Mark Pilarski

Insider casino expert Mark Pilarski worked nearly every job in his 18 years in the casino industry, from dealer to cashier to shift manager. Armed with that experience, he created the legendary Hooked on Winning casino advice audio series and he currently lectures and writes gambling columns for various websites, newspapers, and magazines.

Saying Farewell to the Good Old Days of Las Vegas

Question: I've been practicing my Deuces Wild video poker strategy at an online casino to make sure ...

Lamenting The Rising Costs of Gambling in Las Vegas

Question: I've been to Vegas three times in the past couple of years, and it seems like Vegas is fin...

Slot Machine Payouts are Fixed – Not Rigged

Question: No matter what anyone says, I just can't believe that slot machines are random. There has ...

Losing it All at the Casino – Welcome to the Grind Down

Question: Not too long ago, you wrote about how even though all slots are random, casinos come out o...

Blackjack Dealer Makes a Mistake – Is is Fair to the Player?

Question: This happened to me a while back, and I'm still fuming about it. I was third base at a bla...

Free Bet Blackjack: Is It Worth The Time?

Question: What is Free Bet Blackjack, and is it worth playing? Free Bet Blackjack is a blackjack var...

Reaching For The Stars: Progressive Jackpot Slot

Question: Whenever we go to a casino, my wife heads straight for the progressive jackpot slots where...

The Casino’s Take on Blackjack Card Counting

Question: How is it that casinos feel like it is acceptable for them to ban individual card counters...

Does Finding Money Can Get You Kicked Outside Of Casinos?

Question: My friend told me a story recently about being kicked out of a casino, and I have a hard t...

Casino Winnings: How Does The Tax Payment Works?

Question: I've heard that if I win more than $1,200 at any one time in a casino, the casino will giv...

The Futility of Video Blackjack

Question: I've been playing video blackjack at my favorite casino lately, and my results haven't bee...

What Happens to Old Slot Machines?

Question: Every time I go to a casino, I notice that some of the older slot machines that I used to ...

Beginners Guide for Blackjack in Las Vegas

Question: My sister is getting married in Las Vegas in a couple of weeks. I bet on sports, but I've ...