HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: bigstar@stein.u.washington.edu (J. Paschel)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Help needed on Lottery playing
Date: 12 Jan 1993 03:08:32 GMT
Organization: University of Washington
NNTP-Posting-Host: stein.u.washington.edu


I am currently working on research toward a better predictive theory of
lottery participation.  Surprisingly little has been written on this
subject and what little work I was able to uncover is generally
characterized by weak methodology or an absence of empirical support.  I
started with extensive survey data and found that background (or
demographic) factors explain very little in terms of a given individuals
involvement in state run lotteries. (i.e. it just isnt the case that poor
people buy more lottery tickets) Now, I am turning to more qualitative
based interviews in attempt to construct useful categories and for further
data collection efforts. 

In addition to my collection of personal interviews I would like to add to
my body of knowledge by soliciting responses to the following
questionnaire. I would appreciate any responses in whatever detail you
have time for.  The questions are not specifically personal in nature,
however feel free to ignore any questions you feel invasive. Also, it goes
without saying that I plan to strip the headers of all replies so as to
ensure anonymity. 

If interest warrants, I will certainly post a summary collection of
results.  Lastly, any participation will be rewarded by many thanks from a
curious researcher ;'>

Direct all replies to  bigstar@stein.u.washington.edu 

1) Thinking back to the first time you played a state lottery, how or why 
did you *first* decide to participate ?

	a - Did anyone else in your life play at that time ?

2) How do you *currently* play the lottery ?

	a - How do you decide when to play ?
	
	b - How many tickets do you buy ?
	
	c -If you have ever won anything, what did you do with the money ?

3) When playing, do you discuss your decision to play with anybody ?

	a - Do family members, friends, or work associates play ?

4) Some people think of playing the lottery as risky behavior..others do 
not.  Do you think playing the lottery is risky behavior ?  Why ?

5) What would your response be to people who question the merit of 
participating in state run lotteries ?

6) Why do you play the lottery ?

Thanks very much for your time.

	<<<bigstar@stein.u.washington.edu>>>
From: leej@sgi.com (Lee Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Re: Frontier Strike Update
Date: 7 Jan 93 18:00:57 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: diver.asd.sgi.com

In article <1igeofINNpuh@network.ucsd.edu> erwin@bend.ucsd.edu (Sean Erwin) writes:
>In article <1ifl92INNrgt@fido.asd.sgi.com> leej@sgi.com (Lee Jones) writes:
>>I don't understand all the details, so it leaves me confused.  Why would the
>>owner of C^2 send the Frontier strikers food?
>
>The owners of many other casinos are in sympathy with the strikers.  One
>possible reason why other casinos may want to help the strikers would be to
>hurt the Frontier, the competition.  Come on Lee, this couldn't be too hard
>to figure out, could it?
>>
>>Regards, Lee
>
>---Sean

Well, in general, it seems that the nature of the casino business
is that the casino owners have more in common with each
other than with the "labor" of their own operation (and the same can be 
said for the workers at the various casinos).  If workers are successful
in striking the Frontier now, they'll be hitting C^2 next.  I would think
that would be of far more concern to the management of C^2 than the 
success or failure of one more (bit-player) casino on the Strip.

Regards, Lee
From: anon.388@pax.tpa.com.au
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Bahamas blackjack rules & procedures wanted
Date: 6 Jan 1993 05:54:42 +1030
Organization: PAX - Public Access Unix (Adelaide,South Australia) - Anonymous Service
Reply-To: anon.388@pax.tpa.com.au
NNTP-Posting-Host: flash.pax.tpa.com.au


What are the rules at the casinos on Nassau and Paradise Island?  I
hear they allow doubling on 9,10,11 only (though A8 could be
considered 9).  Is this right?  Is doubling after splitting or
resplitting allowed?  How about the more exotic options, like
surrender or over/under 13?  How many decks?

How many hands is a player allowed to play simultaneously?  Does the
player have to increase his minimum if he plays more than one spot?

Do they play with or without a hole card?

What is the exact shuffle procedure?  Do they use a second cut card to
cover the bottom?

Are you allowed to back bet?

What are the upper and lower table limits on the blackjack games they
offer?  How does the Cable Beach/Crystal Palace casino compare with
the one on Paradise Island?

--
** Anonymity & Privacy by PAX - Public Access Unix (Adelaide,South Australia) **

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Newsgroups: rec.gambling
From: hack@arabia.uucp (Edmund Hack)
Subject: Re: Bahamas blackjack rules & procedures wanted
Organization: Lockheed ESC, Houston
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 16:08:51 GMT

In article <1icn9qINNk4o@flash.pax.tpa.com.au> anon.388@pax.tpa.com.au writes:
>
>What are the rules at the casinos on Nassau and Paradise Island?  I
>hear they allow doubling on 9,10,11 only (though A8 could be
>considered 9).  Is this right? 

I was at Merv's place on Paradise Is. in January and they allowed
unrestricted doubling.  Don't know about the other casino in Nassau.

>Is doubling after splitting or resplitting allowed?  

DAS was OK, no RAS.

>How about the more exotic options, like surrender or over/under 13?  

Didn't see any.

>How many decks?

Six.
>
>How many hands is a player allowed to play simultaneously?  Does the
>player have to increase his minimum if he plays more than one spot?

This never came up, but the evening I went, the tables were pretty full.
I would guess that whatever is common in Atlantic City would be
allowed.
>
>Do they play with or without a hole card?

With.
>
>What is the exact shuffle procedure?  Do they use a second cut card to
>cover the bottom?

The shuffle is one of the standard AC/LV shuffles, take the remaining
cards and discards, split into 6 piles, shuffle picks from randoms piles
and offer a cut to a player.  The end of shoe card was placed about 1.5
to 2 decks in.
>
>Are you allowed to back bet?

I would suspect no, but it never came up.
>
>What are the upper and lower table limits on the blackjack games they
>offer?  

I saw $5-500 to $100-2000 tables offered.  All wagering is in $US.

>How does the Cable Beach/Crystal Palace casino compare with
>the one on Paradise Island?

Don't know.  The only people I talked to about Cable Beach weren't
astute gamblers.  The game on the ship was somewhat better, being 5
decks, 80% penetration and no heat.  (It was DAS, no RSA, H17).

-- 
Edmund Hack - Lockheed Engineering & Sciences Co. - Houston, TX
hack@aio.jsc.nasa.gov - I speak only for myself, unless blah, blah..
"You know, I think we're all Bozos on this bus."
"Detail Dress Circuits" "Belt: Above A, Below B" "Close B ClothesMode"
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
From: jacobs@cs.utah.edu (Steven R Jacobs)
Subject: Re: Whodunnit?
In-reply-to: irwin@uvmark.uucp's message of 4 Jan 93 21:42:50 GMT
Organization: University of Utah CS Dept
Distribution: usa
Date: 5 Jan 93 06:58:36

In article <1993Jan04.214250.39879@uvmark.uucp> irwin@uvmark.uucp (Frank Irwin) writes:
>
> I have it from an informed source that there was a "Frank Irwin" at the
> Las Vegas Advisor Party in (where else?) Las Vegas last month.  Could it
> really be a coincidence, or was someone just being funny?
>
> Did anyone who was there get a chance to talk to this fellow?
>
> From the description I got, it could've been Jacobs, but I'd'a thunk he
> would've told me about it.

Tweren't me, Frank.  I was home all of December.  Besides, I can't do
a credible Elvis impersonation :-)
--
Steve Jacobs  ({bellcore,hplabs,uunet}!utah-cs!jacobs, jacobs@cs.utah.edu)
"Don't worry, I just have these harmless pocket rockets...."
From: jr@hal.COM (John Reed)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: poker tournament story
Date: 7 Jan 93 22:07:52 GMT
Organization: HAL Computer Systems, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: jrzsun.hal.com


I placed 2nd at the latest Sunday tournament at Garden City in San Jose.

$55 Hold'Em with no rebuys.  44 players started.  Four places
paid.  $1100/$550/$330/$220.

I had a short burst of cards at the start of the tourney, and
then coasted until we got the to the final table.  I was amazed
at the number of chips when we converged at the final table.
[A *good* tournament player would known how many chips were out.  :-)]
Everyone on my table was struggling with short stacks trying
to make it through the blinds and get to the final table.  I
survived long enough to get a shot at the chips from the other tables.

So, after a couple of nice hands, I had a shot at the money.  I
busted two people with a 10-2 offsuit.  Turned a full house and
they were calling my bets.  I knocked out #4 with A-6 clubs.  Ace
on the flop was good enough, but I needed the flush card on the
river to beat the two pair he got on the turn.  I knocked out #3
with QJ offsuit when neither of us paired.

Heads-up didn't last long.  We didn't even talk about a split, we
just started raising and betting and trading blinds for a few
hands.  Then came the finale.  My favorite bet crazy hand.  Sklansky
talks about using certain cards to make sure you are bluffing with
some sort of random frequency.  Well, one of my triggers is 6-4
offsuit.  I have had lots of success trying to steal pots with this
hand and flopping outs and hands when the preflop raise is called.

So, he calls my pre-flop raise and the flop comes J-7-3 of diamonds.
I have no diamonds, but I bluff anyway.  He calls.  Turn card is 5
of clubs.  Yes!  Straight!  Bet it!  Called.  :-)  River card is some
ugly diamond and he shows me the Queen of Diamonds. :-(  $550 River Card.

Great fun, but I couldn't concentrate on the Buffalo comeback
playing on the TV screens while I was in the tourney.  :-)


--

JR (John Reed)
jr@hal.com
408-379-7000, x1417
-- 

JR (John Reed)
jr@hal.com
408-379-7000, x1417
Organization: Graduate School of Industrial Administr., Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Date: Mon,  4 Jan 1993 19:01:51 -0500 
From: Bruce Kerr <bk22+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Indian reservations

Concerning the post by Weinstock about the "Good gambling in Chi-town",
I'd like to know what is considered good by this group. Limits on bets
and on your winnings doesn't seem good to me. Next time anyone is in
Chicago and they would like some action why not just drive around lake
Michigan and play Poker, craps, roulett, blackjack, or video poker and
slots at one of the many Indian reservations in Michigan. They are
located in Mt. Pleasant, Traverse City, St. Ignance, and at the Soo.
These places are not that big for example TC has only three craps
tables, two roulett tables, 50 BJ tables and 100 or so video machines
but they are a hell of a lot better then the limit games you'd find at
any charity night. By the way, by year's end there will be one in
downtown Detroit seems the Indians have found a loop hole in the local
laws and have been donated a building by some local merchants; it
appears that it will be at least twice the size as the one in TC. Just
to pass on some other info of importance, Harra's has bought a large
piece of land in a town about 60 miles north on Detroit, They do plan to
build a Casino within the next 5 years.
From: tahajian@aries.East.Sun.COM (David Tahajian - Sun BOS Software)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Re: Poker players that rathole chips
Date: 5 Jan 1993 23:22:58 GMT
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Billerica MA
Distribution: usa
Reply-To: tahajian@east.sun.com (David Tahajian - Sun BOS Software)
NNTP-Posting-Host: aries.east.sun.com

In article <1993Jan5.200812.14396@cbfsb.cb.att.com> lance@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (lance.r.ogasawara) writes:
>In article <1icffeINNe60@seven-up.East.Sun.COM>, tahajian@aries.East.Sun.COM (David Tahajian - Sun BOS Software) writes:
>
>> So here I was playing next to an old guy (unshaven, unlit cigar in mouth, 
>> old golf hat, never cracked a smile... i.e. a typical poker type) who kept 
>> a stack of quarters behind his chips (so the dealer could not seem them). 
>> He would never ante with 2 quarters, but always with a $1 chip to get 
>> change. Whenever he had a bunch of quarters, he would pocket a few of them. 
>> I was thinking of saying something, but he had $300-$400 in front of him, 
>> so I didn't bother.

>
>I'm a bit confused here, maybe I don't understand what "table stakes"
>means. What would be the point of "rat holing" quarters? If the guy
>wanted to pocket some of his winnings wouldn't it make more sense
>to just some $1 or $5 chips in his pocket, or is this not allowed?
>

You're not confused, table stakes mean that you cannot remove money from the
table without leaving the game, which includes quarters. You are correct 
that taking money off the table is not allowed.

Like you, I do not know why people rathole quarters, perhaps they feel that 
they are somehow beating the house from the rake or something. Maybe these 
people think that since they can get away with ratholing quarters (but not 
"real chips"), they just do it. 
 
Again, the person I described had several hundred in front of him, so a 
few extra dollars would not have made the difference. If I was playing 
in a low stakes game, and someone was always ratholing, I might say 
something to them. I guess it just depends on my mood, and if I want
to rattle the other player's nerves :-) 
 
==========================================================================
Dave Tahajian                      | "YOU CALLED ME?!?" - What the AQ high
david.tahajian@east.sun.com        | player said to the winning AK player
Sun Microsystems, Billerica, Ma.   | at my 7-stud table in Foxwoods, CT.
==========================================================================

Newsgroups: rec.gambling
From: lance@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (lance.r.ogasawara)
Subject: Re: california/indian reservation ACES
Summary: collusion
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: usa
Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 17:42:35 GMT

In article <1992Dec31.235800.10306@odin.corp.sgi.com>, stantz@sgi.com (Mark Stantz) writes:

	...
> 
> 	I'd be interested in seeing some discussion about what kind of 
> advantage can be gained over other players via collusion in poker.  With
> two players exchanging signals?  With three?  With four?  How does this
> affect the teams overall chances of coming out ahead?  What are the risks,
> both legal and practical?  
> 
> 	I'm a poker virgin, and only understand about half the discussion
> that goes on in this group, so go easy...
> 
> 	-Mark
> 

I was wondering about dealer/player collusion in poker. A friend of mine
knows a card mechanic who did some tricks for him. The mechanic showed
my friend how easy it was to deal seconds, make false cuts, etc. My
friend then asked him to deal a straight flush. The mechanic
shuffled a bit and dealt two hands. My friend turned over four of a
kind and the mechanic turned over his hand... straight flush.

I would think that with this kind of ability it would be easy for a
dealer to work in collusion with one player, especially in a game
like hold'em where it doesn't matter who folds and who doesn't.
It would seem like a couple people working together at a reasonably
high stakes table could make good money. Two or three hands a night
of 4 of a kind vs. full house, etc. would net a pretty nice sum.

Anyone ever hear of schemes like this?


Lance
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
From: irwin@uvmark.uucp (Frank Irwin)
Subject: Re: news about the Rio
Date: Fri, 08 Jan 93 15:47:31 GMT
Organization: VMARK Software, Inc.

In article <1993Jan7.203906.24492@netcom.com> mhall@netcom.com (Michael Hall) writes:
>But some of the small casinos near the
>new megacasinos will benefit from crossover traffic.  For example,
>I expect Sands will do much better once Mirage's pirate place is open,
>as Sands has the only single deck game within easy walking distance, and

I agree with you in that some of the smaller casinos will benefit from
crossover traffic, and just the overall higher tourist population that
places like the new MGM and Pirate Place will bring in, but do you really
think that the average joe will go to the Sands for the single deck game?

But then again, you could be right.  It could be like a Dodge dealer putting
a Viper on his showroom, to draw in people who will buy a Caravan.

				-- Frank
				   "I would've thunk the Sands mug
				    would be enough to bring in the
				    crowds."
From: leej@sgi.com (Lee Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Re: The Price of Poker
Date: 6 Jan 93 22:00:23 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: diver.asd.sgi.com

In article <117780001@hpcuhe.cup.hp.com> dcc@hpcuhe.cup.hp.com (Don Cameron) writes:
>
>Garden City added insult to the injury of a rotating dealer charge by spreading
>9-handed games (I assume this is to speed the game up and make more $ for the
>house).  The dealer charge in $2 and $4 Omaha split is $3.  Does anyone think
>these games are beatable for more than 1/2 top bet/hour in the long run?

The action in the Garden City $3-6 is so loose I think a solid player can
make 1-2 top bets per hour.  However, I've moved up to the $6-12 where the 
rake is $3.50 on the button, the bets twice as big, and the action almost as
loose.

>For you Bay Area-ites - I recall that poker clubs in Contra Costa County 
>used to rake pots rather than charge time (back in the lowball days).
>Do they (or any other Bay Area clubs) still use a rake in their hold'em games?
>How about the Cameo Club in Palo Alto?

Cameo charges $6/half hour in their $1-2-2 no limit hold'em game.  Don't know
what they do in the others.

Regards, Lee
From: zlsiida@fs1.mcc.ac.uk (dave budd)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Major change to UK soccer pools
Date: 7 Jan 93 11:20:05 GMT
Organization: Manchester Computing Centre

I don't have a firm date yet, but the rumour is February.

The points system is changing---

Old system:  Scoredraw=3, noscoredraw=2, away,void=1.5, home=1
          (normally) 1st dividend:24, 2nd:23, 3rd:22.5, etc

New system:  1-1 draw=3, otherscoredraw=2.5, 0-0 draw=2, void=2, other=1.5
          (normally) 1st dividend:24, 2nd:23.5, 3rd:23, etc

Why? - To produce more 'jackpot' winners, to look better in relation to the 
coming national lottery.  On weeks when there are few draws, there will 
still be a jackpot as there will still be few winners with maximum points.  
On weeks with many draws, it will be harder to get max points, so more 
likelihood of a jackpot.

Note well - more jackpot winners means a lower number of winners overall (
the cash for the jackpot doesn't get spread around anymore).

I'm going to have to think about it a bit, but I'll probably switch to the 
fixed-odds coupons from the bookies.  They're a better bet from any rational 
viewpoint anyway.


  No Trespassing: 4/17ths of a haiku.     D.Budd@mcc.ac.uk   fax 6040
  Dave Budd, MCC, Oxford Rd, Manchester, England    (44|0)61-275-6033
From: leej@sgi.com (Lee Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Re: Poker players that rathole chips
Date: 6 Jan 93 21:46:07 GMT
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: diver.asd.sgi.com

In article <1993Jan3.221732.18519@nevada.edu> messiah@nevada.edu (mw) writes:
>I've been playing a lot of small stakes Hold 'em lately (Xmas break
>and all that y'know :-) ) and the one thing that I keep noticing 
>repeatedly is that people will take chips (usually quarters) off the
>table and the dealer either does not see it or does not enforce the
>"table stakes" rule.

Pet peeve alert.  Recently, Garden City (my local club) changed its rules
to allow players to "color up" to any denomination chips they wanted.  
Prior to that, you typically colored up in a 5-1 or 10-1 ratio.
With the advent of the Asian games, the $100 white chip has become the 
currency of choice in this operation.  Therefore, players routinely turn
2.5 stacks of green $2 chips (in my game) into a single white $100 chip.  
I try to keep my eye on those chips, but it's way difficult.  One time, I
saw a guy slip $500 in white into his pocket.  I told the floor manager, who
asked the gentleman to put the chips back on the table.  Guy left the game
instead (stupid me).  Just another one of those things you can't do anything
about I guess.

Regards, Lee
From: romana@Apple.COM (Romana Machado)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: What is the track take in California?
Keywords: horse racing
Date: 6 Jan 93 06:09:24 GMT
Organization: Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino, CA

I have a book that says it is 15%, but it was published in 1987.
It also mentioned that track takes change from time to time.
Please email me if you have current information.

Thanks in advance,

Romana Machado
romana@apple.com
From: ron@makedust.uswest.com (Ron Schweikert)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Request feedback on Vegas World package deal
Date: 12 Jan 93 18:39:25 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: U S WEST Communications -- Information Technologies
Originator: ron@makedust

Hello.  I don't recall seeing a review of Vegas World's "free" vacation
package here, so I'm requesting feedback.

I got a mailing for 3 days, 2 nights at Vegas World.  You get some set prize
upon check-in as well as $1200 worth of casino action, cash, chips tokens
etc.  

Question: is it for real?  What're the catches?  It says you get $200
CASH, $200 table action, $400 in slot machine action, 5 free keno games 
per day, unlimited free drinks, etc. etc.  They want $398 by FEBRUARY 4TH
(with travel anytime in the next year).  *** Time is kind of pressing. ***  Your
input on this offer will be greatly appreciated.  Anyone stayed there?  Anyone
responded to this mailing?  It sounds fun, but you can stay cheaper than that
at many places.  If however the deal is as it sounds (ie: $200 true cash plus
$200 in table action (I play a lot of blackjack)) then it'd be okay.

Thanks in advance!  

Ron
From: leej@sgi.com (Lee Jones)
Newsgroups: rec.gambling
Subject: Re: Request feedback on Vegas World package deal
Date: 13 Jan 93 01:59:18 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Silicon Graphics, Inc.
NNTP-Posting-Host: diver.asd.sgi.com

In article <C0r7tq.KEw@da_vinci.it.uswc.uswest.com> ron@makedust.uswest.com (Ron Schweikert) writes:
>Hello.  I don't recall seeing a review of Vegas World's "free" vacation
>package here, so I'm requesting feedback.

[ same old sh*t elided ]

I think it's in the FAQ.  Anyway, no, it's not worth it, when you work out
the numbers.  You'd be better off getting a reasonable room at a strip or
downtown hotel.  To take full advantage of the Vegas World offer, you'd have
to do your gambling there, and that is *not* a place you want to spend much
time in.  It's a major grungy place as a matter of fact, and it's in a 
DMZ between the strip and downtown.  You're not near anything (except a 
porno shop and a couple of pawn shops if I recall correctly).

Maybe we could put out a contract on Bob Stupak.....

Regards, Lee