In the world of advantage-play gambling, John Chang is a legend. Serious blackjack practitioners know who he is, and they know all about his place in the green felt pantheon.

He managed the fearsome MIT blackjack team, is a member of the Blackjack Hall of Fame (check it out sometime at Barona Resort & Casino near San Diego, California) and he continues to reign as an elder statesman of the game.

Well-Known Whether He Likes It or Not

Even those who think they do not know much about him, well, they very likely do. Chang provided inspiration for the Mickey Rosa character, played by Kevin Spacey in the blackjack movie classic 21. It was based on the excellent book Bringing Down the House, authored by Ben Mezrich.

Years ago, at around the time of the movie’s release, when Chang competed in the World Series of Blackjack, he wore a disguise and cheekily played under the pseudonym of Mickey Rosa.

Never mind that Chang showed off his stubborn streak and belief in himself when he refused to sell his life rights to the producers of 21. That is also indicative of his strong desire to remain anonymous – which has become increasingly difficult over the years. 

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like blackjack side bets and roulette strategy.

Taking Drastic Measures

At one point, during the height of his playing days, in order to stay in action and not get booted from the casino, Chang resorted to dressing in drag. For a while, he successfully pulled it off. 

“Cross-dressing actually worked in the Bahamas and Illinois,” he told me in my book Advantage Players. “But at Taj Mahal [formerly owned by Donald Trump, now defunct], they were looking at my hands. An Asian host came over and whispered in my ear, ‘We know who you are.’”

Soon after, Chang took off running – in high heels, no less – to avoid getting formally booted from the casino.

But It Wasn’t Always Like That

Back in the late 1970s, Chang was an everyday student at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He took a class there where he learned to count cards. But he was a broke college kid and lacked the necessary bankroll to capitalize on this blackjack strategy. 

Then he saw a handwritten sign that had been posted on campus. It promised an opportunity to make $300 over spring break by playing on a card counting team. No bankroll was required.

Chang signed on, squeezed into a car with four other MIT students and headed down to Atlantic City. After gaining experience, he began playing for big money. 

As Chang related to Blackjack Advisor, his first decent score on a single hand came in Las Vegas.

“I bet $1,600 at the Desert Inn [the casino has since been torn down and Wynn Las Vegas stands where it used to be] and split 10s against a 6,” he recalled. 

“At the DI, you were allowed to split 10s more than once” – and he did. “The casino manager came over to watch. He was laughing his ass off because this idiot Chinese kid was splitting 10s.” Of course, Chang did it for good reason: with a true count above five, that is the right play to make against a 6. “The dealer busted, and the casino manager gave me his card.”

Wins Piled Up

That was a good start for Chang, but the techniques became more involved, and the profits accrued. As the genius of blackjack told me, there was a time when he and a team member were playing in Atlantic City, deploying an advanced strategy that allowed them to gauge coming cards.

During a previous trip, his teammate had successfully doubled down on 18 when he knew a 3 was coming. On this occasion, Chang, playing two hands, was dealt 19 and 11.

Because of the move they were using, he knew that that the next two cards would be 2 and 10, in that order. He asked his teammate what he thought of doubling with 19. Both agreed that it was the right thing to do. Chang did it, hit his 2 and his 10, and got rewarded with a pile of chips.

“I was, like, ‘Let’s get out of here before we get arrested,’” Chang remembered.

Though he was half-kidding – the pair were not in legal jeopardy, though doubling with 19 definitely looked suspicious – skedaddling was probably a good idea.

“It was 10 years after that play,” Chang continued. “I had not been to Atlantic City in five years and thought nobody would recognize me. I sat down at a $100-minimum table at another casino.

"After one deck, they put down a sign saying my max bet was $100 and my minimum bet was $100” – in other words, he could not spread his bets, which is necessary if you want to make money as a card counter. “Then the pit boss came out and started chatting with me. He said, ‘Is it true that you doubled with a hard 19?’”

Surprised that somebody would remember the move after so many years, Chang acknowledged to me, “I guess there are limits to aggression.”

Skewed View of Money

These days, Chang and his advantage-playing wife Laurie still hit the games when they can. Though he probably thinks twice about doubling on 19, even if he knows a 2 is coming, blackjack remains a profitable endeavor when you play it the Chang way.

During the MIT years, wins for Chang and his teammates were considerable. They caused him to view money in a relatively casual manner when it all seemed so easy. 

Providing evidence of that, Laurie told me what happened, years ago, before they were married, when she was helping him to get organized for a move from one home to another.

Shifting around glass jars and storage boxes, she found more than $100,000 in chips randomly scattered throughout Chang’s digs. When she expressed incredulity over the high-stakes loose change, Chang took it in stride. He shrugged and told her, “I thought I was a little light.”

There are dozens and perhaps scores or even hundreds of books and Internet-based advice about money management while playing in a casino. Some are excellent. Some not so much.

This article covers some tried-and-true money management techniques for casino players. They also apply to online gambling.

Contents

1. Money management is critical when playing casino games
2. Tried-and-true casino money management techniques
3. The most critical skill for casino money management
4. Summary

Money management is critical when playing casino games

Yes, money management is not just a good thing when playing in a casino or online. It is critical. Players may know everything there is to know about how to play their favorite games. They may know all the best bets and the smartest ways to play. They may know that they should not imbibe too much alcohol while playing.

All these things will help players have fun while gambling, but without proper money management, disaster can still befall the unsuspecting casino game player. The next section lists and explores several proven money management techniques in the hope that they will prevent disaster from striking.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like blackjack strategy, roulette strategy, and how to win at slots.

Tried-and-true casino money management techniques

All gambling money management techniques have certain aspects in common. They include:

• Only gamble with money you can afford to lose. The money cannot be needed for living expenses of any kind.
• Always bring the money with you – whether your trip is for one session or several days – bring the entire amount with you. Do not plan on using an ATM for some of your play.
• Never use credit.
• Keep track of your betting, wins and losses. Your memory can fool you. Log amounts as they occur.
• Have discipline. Do not chase losses. Do not play when you are tired or agitated.
• When you win big (you decide what “big” is) reserve some (or all) of the win as profit. Do not use any of the amount reserved for betting on the current session, day, or trip.

Some specific techniques to help with money management are:

Keep separate bankrolls:

• If your trip is for more than one day, divide your trip bankroll into daily bankrolls. 
• If there will be more than one playing session per day, divide each daily bankroll into session bankrolls – one for each planned session.
• Bring ONLY the amount of the one session bankroll with you to each session.
• If you lose the session bankroll – QUIT PLAYING for that session. Do not play any more until your planned next session. Bring the next session’s bankroll when you start that next session.
• Never, never, never, dip into future session’s allocations.
• If you win a substantial amount during a session, hold a portion of the win aside. Do not bet any of that saved portion during the current session.
• When the session is over, any remaining bankroll and held winnings are reserved for future trips. That money is never to be used again during the current trip.

If the trip is a short trip (only one or two sessions), set stop-win and stop-loss limits:

• If only one session, the stop loss could be the entire bankroll. If you play more than one session, the stop loss could be one-half, one-third, or other reasonable percentage of the bankroll.
• Once the stop-loss is hit, stop playing. Resist the sometimes very strong urge to continue play using the remainder.
• A stop-win on the other hand is either a percentage of the bankroll (such as a cumulative win of 10, 15, 20, or 25 percent), or a specific amount (such as $100, $200, etc.).
• Once the stop-win amount is achieved, lock up the win. Do not use it for future play. Take it home as a profit.
• Continue playing until you hit the stop-loss on the remaining amount. 
• If you hit another stop-win amount, lock that amount up as well.
• Continue playing until you either hit a stop-loss, or you decide it is time to leave.

Manage your bet size based on your current bankroll:

• Keep betting a flat amount based on your bankroll size – perhaps 1-5 percent of your bankroll depending on the game. Maintain that bet size throughout the session.

If you become tired, frustrated, edgy, or in any way are not feeling in control, immediately stop play. Take a break. Leave the casino to clear your head. Do not return to play until you feel in total control.

The most critical skill for casino money management

Basic aspects of money management, some specific money management techniques listed above, and several other money management techniques that can be found online or in books are all helpful in avoiding disaster while gambling.

However, none of these techniques are worth anything if the player does not have one critical skill – discipline.

Limiting what you bring to the casino to what you can afford to lose means nothing if you dip into your next session’s bankroll or head to the ATM after blowing a session or trip bankroll.

Having a stop-loss means nothing if you continue playing after you hit that stop-loss.

Having a stop-win means nothing if you dip into that locked-up win after you lose a session bankroll.

Rules of money management are only as good as the player’s discipline to adhere to those rules regardless of how difficult that may be. Without the proper discipline players would be better off staying home or getting their entertainment in a less dangerous (figuratively speaking) way.

Summary

Proper money management is crucial for having fun playing casino games. Those who do not use money management are setting themselves up for disaster.

This article has explored a few money management techniques. There are several other available. Players can also develop a plan that works well for them.

An important point to remember is to always play with money that you can afford to lose. The most important skill of all, however, is to always stay disciplined.

Video poker is a popular game both in live and online casinos. It offers players a choice that affects the outcome of the game. However, to achieve the best results – in other words to play the game successfully – players must adhere to certain rules of play.

There are several keys to playing video poker successfully, but one key stands out from the rest. This article explores that one as well as several other keys.

Contents

1. The seven keys to successful video poker play
2. Why they matter
3. The most important key to playing video poker successfully
4. Summary

The seven keys to successful video poker play

Unlike standard slot machines where the results are strictly the result of luck, video poker allows players to “make their own luck” to a certain extent. The seven keys to successful video poker play are:

1. Know how to find the best video poker game.
2. Know the proper playing strategy for the game and pay table being played.
3. Be observant – verify the game and entire pay table before playing.
4. Have a separate gambling account containing only money that you can afford to lose.
5. Do not overplay your bankroll.
6. Stop playing and take a break when tired or upset.
7. Take advantage of any casino bonuses and perks.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like blackjack tips and best side bets in blackjack.

Why they matter

Why do these seven keys matter? Let’s start at the beginning of the list and explore each one in more detail.

• Finding the best game: There are several variations of video poker games available. Each of those games can have several different pay tables. Each game and pay table affect your return and the variance. These factors impact win rate and bankroll requirements. To be successful, you must select the game that best matches your specific playing style and then find the pay table for that game the gives you the best return.
• Knowing the playing strategy: The game type (such as Jacks or Better or double-double bonus poker) and pay table impact the return and variance. These values are based on holding the proper cards for each dealt hand. The proper playing strategy extracts the highest return possible (on average) for each dealt hand. If played differently, you relinquish some of your advantage.
• Being observant: After you have done your research and know which games and pay table combinations are the best for your style of play – conservative (low variance) or more frequent big hits at the cost of less pay for more frequent hits (high variance), you must find those games in the casino. It is not as simple as seeing the name of the game (e.g. Jacks or Better) on the machines front panel. You must select the game from the available games shown on the playing screen, examine the pay table, and make sure it matches the pay table you want. Many players check only the full house and flush pay lines. That works in many cases, but casinos also alter payouts for other hands. Make sure you check every line of the pay table to be sure.
• Having a separate gambling account: To be successful at playing video poker – or any casino game for that matter – you cannot worry about losing the money being wagered. If you are playing with money that you need for house or car payments, or worse still, groceries; losing will weigh heavily on your mind. Playing scared is not a form of successful play. It negatively impacts results.
• Playing within your bankroll: Closely related to the previous point, overplaying your bankroll can cause stress when you hit losing streaks. Playing at a dollar level game ($5 per hand) with a bankroll of $100 is a recipe for failure. A loss of 20 hands will wipe you out. While this may be an extreme example, losing streaks can be quite long. Even playing at a quarter level ($1.25 per hand) can be overplaying a $100 bankroll.
• Taking a break: Playing video poker requires thought. Unlike slot machine strategy, where results are based purely on luck, your actions directly affect results. Successful play requires a sharp mind. Anything that interferes with that affects results. An alcoholic drink or two may be okay and help to relax you, but too many will affect play. Becoming tired will do the same. If you become agitated, frustrated, or angry, that will also affect play. When any of these conditions happen, or if you notice you are making mistakes in strategy, take a break immediately. Leave the casino. Clear your mind. Do not resume play until you are again at your best.
• Taking advantage of bonuses and perks: Being successful at video poker requires that you take every advantage available. If possible, play only during bonus promotions. Take advantage of any perks that are offered. Take every last penny of the extras that are offered.

The most important key to playing video poker successfully

The previous section listed seven keys to playing video poker successfully. The most important key to successful play is not specifically listed. It is, however, implied in several of the keys.

That key is discipline. Without it, none of the seven points listed above are of any value. It is the key that supersedes the others.

Summary

The goal of every gambler is to win. In most casino games, winning is determined simply by luck. Video poker allows players the opportunity to “make their own luck” because video poker games advertise their returns and variance by showing the pay tables associated with the game. Video poker players can take advantage of that information.

It is not easy. Following all the steps to successfully play video poker requires the discipline to learn the games and to play them properly. It requires the discipline to always follow those rules while playing. The results can be well worth the effort, however.

Do you have the discipline to become a successful video poker player?

A new year is almost here (or already here if you’re reading this after Dec. 31) and gamblers may be ready to look to 2026 for some new casino experiences – both in live venues and online.

With that in mind, gazing into that crystal ball and taking a look into the future seem in order. What’s new on the casino gambling landscape? What can players expect in casinos and when hitting the virtual table games and slots online?

Keep reading for a quick glance into the year ahead, including a few New Year’s resolutions and a look at some trends in the industry

Slot Gaming Trends

Game developers continue ramping up the creativity with new themes, narratives, and bonus features popping up all the time. In 2026, that no doubt will continue. Some slot trends, both live and online, tend to favor making games much more immersive with more interactivity.

In a live casino, that can include animations that wrap around the cabinet and surround adjacent machines – bringing the action right to players and adding more connection to bonus features.

Additionally, game designers are really making use of emerging technologies. Some of those include AI-powered personalization, virtual and augmented reality offering 360-degree virtual environments and interactive elements, and 3-D and cinematic visuals. Look for more of these to emerge in the coming year.

Theme-wise, the industry is seeing a couple of trends. While the use of pop culture continues to resonate with players, developers are also moving toward developing their own ongoing brands based on traditional and familiar stories that don’t necessarily require a licensing agreement.

A couple of those in the latter category include Light & Wonder’s Huff N Puff series, based on the traditional story of the Three Little Pigs, and Frankenstein games. Both feature excellent narratives , graphics, and experiences.

Huff N’ Puff has seen several sequels and that green monster slot was so popular that Frankenstein Returns was released in 2025 and drew plenty of applause from players.

Many casinos are jumping on another trend that should continue in the new year: special areas on the gaming floor devoted to a single slot title or a group of games from a certain operator. For example,  Las Vegas’s Plaza Casino opened a new designated section this year for fans of the popular Buffalo and Mo’ Mummy games. Some other popular Aristocrat Gaming titles are also included as well in the area that includes 63 games.

MGM National Harbor in Maryland also unveiled the Ultimate Fire Link Zone, a 2,400-square-foot venue solely offering versions of this popular title. Similar efforts at properties around the world are probably on the way in 2026. In short, players have plenty to look forward to in the coming year.

Table Games & Poker

For table games players, one feature stood out in 2025 and should grow in popularity even more in 2026: Bonus Spin Xtreme by AGS. This progressive side bet game links several table games and includes a wheel feature, similar to Wheel of Fortune or the bonus wheel on a slot machine.

However, this wheel has been supersized – hence the “Xtreme” – with three spinning wheels within a wheel and even includes a community win for all players. Players can cash in with some luck at the roulette wheel or when playing baccarat, craps, and more.

California’s Jamul Casino even added the feature to the poker room in November, allowing players to grab a spin for making small side bets.

Unfortunately for small-stakes table games players, betting limits have risen quite a bit in Las Vegas and other casino jurisdictions since the COVID pandemic. But that doesn’t apply to online casinos and players can continue to play for lower amounts at the virtual tables.

Electronic table games have also grown in popularity with more of these versions of blackjack, craps, and roulette now available on casino floors. Look for that to continue as players have become more accustomed to traditional mobile and online gaming.

As for poker players, operators continue trying to ramp up additional fun elements available to players. The World Poker Tour recently unveiled special “wildcard” events that feature quirky power-ups and penalties. Mystery bounty and progressive bounty events also remain popular with players in live and online settings, and look for that to continue and expand in the coming year.

Mixed games remain a growing part of the poker ecosystem and participation in these variants and tournaments continue to expand. As for streamed cash games and vlogs, these formats also remain popular and bring in new players. However, changes in YouTube content policies continue to be an obstacle for this segment of the poker content arena.

Other Gambling Options

The winter weather might be upon us, but many casino gamblers may already be looking to spring and summer. Perhaps it’s time to book that trip to Las Vegas, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, or even Macau for a truly once-in-a-lifetime epic casino getaway.

Las Vegas has a host of new casinos that have opened over the last few years that can be worth checking out. There are also some other amazing properties all around the world to drop in on and combine with some beach time and other outdoor and cultural experiences with a big of time on the gaming floor.

Or maybe a poker road trip fits the bill? Sample some great cuisine and mix in some entertainment along the way. Win or lose, hitting the road for some gambling can be a great experience.

For those who can’t get away for their gambling, perhaps some play right from home is a better  (or additional) option to work on that blackjack strategy or slot strategy.

When gambling online, players are finding more options than they might find in casinos. Operators continue offering games and stakes that might not be found on the Vegas Strip, such as crash games, online scratch cards, and variations of traditional table games. There just seems to be something for every type of player.

Casino Gambling Resolutions

No look to the new year would be complete without a few New Year’s resolutions. Here are a few that you might want to consider beginning on Jan. 1.

• Use safe gambling practices. Hopefully this is already part of your gaming routine and it’s critical to wager only funds you can afford to use for entertainment. Online gaming platforms like 888casino have numerous safe play options including deposit limits, game time reminders, withdrawal preferences, self-exclusion, and more.
• Enjoy more time with friends and family when hitting the casinos.
• Take advantage of some of the perks you might find in a casino including great meals and drinks, entertainment, and other amenities.
• Don’t overdo it with alcohol. Drinking too much can mean draining more of your bankroll and can lead to irresponsible gaming. Have a good time, but stay in control and avoid compromising situations.
• Enjoy some online gaming and try out a few new options. There are always new slots and table games for players and testing the water for free is also a great option.

Pop the champagne and get ready to count down to midnight, a new year approaches and plenty of interesting things await casino fans in the new year.

Casino craps is an exciting game. It has plenty of action. It has many different ways to bet. Many of them are unique to casino craps. They are called by names not used in any other game in the casino.

The “put” bet is one such bet. This article explores this unique bet.

Contents

1. The Bets available in Casino Craps
2. Detailed Explanation of the Put Bet
3. When to Use the Put Bet – and When Not to Use It
4. Summary

The Bets available in Casino Craps

Of all the casino games, craps is arguably the most complex. One reason is there are two different betting phases:

• When no point is established (a puck on either side of the table is black with the word “Off” displayed). At this time a Pass Line bet (explained below) can be placed. If the shooter throws a 7 or 11, this bet wins; a 3, 11, or 12 loses. Any other number becomes the “point” number and the puck is turned over displaying the white side with the word “On.” During come out a Don’t Pass bettor loses on a 7 or 11, wins on a 3 or 11, and “pushes” (neither wins or loses) on a 12.
• When a point is established, the Pass Line bettor wins if the point number is thrown before a 7 and loses if a 7 precedes the point number. A Don’t Pass bettor’s results are just the opposite: he loses if the point number is thrown before the 7 and wins if the 7 precedes the point number.

If that is not confusing enough, the plethora of different bets that are available can be daunting. They include:

• Pass line and Don’t Pass as described above.
• Come – acts like a Pass Line bet but is placed when a point is set.
• Don’t come – acts like a Don’t Pass but is placed when a point is set. 
• Place – bet on a specific number to appear before the 7
• Buy – a place bet large enough and with an extra 5% fee to get true odds on a win.
• Field – bet that any of the numbers 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or 12 will be thrown on the next roll.
• Big Red – bet that the next roll will be a 7.
• Hardway – bet that a specific even number will be thrown with both dice showing the same number, e.g. 3 and 3 for a total of 6 before a 7 or the same even number rolled with the dice having different numbers, e.g. 1 and 5 or 2 and 4.
• Hop – bet that the next roll will be combination of two specific numbers – e.g. 3 and 5.

There are several more bets possible depending on the specific rules of the casino. While all this can be confusing, most craps players stick to one or two specific bets such as the Pass Line and/or Come bet as part of their overall craps strategy.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like craps lay bet and roulette strategies.

Detailed Explanation of the Put Bet

So, what, exactly, is a put bet? Before answering that, a bit more explanation of Pass, Don’t Pass, Come, and Don’t Come bets is in order.

These four bets are different than all the other bets mentioned in the previous section. These bets consist of a base bet placed during the come-out phase. Each pays 1-to-1 on a win and is forfeited on a loss according to the rules in the first section.

When a point number is thrown, this portion of the bet is considered a contract bet – it cannot be taken down until either the point (a win) or a 7 (a loss) is thrown. The other bets can be taken down even if they have not been resolved.

Another feature of these contract bets – additional amounts can be placed behind them. This “odds” portion is paid at true odds on a win. Higher odds amounts reduce the house edge of the total bet. However, the only bets we have covered so far that allow this are these four contract bets. The odds portion of these bets can be modified or taken down at any time.

A put bet is functionally a pass line bet with odds that can be placed on any point number during the point cycle.  

When to Use the Put Bet – and When Not to Use It

As mentioned above the Pass and Come bets have two distinct phases – the come-out phase where the player has the advantage over the casino, and the point cycle phase where the casino has the advantage.

The disadvantage of the put bet is it does not have the player-favorable come-out phase. The base and odds portions are placed together. The only way to win is if the number chosen is thrown before the 7. This means that the casino always has the edge – just like all the other craps bets that do not have a come-out phase.

So why would any knowledgeable player use it? 

Every bet on the craps table has a house edge. That includes place and buy bets. Because contract bets allow true-odds amounts to be added to the base portion, it is possible to reduce the house edge of a put bet to the point where it is lower than the place or buy bet. That is why a knowledgeable player would use it.

However, conditions must be just right for this strategy to work. The following must be true:

• The odds amounts are limited in virtually all casinos. The buy bet does not become attractive until the odds are allowed to be more than five times the base bet.
• Most importantly, the player must have an adequate bankroll to make the bet. Even though the odds portion of the bet is paid at true odds (meaning over time neither the casino nor the player has an edge) the variance will increase as the odds portion increases. When the player loses, the entire bet – base and odds – is lost.

When the above conditions are met, the put bet can be advantageous.

The put bet is advantageous in one other situation – when table limits on place or buy bets restrict the player from betting more. A put bet with proper odds gets around this restriction.

Summary

Craps is an exciting socially-oriented game. Part of that excitement comes from the large variety of bets available. Remembers these put bet craps tips:

• Most players use only a couple of the betting options.
• The put bet can be used in the proper situation to improve the odds for players.
• With the proper bankroll and table rules, the player can win more – or, more likely, lose less.

Everyone who cares about gambling must, at some point, visit Las Vegas. It is the cards, dice, slots, and roulette capital of the world, the place that inspired modern-day Macau and outdoes Atlantic City.

There are casinos to match every budget, every game, every level of gambling. The excitement is 24/7 and doesn’t let up until you do.

For those who are flying into Vegas, the adrenaline starts pumping before your plane touches down. From up in the sky, you can pick out the neon signs that front casinos along the famous Vegas Strip and in the venerable neighborhood of downtown Las Vegas.

Once you hit the ground, though, the action really heats up.

Head North for Big Gambles & Big Fun

The north end of the Strip used to be a bit of no man’s land. No longer. Four of the most desirable casinos in town, if not in the world, are situated there.

Venetian, Wynn, Fontainebleau, and Resorts World all offer luxury digs, high-stakes gambling and fabulous restaurants. 

And if you think that a place can be imbued with luck, keep in mind that the record slot machine payoff at Wynn is $10.7 million taken down by a woman from Oahu, Hawaii. Though the casino is a haven for high rollers – from the poker room to the main casino floor to the private gaming salons – she had placed a measly $3 bet in the machine. 

While cruising through Venetian, one person you might encounter at the slot machines is Michael Mizrachi. The 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event Champion happens to love betting on the spinning reels. If he’s not there – or taking shots with his best blackjack strategy or at the baccarat tables – scope him out in the casino’s poker room, where he regularly hosts a high-stakes game that can be watched on YouTube.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like slot machine strategy and best side bets blackjack.

Take in Sports & Table Games

As for betting sports and watching the games in style, there are great sports books all over town. They feature giant screens and drinks galore. But when at Fontainebleau, which has some of the best dining spots in Las Vegas, check out the quietly elegant Fontaine for Frenchified lunch fare. The eatery boasts The Tavern, where a top-notch menu of bar food matches with a world-class sportsbook.

Few things can top watching a game in which you have a financial interest while enjoying a superior hamburger with perfect fries.

Beyond that, the casino games are nothing to sneeze at. Just ask UFC boss Dana White. White had a lucky evening at the Fontainebleau’s baccarat tables where he managed to win $1.2 million. While that score pales alongside the $20-million-plus that he snagged at Caesars Palace between January and March 2024, we’re sure that he was happy to lock down seven figures for a single night of play.

Poker & Blackjack Opportunities

If you happen to be in Resorts World at the right time, you might be able to catch a poker tournament at Alle Lounge on 66, which is an elegant drinking spot that occasionally gets transformed into a luxe poker room.

Such was the case at this year’s F1 Grand Prix weekend in Vegas when a high-stakes tournament – with a $5,300 buy-in plus rebuys – was put on to raise money for the One Drop charity. 

And if you want to see how right things can go in the high limit room’s blackjack tables art Resorts World, check out this video of a smoothie-swilling guy named Cody winning some $400,000 on what he calls “my craziest blackjack run ever at Resorts World.”

We’re not arguing!

Inspiring as all of this might be – and his session is loaded with ups and downs – keep in mind that if you’re not as flush as the guys who make their way to the high limit room, casino table limits tend to be most manageable during early morning hours.

Visiting a Modern Classic

The Bellagio opened in1998 and it still rules as one of the greatest places in town to eat, gamble and sleep. Table limits are as high as anywhere, the recesses of the high-limit room are worth a peek, and Bellagio has been the site of more than a few lucky runs.

The fact that Bellagio poker room hosts nosebleed stakes games with some winners (as well as losers) who can’t help but hit the blackjack and craps tables as they head for valet-parking helps to keep the action going. 

After a financial windfall – or, frankly, just for the hell of it – be sure to check out the Vault, a secret drinking spot behind an unmarked door on the Bellagio gaming floor. Drinks rank among the best on the Strip (if the casino’s mix master Craig Schoettler happens to be there, make sure he spins up a cocktail for you) and the swanky vibe is unbeatable.

Going Downtown

Classics of another sort – and for those on a lower budget – are to be found in downtown Las Vegas.

Personally  speaking, this is my favorite part of town. Obviously, it is not as fancy as the Strip and the hotels are not as ritzy, though there is Circa, which opened in 2020 and is designed to give Strip properties a run for their money.

It succeeds. The rooms are great and the subterranean steakhouse, Barry’s Downtown Prime, leaves nothing to be desired.

Circa is owned by Derrick Stevens, an auto parts mogul from Detroit. His footprint downtown is large, with hotel/casino offerings that include the Golden Gate (the oldest casino in Las Vegas) and the D (an all-around cool spot with the aptly named Long Bar where Stevens can often be spotted sipping martinis). The D makes gambling fun, with a loosey-goosey vibe in the casino and limits that everyone can afford.

Same thing at the Plaza, where former Mayor Oscar Goodman (another martini lover) has an eponymous steakhouse, rooms in the new tower are major bargains and the place boasts a bingo hall.

Down the block, the El Cortez has the best double-deck blackjack games in town – card counting is not tolerated well, but the backoffs are always gentle. And if you order a cappuccino from the cocktail waitress, she’ll bring you a coffee with whip cream, which is perfect under the circumstances.

It’s always an advantage play to time your blackjack stint for dinner at Siegel’s 1941 (named for Vegas icon and dapper gangster Bugsy Siegel). The prime rib is delicious and, priced at $19.95, a steal that Bugsy would approve of.

A Final Piece of Advice

If anyone needs a tip on how to handle gambling in a Las Vegas casino, listen to J.B. Pritzker, governor of Illinois and a billionaire Hyatt Hotels heir.

Here’s what he said when explaining $1.4 million in Las Vegas blackjack winnings: “Anyone who has played cards in a casino knows that you often play for too long and lose whatever it is that you won. I was fortunate enough to have left before it happened.”

Let’s all make a toast to that kind of good timing when we visit Sin City and hope for a need to explain $1.4 million in casino winnings.

Every time I revisit the story of Katrina Bookman, one question won’t leave me: what happened to Katrina Bookman when a slot machine told her she was rich and the rules said she wasn’t?

This isn’t a throwaway casino anecdote. It’s about hope, power, and how one line of fine print can wipe out what you see on a blazing slot machine screen.

Table of Contents

1. Slot Machine Malfunction? The Moment The Screen Lit Up
2. What Happened To Katrina Bookman At Resorts World Casino?
3. The Legal Battle: Did Katrina Bookman Stand A Chance?
4. The Rule, The New York Gaming Commission And The $43M That Vanished
5. Why Katrina Bookman’s Story Still Resonates With Slot Players
6. Key Facts From The Katrina Bookman Case
7. What Katrina Bookman’s Case Teaches Slot Players About Casino Rules

Slot Machine Malfunction? The Moment The Screen Lit Up

In August 2016, Katrina Bookman walked into Resorts World Casino in Queens, New York, as an unemployed mother of four, hoping for a brief escape and maybe a small win. She sat at the Sphinx Wild penny slot and bet 40cents a spin – the kind of stake that usually buys a few quiet minutes, not a fortune.

Then the screen erupted with numbers.

The display showed $42,949,672.76. Lights flashed. Staff and players stared. In that moment, it didn’t feel like a blip; it felt like she’d just landed the biggest slot jackpot in American history. She took a selfie with the screen, her smile caught between shock and pure joy.

The excitement didn’t fade after a few seconds. For the rest of that evening, and all through the night as she waited to go back the next day, Katrina lived with the idea that the number on that screen might really be hers.

The Sphinx Wild slot was a penny machine with a max payout of about $6,500, according to the manufacturer’s specs. Katrina didn’t know that. Later, that small detail sat at the center of the claimed slot machine malfunction.

In her mind, years of scraping by suddenly dropped away. She pictured opening a barber shop for her son, helping her wider family, finally breathing instead of just surviving.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like how to play roulette and best craps strategy.

What Happened To Katrina Bookman At Resorts World Casino?

As the giant number sat on the screen, staff and other players crowded around the machine. Security escorted Katrina off the gaming floor and told her to come back the next day while they “checked” the result. For the casino, it was routine. For Katrina, it felt like the pause before a completely new life.

When she returned the following day, reality snapped back. A staff member told her, bluntly, that she hadn’t won anything. The ticket printed by the slot showed a balance of just $2.25.

Instead of millions, the casino offered her a steak dinner and that tiny sum on the ticket. She refused the meal and walked out with the $2.25 and the cold realization that this casino payout dispute wasn’t going to be settled by common sense or sympathy. The house didn’t just hold her money; it held the power to decide how that “win” would be treated.

The Legal Battle: Did Katrina Bookman Stand A Chance?

Katrina didn’t accept the explanation. Attorney Alan Ripka went on to represent her in a lawsuit against Resorts World Casino, its parent company, and the slot manufacturer. They asked for the full $42.9 million, or at least the $6,500 maximum payout.

His argument was simple: the machine takes your money when you lose; it should pay when it says you win. From the outside, it looked like a classic showdown between one player and a system built to protect the house.

The case dragged on for years, slowed by legal process and then by the pandemic, until it reached Queens County Supreme Court. There, the legal answer to what happened to Katrina Bookman was codified: the court upheld the casino’s immunity under malfunction clauses, extinguishing any claim to the displayed jackpot.

The judge dismissed the case, ruling in favor of the casino and the manufacturer. The court accepted that the apparent jackpot was a slot jackpot error – a malfunction – and that the game’s terms allowed the casino to void the “win”.

Financially, that dismissal meant Katrina didn’t get $43 million. She didn’t get $6,500. She walked away with nothing more than the original $2.25.

The Rule, The New York Gaming Commission And The $43M That Vanished

At the center of everything sits one short line of text. Most slot players never read it, but both the casino and the New York Gaming Commission leaned on it hard:

“Malfunctions void all pays and plays.”

From the regulator’s point of view, that clause protects casinos from any genuine error – the kind of glitch that would push a game outside its approved math model. A penny slot with a $6,500 cap can’t suddenly start paying $43 million, no matter what the screen says.

On paper, the logic’s tidy. From the player’s side of the screen, it feels brutally one-sided. The casino decides when a result is treated as a real outcome and when it’s written off as a glitch. The player’s expected to accept that the rules only really appear when something big goes wrong.

Katrina’s story isn’t unique, either. Similar disputes have surfaced in other states, where players were denied huge payouts after investigators said the machines had produced errors, not genuine wins. Different venues, same pattern.

Why Katrina Bookman’s Story Still Resonates With Slot Players

So, what happened to Katrina Bookman that night – and what does it really tell us about gambling?

On the surface, a machine displayed the wrong number, regulators backed the casino, and a lawsuit was dismissed. But that’s not why people still search her name.

Her case shows how fragile trust is in gambling. Slot machines and online games are black boxes of code and math. Ordinary players can’t audit every spin. They have to trust the casino, the regulator, and rules they’ve never really studied – including the fact that some penny slots, like Sphinx Wild, aren’t linked to any massive progressive jackpot and simply can’t pay life-changing sums, no matter what flashes up.

When that system misfires, it’s people like Katrina who pay the price. Her 40-cent spin became a lesson in how quickly a life-changing moment can be cancelled by a single clause and a decision made in a boardroom or a courtroom.

Key Facts From The Katrina Bookman Case

• Displayed win on screen: $42,949,672.76
• Actual recorded payout: $2.25
• Machine maximum payout: about $6,500
• Game played: Sphinx Wild penny slot
• Location: Resorts World Casino, Queens, New York
• Date: August 2016

What Katrina Bookman’s Case Teaches Slot Players About Casino Rules

For me, Katrina Bookman’s case isn’t about pretending the casino could magically pay a $43 million prize on a machine designed to max out at $6,500. It’s about how the house edge, the rules, and the slot technology together decide which outcomes are honored and which are erased as errors.

The story also shows how little control the player has over that line. That’s something every player should remember before they sit down to play and use their own slot strategy.

Two identical-looking video poker machines are positioned next to each other on the casino floor. They have the same exact game(s) shown. All the other markings and physical features are identical.

A casual player would sit at either of these machines with the expectation that the games would also be identical. This article explores the fallacy of this idea.

Contents

1. Casinos will make money
2. How players are deceived
3. What players can (and should) do
4. Summary

Casinos will make money

In the early days of legal casinos in the United States, mobs were heavily involved in their operations. It was a way for them to add millions of dollars to their coffers.

Were their activities strictly legal? Yes and no.

The actual casino games may have been fair – meaning they probably did not rely on dealing seconds or other such tricks to gain an unfair advantage. They also generally welcomed all players and would welcome them back even if they happened to win big. They knew that eventually they would win back everything they had won, and then some.

Management knew that the casino had the ultimate edge on every game they offered. If the players were caught cheating, however, the consequences were often severe. Management did not abide by players eating into the house edge.

Back then, casinos made enough profit off the games to pay all the casino expenses, as well as tuck away fortunes which were sent to the mob bosses by skimming the casino’s take from those games. That was an illegal part of mob-run casinos.

Today’s casinos are run by corporations. Skimming has for all practical purposes been eliminated. Another big change in casino operations today versus mob-run days is corporations must answer to stockholders. Stockholders are more impatient than mob bosses who knew that eventually they would get back everything gamblers previously won and even more.

Corporations must report earnings to shareholders every three months. There is pressure to increase profits every quarter. Corporations cannot afford handle gamblers as the mob did. They do not have the luxury of being able to wait for the inevitable future losses from winning gamblers. They prefer to get all they can as soon as they can from their gambling patrons.

Consequently, today’s casinos use tricks to improve the bottom line. These tricks may be deceptive, but they are not illegal. One of these tricks concerns video poker returns.

If this article interests you, keep reading. Alternatively, explore other topics like roulette odds and blackjack side bets.

How players are deceived

Most gamblers go to casinos expecting to lose. They gamble for the thrill of potentially hitting a big win. They know very little about the games they play other than how to physically play the game.

It takes little more than realizing the major casino floor contributor to the bottom line comes from players trying to win at slot machines. There is no skill involved. Gamblers simply put their money in and press a button or two – over and over.

Playing video poker is a bit more complex. Players still put in their money and hit a button to deal a hand. They must then examine the hand and select the card(s) they want to hold before pressing another button to draw.

Most video poker players have very little additional knowledge about the game. They may have heard that Jacks or Better is a good game to play and has a decent return – so they play it. Or they may have heard that the best game to play is Double-Double Bonus Poker – so they play it.

Many video poker players are not even aware that most  machines have several different games that can be selected to play. They see a machine where the face shows Jacks or Better, so they sit down and begin playing.

Or they see a game where the face shows Double-Double Bonus so they sit down and play that. The players do not know any more about the game they are playing than what the front glass says.

Casino management is acutely aware of this – and casinos exploit that. Since some players are unaware of what game they are really playing (out of the several available to select) and go by what the front glass says, the machine may switch to a lower-paying game when not being actively played.

A far more common practice is advertising returns of up to 99 percent, for example, when only a select few games have a pay table to support that claim.

Even the more discerning players can be fooled. The casino may have a bank of games displaying identical information. Closer examination may prove they are quite different.

One machine can have a Jacks or Better game returning 99.54 percent with the remainder of the bank of machines having Jacks or Better games with a return of 97.3 or less. Normally this is done by changing the pays for the full house and flush, but the pays for other winning hands such as a royal flush or straight flush can also be changed.

Casinos will do whatever they can to take money from their customers.

What players can do

There is one very simple thing that video poker players can do to get the best results from their play. They can be observant and do the following.

Prior to heading to the casino:

• Do some research. Check the possible common returns of games you want to play.
• Know what changes to look for.
• Make notes, if necessary, and bring them to the casino.

Prior to play:

• Select the game(s) you want to play on the machine in the area.
• Examine the pay table on several machines in that area to determine which have the best return(s). 
• Check the notes made from your research.
• Remember that any line on the pay table could be different.
• Select the game on a machine with the best pay table.

When ready to play at a machine:

• Make sure the game you are playing is the game you intended to play – whether it is Jacks or Better, Double-Double Bonus or some other game, verify the game that is displayed near the bottom left of the screen is the game you want to play.
• Finally, have fun playing, knowing you are playing the best game possible.

Summary

• Casinos are in business to make money.
• They will do whatever they can to maximize their profits.
• Different identical video poker machines could have very different returns.
• Be observant and prepared with pay table information to select the best possible game.
• Have fun!