Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Advisor
Vegas success stories don't get much better than Anthony Curtis, who
funded his own publishing company through his blackjack winnings. Curtis
publishes the
Las Vegas Advisor
(www.lasvegasadvisor.com),
which is a
website and monthly newsletter chockablock with information on Vegas,
deals, and a heavy emphasis on gambling. He's also the owner of
Huntington Press, which publishes books on gambling and an assortment
of locally themed tomes.
Once recognized as one of the world's top gamblers, Curtis has been
studying Las Vegas since he moved here in 1979. His insight into the
industry is perhaps unrivaled. But that doesn't mean he can just tell you
how to hit the jackpot. “Everyone wants the magic pill,” says Curtis. “Well,
it really doesn't work like that. You literally have to study like you would
study for a doctorate.”
According to Curtis, the games to master are the four that are potentially
beatable: Blackjack, video poker, poker, and sports betting (and he reserves
the right to also add race betting to the list). He weighs in on each:
Blackjack
I would look for a game that deals as few decks as possible, a handheld
deck, either a single or a double deck, that pays traditional 3 to 2 for
blackjack. You can hardly find these anymore, especially on a single deck.
Most Las Vegas single decks are now paying 6 to 5 for a natural. That
seems insignificant, but it's devastating. It crushes you, a point-and-a-
half percent.
Recommendation:
Play Downtown. Particularly at El Cortez and The Plaza.
Video Poker
You've got to have a little bit of knowledge. It's all about pay schedules
(at least, at the entry level). Look for the standard “Jacks or Better” game
that returns nine for a full house and six for a flush. That game played per-
fectly by a computer will earn less than a half penny for every $100 you
put through it. That's a very small tax to pay. Also, look for a place that
has a slot club.
Recommendation:
Find a quarter-level Jacks or Better game at the locals
casinos. Good choices here are the Fiestas (Rancho and Henderson),
Station properties (Palace Station, Boulder Station, Texas Station, and
When all hands consist of
5 unmatched cards,
the hand with the highest
card wins.
Now that you have the combinations down, let's talk about playing. Because
the dealer is provided by the casino, there is a dealer “button” that's passed around
to ensure the game varies as it would were the players doing the dealing. Note that
