| Couple that fact with the one hundred times odds that the casino is offering and it makes the Grand Vic's craps game the best in the Chicago-area. Pai Gow Poker is a casino "hybrid", a game that's a cross between Chinese dominos (pai gow) and American 7-card poker. It's played at a blackjack-style table using a 52-card deck plus one joker. The joker is not wild in pai gow poker. Rather it can be used only as an ace or as a card to complete a straight, flush, straight flush, or royal flush. A game consists of a dealer and up to six players, each of whom is dealt seven cards face down for each round of betting. The object of the game is for each player to arrange his cards into a 2-card poker hand and a 5-card poker hand. The dealer sets his hands according to established house rules. Your 2-card hand cannot outrank your 5-card hand or you automatically lose your bet. Beginners may even request that the dealer set your hands for you. When all the hands are set, the dealer compares his hands with those of the players. The player wins his bet if both of his hands outrank both of the dealer's hands. If one is higher and one is lower, it's a push. You lose your bet if the dealer beats your hands or his hands are identical in rank to yours. All winning bets are paid off at even money, however, every time you win, the casino collects a five percent commission, or 25 cents on a five-dollar hand. There is definitely a skill factor involved in setting your hands. Computer studies have shown there are optimum ways to play, the precepts of which keep the house edge down and increase your chances of winning. This strategy is probably not sanctioned by the casinos themselves. If you're a table games player, you must use the card that was issued in your own name since you'll be identified in person. Play at the slot and video poker machines, however, is tracked electronically via a computer program. All the casino knows is how often the card was used and at which machines, as well as coin-in and coin-out tabulations. Most player's club members have more than one card issued in their name anyway in case they choose to play two machines located side-by-side. I suppose casino managements could enforce matching names on cards to faces, but I don't think they care that much. The legalities regarding the awarding of jackpots and the use of player's cards have nothing in common. Arnie Miller, a resident of Florida who reads this column on the Daily Southtown's Website, sent along a question which adds another dimension to today's topic: "I have graduated from slots to craps and my wife plays only slots. In the past few outings, I have noticed my comps dwindling while hers stay on an even keel. While I played slots we both had about equal mail offers. I analyzed my play versus hers during our last trip and I found out I was risking a few thousand more an hour than my wife, yet she gets two to three times more in comp offers than I do. That really makes me mad." Arnie's dilemma emphasizes the fact that all casinos put a priority on slot play when it comes to player's clubs. Casinos derive a vast majority of their revenues from slots because of the average "hold" on the machines and the fact that people can play them at a much faster rate. Even though Arnie is playing a considerable amount of money at the craps tables, the "house edge" of the game and the rate at which play progresses subjects his money to a lesser "theoretical loss" than his wife's slot play. His money, therefore, has to "work" harder to earn comps. Casinos also award reduced value to people who play video poker in light of the fact skillful players can dramatically reduce the house edge (depending on the pay table). If you're willing to sacrifice the amount (and value of) direct mail offers you receive from casinos in exchange for playing games at which you have a better chance of getting the most value from your gambling dollars, you're going beat them at the marketing games they play. |
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