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www.freetraveltips.com - This site
has thousands of free tips and links to help with every aspect of travel.
They even have printable checklists to make sure you don't forget anything!
Hotels
 | If you play at a casino,
ALWAYS sign up for the free slot club. This will get you on the casino
mailing list. Don't worry about mountains of junk mail pouring in!
Casinos are stingy with their mailing lists. They want to keep
interested customers all to themselves. What will the slot club do for
you? You might qualify for free room offers, reduced room rates (known as the casino
rate) or complimentary food.
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| Visit the casino's web site
and sign the Guestbook. You will receive special Internet offers from
many places. I've been sent reduced room rates, restaurant discounts, 2
for 1 spa offers, and many other deals.
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| What if you don't get good
offers in the mail? Call the property that you want to stay at directly.
Ask to speak to a casino host, and see what's the best deal that they can get
for you. Don't go through the regular hotel reservation number. All of the big casino resorts have 1-800 numbers, and it only
takes a few minutes to ask. It never hurts to ask! |
| If you have any special
requests, make sure you let the reservationists know when you are making your
plans ... BUT go ahead and assume that the person checking you in isn't aware
of those requests. Make your preferences known to the desk clerk, too.
I've found most desk clerks to be very accommodating, if you take a moment to
be pleasant to them. Remember that it isn't their fault that you had the
flight from hell! Sometimes though, their hands are tied. If you
are paying the casino rate, then you might not get a room with the best view.
If you are checking in late on a busy night, then you might not get the room
next to your friend's room. Ask for what you want, but don't get your
heart set on it. You might have to be a little flexible.
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| The $20 Tip Thingy - Money
talks ... Even with desk clerks! This is how it works. Have a $20
folded and placed under the credit card that you are using for check-in.
Make sure that the $20 is showing. Ask the desk clerk if there is any
way you can get upgraded to a nicer room, suite, or an awesome view. It
doesn't hurt if the desk clerk thinks that it is a special occasion trip ...
anniversary, birthday, wedding, whatever! It might work ... It might
not, but hey - You're in town to gamble aren't you?
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Airlines
| Booking the flight is where I
usually start planning a trip. I usually find the best deals on fights
at the airlines' own site, but sometimes you can really save money if you
spend time checking around. Most travel search and airline sites will
send you newsletters letting you know of sales and last deals. Just sign
up on the airline's site.
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Dining
| If you eat at the coffee shop
that is found in many casinos, ask if they have any specials that aren't
listed on the menu. Many of them offer prime rib or steak specials to
reward their frequent customers. Some of these offers are advertised
openly, but many of them are just for those "in the know". |
| Make sure that you are
dressed appropriately for the restaurant that you want to go to. Most
casino resorts have some very swank places. You might not be planning to
splurge on dinner, but plans could change if you hit the BIG one! Pack
accordingly! |
Some Tricks of the Comp
Trade: By Henry Tamburin
General
Buffet and coffee shop comps are usually easier to come by then restaurant
comps.
Female players have an easier time getting comps from male vs. female floor
supervisors. The same is true for male players asking female supervisors for
comps.
Buy in with a large amount of money at the tables even though you don't intend
to gamble all of it.
If you get turned down for a meal comp, ask for a line comp. This will allow you
to by-pass the long lines at buffets or shows.
If you are staying at a casino hotel, charge everything to the room. Sometimes
casino hosts will comp everything not just the cost of the room.
Also be sure to have the host review your play before you check out to determine
if you qualify for the room comp
If you are a mid to high end player, consider putting cash in the casino cage,
drawing markers when you play, and paying the markers off promptly since this
establishes you as a good client. Also, mid to high end players should shop
around at different casinos to determine your comp value.
Most comps are good for the day you get them. If you want them extended to the
next day or next visit ask the floor supervisor or host and they usually will
oblige.
If you've had a particularly unlucky session, it doesn't hurt to let the floor
supervisor know this when you ask for a comp. Sometimes they will increase the
value of a comp to a valued player who's had a rough day at the tables.
After you ask for a comp, stop playing. Often the floor person will take his
time doing the paperwork and this could result in a player losing more money if
he keeps playing.
Blackjack Players
Play perfect basic strategy. The casino's advantage is much less then what the
floor supervisor will usually use in Formula #1.
Play less hands per hour than what the casino rates you for by avoiding fast
dealers, playing at full tables, choosing one deck games over six deck games (it
takes more time per hour to shuffle one deck vs. six deck games) and taking
frequent bathroom breaks. Do not play at tables with continuous
automatic shufflers.
Since the casino floor person doesn't have time to monitor every bet you make,
make a high end bet when you first sit down to play and he is watching.
After he records the big bet, you can drop back down to a smaller bet. Play the
table minimum unless the floor person is watching, then raise your bet a few
units. When he's through watching your betting, drop back down to the table
minimum.
If the dealer is friendly and helpful make a tip bet for him/her every once in
awhile. Floor supervisor are usually more generous with comps if a player has
been tipping the dealer.
Craps Players
Play in casinos that give you credit for "spread". If you bet $10 on pass line
and take $20 in odds you want to be rated as a $30 player not $10. If unsure,
ask the floor supervisor.
Slow down your play. By not betting on every shooter it will reduce the exposure
to the casino's edge and the rating clock keeps ticking even when you are not
betting.
Video Poker & Slot Players
Make sure you know what a casino slot club returns in cash back and comps.
Pick the casinos that return higher amounts for your play. Also take advantage
of casino promotions when they offer double and triple points during certain
days of the week.
Ask the host for comps not the employees who work in the Players Club booth.
Often you can get a comp from a host without points being deducted from your
slot card.
If you play video poker, learn the optimum playing strategy and play on full pay
machines. You can often get a return close to or slightly above 100% with
skillful play and the comps and cash back become gravy.
Dr. Henry Tamburin is the author of six best selling casino gambling books
including his latest Henry Tamburin on Casino Gambling - The Best of the Best
and is featured in three instructional videos. For a free catalog call (888)
353-3234 or visit www.smartgaming.com.
THE 10 COMMANDMENTS OF
GAMBLING:
From: www.thewizardofodds.com
1-Expect to lose. The odds almost always favor the casino. If you won't be
happy if you lose then you shouldn't play at all.
2-Don't rely on hunches. Always make the mathematically best
decision. I have met numerous other players who disagree with me on this
one, and they are all wrong. On the players side is the unlimited use of ESP and
other psychic powers. The casinos have the mathematical odds on their side. Who
always wins in the long run?
3-Although you will lose in the long run your money will go up and down like a
roller coaster in the short run. Regardless of how good you are your
bankroll will make large swings in the short run. You should expect this.
Following correct strategy
is more beneficial to long term play.
4-In general the harder a game is to understand the smaller the house edge is if
you play it correctly. Your best bets are the more complicated games of
blackjack, craps, baccarat, and video poker, assuming you play them wisely. Your
worst bets are the simple games of pure chance like keno, roulette, and the
wheel of fortune.
5-Don't gamble with anything but entertainment money. The motive for
gambling should be entertainment. So bet enough to
make it interesting but not so much that it would hurt if you lost.
6-Don't hedge your bets. For example don't take insurance in blackjack and
never make the any 7 or any craps bet in craps. In gambling, as in life, it
makes good business sense to not insure risks you can cope with yourself. If you
are afraid to lose then you are betting too much to begin with.
7-There is no system that can beat a game of pure chance.
There are plenty of charlatans promising systems that can beat games of luck
like roulette, craps, and even the lottery. Most systems trade a lot of small
wins for a few huge losses. In the long run it is impossible to beat the house
at games of chance only.
8-It pays to shop around for the best possible playing conditions. In many
games, especially blackjack and video poker rules can vary from one casino to
another and one state to another. Know what rules are favorable to the player
and to seek them out.
9-Avoid the side bets and gimmicks. Good examples of side bets to ignore
are those in Caribbean stud poker and let it ride. Yes, I know everyone else
makes these bets but mathematically the house edge is huge. I have never seen a
side bet that was a better bet than the game it was on. Gimmicks, like crapsless
craps and commission free baccarat, have a higher house
edge than normal rules in every example I have seen. When the casinos offer a
change in a rule to your advantage you can be sure they changed another rule
that is to their advantage, and that they are taking more than they are giving
up.
10-Have fun. Don't forget that gambling is supposed to be a recreational
activity. Like many things, what is enjoyable in moderation can be
disastrous in excess. If you lose the ability to walk away from the table or
machine at will then you shouldn't play at all.
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