I'm in Singapore and the lockouts are still ON... Just like last year, it's tough to keep a blog about sports going during the summer (i.e. especially since I can't follow baseball as closely here). However, with the Marina Bay Sands (i.e. think Venetian and Palazzo) close by, I can definitely talk to you about gambling.
There are no places to play craps in Singapore. If you know of a spot, please pass the information on. Since I don't know and don't want to learn how to play
Sic bo, I've primarily focused on playing blackjack.
The minimum table bet is $25 for blackjack. In addition the Marina Bay Sands offers $50 and $100 tables, in addition to other higher limit areas. There are some differences here as to how the game of blackjack is played, compared to the US.
The dealers deal the cards differently here. You know how in the US (e.g. Las Vegas, Atlantic City) the dealers go around the table twice and deal two cards to the players and himself/herself? Next, the dealer looks at the card under the face up top card to see if he/she has blackjack. Well, the dealers here in Singapore don't do that.
In Singapore, the dealer gets one card and everyone can take action if they wish. Only after the players have stayed/busted, does the dealer take his/her second card. For people like me who believe in luck and try to predict when a "ten" is coming, I think it's better here, because you can rely on your intuition to determine whether a 10 is likely to be pulled from the show. ****
Of course there is not an exact science to this, but then again most gamblers believe in streaks and aren't rational when it comes to cards having a degree of randomness.
As of the two visits I've made to the casino, I've been successful. Personally, I prefer to play at the lowest minimum table and raise my bet at my own discretion. I've been playing with various wagering strategies and have been doing well.
Just as in any casino, you have to be careful about who you play with. The last visit I made to the Marina Bay Sands casino had me watching a woman who made some really strange plays. Some times she would hit/stand on 15 or 16 (i.e. regardless if it was hard/soft) and if the dealers was showing a 5 or 6. One other crazy play she made occurred when she split 10s, and the dealer was showing a "King". After the split, she ended up hitting on a hand of 13 and of 14. Karma got her and she busted on both hands...
Needless to say, she wasn't making any friends at the table. She was killing everyone. Just terrible...
Don't be that girl. Good luck!
THE WIRK.
Warning: With such low stakes, you end up with novice players who don't know how to play. For example, at the blackjack table one of the players got mad and left the table when the dealer started to take her money. She had thought the dealer had busted with a 28. No, not so much. The dealer had a soft 16 and was forced to hit. Yeah... That's the caliber player you might end up sitting next to so don't bet high.
