Page 6 - January 2013 • Southern California Gaming Guide

Bill Burton: About Gambling
RIesolve to Play Smarter in 2013
remember years ago hearing one of my older family members say, “ e days are long, but the years are short.”
Now that I am quite a bit older, I have learned the relevancy of that statement. Each year seems to go by faster and faster. It seemed like it was only a few months ago when we celebrated the beginning of 2012, and wondered about the Mayan prophecy that predicted that the world would come to an end on December 21, 2012. Since we are still here, we can le that one away with the
y2k prediction in 2000, when some people worried that all the computers in the world would crash.
I resolve to take advantage of casino promotions.
All casinos run promotions to attract players. ey may include special drawings, tournaments, or multiple-point days. Taking advantage of these promotions is a smart way to win more at the casino. Many casino promotions are listed right here in the Southern California Gaming GuideTM.
I resolve to learn a new casino game.
Table games have a lower house edge than slot machines, when you learn to play them based on the correct strategy. If you are a slot player, why not give a table game a try? If you play table games, why not learn a new game for a change? If you don’t want to play table games, then try a new slot machine.
I resolve to learn the correct video poker strategy.
Video poker is one of the best games you can play. e house edge is low, if you learn the correct strategy for each particular game. Many players sit down and rely on hunches for playing their hands, which increases the house edge. You can learn the game at home using tutorial software, and increase your chances of winning.
I resolve to have a game plan.
Many players go to the casino with a pocketful of money, and jump from game to game until all their money is gone. You can have a much better time if you spend just a few minutes to make a plan for your next casino visit. Know in advance how long you will play, how much moneyyouwanttorisk,andwhatotheractivitiesyou will do there.
Pick one or two resolutions.
ese are a few of my 2013 resolution suggestions that can help you play smarter and enjoy yourself more at the casino. Some slot players have no desire or intention of playing a casino table game, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t keep a gambling log or have a game plan when they enter the casino. Pick one or two resolutions that you feel passionate about and give them a try this year.
I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the author of 1000 Best Casino Gambling Secrets and Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available online at billburton.com. Burton is also an instructor for Golden Touch Craps: thecrapsclub.com.
It’s 2013, and that may cause some concern for those people who think the number 13 is unlucky. Triskaidekaphobia is the name of the fear (phobia) of the number 13, and those
Here are some resolutions you might consider for the New Year.
who are superstitious about 13 will have 365 days to worry about it until 2014 rolls around. For the rest
of us who are not, 2013 brings hope and promise for a new beginning, new opportunities and hopefully, a better year than the one before.
New Year’s Resolutions
“This year, you could make aNewYear’sresolutionto havemorefuninthecasino.
That sounds simple enough, butifyouarelikeme,the realfuninthecasinocomes from winning. In order to
be a consistent winner you have to play smarter. So let’s change the resolution from having more fun in the casino to resolving to play smarter in thecasino!”
I resolve to save a
few extra dollars each week to spend on my casinovisits.
Even if you don’t know when you will be visiting the casino next, now is a great time to start setting aside a few dollars each week into a casino fund.
is way you will have the money if you receive a great promotional o er, or if you just want to get away for a day trip to the casino.
I resolve always to use my players club card. Not using your players card is the equivalent of turning away free money. Casinos give you comps foryourplay,andtheonly way they know how much
Many of us start each year
by making resolutions to
improve ourselves or change
a negative behavior. You
know the ones I’m talking
about. We all have made
and broken resolutions
year after year. ey sound
good on New Year’s Day,
but most resolutions are
broken within a week or
two. Some psychologists
theorize that the reason this happens is because we don’t have the passion required to give our full e ort to make a resolution work. Resolutions and goals that do get accomplished are ones that we enjoy and nd pleasure in doing.
to give you is by tracking your play. If you don’t use your players club card, the casino can’t track your play. Using your card does not a ect how the machine will pay out, as some players falsely believe. It does, however, a ect the comps that you earn.
I resolve to keep a gaming log.
Smart players keep a logbook. e IRS allows you to deduct gambling losses up to the amount of your winnings. You can only do this if you have documentation of your
losses. Keeping a diary or logbook is the only acceptable way to do this. It is the beginning of a new year, so now is the time to start your log. ere is even an iPhone app named Gamblers Anonymous that will let you keep your log on your iPhone.
is year, you could make a New Year’s resolution to have more fun in the casino. at sounds simple enough, but if you are like me, the real fun in the casino comes from winning. In order to be a consistent winner, you have to play smarter. So let’s change the resolution from having more fun in the casino to resolving to play smarter in the casino!
Several years ago, I made a list of some resolutions to help me get the most enjoyment from my casino visits. Over the years I have changed some and modi ed others.
PAGE 6
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE
JANUARY 2013