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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 cannot 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.
Copyright © 2005
Michael |
