Casino Basics

49 articles

The Lottery Curse: Winners Who Lost Everything

Jackpot winners who hit hundreds of millions and ended up bankrupt, robbed, even murdered. Chip on the lottery curse, the true stories, and how to beat it.

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The Rat Pack and the Golden Age of Las Vegas

Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr ruled the Sands in 1960 and made Vegas the capital of cool. Chip on the Summit, the golden Strip, and the era he came up in.

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Stu Ungar: The Rise and Fall of Gambling’s Greatest Genius

Stu Ungar won the WSOP Main Event three times and was the best gin player ever, then gambled away 30 million dollars and died broke at 45. Chip tells the story.

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Blackjack: The Only Casino Game You Can Beat

Blackjack: The Only Casino Game You Can Beat

Why blackjack is the only beatable casino game, how basic strategy gives the best odds, how card counting really works, and Edward Thorp who proved it.

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Progressive Jackpots Explained: How They Work and the Biggest Wins

Progressive Jackpots Explained: How They Work and the Biggest Wins

How progressive jackpots work, the three types, the biggest wins ever (Megabucks 39.7M, Mega Moolah), and the catch behind those millions.

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Crypto Casinos Explained: Provably Fair, Pros and Cons

Crypto Casinos Explained: Provably Fair, Pros and Cons

What crypto casinos are, how provably fair lets you verify each result, the real upsides like fast payouts and privacy, and the risks like weak licensing.

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A Beginners First Trip to a Casino: The Complete Guide

A Beginners First Trip to a Casino: The Complete Guide

Set a budget, learn the table etiquette, pick beginner-friendly games and cash out smart: the warm first-timers casino guide from a 50-year dealer.

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Casino Bonuses Decoded: The Traps in the Fine Print

Casino Bonuses Decoded: The Traps in the Fine Print

Wagering requirements, game weighting, max-bet rules, time limits and cashout caps: how to decode a casino bonus, spot the traps, and find the fair offers.

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Famous Gambling Cities Beyond Vegas

Famous Gambling Cities Beyond Vegas

Macau dwarfs the Vegas Strip, Monte Carlo defines glamour, plus Atlantic City, Singapore and London: the great gambling capitals of the world beyond Vegas.

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The Psychology of Gambling: Why Your Brain Loves to Play

The Psychology of Gambling: Why Your Brain Loves to Play

Dopamine, variable-ratio reinforcement, the near-miss effect and loss-chasing: the real psychology of why gambling hooks the brain, and how to beat it.

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