, pineapples and breakdancing
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #1)
Wizard's 2019 betting and thoughts on new games
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #2)
Risks of buying picks from touts
Praise for Rampart Casino's expired ticket policy
Slots vulnerable to advantage play
Money left in a slot and the Chinese New Year
Rant: bad customer service at Riverside casino
Computer coding for gambling games
Collecting Chinese New Year chips (and license plates)
Finding video poker machine locations
People born on February 29th
Wizard's favorite negative EV game
Will there be a backlash against casino greed?
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #3)
Restaurants on Fremont St
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #4)
Taking pictures in a sportsbook
Vegas: the mob days vs the corporate days
How did the Wizard and Heather meet?
Thoughts on Kobe Bryant
Are bubble craps machines rigged?
Super Bowl LIV betting (part #5)
The Wizard's lot in life during the late 80's
Video poker pay tables for different denominations




Episode #18
Stream Date: 02-13-2020
Length: 01:01:48
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Slots: Do the number of jackpot symbols change based on credits played?
Singing the blues over Youtube taking down gambling videos
Slots: Do jackpot chances increase when the symbols appear more frequently?
Slots: near misses, random number generators and reel weighting
Update rant on bad customer service at Riverside casino
Should Americans be allowed to wager on US presidential elections?
Odds for 2020 presidential election [02-13-2020]
Bitcoin gripe
Do higher denomination video poker machines pay better?
The value of points for video poker
Should the Super Bowl be moved to Saturday?
Did the Wizard ever gamble at a mob run casino?
Holidays: the good, the bad and the ugly
What is Mrs Wizard getting for Valentine's Day?
Advice for Valentine's Day cards.
Internet gambling scams
Circa vs Resorts World
How do pit bosses rate players?
Triple Double Bonus video poker pay tables (and the Wizard's book)
What is the real purpose of Burning Man?
The Wizard's resume, Disneyland and fighting characters
Coronavirus closes Macau casinos
The Wizard's idea for a new book
Craps: parlaying bets
A hard eight ha-ha




Episode #19
Stream Date: 03-05-2020
Length: 01:05:37
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
How Wixiplay casino cheats
Player recourse against internet casino cheating
A Wizard internship
Vegas escape rooms
Low house advantage table games
The Wizard's favorite game the he himself designed
Blackjack book: "Beyond Counting"
Does the Wizard have any gambling superstitions?
Whose picture should be on the $25 dollar bill?
A brief François Blanc bio
The expression to "86" someone
Vegas values resulting from the coronavirus
Favorable rules for blackjack
Leap babies and the birthday paradox
Double deck blackjack at the Mirage
2020 Vegas table game surveys
Playing table games live vs online
Wizard TV and movie appearances
Wizard of Odds livestream prize giveaway
How will the universe end?
Machine malfunctions voiding a jackpot
Does barring online gambling discriminate against the disabled?
How has national legalized sports betting affected Vegas?
Casino Quest
T-shirts, Texas A&M and Burning Man
Card symbols on slot machines
Heather's YouTube woes




Episode #20
Stream Date: 03-19-2020
Length: 01:00:16
Topic: Ask Me Anything / Coronavirus Episode

Subjects
Coronavirus in Vegas
People who wear glasses
The Wizard's best gambling win
Coronavirus closing down the Vegas casinos
Poetic license in Vegas movies
Dealer strategy in blackjack
Coronavirus mathematics
6/5 blackjack and casino profitability
Coronavirus and Vegas schools
The Wizard counting cards
How to get the Wizard of Odds newsletter
Craps: Laying all the numbers on the come out roll
Wizard of Odds livestream prize giveaway and virus schedule
Thoughts on live poker
Update: Casino 99
Pai Gow Tiles: splitting high 9s, gongs and wongs
Update: Heather's book
Finding Spanish 21 tables in Vegas
Exposing online casino cheating
Craps: bankroll size for $5 and $10 tables
The color of money and counterfeit cash
Can you card count online blackjack?
How casinos choose a house way
Scientific Gaming and buying casino stocks
Bankroll management betting strategies
Blackjack: calculating the true count
How many gumballs are in the jar?
Will the coronavirus boost online gambling?
Thoughts on new carnival games
Do sportsbooks back off winners?
Flashing blackjack dealers



Note: Since the Wizard of Odds livestream immediately follows the Vegas Aces livestream, and since the Wizard often appears on both, the two shows will sometimes blur together. Hence, if you hear something on the WOO livestream that does not make sense, it's usually a reference to the earlier VA show. [VA videos not included.]
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Wizard
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March 25th, 2020 at 7:51:02 AM permalink
Thanks again G for all your hard work putting these together. To be honest, I'm not able to watch these after the fact because all I see are the flaws. So I really appreciate your help.

As a reminder, we're doing weekly shows until things get back to normal. That means one tomorrow, so get your questions ready. As a point of discussion, you may wish to ask questions about my bike ride yesterday down the strip, which I posted here.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
odiousgambit
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March 25th, 2020 at 11:23:45 AM permalink
Do you consider investing in stocks a form of gambling?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
smoothgrh
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March 25th, 2020 at 2:06:38 PM permalink
What were your emotions biking around Las Vegas with hardly anyone around? You said it was surreal, but were you wishing everyone could come back? Did you feel a tiny bit of enjoyment from having the sidewalks all to yourself?
Gialmere
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MrCasinoGames
March 25th, 2020 at 4:47:05 PM permalink
Since we're talking about your bicycle jaunt through the Vegas Twilight Zone...
1) How many people were wearing masks?
2) Why didn't you ride a unicycle down the Strip? It seems like a golden opportunity to join a very short list of people who have done it.

[This bike ride would probably make for a good opening monologue.]
---------------------
Here is a small blizzard of questions if needed...

1) I've been reading about Helldorado Days which seems to have an interesting history. Have either you or Heather attended this festival? Is it worth seeing or is it just a "fun for Vegas locals" kind of event?

2) You've discussed your skepticism of dice influence in craps. What are your thoughts on ball steering and wheel clocking in roulette?

3) If you were in charge of table games at a casino, what spread of games would you offer? And how would you deal with designers looking to field trial their new creations?

4) Which of the imploded Vegas casinos do you find yourself missing the most?

5) Do you think Dotty's casinos are a ripoff, or do they offer a desired service to a niche market (single older women) in a fair and safe manner?

6) If you could take a time machine to any moment in Vegas' past, what would set the date dials to?

7) As a slot designer, what innovations in game design (in terms of fun-factor for players) over the last 10 years do you most admire?
-----------------------

Consider bringing some colored money per this question from last week...

Quote: SkittleCar1

Would you be in favor of coloring the bills something other than green? Red $5, green $25, black $100...etc?

Last edited by: Gialmere on Mar 25, 2020
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
odiousgambit
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March 26th, 2020 at 7:39:59 AM permalink
Have you ever used tobacco in any form?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
odiousgambit
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March 26th, 2020 at 9:48:11 AM permalink
is your household cooking more at home and are you personally doing any of the cooking?
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!”   She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
Wizard
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March 26th, 2020 at 8:04:23 PM permalink
Here is today's show.



Direct: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O1VpvclCDc
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
AxelWolf
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March 26th, 2020 at 8:27:17 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

Here is today's show.



Direct: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O1VpvclCDc

I'm not sure what it is, but it seems like it's a very poor quality and video and perhaps the lighting it almost seems like I'm watching a VHS that's been played thousands of times from the 80s.
♪♪Now you swear and kick and beg us That you're not a gamblin' man Then you find you're back in Vegas With a handle in your hand♪♪ Your black cards can make you money So you hide them when you're able In the land of casinos and money You must put them on the table♪♪ You go back Jack do it again roulette wheels turinin' 'round and 'round♪♪ You go back Jack do it again♪♪
smoothgrh
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March 26th, 2020 at 9:10:30 PM permalink
Thanks for answering my question.

When I used to run 10Ks, I enjoyed that the streets were closed and I could run through a town without traffic. One time I got to run across the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge! That will never happen again (too much traffic). Unless I’m the Last Man on Earth.
Last edited by: smoothgrh on Mar 27, 2020
Gialmere
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March 28th, 2020 at 2:57:56 PM permalink
Episode #21
Stream Date: 03-26-2020
Length: 01:01:19
Topic: Ask Me Anything

Subjects
Money, monocles and dead bodies
Livestream contest rules
Coronavirus: How Vegas casinos are treating their workers
The Wizard bicycles down an empty Strip (part 1)
Stephen King book: "The Stand"
The Wizard's biggest bets
Blackjack tournament strategy
Is investing in stocks a form of gambling?
The Wizard bicycles down an empty Strip (part 2)
$20 for a dance?
Money management for reaching a win goal
The Wizard bicycles down an empty Strip (part 3)
Ball steering and wheel clocking in roulette
Which imploded Vegas casinos does the Wizard miss?
Casino spread of table games and field trials
Dotty's casinos
Time travel to Vegas past and old school blackjack
Paper currency art and colors from around the world
The Atomic Testing Museum
Playing chess
Livestream contest drawing
Coronavirus in Nevada
Beatles or Stones?

Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
Wizard
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March 30th, 2020 at 4:23:52 PM permalink
As a reminder, we will have another Live Stream this Thursday. This will be a rare one with a topic, which shall be Vegas Scams. I welcome all ideas. I'll get it started with the following:

Resort fees
Time share pitches
Night clubs
Night club "VIP" passes.
Strip clubs
Taxis
Low-budget shows
Paid parking
Street photo characters
"Free" CD people
Three card Monty
"Free" girls to your room.

Granted not all of these are 100% scams. For example, strip clubs are not all bad, but EVERYTHING in them is way overpriced, especially the girls. One should have some knowledge about what to expect before going.

I welcome ALL other ideas. I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
rxwine
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March 30th, 2020 at 5:05:26 PM permalink
Not sure what you call this one, but guys who ask you for change for a 20 in the middle of a casino.
Sanitized for Your Protection
rxwine
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March 30th, 2020 at 5:08:59 PM permalink
BTW, do they still have guys who advertise they will accompany you to a craps table and show you how to win with your money. Used to be ads in the paper for that years ago.
Sanitized for Your Protection
gamerfreak
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March 30th, 2020 at 5:34:08 PM permalink
Quote: Wizard

As a reminder, we will have another Live Stream this Thursday. This will be a rare one with a topic, which shall be Vegas Scams. I welcome all ideas. I'll get it started with the following:

Resort fees
Time share pitches
Night clubs
Night club "VIP" passes.
Strip clubs
Taxis
Low-budget shows
Paid parking
Street photo characters
"Free" CD people
Three card Monty
"Free" girls to your room.

Granted not all of these are 100% scams. For example, strip clubs are not all bad, but EVERYTHING in them is way overpriced, especially the girls. One should have some knowledge about what to expect before going.

I welcome ALL other ideas. I'm sure I'm forgetting a lot.


RE: Strip Nightclubs

I question the legality of charging a higher cover for men than for women. Businesses have been sued for this in other jurisdictions and lost, so I am a bit surprised it continues in Vegas. I imagine lawsuits have been filed over it at some point. Any thoughts on this?

I also think it’s extremely unethical when bars/nightclubs do not offer free water, especially outdoor and pool bars. This is also prevalent on the strip yet illegal in a lot of other places.

Do you think either practice should be legal?
Wizard
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March 30th, 2020 at 5:41:17 PM permalink
Quote: rxwine

Not sure what you call this one, but guys who ask you for change for a 20 in the middle of a casino.



I don't recall anyone asking me this. What would come next?

Note to myself -- Probably should mention the Ultimate X scam.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Wizard
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March 30th, 2020 at 5:43:14 PM permalink
Quote: rxwine

BTW, do they still have guys who advertise they will accompany you to a craps table and show you how to win with your money. Used to be ads in the paper for that years ago.



I haven't seen a formal ad for this, but seem to recall this being discussed here before.

Note to myself -- Mention "free play" scams for signing up for a player card.
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Wizard
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March 30th, 2020 at 5:48:29 PM permalink
Quote: gamerfreak

RE: Strip Nightclubs

I question the legality of charging a higher cover for men than for women. Businesses have been sued for this in other jurisdictions and lost, so I am a bit surprised it continues in Vegas. I imagine lawsuits have been filed over it at some point. Any thoughts on this?



They would argue they are trying to maintain a 50/50 male/female ratio and the only way to do that is to subsidize women to come in. To be honest, I personally am okay with that. I would not expect that to change anytime soon in Nevada. While we are a battleground state politically, everybody knows where much of government revenue comes from and few in government want to choke that off.

Quote:

I also think it’s extremely unethical when bars/nightclubs do not offer free water, especially outdoor and pool bars. This is also prevalent on the strip yet illegal in a lot of other places.



I did not know they did that, but am not surprised. You'd think in Vegas, especially at "day clubs" in the middle of summer they would make it easy to obtain water. I would file this as one of the many ways day/night clubs are a rip-off.

Quote:

Do you think either practice should be legal?



#1 yes, #2 no
"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)
Gialmere
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March 30th, 2020 at 7:42:52 PM permalink
CNF fees at Strip bars and restaurants. They're sneakier than resort fees.
Have you tried 22 tonight? I said 22.
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