East Coast Gambler

I stayed away from a football picks contest against individuals for a while, but since I’m not doing a fantasy football league I figured I might as well.

Meet The Turd.  He’s an Ohio State Buckeyes fan and borderline obnoxious about it.  I’d probably be the same way if I didn’t grow up in a city with 9 professional sports teams and zero major college sports teams or go to a minor Division 3 school.

We’ll be going head to head with 5 weekly football picks.  This week we both happened to choose all different college football games, but we may mix NFL as the seasons go on.  All picks will go up on Friday for those that want some time to process.  I rarely bet that many games at once, so keep an eye on twitter and tumblr on game day for my picks.

All lines are courtesy bet revolution at the time of the writing of this post.  Of course, the lines may move.

ALSO: remember that you can still get a free $10 bet with Bet Revolution. Click this link and enter code EAST10

On to the picks where you’ll notice we both pick a lot of home favorites.
The Turd
MICHIGAN over Connecticut -3
NEBRASKA over Western Kentucky -37.5
Purdue over NOTRE DAME +11
CLEMSON over North Texas -27
FLORIDA over Miami (ohio) -36.5

Marc
TCU over Oregon State -13.5
NOTRE DAME over Purdue -11
ALABAMA over San Jose State -37.5
OKLAHOMA over Utah State -33.5
AKRON over Syracuse +7.5

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Two years ago I realized that a friend of mine was getting better comps than I was by playing video poker in Atlantic City.  I was appalled by this.  I never thought that a game that grannies played would be given better treatment by the casinos than the table games I played.

This was the catalyst for me learning more about advantage play, payouts and percentages over two years ago.  It’s also partially the reason I started ECG.  Hopefully people can learn from my experiences – good, bad, drunk and over-caffeinated.

Since my $15 bets in blackjack weren’t accumulating comps in the way they I wanted them to, I devoted that money to learning how to play video poker.  I thought that maybe this would help my comps a little while making me a more efficient gambler.  I still play $25 hands when I play blackjack, but I tend to stay away from low limits for reasons beyond comps.

Since I began playing video poker, my comps have certainly gotten better and I’ve been able to extend my gambling day as I enjoy playing video poker in the morning before the rest of the casino is awake.  I’ve also come to learn what I like and dislike with all games and I’ve learned a lot about my own tendencies when I gamble.

This blog started as an into into my video poker play during my recent trip to Las Vegas, but was a little too long for an intro.  Look for my video poker play later this week and why I think video poker in Vegas is lame.

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As I always do, I’m prepping a trip to Las Vegas with video poker research.  I don’t think I’ll be gambling at most of these casinos, but I want to make sure I have the information in case I decide to.  Of course, I can always visit the vpFREE mobile site, but I still use ECG for my research.

Nothing too surprising here, the list states that the Venetian has $1 9/6 Jacks or Better machines.  I don’t remember seeing that in April and the comments mention they the machines are gone.  I’m sure they are gone, but I’ll look.

Here are findings of places I’ll possibly gamble.

Aria
99.54% JoB (FP): $5(3 lines, 5 lines)
99.17% BP (FP): $1(SP), $5(SP)
98.98% DDB (FP): $1(SP), $2(SP), $5(SP)
98.91% LV Airport/Illinois Deuces: $1(SP), $2(SP), $5(SP)
98.45% JoB: $1
97.30% JoB: $1(Prog)

Bally’s
99.54% JoB (FP): $5, $10, $25, $100
99.17% BP (FP): $5, $10, $25, $100
98.01% BP: 25c, $1(3 lines, 5 lines), $2, $5
97.87% DDB: 25c(Prog)

Bellagio
99.54% JoB (FP): $5, $10(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $25(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $100
99.17% BP (FP): 25c(SP), $1(SP), $2(SP), $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP), $10(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines)
99.11% DB: $2(SP), $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP)

Bills
98.01% BP: 25c(Prog)
97.87% DDB: 25c(Prog)
97.30% JoB: 25c(Prog)
96.77% Colorado Deuces: 25c(Prog)

Caesars Palace
99.54% JoB (FP): $5, $10, $25, $100
99.17% BP (FP): $5, $10, $25, $100
97.30% JoB: 25c(3 lines, 5 lines, Prog), 50c(3 lines, 5 lines)

Encore
99.54% JoB (FP): $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP), $10(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP), $25, $50, $100
99.17% BP (FP): $5, $10, $25
98.01% BP: 25c(Prog), 50c, $1(Prog), $2

Harrahs
99.54% JoB (FP): $5, $10, $25, $100
99.17% BP (FP): $5, $10, $25, $100
98.98% DDB (FP): $5
98.91% LV Airport/Illinois Deuces: $5
98.01% BP: 25c(Prog), 50c, $1
97.87% DDB: 25c(Prog)

Imperial Palace
99.54% JoB (FP): $1
98.01% BP
97.30% JoB

M Resort
99.54% JoB (FP): 25c
99.40% Ace$ (FP): 25c
99.17% BP (FP): 25c, 50c, $1
99.11% DB: 25c, 50c, $1
98.98% DDB (FP): $1, $2, $5, $10, $25

MGM Grand
99.54% JoB (FP): $1(100 lines, 50 lines), $2(100 lines, 50 lines), $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $10, $25(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $50(3 lines, 5 lines), $100(3 lines)
99.17% BP (FP): $5
98.91% LV Airport/Illinois Deuces: 25c(10 lines, 50 lines)

Mirage
99.54% JoB (FP): $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $10(3 lines, 5 lines), $25(3 lines), $50, $100
99.45% BDW (FP): $5, $10, $25
99.17% BP (FP): $1, $5, $10(Prog), $25(Prog)
99.11% DB: $1, $10
98.98% DDB (FP): $10
98.45% JoB: $5(Prog)
97.30% JoB: 25c(Prog

NYNY
99.54% JoB (FP): 25c, $1, $2, $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $10(3 lines, 5 lines), $25
99.17% BP (FP): 25c, $1, $2, $5(3 lines, 5 lines), $10(3 lines, 5 lines), $25
98.98% DDB (FP): 25c, $1, $2
98.91% LV Airport/Illinois Deuces: 25c, $1, $2

Palazzo
98.91% LV Airport/Illinois Deuces: $5, $10, $25
98.45% JoB: $1(SP), $2(SP), $5(SP), $10, $25
98.44% JW: 25c, 50c, $1
98.01% BP: 25c(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP, STP), 50c(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP), $1(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP)

Planet Hollywood
99.54% JoB (FP): $5, $10, $25
99.17% BP (FP): 50c, $1(3 lines, 5 lines), $2(3 lines, 5 lines), $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $10(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $25(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines), $100
99.11% DB: $5(3 lines), $10(3 lines), $25(3 lines)

Red Rock
100.76% FPDW (FP): 25c
100.17% DB (FP): 25c, 50c, $1
100.15% LDW (FP): 25c, 50c, $1
100.13% SBDW: 25c, 50c, $1
100.07% DDB: 5c(NS), 10c(NS), 25c(NS), 50c, $1
99.92% TDW (FP): 5c
99.17% BP (FP): 25c(5 lines, MS, Prog), 50c(5 lines, MS), $1(5 lines, MS, Prog)

Venetian
98.45% JoB: $1(3 lines, SP, STP), $2(SP), $5(SP)
98.44% JW: 25c, 50c, $1
98.01% BP: 25c(3 lines, 5 lines), 50c(3 lines, 5 lines), $1(3 lines, 5 lines), $5(Prog)
97.87% DDB: 5c(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, QQ), 10c(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, QQ

Wynn
99.54% JoB (FP): $5(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP), $10(10 lines, 3 lines, 5 lines, SP), $25(3 lines, 5 lines), $100
99.17% BP (FP): $5, $10
99.11% DB: $5, $10
98.01% BP: 25c(Prog), $1(Prog)

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I had an epiphany in Atlantic City last week.  Well, more of a thought than an epiphany.  I read so many complaints about the lack of 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker available in Atlantic City, but at least the games are available.

In fact, unlike Las Vegas, there are a few 9/6 Jacks or Better machines at every casino in Atlantic City.  In fact, vpFREE shows that not even the Pennsylvania casinos all have 9/6 video poker.

I played 9/6 video poker at both Bally’s and Caesars in different denominations.  The Full House above is from Caesars in quarter denomination.  The 4 aces below is from Bally’s in the $1 denomination.

Of course the odds at 9/6 Jacks or Better are 99.56% to the player and that’s a major reason why people play.  The full house above is when the “9″ comes in handy.  I play because it’s the most simple to learn perfect strategy with the least volatility.

Bottom line: Atlantic City visitors should be happy that they have at least a few good video poker machines to go along with 3:2 blackjack.  It’s some of the best gambling around.

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In the series of rapid games that probably won’t catch on we have Rapid Baccarat! Rapid Baccarat is not off to a good start in Singapore.

Rapid Roulette is a big hit at Resorts World but Rapid Baccarat a flop.

I can see why people would play roulette, but the other rapid games involve some form of human interaction and I don’t see them succeeding beyond a trial.  One of the main reasons people play baccarat is the ease of playing and ability to touch the cards.  I’m not sure I understand why that’s a big deal, but supposedly it is.

The game bores me, so I haven’t paid much attention to it.  Here are some of the “features.”

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I’d like to welcome Bet Revolution as my new sportsbook sponsor.  This is a perfect time to have a new sportsbook partner with football season right around the corner.

Click image to see highlights more clearly

Here are a some of the things I like about Bet Revolution.

• Look: Bet Revolution looks good, is easy to navigate and is very customizable. A favorite feature is ability to add my own RSS feeds into my home page news feed.  I love that I don’t have to navigate away from the site to research games.
• Social: They’re on various social networks, trying to build a community.
• Customer Service: Customer service is quick to answer any questions. I had an issue with a bet and received an email response quickly.  Reps were also available by phone, skype and chat but I chose email to see how long response would take.  I was pleasantly satisfied.
• Email confirmation: I also like that I can opt to receive email confirmation for bets made.  I multi-task often so it’s nice to have confirmation.
• Easy signup: Signing up took less than a minute.  That’s always nice.

As part of this change Bet Revolution is offering a $10 free bet to all ECG readers. All you need to do is enter the promo code: EAST10 to get your free bet.

The best reason to join bet revolution is because they will pay more than actual.  They will round up all bets to the nearest dollar.  I was testing the service last week and I had the Royals +190 over the Yankees (Damn AJ Burnett) and was paid for a +200 bet.  I’m all about getting paid more than expected.  I inquired about payouts would continue this way.

I’m looking forward to working with bet revolution.  If you have any questions feel free to comment or email me eastcoastgambler (at) gmail (dot) com.

On a side note, we can all look forward to another season of JMP’s football picks.  I can’t wait, Hard Knocks starts next week.  Go JETS!

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