Pasadena, CA United States
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March 13, 2014
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Quote: Originally posted by OCScratchDevil on Mar 26, 2014
It's really just a volume game. You have to find places that are good to you and stay on them. Do it everyday. Don't deviate too much, get a good relationship with a person working there and it should eventually pay off. I guess I was lucky in that I hit $500 early on and then hit $1000 after that. Last year was my first year playing and I think I started roughly in the middle of the year, maybe earlier.
The $5 and smaller games to me are just not good payoff games. Then again, it's probably becasue I don't play them much and when I do, I don't win. I feel the same with the stupid $20 asskicker game. It's just pure pain when you lose a bunch of those. I would rather buy 2 $10 games because my odds just feel better with two shots.
You will get one sooner or later. Who knows, you may hit a big one and then it makes up for years of just missing it.
Don't know if I have the funds to play every day, but my biggest wins (larger than $200) have all come on the Daily 3/4. I figured if there was some putz out there losing on three or four or even five consecutive $20 tickets, that money would have been better spent and he would have had a far better chance--albeit still very unlikely--to win a decent prize on the D 3/4, Fantasy 5 or Hot Spot.
Any scratcher jackpot is not a huge priority; the odds are next to impossible. A fantasy of mine? You bet. But I'd enjoy and be happy with a lot more of those lower-tier wins.
Los Angeles, California United States
Member #103,809
January 5, 2011
1,530 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by CAScratcher20 on Mar 26, 2014
Not influencing anyone to avoid scratchers, but I became more aware of its aspect over time (odds, ROI, chasing). I am not giving up on scratchers. I have not had the budget to play recently, but I should be able to play some next month and post results.
The 3 advantages that Scratchers have is: location, location, location. They're everywhere. On every corner. The lottery has a monopoly.
If there were more legal options for casino games locally or poker online, I'd hardly be playing Scratchers at all. But since I rarely go to Vegas, and only occasionally go to a local card casino, Scratchers are about it.
Pasadena, CA United States
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March 13, 2014
186 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Mar 26, 2014
The 3 advantages that Scratchers have is: location, location, location. They're everywhere. On every corner. The lottery has a monopoly.
If there were more legal options for casino games locally or poker online, I'd hardly be playing Scratchers at all. But since I rarely go to Vegas, and only occasionally go to a local card casino, Scratchers are about it.
Jon, I'd much rather California be like Nevada, where you can go to any casino or corner store and play nickel keno and video poker, rather than the lottery. Small, low-stakes gambling for many and if you win $20 (hopefully more) it's a good night. I was able to win $200 on a $0.25 Keno bet at an off-strip locals casino last year and only wished California offered the same type of bets with Hot Spot.
Los Angeles, California United States
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January 5, 2011
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Quote: Originally posted by Chacha33 on Mar 26, 2014
Jon, I'd much rather California be like Nevada, where you can go to any casino or corner store and play nickel keno and video poker, rather than the lottery. Small, low-stakes gambling for many and if you win $20 (hopefully more) it's a good night. I was able to win $200 on a $0.25 Keno bet at an off-strip locals casino last year and only wished California offered the same type of bets with Hot Spot.
At least we have some options, some states don't have any.
I've been to Pechanga and some other indian casinos a few times, and more frequently to local card casino like Commerce, that's the closest to me. But yeah, even with full blown gambling in Nevada, lottery still has a place. Just look at all the people crossing the border to play PB/MM at Primm Valley lotto store.
I was surprised to see how much Hot Spot play there is. All that pent up demand for Keno/casino play I guess. Scratchers have better payout than Hot Spot, but neither are anywhere close to break even casino games like blackjack or baccarat. Poker is another story...
Pasadena, CA United States
Member #153,319
March 13, 2014
186 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by Jon D on Mar 26, 2014
At least we have some options, some states don't have any.
I've been to Pechanga and some other indian casinos a few times, and more frequently to local card casino like Commerce, that's the closest to me. But yeah, even with full blown gambling in Nevada, lottery still has a place. Just look at all the people crossing the border to play PB/MM at Primm Valley lotto store.
I was surprised to see how much Hot Spot play there is. All that pent up demand for Keno/casino play I guess. Scratchers have better payout than Hot Spot, but neither are anywhere close to break even casino games like blackjack or baccarat. Poker is another story...
The lotto store in Nipton (or Primm, whatever) is insane. Seems to be a lucky spot though. As for the Indian casinos, they're not bad, not the best though. Just got $50 free play for Pala and am anxious to use that sometime soon.
The last of those ridiculous card clubs I visited was Artichoke Joe's up in San Bruno a few years ago. Do they still have that ridiculous surcharge per hand on blackjack?
Los Angeles, California United States
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January 5, 2011
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Quote: Originally posted by Chacha33 on Mar 26, 2014
The lotto store in Nipton (or Primm, whatever) is insane. Seems to be a lucky spot though. As for the Indian casinos, they're not bad, not the best though. Just got $50 free play for Pala and am anxious to use that sometime soon.
The last of those ridiculous card clubs I visited was Artichoke Joe's up in San Bruno a few years ago. Do they still have that ridiculous surcharge per hand on blackjack?
Yeah, you gotta pay $1 per hand, blackjack, baccarat, etc. That ginds you down and makes the return not so good afterall on those games. The casino has to charge $1 to host the game to make money. The dude sitting on the side, the "proposition" player, he's got the house edge and gets the profit. Still fun, but you lose money faster than at a real casino, so it's not a great option.
Los Angeles, California United States
Member #149,486
December 2, 2013
919 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by mnsweeps on Mar 27, 2014
Got a $10 Diamond and matched 5 numbers with each $2 win...ridiculous ..
Yeah, I don't know the point of multiple number matches and symbol wins with $2 under them. We get excited, and then pissed off when we see it's only a $2.
United States
Member #147,159
September 24, 2013
507 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by mrcraft on Mar 27, 2014
Yeah, I don't know the point of multiple number matches and symbol wins with $2 under them. We get excited, and then pissed off when we see it's only a $2.
Right on with that statement.
The new $10 Bonus Crossword game has a bonus draw like as if that game needed additional incentives to play
United States
Member #151,181
January 9, 2014
10 Posts
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The latest winner of Ca Gold said "she just felt it" when she bought the winning card. I was wondering how one can feel it.... I thought I felt it everytime I buy scratcher...lol wish to "feel it" soon
United States
Member #147,159
September 24, 2013
507 Posts
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Quote: Originally posted by Chacha33 on Mar 26, 2014
The lotto store in Nipton (or Primm, whatever) is insane. Seems to be a lucky spot though. As for the Indian casinos, they're not bad, not the best though. Just got $50 free play for Pala and am anxious to use that sometime soon.
The last of those ridiculous card clubs I visited was Artichoke Joe's up in San Bruno a few years ago. Do they still have that ridiculous surcharge per hand on blackjack?
The Nipton store is pretty much the biggest scratcher store I ever seen, lines are an hour long once Mega Millions or Powerball jackpot is at $100Million+. They do enforce the TICKET, by giving you a random ticket from a roll next to them.
The monthly free play is a nice incentive, but it goes by real quick.
I know the big four indian casinos (Morongo, Pechanga, San Manuel, Agua Caliente) do not have comission anymore though they once did. You would have to bet high per hand to migate the additional house edge the casino has. Those near break even games rely on streaks. Few reasons I heard most states cannot become like Nevada in terms of gaming, it will increase the rate of crime significantly; other states cannot use any objects other than cards/video for roulette and craps.
Poker rooms usually rake in 5% of the pot to the house, so the house edge is 5% those its you versus other players.
California United States
Member #147,203
September 25, 2013
90 Posts
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The liquor store in Fountain Valley I go to every so often had a $500 winner already on the new $5 game. First roll they had and it was ticket #002. Talk about quick out of the gate. The roll was on #23 and I was thinking, "who in their right mind is going to play this roll anymore with the winning ticket pinned up right above it?
I picked up a Diamond Millionaire just for a change and won $50 on ticket #039. Weird....