Have you ever wanted to try your luck in a casino but could not because you were afraid you didn't have enough cash to gamble or were scared of losing too much money?
Have you ever wanted to try your luck in a casino but could not because you were afraid you didn't have enough cash to gamble or were scared of losing too much money?
True, there are plenty of stories of people who lost everything -- their cars, houses, businesses and even families because of their addiction to gambling but these are extreme cases.
Casino Filipino-Tagaytay (Southern Tagalog) branch manager Roberto C. Reyes said you don't need thousands or millions of pesos to have fun inside a casino and, of course, it would help a lot if you have lady luck on your side.
Mr. Reyes told BusinessWorld with PhP200 to PhP500 ($3.90 to $9.74 at PhP51.32=$1), one can already try the various games inside the casino.
"PhP500 worth for chips, ok na. It could last you two to three hours. For the slot machines, PhP200 lang mag-eenjoy ka na (you will already enjoy)," he said.
And there are an array of choices inside a casino.
Aside from the slot machines, there are various card games like baccarat, black jack, stud poker, pai gaw (the late Nida Blanca's favorite), red and white, big and small, roulette and craps, among others.
And if you're not interested in playing but just want to take in the Las Vegas-style ambiance of the casino, all you have to shell out is the PhP100 entrance fee charged by all Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor)-operated casinos in the country.
"Basta may PhP100 ka for entrance fee, ok na. Wala nang ibang babayaran (If you have PhP100 for entrace fee, that's okay. You don't pay for anything else). But you have to take note of the dress code as well," Mr. Reyes added.
Once inside, the difficult part is how to make your money -- whether it's PhP200, PhP500, PhP1,000, PhP100,000 or PhP1 million -- last longer inside the casino.
A casino dealer, who is assigned to deal cards at the casino tables (but not from Casino Filipino-Tagaytay) agreed to give tips and advice on how to survive in a casino but requested anonymity for obvious reasons.
The first step, the dealer said, is to learn the mechanics of the different games before trying your hand. The dealer noted there are still some differences in the rules although most of the casino games have a similar version outside, meaning the streets.
"The House rules are different. We have procedures different from the normal games outside... So better observe first," the dealer said.
He cited as example baccarat, known as Lucky 9 in street parlance and one of the most popular card game inside casinos in the country. He noted that with the casino baccarat, "there are only certain numbers na pwede ka mag-hit (that you can hit), and certain numbers na panalo ka agad (where you win instantly)."
Next, the dealer said, it would help if you knew the odds or your chances of winning for each type of game.
He noted that every game has different odds, some higher than the others.
"Most people often play baccarat and blackjack or 21 but there are other games where you have higher chances of winning," the dealer said.
In baccarat, he said the odds are 1:1, meaning, you have a 50%-50% chance of winning because you can only bet either for the player or the banker. But in roulette, where a ball on a revolving disk that will land on either a red or a black compartment, every number is multiplied 35 times. So if you win, your bet will be multiplied 35 times and you can bet in more than just one number.
The dealer said it is also important for a player to know the minimum and maximum bets for the different games every table. He said that for each table, there are set minimum and maximum bets, which often vary.
The lowest bet is at PhP20 for the roulette, the big and small or beto-beto in street lingo, and red and white or pula-puti. For craps, the minimum bet is PhP100, and for baccarat and blackjack PhP300, PhP500 or PhP1,000 depending on the table.
And if you have time to spare and is serious in wanting to win, the dealer said it would also help to study the sequence of the play or what is called in casino-speak as"regla."
Although the dealer was quick to clarify that there is no logical explanation for this and there is no assurance it works, it at least helps one predict the next possible result or sequence of the cards.
"Meron silang tinatawag na tiempo (They have what is called timing) or pacing. Minsan maliit, minsan malaki ang pusta mo (Sometimes you bet a small amount, sometimes a big amount). The objective is to lose small, win big," he added.
But if you want to simply have fun or just kill time, the recommended choice are the slot machines, where every coin is worth PhP2. Jackpot prizes can reach PhP1 million or PhP5 million for a minimum of three coins worth PhP6.
Also highly recommended for fun are the roulette and craps or 7-11, the game Demi Moore was playing when she caught Robert Redford's attention in the movie Indecent Proposal.
Craps is played with dice. The bet is won if the first throw totals 7 or 11. It is lost if the total is 2, 3 or 12. If it is any other total, the thrower throws again either until he repeats it and wins or loses.
And if you want an instant and a big win, the dealer's advice is to go for the baccarat, James Bond's favorite casino game. It is a fast game although there is no assurance you'll really win.
"But if you also know how to play the odds and you want an instant win, try the roulette because one number is times 35. With stud or the seven card poker, if you get a straight flush, your bet is multiplied by 125," he added.
Another tip from the dealer: "If you want to win, play blackjack, craps or stud, kasi dyan natatalo ang house (because that's where the House often loses). With the other games, laging nananalo ang casino (the casino always wins)."
The dealer, however, cautioned against betting too much and stressed that one should only bet what one can afford.
"You should have a limited capital. Set the limit and bring only that amount. Also set how long you can stay and play. When the time comes, kahit panalo or talo (win or loose), you have to leave," he added. The rule of thumb, he said, is two wins for every loss.
"Also set how much you want to win, although this may be a little difficult. Once you get it, go home," the dealer added.
He recounted one story about Atong Ang, the close friend and favorite casino partner of ousted president Joseph Estrada. "He (Mr. Ang) bet PhP4 million one time lang. He bet twice and he lost. So he lost PhP8 million in all. Then he bet, one time din lang, PhP10 million and he won, tapos tigil na (then he stopped)."
"So if you want to enjoy, don't consider the chips as money. Laro ka na lang (Just play) as long as you've set your limits," he added.
He also cautioned against bringing ATM cards, noting that there are ATM machines inside the casinos making it easy to withdraw money once you've exceeded your set limit.
There are even those who turn to the so-called financiers -- loan sharks who can lend you money in exchange for a collateral. Financiers would entertain players even those they just met as long as they have something to give as deposit.
The dealer said mobile phones, cars or even jewelry can be used as collateral aside from lot titles.
He said it is easy to spot the financiers inside the casino.
"They are the ones with the clutch bags. They don't play. They are often just hovering in the background," he added.
The clutch bags, he said, contain chips mostly in PhP100,000 denominations.
And if you still are not sure who the financiers are, you can just ask around and chances are, the other players would know who they are.
But the dealer said it would be best to go to a casino with a group of people. That way, you'll have more fun and you can control yourself.
"Also forget being a show-off. Don't be reckless in making your bets and move around, do not sit in just one table," he added.
He noted that, after all, in the casino, "walang magaling na player. Meron lang marunong tumaya (there are no good players, only players who know how to bet)."
Mr. Reyes of Casino Filipino Tagaytay, which has moved to a new building just across the old casino site, also agrees that you don't have to be good to win. All you need is luck and lots of it.
"This means use only your surplus or excess money. 'Wag nilang isusugal, ipi-play 'yung hindi naman panlaro para lang mag-enjoy(They should not use money that's not set aside for gaming). Kasi they will get the same entertainment or thrill whether they play high stakes or low stakes," he added.
He noted that even in Las Vegas, most Americans don't bet huge amounts. It is the Asians, mostly the Chinese and Japanese, who do.
The same play-for-fun attitude is crucial if you want to win big, Mr. Reyes added. He said that once you decide on how much amount to bring, you should consider this as "money to lose," meaning you're ready to lose the amount.
"If you want to win big, you have to be a fighter. You should be prepared to lose money... you should have the heart to make the bet even if it's a big amount," he added.
This way, he said, you don't feel a tinge of regret every time you make a bet. He pointed out that when large sums are already involved some people hesitate or think twice about making the bet.
"You should have guts if you want to win big," he added.
But Mr. Reyes said the best tip he could give is for the player to know when to stop. He noted that most players often lose more than they win.
"Even the high rollers, they get satisfied with a PhP1 million or PhP2 million win. After that they already stop. They don't get to maximize their luck. But once they lose, napapasubo na, tuloy-tuloy na (they still continue) even if they are losing big already. That's the common weakness of the players," he added.
The casino dealer who spoke to BusinessWorld on condition of anonymity also pointed out there may be an explanation why some people get addicted to casinos.
"Kasi sa casino, iba ang treatment sa 'yo (In a casino, you are treated differently). Kahit sino ka pa (no matter who you are), once you have the chips you are somebody. You are treated like a VIP and you have the power. Merong adrenalin rush. Kahit sa labas (Even outside), people look down on you, bobo-bobo ka lang, pag dating mo sa loob (once you're in), once you have the chips, sikat ka! (you're popular). You are treated with respect," he said. Still, he said, the best advice he could give, at the risk of losing his job, is that "the best way to win is not to play at all."
Source: Business World
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