Good Odds

The odds are always against you when you gamble, which is an excellent argument for not gambling in the first place.  If you're gonna gamble anyway, then it pays to play at a casino that offers good odds.  That's one reason I chose Bovada as the advertiser.  Let me first tell you about the competition, though.

Many online casinos are stingy when setting the odds on their games.  They think they'll make more money by setting the games tighter, so the player has less chance of winning, but they're wrong.  When players lose at a tight casino too quickly, those players much less likely to return.  Contrast that with a casino with good odds: Players get to play longer, which is a good experience, so they're more likely to return and become long-term customers.

Bovada has always offered games with good odds, knowing that if your money lasts longer, you'll be a happier, loyal customer.  They've got:

  • Two blackjack games returning over 99.8%
  • Single-0 roulette
  • Full-pay Jacks or Better (99.54%)
  • Nine other video poker games returning over 99%

Bovada's not perfect, but at least they offer decent odds.

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Gambling problem?

  1. Call the 800-522-4700 hotline or get online help
  2. See these horror stories.
  3. Know that aripiprazole and Parkinson's drugs encourage gambling.

Trying to reserve a room at the Western in Las Vegas

What happened when I tried to reserve a room at The Western

Here's my phone conversation with an employee while trying to reserve a room at The Western in 2001. Of course, this is kind of what you expect when the rooms are only $16 a night.

Me: I'd like to reserve a room for the 27th through 29th.

Him: We don't accept reservations for Saturday.

Me: Okay, why is that?

Him: Because we don't accept reservations for Saturday.

Me: Okay, but why don't you accept reservations for Saturday?

Him: It's the policy of the hotel.

Me: But can you tell me why that's the policy?  I'm curious.

Him: It's just the policy of the hotel.

Me: Can you tell me why it's the policy of the hotel? If you don't know, just say so.

(never did answer my question, I abandoned it)

Him: Check-in time is 1:00.

Me: Check-IN time? Not check-OUT time?

Him: We have a 1:00 Check-In time.

Me: And that's check IN time and not check OUT time?

Him: Check In time is 1:00.

Me: Can't I check in at any time after that, in the afternoon or evening?

Him: We have a 1:00 Check In time.

Me: So I can check in ONLY at 1:00?

Him: Check in time is 1:00.

Me: So I can't check in at 2:00 or 3:00?

Him: You can check in then.

Me: Okay, so you mean that I can't check in any EARLIER than 1:00?

Him: You can check in at 2:00 or 3:00 if you want.

(moving on...)

Me: Do you think the hotel will be full on Saturday?

Him: It's first-come, first-served.

Me: Okay, but do you think the hotel will be full on Saturday?

Him: It's walk-in only on Saturday, first-come, first-served.

Me: I understand that. But do you have any idea whether you think the hotel will be full on Saturday?

Him: You can just come in and try to get a room.

Me: I KNOW! But is it worth trying? Do you EXPECT the hotel to be full on Saturday?  is it TYPICALLY full on Saturday?

Him: It's first-come, first-served.

Me: Yes, but do you usually fill up on Saturdays?

Him: Yes, usually we're full on Saturdays.

Me: Well then, why didn't you tell me that any of the last five times I asked you?  Never mind, let's skip to the next part.

Him: (after taking my credit card number) Okay, so that's $17.44 for the 28th.

Me: And the 29th, remember? Two nights.

Him: (says nothing)

Me: You got the Monday night too, right?

Him: (mumbles something)

Me: So shouldn't it be $17.44 times two, for $34.88?

Him: We don't actually charge your card now.

Me: Okay, whatever, but is my reservation for two nights or just one night?

Him: Check in time is 1:00. [Okay, he didn't actually say that at this point, just kidding.]

Him: (mumbles something)

Me: So I just tell them at the desk when I check in that I'm staying for two nights?

Him: They'll have it on their thing.

(abandoned this line of questioning)

Me: When I called the 800 number, there were options for three different hotels. [They're all owned by the same company.] If I want to get a reservation for Saturday at another hotel, do I need to call back now, or can you take a reservation for those other two hotels?

Him: If you want to cancel your reservation, just call back 24 hours in advance.

Me: I DON'T WANT TO CANCEL MY RESERVATION! I'm just asking about making a reservation for SATURDAY at a different hotel.....

 

No wonder it's only $16/night. You get what you pay for. :)

 


Practice gambling with play money

Before you throw down your hard-earned cash in a casino, PRACTICE FIRST!  Learn the games with play money where it doesn't cost you anything if you lose.  Seriously.

You can play Bovada's games (below) right away without registering for an account.  Most every other online casino makes you give up your email address just to play the fake-money games — ugh.  That's the main reason Bovada is the only online casino that gets advertising space on my site.  (When you see the registration box, you can cancel it and proceed to the game without registering.)

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