How to make money in Vegas - make money in Las Vegas
It is easy to make money in Las Vegas, if you are a prostitute that is. But if you are one of the millions of people that goes to gamble to try to win a fortune, the cards are stacked against you so to speak. Let us face it, that 50 foot tall gold lion was not paid for by tourists winning too much money. So, how do you put the odds at least a little more in your favor. Well, number one, do not go to Las Vegas. No, just kidding, there are some things you can do to make gambling more favorable.
Seriously though, if you do have a system, are a genius, or know how to count cards, Las Vegas is not for you. They will simply harass you and kick you out of any casino if you play too good. And, since the casinos share information, and are mostly owned by one company anyway, you can not simply go down the street and start winning there. Better to go to Atlantic city where you can clock cards all day long. The last time I checked, it was not illegal there.
So, in Las Vegas you are going to have to do it the old fashioned way, luck. You should pick the games that are most likely to make you lucky in order to maximize your odds. The best odds by far are going to be at the table games if you gamble correctly. If you gamble bad, and just throw money out on the table, you won't get very far with any game. Slot machines can offer decent odds, but certainly not those of well played table games. If you are more interested in the passive aspect of slots, see my article on them.
If you don't mind standing all day, craps is one of the best odds games out there. If you put money on the pass line and back it up with the max bet, you have odds of around 99/100, which is incredible for any game in Las Vegas. Just be sure and start slow to learn the game. Craps is kind of like fixing an English car, it is totally too complicated and complex if you look at all the little things going on, but if you concentrate on one little area at a time, you can get by. You thought I was going to disparage English cars, pishaw. Anyway, you need to focus your energy learning about either the pass or don’t pass line in most cases. I learned by simply going to casinos downtown late at night when they have quarter or half dollar craps. Even if you loose, you are out what, maybe $20. That is cheaper than a movie these days and you will see more interesting characters at Binions at 2 A.M. than in any Hollywood film.
The other table game that is accessible to most Americans is 21. This is about as simple a game as you can get, so keep it that way. If you get caught up in all the double down, triple up, ring around the rosie, you often will end up way poorer than you started unless you know what you are doing. Just find a single deck blackjack game that will give you the best odds. Most games use 6 or more decks, which makes it much harder to estimate what cards are coming next, and also makes the odds more in the casino’s favor. You may have to seek out a single deck game, but it will be well worth it. Again, start slow and learn what you are doing at a $1 a hand game until you have a clue.
Poker can also be an exciting game, but for beginners, I recommend staying away from the tables in Las Vegas at first. That 85 year old man with the lazy eye will take down your pants before you know your belt is loose. Learn by playing free games online and with friends, as even the cheaper poker games in Las Vegas can add up to a lot of money after everyone raises 30 times. If you are good at poker, enter the world series of poker. Again, it is just luck, so go for the big money if you are serious.
Money management is definitely the key to winning in the long term. If you put too much money in on your first hands, you will be broke before your first margarita arrives. Never bet more than five percent of your stake at a time on these types of games. Streaks can last quite a while, so you need to have the chips to ride out the down times. Then, when the cards turn, you will have more to bet on those hands. Keep playing, and over time you will either get good or get broke, either way, it will be a good time to go to the buffet. Enjoy your time, and realize, in the end it really is only luck. If you think you are going to win long term, you are either going to get banned from the casino, or you are fooling yourself. When you hit the big one, stop, enjoy your winnings, and don’t go back to let the casino take their money back.
