Let’s face it.  It happens to all of us at one time or another.  For whatever reason, the skills we’ve developed as dice control technicians don’t make the transition to the casino tables.  Blame it on variance, bad luck, or something you ate for dinner – sometimes the correct craps play is no craps play.  So what do you do if you’re in the casino and it’s one of “those” days?  Here are my personal picks for the games you should play.

1. Sports Book. Benny Binion was once quoted as saying “Never bet on anything that eats or shits.” Try betting sports and you’ll understand why. Sports betting is an extremely tough way to grind out a small profit. Nevertheless, nationwide there are plenty of players making big bucks moving money through books. The downside? You have to do your homework. Unless, of course, you want to shell out money for a handicapping service. Of course, from an advantage players point of view that just adds to the vig. My suggestion? Invest the time to learn how to do your own handicapping. Limit play to the games where you believe you have an edge. And remember, just because you’re a Chicago fan doesn’t mean “Da Bears” are going to win Monday night. Bet with your head – not your heart.

2. Poker. Poker is a close second to sports betting in my book. But poker players are completely different kinds of gamblers. Yeah, they have their superstitions just like craps players. I know of one Vegas poker pro who refuses to play with anything but green chips. But at the end of the day poker is a game of skill. Players compete against each other – not against the house. The only “vig” is a small “rake” the house takes on each pot. Learn to play properly and it’s fairly easy to play with an edge. Invest in some decent poker training software and start out playing on-line for free. Put in your time and by the time you hit the poker rooms you’ll good to go. But remember – if you don’t know who the sucker is at the table – it’s you.

3. Blackjack. Learn to play perfect strategy and count cards and you can play with an edge. You can probably learn a simple strategy like the KO count system with a couple of days practice. Or you can learn the EZ Opt system in a matter of hours. It’s not as powerful as the KO system, but it will still let you play with a small advantage. Pick the best games, learn to count under the radar, mask your skills, and take advantage of the volatility of the game. It’s not that difficult to walk away with a win. Some advantage players will argue with me on the next part of the equation. The key is to walk away with that win – not to continue playing and give it back. Employ a loss limit and win objective and focus on ending every session on a win.

4. Video poker. Video poker is another game of skill you can play profitably. Pick the correct game and play correctly and you’ll be battling a very small house edge. There are still a few games out there that offer over 100 percent payback to players utilizing perfect mathematical strategy – particularly if you take advantage of the comps you can earn. Learn to play perfect strategy and pick the correct machine by utilizing computerized training program’s such as Bob Dancer’s Video Poker for Winners.

5. Pai Gow Poker. Pai Gow Poker is a card game derived from the Chinese game of Pai Gow, which is played with tiles and dice. The Americanized version is a game that carries a relatively low house edge – particularly if you elect to serve as “banker” of the game. When you bank the game you pay a five percent commission to the house. You win the bet of any player you beat. The game also has a lot of “ties” where nobody wins – or loses. Of course, while all this is going on the comp clock is running and you’re still earning perks. Pai Gow Poker requires skill in setting of the hands but the dealer will help you out if you’re new to the game. A skilled player can gain the advantage over a less knowledgeable player, so you’ll want to learn the game as quickly as possible. There are many good books and videos on the subject. John Patrick’s Pai Gow Poker DVD ranks right up there in my book.

6. Baccarat. Both Baccarat and Mini-Baccarat are played by the same rules. The major difference is the table minimum and the fact that the croupier deals the cards in Mini-Bac. In traditional Baccarat the players deal the cards. Both games give you the option of betting Player or Bank. The player bet is also a good bet with a house edge of only 1.24 percent. The Baccarat bet a player wants to avoid is the tie bet which is one of the worst bets you can make. The banker bet in Baccarat has a smaller house edge than the player bet but it requires you to pay a commission when you win. The house edge is 1.06 percent for the Banker bet.

Some players believe they can count cards or shuffle track at Baccarat and play with an edge. As far as I’m concerned the jury is out on that one. But because of the low house edge, the ability to flat bet, and a tendency to get streaky – system players enjoy testing their strategies against the game.

7. Roulette. Yeah, I’ll get some arguments from the guys who go by math on this one. But for years Roulette was my sit-down game of choice. In a couple of cases I tracked wheels for months, uncovering wheel bias toward particular numbers. I also tracked individual dealer results looking for signatures to good effect. Bottom line – I fared very well against certain properties. On the other hand, I’ve seen a few dealers who were simply too good at steering the ball. Don’t believe me? Track wheel results for a few hours and see if you spot a dealer with a high percentage of hits in the vicinity of the zero or double zero.

If you want to play roulette search out a single zero wheel. It cuts the house’s edge substantially and gives the dealer one less green slot to shoot for. Odds are the single zero wheels will be in the high limit area so be prepared to play larger bets than you would on a double zero wheel. You should also be prepared for a different level of companionship than you find at the craps game. Roulette is the game where many of the loveliest ladies in the casino hang out, and the game’s slow pace give you plenty of time to enjoy the view.

Of course, it’s hard to find a cheaper way to play than to utilize the slot “free play” the casino awards you. If your free play is for a relatively small amount – say $10 – then head to the penny or nickel slots and look for a lightning strike. If you win $25 or more take it to the quarter slots and continue to play. Can you work it up to $100? If so then move on to the $1 slots – then the $5 machines. But don’t play your balance down to zero. Cash out for at least the initial $10 the casino gave you. It’s free money and it’s all yours.

Has the casino gone over the top and issued you a larger free play chit? I recently had $300 in free play to use at one property. I took it directly to the $10 machines and cashed out $450. What’s more, the casino’s tracking system gave me credit for playing the $300 through the machine, resulting in an additional breakfast comp the next morning. You can’t beat free on top of free.

Bottom line – if the casino is beating you one way there are always other games to play. Take the time to learn them and you may find yourself dollars ahead at the end of the day.

Okay… Had to continue my rant. First, let’s all just get this straight… I KNOW the drinks are free & I DON”T expect them to serve say a Rombauer Zinfandel to me as a comp drink while gambling. BUT, come on! EVERY casino we went in Laughlin offered me the same two choices, cabernet or merlot. Yes, that is it. Even when I asked, they said no, we have cabernet or merlot. So, am i the only wine drinker that gambles? Really?

I had the just cabernet. UGH! Bad. REALLY painful! Did it stop me? Of course not! I dutifully sucked down my comped cabernet in a juice glass while heavily tipping the cocktail waitress… But I did PAY! Oy! What a bad wine will do to you!

Here is my suggestion Laughlin casinos. Do with it what you will… Offer a second choice that guest can pay a nominal fee for… Believe me, they will!

So, just got back from a short trip to Laughlin, NV with my husband. Okay, before you start shaking your head and thinking WTF?! Let me just state that this was a Birthday trip for hubby and his request. What can I say? I aim to please!

Husband is a BIG gambler. Me, I like to gamble, but much prefer to eat & drink! So…What does Laughlin offer the foodie? Sigh. I wish I could say more, but from where we ate (between feverish stints at the slots and roulette table) it was just okay… If that!

Put it this way we ate at the Coco’s three times in two and 1/2 days!  So Laughlin you HAVE to “do” a buffet right? Well, we did a dinner buffet at The Edgewater where we were staying. I had water-logged brussel sprouts, soggy pasta, VERY salty salad with ranch dressing and some bread. Yes, that’s it! NOTHING looked good. Husband ate prime rib, which he liked and two bites of a lukewarm chicken enchilada. NEXT!

Ate birthday dinner at The Hickory Pit steakhouse inside same hotel. Classic steakhouse feel which I love! You know, salad and baked potato carts and silver domes…

I ate what has to be the worst bruschetta ever created… Think untoasted bread. Not even a hint of a matchflame came near this bread. Canned diced tomatoes, pre-shredded parmesan cheese and SOMETHING sweet?! UGH! Didn’t eat more than one bite. I mean where is the olive oil crunch of the bread? The garlic & basil in the topping? The acid of the ripe tomato? NOT here! LOL!

Husband had oysters on the half shell (yes, in the desert) and loved them!

I then had a very nice Caesar salad. Garlic, lemon & good croutons. Husband ate house salad with ranch, standard tomato, romaine, onion, crouton with ranch dressing. Brought to him on the cart under a silver dome! Tee-Hee!

Then I had a Very good and VERY big baked potato. With butter, sour cream and scallions. Husband ate the King Crab Legs and loved them! My potato came with a toppings cart! oh BTW, very limited wine list…:(

Then we ate at Nathan’s stand. Great french fries and very good dog. Even though it lacked the natural casing that my husband grew up eating on Long Island, NY.

Bad pizza slice from S’Barros…

Best meal? A grilled vegetable and swiss burger at Coco’s! Grilled sliced mushrooms, tomato, onion, pickle and perfectly cooked fries…

So I guess my tip for eating down the river is go to Coco’s! LOL!

William D. Cammisano Jr., pleaded guilty in February

After a month of guilty pleas by six lesser players, a long-awaited federal indictment unsealed Wednesday accused four men of operating a multimillion-dollar Internet gambling scheme.

Prosecutors declined to put an “organized crime” label on the case, and did not use that phrase in the charges. But it is reminiscent of the wiretap-driven mob gambling case so familiar in Kansas City over the last 50 years.  

Look’s like God is gambling with our lives again.

This is a simple question.  Many people enjoy gambling whether it is on a riverboat, at one of the many casinos located across the country, or from the comfort of their own home through one of the many online gambling websites that have now sprung up on the Internet.

Online gambling can be more addictive than gambling in any other form because of its ease of convenience.  For many, having access to ways to gambling is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  So, in their spare time they can just pass the time through playing online poker, Texas Hold-em, and more.

One has to be careful when it comes to gambling.  Gambling is fun and it’s a great way to have adult entertainment; however, because of the addictiveness that adrenaline has on us, that high that we get whenever we are winning is always desirable.  WE LOVE TO WIN!  But, gambling comes with great risks as well.  There is always that chance of losing.  Therefore, to be a responsible gambler one must never risk what they can’t afford to lose.  You have to have self discipline when it comes to this pastime.

What if you found out about a way to gamble without too much risk?  We have the perfect opportunity for you to do just that.  Through our website, you can purchase a chance to win some really great prizes throughout the year of 2010.  We will be giving away brand new homes, brand new cars, vacation packages, and more.

Just simply purchase your tickets in order to take your chance at winning.  You won’t be able to win any other way.  You have to have your ticket.  The more tickets that you have, the better your chances are of winning one of the fabulous prizes that we have to offer.

If you won at the casino, what would you do with your money?  Chances are, you would buy a new car, or a new home, or even schedule your next family vacation.  This is everything that we have to offer and at virtually no risk to you.  We limit the sales of the tickets for the prize drawings, that way your chance of winning increases.  Right now, on the drawing for the 2010 Camaro, you will have a 1 in 10 chance of winning it.  Doesn’t that sound terrific?

Gambling is fun and exciting, but what better way is there to gamble with virtually zero risk?

Attorney General Troy King said he had a “very good conversation” with Gov. Bob Riley this afternoon about electronic bingo but declined to say what he will do with the governor’s gambling task force. 

Read more from The Birmingham News.

Alabama’s attorney general emerged from a closed-door meeting Wednesday with the governor saying he will need a few more days to decide whether he will try to take over the gov­ernor’s gambling task force and end raids on electronic bingo ca­sinos.

Read more from The Montgomery Advertiser.