Soliciting gambling questions

Can you imagine casinos requiring something similar to a Professional Engineer signing off on a game (and thus being held responsible for the design)?

Think Civil Engineers and their structures; Mechanical Engineers and their devices, Electrical Engineers and their circuits, and now Gaming Engineers...!

I sometimes wish we could hold software programmers accountable for all these backdoors and malware entry points. Be nice if we could hold politicians accountable also and when my Cranberry Bliss Breakfast Bar does not make me feel blissful I'd love to sue Starbucks, but we don't quite live in such a world...,.,yet.

Casinos have to adapt to changing player demographics and moods. A game developer focus on entertainment, the casino on simplicity and profitability. If someone makes a mistake, its best left to the marketplace to sort things out.

Quote: Mission146

That would be a great question for Bob Nersesian, so you might want to PM it to BobDancer for the next time that Bob N. is going to be on GWAE.

GLI math reports contain the following, "THE LIABILITY AND OBLIGATIONS OF GLI HEREUNDER, AND THE REMEDY OF THE RECIPIENT, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE LIMITED TO, AT GLI’S OPTION, REPLACEMENT OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED OR THE REFUND BY GLI OF ANY MONIES RECEIVED BY IT FOR THE SERVICES PROVIDED. "

If I had any business sense, I would probably make up a similar contract but still do things on a handshake basis.

I figured it would be something along those lines, thanks for finding that and sharing! I wonder if Bob N. would still think the casinos might have a cause of action for, "Tortious Interference with Economic Advantage," or something along those lines, absent any actual collusion with the players.

Either way, that is what I suspected such a contract would say. If the contract is perfectly enforceable, then ultimately, the casinos are responsible for whatever they put on the floor and should have independently verified the math with their own people.

Quote: FleaStiff

How long does it take the average dolt to learn to play Pai Gow Tiles? Not to bank or anything, just play reasonably well enough not to have other players and the dealer spit on him or something.

In my opinion, I think you can learn enough in a couple hours to actually sit at a table and play. If you go by the "basic strategy:"

1) Have a pair? Put those two together, and play the two remaining tiles together. Pay close attention to the unmatched pairs, though (5,7,8,9), as well as Gee Joon. That is what trips up most beginners.

2) If you have a 2 or 12, play it with a 7, 8, or 9, and play the remaining two tiles together.

3) If you have two tiles that add up to 9, play them together, and play the remaining two tiles together.

4) If you can't do steps 1-3, play the highest tile and lowest tile together, and play the remaining two tiles together.

5) If you can't do steps 1-4, put your tiles down and ask the dealer to set them in the House Way.

I think steps 1-4 covers like 80% of all Pai Gow hands fairly well, and it's pretty automatic: "if you have these tiles, do this." You can memorize the tile order and get a grasp of the basic strategy above in a few hours. After you do that, the rest is just more memorization and learning exceptions to the basic strategy. Tiles seems like a scary game at first, but I think it's really easy to at least get your foot in the door to start playing. I've taught people how to play in less than an hour before, but that is with reference cards to constantly look at.

My best tip? Next time you're on the Strip, go to Harrah's early in the morning on a weekday when you can have the table all to yourself. They would love to teach you how to play. Seriously.

Quote: TigerWu

In my opinion, I think you can learn enough in a couple hours to actually sit at a table and play. If you go by the "basic strategy:"

Do you mind if I make a separate thread for this post? Just say the word and I'll do so. I have been getting back into a pai gow mood lately.

Quote: Wizard

Do you mind if I make a separate thread for this post? Just say the word and I'll do so. I have been getting back into a pai gow mood lately.

I think this would be a great subject for a "How To" video.

Quote: Wizard

Do you mind if I make a separate thread for this post? Just say the word and I'll do so. I have been getting back into a pai gow mood lately.

Yeah, let's do it! I love Pai Gow.

Although the video has already been shot... Here's a question for the next one:

If I have $1,000 what's the best way to turn it into $1,000,000?

In "Ask the Wizard" #101, the math behind playing FPDW for quarters with a 0.77% edge was described. At 1,000 hands per hour, 24/7, it would take over 11 years.

Table games were suggested as a better alternative since they allow for bigger bets, but which one(s)?

Player bet in Baccarat. Good payoff, no commission, low house edge. Do it seventeen times in a row and your at the million dollar mark.

Quote: FleaStiff

Player bet in Baccarat. Good payoff, no commission, low house edge. Do it seventeen times in a row and your at the million dollar mark.

Is there a game with even a small positive player edge that would allow for larger bets? The downside of grinding on FPDW is that you can only bet $1.25 at a time... but the upside is that it has a player advantage.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Is there a game with even a small positive player edge that would allow for larger bets? The downside of grinding on FPDW is that you can only bet $1.25 at a time... but the upside is that it has a player advantage.

In Vegas you can play it for $2.50 a hand. Should only take 6 years.

Quote: Ayecarumba

Is there a game with even a small positive player edge that would allow for larger bets?

NO. There is not. As much as you might enjoy such a game, the casino senior executives are not fools. If some perfectly played video poker game has a slight positive edge to it, that is fine for the casino. They will rely on mistakes, exhaustion and alcohol to turn the game into one in their favor. At any rate, they know that the FPDW players will eat drink and be merry elsewhere in the casino and so are probably "worth it" when it comes to that measly 0.77 percent 'edge'.