Periodically Babel-on-the-Bay tries to be helpful to Ontario gamblers. It is not that the rules are all that different but in Ontario you have two strong government ministries fighting over which one really rules gambling. It can also be fun to write about something you know about.
The one firm rule learned in years of dealing, playing and studying this game is that any idiot can play blackjack—and often does. And we can state categorically that having played blackjack in casinos around the world, it is our opinion that the very worst players are right here in the Province of Ontario. Be warned, you do not make friends by expressing that opinion at the gaming tables.
The problem is that many gamblers we see at Rama should be getting a charitable receipt from the casino for their donations. They make the classic mistakes of gamblers everywhere: They fail to manage their money; they do not increase their wager as they win; they try to guess the next card; they are suckers for silly propositions; they think playing two spots will reduce their losses; and they have no idea when to quit.
One of the rules about Ontario casinos and probably casinos everywhere is that you have to be an adult to play. Being of the age of majority, you are expected to manage your own money. Set a budget and stick to it. The casino does not need more of your money.
You win some and you lose some. Depending on how well you know the odds and play blackjack, you can win as much as 48 out of every 100 hands. If it goes in a win-lose-win-lose sequence it would be a waste of time because eventually the casino will have all your money. What makes it more interesting is that wins and losses tend to come in groups. A long series of losses drives people from the table. A long series of wins will only pay off if you increase your bet during that streak. You parlay your bet by keeping some of your winnings as profit and sending the rest out to win more.
People who hem and haw over drawing a card can drive good players crazy. If you are that new to the game, get one of those cue cards that explain when to hit or stay. You cannot guess the next card from a six or eight deck shoe. Just remember that the average card out of the shoe is a seven, not a face card.
And always remember that any of those propositions such as getting a perfect pair on your first two cards offers a great profit margin to the casino. Stick to bets where you know the odds.
The problem player is the one who wants to play two spaces. They see it as balancing their losses. They are wrong. The casino will let the person do it because the player can lose twice as fast. What annoys good players is these idiots can delay the game, make amateur mistakes and think they know what they are doing.
A final note on this subject for Ontario gamblers: you will be much happier about your gambling experience if you go home before you run out of money. Winning can be a very pleasant experience but leave some for the next player—casinos do not lose very often.
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Copyright 2013 © Peter Lowry
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