I seem to recall hearing Jimmy the Greek saying that he didn’t make money betting against the house, but by placing side bets with other gamblers. He knew all the odds on all of the various possible combinations much better than the people he was betting against.
No cite
Sure you can. Every year, some tourist walks in to Vegas, drops a few bucks in some slot machine, and wins a huge pay out, and doesn’t throw it back in. Of courser, this lucky stiff is supported by hundreds or thousands who loses consistently.
rmbnxs had it almost right- the only way to win when playing against the house is to either not play- or to have one big lucky hit & walk away.
Of course, when you play poker, you don’t play “against the house”. Winning money at poker- outside of tournaments- is a “job”, where you have to apply yourself, study, and learn the trade. I play pretty good poker- but I don’t play in Vegas, and I also stay out of cardclubs. The house toke is high enough that one has to play much better than average to win. In a “freindly game”, where there the house isn’t charging you rent- I’ll usually make a little. Out of 8 average guys, there will be one big loser, one big winner, another couple of dudes that win a bit, another two that lose a bit, and the two that break even. I play better than 5 out of 8 guys, so I am usually one of the “small winners”. However, when they charge “table rent”, everyone moves down one slot. Thus I turn into a “break even” player. In a game where everyone brings a $100 to play, I will usually walk out with another $20 over 4 hours of playing. Of course- sometimes I break even, sometimes I lose. However, in a freindly game, there is also snacking, drinking, bad jokes, & good comraderie. I’d play even if I lost a bit- small price for an evening entertainment! But that sort of small talk & such is discouraged at a “pay for play” table, thus it’s not worth it to me.
Same thing as in Vegas- knowing the odds in Craps can make your gambling pretty damn close to “even money”. Thus, betting smart, at a good fun table- can make for a good evenings entertainment. Even though I’ll usually walk away some 40 bucks poorer, that’s not a bad price to pay for 4 hours of fun- and the huge fun I have when I win a few hundred.
Note- tip the pit crew (by placing bets for them on the numbers that will make you win) when you are winning. Having their respect makes the game that much more fun. I was up some $400 bucks once, and tipping a $5 bet once in a while- and my girlfreind had a stuffed bear taking one “place” at the table. Some boor complained, and the Pit Boss not only shot him down, but started calling me “Mr. (Last name)” & "Sir"and asked one of the waitresses if “she could bring the lucky bear some honey”- which she did, a small sealed container used for hot tea. Felt like a “high roller”. Sure, I walked away only $50 up, and lost that the next day- but it was fun.
This is the base of my gambling philosophy. I know I am going to lose, so I take a set amount of money into the casino (usually $100), I chit-chat with the dealers and tip when I win, end up losing it all in about 3-4 hours. Or being up $100-$125 in about 30 minutes. Either way, it is an evening of entertainment.
I try to get even by drinking what I lose in free cocktails while I’m there.
** IEatFood! **
Yes, the casinos are huge and fancy…so is Disney World.
I would much rather spend a few hours shooting craps than hanging out in Disney World.
DrDeth has pretty much echoed my feelings about play, losses, gains, tipping, drinks, and having a bit of fun doing it.
Craps is my game of choice. I have no idea if it’s the best game or not, I just like it because it is easy to follow and exciting. I also like the social interaction with the dealers and players. I am a “fun player” and the more excitement a table is generating the more people are drawn toward it. The bosses like that, they like the fact I place bets for the dealers when I’m doing good and everybody has a good time.
I’ll be in Vegas 3-22,23,24 for a little BDay party some of my buds are throwing for me. Will I get rich?? Heck no. Will I win?? Maybe, maybe not. Will I have fun?? You can bet on that!!
And that’s why families go to Disney World, to have fun. I just like my fun a wee bit more towards the adult end of the spectrum.
As Smeghead described, it was the George Costanza looking guy.
He single-handedly wiped out 3 (maybe 4?) of the final five guys himself. (The “finals” were all Texas Hold 'Em.)
At least a couple of these hands (especially the last one! I’d describe it, but my memory is a little too hazy to do it justice) were real heart-breakers for the guys who lost. For example, the guy who came in third, IIRC, had a pair of jacks as his hole cards.
The guy who won seriously had the devil’s own luck, he did.
Well, how much of the Devil’s own luck did he have, though?
If I made it to the final table of the World Series of Poker, I’d be having me a serious talk with the other fellahs who’d made it there.
It would involve how much money there was available, and how much more most of us could make if we agreed to split the pots than we could if one bugger walked off with them.
I suspect I could take a bad beat just fine if it meant I had one fifth of all the money paid out to everybody as sat down at the table.
Whoever is the last man at the table gets to keep the bragging rights.