Dear Mark,
I find that when I'm low on funds in Las Vegas, keno is an excellent way to limit my casino expenditure. Though I realize that as a gaming writer you have written on occasion that players should avoid keno, I still don't think it's a total waste of time when you have little money left.
Jill K.
Livonia, MI

I agree; that is, as long as you are prepared not to win-big. For the low, low roller and the near penniless, the keno lounge can be an oasis in Vegas's sea of sand. Besides, while any casino action is monetary servitude to the house, played right, you can lose less money per hour at keno than any other form of gambling. Furthermore, Jill, yours truly is not above joining the ranks of the insolvent gambler in a keno parlor. Not long ago, I had two hours to kill before my shuttle left for the Las Vegas airport. Downright fatigued of gambling, I found a 50¢ keno game in one of the grind joints downtown. Since the keno game was only averaging six decisions per hour, my total expenditure would max out at 12 plays for six bucks. Did I forget to mention, Jill, that I snared four FREE strawberry margarita's out of the cocktail waitress, read the Los Angeles Times, took a siesta, watched half a baseball game, plus hit a solid three spot for $26? I kept my six dollar investment and tipped out the remaining $20 between the keno writer and the cocktail waitress. Sure, I broke even, but profit wasn't my motive. Having fun and gambling on the cheap was. So even though over the years I've taken my best shot at keno play in this column, and knowing your chances of hitting the big jackpot are nil-that's being overly optimistic-you surely won't become insolvent blowing two hours in a keno lounge.

Dear Mark,
If I learn perfect basic strategy for blackjack, will I win over the casino over the long run?
Charlie J.
Bowling Green, KY

Basic strategy in blackjack is considered the optimal way to play each hand against the dealer's up-card over the long run. But, will learning basic strategies make you an overall winner? Sorry, Charlie. It will make you a good, decent player, but the casino inherent advantage remains 0.35 percent on a single deck game or 0.61 percent on a multiple deck game. So, Charlie, no long-range advantage, but you won't be gill netted like all the other mediocre fish at sea.

Dear Mark,
Could you please explain "buying" the six or eight in craps versus a place bet of the same numbers? Isn't "buying" a number better since you only have to lay out $5 instead of $6.
Steve A. Bell
Gardens, CA

A buy bet is the exact same wager as a place bet except the payoff is 6 to 5 on the six and eight. Plus, the player has to pay a commission of 5% of the bet to "buy" the number. This gives the casino an advantage of 4.75% against 1.5% if you were to just place the number. As to your second question, the reason you make place bets in multiples of $6 ($12, 18, $24, 30, etc.) is that the 6 and 8 payoffs are at 7 to 6 (you win $7 for a $6 wager). Because most crap games don't carry loose change, a five dollar wager wouldn't return a true payoff.

Gambling thought of the week: If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings You must never breath a word about your loss. -Rudyard Kipling

Got a question about gambling? E-mail Pilarski at: pilarski@dealmein.orgpilarski@dealmein.org · To order Mark Pilarski's "Hooked on Winning" audio cassettes-laminated win cards package ($12.95 plus $2. S&H) call (800) WINNERS.