and come back again later. Any gambling game that involves skill is a game you should consider. Blackjack has “rules” (mostly when to take a card and when not to take a card) that allow you to reduce the casino’s edge to less than one per cent. Playing craps and making pass line bets and taking the full odds the house allows can reduce the casino’s take to about oneand-a-half per cent. A roulette table with a zero and a double zero affords you no better odds than a dollar slot machine. All the other casino games are highly disadvantageous to players except Baccarat, but that can be extremely boring. Sitting down at a poker table may be the best bet in a casino for anyone. Learning how to play is fairly easy - getting good at it takes some experience, and digesting a few good poker books is helpful. Of all casino games, poker involves more skill than any other. By learning how to play, learning how to “read” other players, and learning how to manage your money, the skill part of
this game reduces the “luck” factor significantly. And keep in mind that the casino allows you to exercise all of your skill since they are cutting their share out of the pots and when you win you are taking another player’s money, not theirs. Take advantage of this subtle difference. Smart seniors walk into a gaming establishment with a plan. Just like you are apt to set goals in other areas of your life, set gambling goals and limits. A number of strategies reduce the chance that significant amounts of money will be lost. Here are a few suggestions: • Set time limits for your gambling ventures – 30 minutes at the slots, an hour playing blackjack, a relaxing half hour in the Keno lounge. When the time is up, it’s time to move on – no grousing, no waffling, just stick to your plan. • Set money limits. Regardless of what game you are playing, only put a certain amount of money at risk. The amount can vary, but it should be a sum
that you can afford to lose so you won’t feel bad when you do. • Set win limits. A good rule of thumb is if you win 50 per cent of your bankroll, quit. Putting $100 at risk at a blackjack table and leaving when you have accumulated $150 is a pretty good outcome from any gambling session. If you can afford to put more at risk, by all means do so, but winning 50 per cent of your initial stake is always a good goal. • Mix gambling with other activities. If you are a vacation gambler, be sure to include other activities in your daily plans – a trip to the beach, some shopping, a good restaurant, a show in the evening, and some sightseeing. These activities not only break up the gambling grind but, in the long run, save lots of money. With a little bit of luck, lots of patience and self-control, your gambling experiences can be entertaining and satisfying. Like anything else, the more you know about it, the better off you SL will be.
Next to all. Second to none. Steps away from south Granville, near Granville Island and downtown, it couldn’t be better situated. All new residents receive the Welcome Home package, with complimentary guest suite stays and meals for relatives and friends, plus many other services.
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Independent Living at its Finest! Schedule a visit today with Wendy. 604.742.2693 1570 West 7th Ave.
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