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When
most people think of gamblers, they inevitably think
of losers. However, it's just as easy to win as to lose,
especially in casino gambling, because the casino games
recommended for play in this book either give the house
a very small percentage as their edge, or in the case
of blackjack, the player has the advantage over the
casino.
But in order to win players must do the following: They
must make only those bets which give the house the lowest
possible edge; they must manage their money wisely;
they must exercise self-control, and they must play
to win, not for the thrill of action. If you follow
these sound principles, you can't help but be a winner.
And yet the overwhelming majority of gamblers are losers.
Either they are unaware of the principles outlined here
or they disregard them. The proof is that casino profits
are astronomical, and the casino win-expectation at
the basic table games, craps and blackjack, is 20 percent
of the drop (money bet at the table).
With best play at a game like blackjack, with a proper
betting strategy and a simple method of counting cards,
the player has the advantage in the game, not the house.
In craps, with only line and come bets made and odds
taken, the house has at best a 0.8 percent edge over
the player. Even if a gambler were to play more aggressively
and cover the 6 and 8 as place bets, the house edge
would never go beyond 1.52 percent.
This is the final step in our winning approach to gambling.
You must come to the table with confidence. By confidence,
we don't mean a blind faith in pure luck, for that's
the way most players and all losers approach the gaming
tables. Confidence is the feeling that your betting
and playing strategies are correct, that you thoroughly
know the odds and correct plays in the game you're ready
to play, whether it be blackjack, craps, or baccarat.
You must
make a decision, and that decision is all important
in terms of winning or losing. It is the decision to
win rather than to play just for the thrill of action.
It is true that gambling can be exciting and thrilling.
Fine and dandy. It is even better when those thrills
are combined with winning money. Thrills paid for with
losses are too expensive; the repercussions and the
aftermath of defeat at gambling tables are never pleasant.
There are few good losers the next morning.
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