Jean Scott, a professional gambler and author of "More Frugal Gambling," said the house always has the edge.

"The casino has math on its side 99.9 times out of 100 times," she said.

Winning, according to Scott, requires an educated consumer and, of course, some luck.

Barry Rorris, who runs Caesar's in Indiana, said that casinos want customers to understand the chances they're taking because otherwise, they might feel taken advantage of, Moses reported. And that's a perception that Rorris said he can't afford.

"There are some games at which you will be luckier than others, and there are some games where the price of admission is not as high as other games," he said.

Blackjack is an example.

Take the insurance, and the house will have an 8 percent edge, Scott said.

"There is a mathematical strategy for playing blackjack," she said. "Other games -- roulette is one that comes to mind -- (the house) just knows that over a period of time it will beat you more than if you play another game."

Scott said there are several other tips to remember:

* In roulette, don't play the even chances. * On a bacarat game, never bet the tie. * In video poker, the house has an unfair advantage.

She also said to pay attention to the pay tables, and recommended that you pick one that pays at least 10 credits per full house, six for a flush, Moses reported.

"I don't think the slot machines are the smartest thing to play," Scott added. "Dollar slots games hold less. Dollar games are looser than nickel games."

The higher the denomination, the "looser" the game -- a term that means players get more back.

"I think it's important to note there are not many entertainment formats where you can walk out after being entertained with more money than you walked in with," Scott concluded.

The casinos celebrate their winners because they want people to buy into the dream, Moses reported. They said that realistically, most people who win aren't that skilled; they're just lucky.

Excerpted from www.thelouisvillechannel.com