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Money isn’t everything unless you are buying into a
casino game of craps or blackjack. Then, you better be prepared for the
price of poker or accept the fate of losing for playing with an inadequate
bankroll.
A couple of years ago I wrote a contribution for an
e-book, how to double $100 at the casino. The best way to double $100, as
the old joke goes, is to fold it in half and put it back into your pocket.
A hundred bucks is not really enough money to properly enter today’s
minimum bet games.
I did not come to the decision of participating in the
e-book eagerly. To write about doubling money was contrary to my beliefs
and my years of experience. In the end, I decided to write about a method
of playing craps by betting on the don’t pass. I had experienced years of
consistent results with the play, and I usually doubled my starting
buy-in. To be clear, I am not trying to mislead you. The idea of doubling
your buy-in is silly at best, and this was my concern for participation in
the project, making winning appearing as easy.
Anything having to do with Las Vegas is hot right now.
You can not turn on the television without seeing a show about the “City
of Dreams”. Recently, there was a program competing two players against
one another to see which one could win the most money. The experiment
compared a system math player to a tourist type gambler. The question
posed was, does an expert player have more of an advantage when it comes
to winning than the average tourist gambler?
I must say right off that the scenario was bogus. I was
surprised that the “expert” gambler conceded to the rules of the
competition. However, as I studied the show I recognized that the point of
the show was essentially an infomercial for luring more players to the
casinos. The message was clear. You do not have to know much, or need much
money, to gamble. Anyone can do it. If fact, the less you know the more
you win.
Both competitors were limited to just $25 to play
blackjack, craps, video poker and roulette. Playing craps or blackjack
with just $25 is ludicrous, at best. Cutting to the chase, the strategy
player was ahead in money, little as it was, only to be “aced out” in the
last game, video poker. A win by the tourist gambler on the poker machine
put him ahead and was crowned the winner. Though the show did not report
profit and loss, both players, in fact, lost money. This point was not
expressed in the program. The show made it appear as if both players
actually won money. The show focused on the fact that one player, the
tourist gambler, just won more than the other did.
Reading between the lines, the subliminal message was,
“See, all that math and strategy stuff does not make any difference.
Anyone can play Las Vegas, you have just as good a chance as experts of
the game.”
Wow! It left me with a feeling of protest. I felt the
show was misleading millions of viewers into thinking the chance of
winning or losing is in the luck of the draw. With the pull of a handle,
you can be just as big a winner or loser. Skill really does not matter.
The program created the illusion that nothing is needed
to gamble in Las Vegas except $25. From my perspective, it created a “what
the hell, $25 or $50, play a little, lose a little, let’s have some fun”.
Twenty-five dollars is not much money either way, win or lose, and that
creates another set up. If the player wins, the game looks easy and
entices them to play more. If they do not extend their play, and they
lose, what next? Well, hell Mel, get the money back, it’s easy. What’s $25
bucks? Let’s play another $25 and get it back. Soon, the “money pocket”
empties except for the lint. The funds, ear marked for shopping, are “LG”.
(long gone)
The story was a complete manipulation of the viewers.
The best way to insure losing your money is to engage in games with too
little bankroll. Still, you have to know how to play the game first. I am
not even going to talk about the machines. As you should know from being a
subscriber, I do not consider slot machines entertainment. I’d sooner play
a parking meter to have about the same result.
The purpose of this article is not so much to lecture
you about proper bankroll for your game. It is asking you to be aware of
the subtle manipulation present with television programs about gaming.
Most seem to be slanted to convince the audience that gambling is “cool”,
that you do not have to be an expert, that anyone can do it, and that it
does not take much money. In the example, even a complete moron has as
good a chance of winning money, perhaps even more money than an expert
player would.
Maybe this is an unnecessary warning. Maybe it is not
news to you. I merely wanted to let my readers in on the subliminal forms
promoting and luring players to the casinos. The more you know about
gaming, the more of your money you will keep when it comes time to play.
Where is the metaphysics in this article? Well, it is
important to read between the lines. The truth always comes through, even
when it’s subtle. You only have to take a step back and ask, what is the
feeling created by the media’s message? As soon as you hear it said that
you do not need any skill, figure it to be a forgone conclusion that you
do need preparation. “Read my lips, no new taxes”, comes to mind. It also
reminds me of Grimm’s Fairy Tale of Hansel and Gretel. The old witch tells
Gretel to go into the oven to check if it is hot enough to bake the bread.
Gretel, wise to the old witch, says she does not know how to do it. The
witch, upset with Gretel, orders her out of the way to show the little
girl how to check the oven herself. The witch bends over, Gretel gives her
a shove and slams the oven door behind the witch.
Next time you catch one of the Las Vegas programs on
television, telling you to check the heat in an oven, play like Gretel.
When at the oven’s door, check first for who is standing behind you before
you stick your head inside. A little bit of skill and cleverness can keep
the oven door from slamming shut on your gaming experience. |
