I asked my Rudies Fan Club what questions they wanted answered, so here are a select few:

Leslie Pravda Grossman: When are the picks during a bonus game predetermined and when are they actually your choices?
Slot Manufacturers don’t publicly announce it, but the general rule is that in a bonus when you must match 3 identical symbols or even just 1, if after making your selection, the slot reveals what the other options would have been had you chosen them, then it is NOT pre-determined. Such examples include bonuses from Quick Hit, Enchanted Unicorn, Cleopatra 2 and Pharaohs Fortune. Casinos in the New York State Lottery for example, do not allow real choosing. It is the only instance I’ve ever seen a pre-determined quick hit bonus.
If on the other hand it does not reveal what the other options could have been had you chosen them, chances are it is indeed pre-determined. Most games involving a picking bonus for a progressive win are pre-determined including Dancing Drums, Fu Dao Le and 88 Fortunes.

Carol Leonard Reynolds: (What are) The pros and cons of having a successful youtube channel.
Well that’s a difficult one, haha. I’m absolutely humbled to have become successful on Youtube. I worked hard to get where I am and I have no regrets. The cons come from the negativity. Most of the negativity comes from other channels and their followers, which is quite ridiculous to say the least. As if they have nothing better to do than run their mouth about someone they have never met. I suppose it really is no different than a workplace job where there is always that one person who is always running their mouth and doesn’t know when to be quiet, lol. The hours I work is another downside. Most people assume I just gamble and then sit on my butt. Truth be told I end up working from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week. I’m even writing this blog during my flight rather than watching ‘A Star is Born’ which is on my bucket list! Marco has been most generous of his time with me. The Pros are endless which is really what keeps me going. The constant messages I receive on a daily basis from people whose lives I have changed for the better – those who have been dealt a poor hand, are disabled or are stuck in a hospital with little to do with their time. Holding my numerous events also gives me the opportunity to meet everyone which is something I absolutely love. Thanks to my channel I now have a full-time career which is rare for most entertainers. Most people don’t realize that most entertainers work paycheck to paycheck or even can’t survive on their income alone. It is reported that 70% of SAG actors make under $16,000 a year! For many years I was a bartender and lyft driver to supplement my acting income. The biggest pro of course, is my Rudies. They’ve truly become an extended family. I love hearing about their casino trips, especially when they’ve formed new relationships from within the group itself. Another great perk is the fact that I’m able to employ staff and pay them a good wage. It’s very important to me to always provide quality content while sharing the success with those who got me there.  

Sandra Howe-Forney: Being a You tube Slot personality; how to remain positive although you are hitting nothing!
Haha, it’s funny but true. One thing I have never hid from you all, is the fact that I (everyone really) lose more than I make at the casino. It’s not possible to make money at it long term. So when I’m doing a live stream or sitting through a losing streak where I can’t seem to get a break – it’s important for me to remember that slot machines are designed to take my money. I understand how they are created and that my only goal should be in enjoying the ride. The destination is as important as the journey. It’s all about the anticipation of that big win that could come at any time. It only takes one!!

Kimberly Nolen Glover: Ways to get people to move who are hogging 3 machines at once.
Understanding the rules of a casino is the first step. At my local casino, San Manuel, players are not allowed to play more than one machine unless they hold a top tiered card. At that point, they can play a second machine. So if I see someone playing two or three machines, I usually just roll my eyes and keep moving. But at times when it is impossible to get on a machine and I REALLY want to get on it, I will ask them politely to let me sit down. That usually doesn’t go over well, but you can remind them that those are the rules and that if the casino wasn’t jam packed, it wouldn’t be an issue for you. Most likely they still won’t want to move, so it’s your call if you want to ask an attendant for assistance. Knowing the rules of the casino means that there is no reason at all to raise your voice or get rude.  An attendant will do that for you.

Hope Fletcher Lopez: When is the ideal time for you to be approached by your fans? Live-streams seem challenging especially when you are in a bonus and we all want to be extra sensitive when you are filming!
Personally, any time is good while I’m on the casino floor. If I’m live, I love meeting fans. When I’m recording a video, it’s a little harder to stop recording so I may ask you to hold on for a minute til my bonus finishes or something. The only time I like my privacy is when I’m having a meal in a restaurant. That’s my quiet time to relax and separate from the casino life. I find it even more awkward when I can tell someone is over my shoulder, or worse, filming me "secretly" to say they saw me. I'd much rather you just come over and say hello. I'm harmless!

Leslie-Dave Kotula: ​If you hit a large jackpot is it wise to take a portion in a check or get it all in cash?
I think most gamblers should probably ask for a jackpot to be in the form of a check. The temptation to take that money and try to grow it into something bigger is too large. When you have $10,000 in your pocket, that high limit room is calling your name. You feel invincible! So unless you have strong will power, or hold onto 3 winners banks haha, then a check is a great idea. Three times now I have received over $10,000 in cash and it just makes you super paranoid. As a guy without a purse, I wedge it in my pocket and it barely fits and even comes out the top. Then you’re always looking over your shoulder in case someone is following you! Heck, even if I had a purse I'd be holding against me nonstop. If you’re staying at the casino hotel, then take it directly to your safe. One tip is asking for a member of security to follow you to your car or room. Another great tip is that you can request the casino to mail the W2 form to your house so that you don’t lose it in the excitement. If you’re a high roller and get multiple W2’s in a night, then this method is strongly suggested.

When we walk into a casino, we all have goals and wild expectations. Learn what my bucket list includes next week!

Have a Question you would like answered? Put it down below! Also, enjoy FREE SHIPPING at CasinoSwag.com Thursday May 2 to Monday May 6, 2019 with promo code: MAYFLOWERS19

Brian Christopher xoxo  ​❤️
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Michelle Curry writes, “I love to gamble, but I go about once a month, so it always exciting when I go. Do you still find it exciting now that you go more often and for work?”

One misconception is that I go to the casino EVERY day to gamble, film, edit and upload to YouTube. People will see me at the casino and ask "Will this be up tonight??" I do not do that haha. In fact it takes so long to edit and organize my videos and create posts and promotions for them that they typically won't be uploaded for 2-3 months later! 

On a typical month I will travel to Las Vegas for a 3 day weekend, go to my local for 3-4 days for live streams, and perhaps one extra trip to a different casino out of state for another 3 day weekend. So that would be about 6-10 days a month. Some months (like this one) I'm flying all over the place with over a dozen flights visiting half a dozen casinos.

Luckily I do still get excited to go and gamble. There have been times when I’ve been traveling nonstop and am tired and would truly prefer to rest at home. In those moments, the show must go on and I will muster up the energy to do a live stream or film. It truly is exhausting talking and entertaining for hours at a time, and after I’m done, I do tend to crash and burn. I’m sure some of you have run into me at a casino after a live stream or group pulls and found a less that excited Brian, haha. It’s because I give my shows everything I got. I do tend to put my fans ahead of my health and sometimes ahead of my family. Just take last week for example when I decided to do 9 live streams and 5 group slot pulls! I feel I have to always innovate, educate and entertain my subscribers and especially my Rudies Fan Club. And believe me, I WANT to. But it’s just not always manageable.

So do I still get excited? Absolutely. If it gets to the point that I’m no longer excited, then it would show in my videos and it would probably be time to end the channel. I definitely miss the ability to just be a ‘nobody’ and gamble for fun. These days I can’t go to a casino without getting recognized which is freaking awesome on one side, but also forces me to always keep up that energy. I do tell you though, I do not envy real celebrities. They can’t go anywhere or do anything without the expectation to be awesome always. At least it’s mainly all in one place for me. Imagine if Lady Gaga was only recognized in record stores, haha. 

I always end my blog asking you to let me know about ideas to write about. Next week I will answer many questions posted by my Rudies, that didn't require an entire blog each. If you have any further questions, please let me know! 

Also, BIG SALE of 20% OFF EVERYTHING at CasinoSwag.com is running between April 25 and April 26,2019 with promo code: 20APRIL19 so mark those calendars! If you ever want to know about more upcoming sales, click on the EVENTS tab and check out the calendar!

Brian xoxo  ❤️
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For the past 9 months I have been writing blogs about my friends and family, demystifying rumors and old wives tales, as well as sharing tips and tricks to make the most bang for your buck.

I decided it was time to break it all down for you in an easier to read fashion. At the right of this page you already have the archives by month, and also by category including Casino TIPS, My Personal Life, Taxes, Travel and more. But this blog will do a bit more. 

CASINO TIPS

First things first, do you even know WHY we go to the Casino? Once you figure that out, WHERE do you Want to Go? The list on that blog outlines every single casino I've ever visited! To save you money in the casino, it's a good start to know WHEN to Play slot machines. Is it the morning, evening, holidays or when? The next step is to learn HOW to Win on them, to give you the best odds. Speaking of odds, WHICH Bet is Correct? Do you play the regular bet, or the 'more and better' one? Knowing a thing or two about WHAT Payout Percentages are and how they are different based on each denomination may change your mind about which machine to sit down at. Not to mention WHAT Game is the Most Volatile? If you you only have a small budget, you may wish to find a lower volatile machine. To find out which games I personally can't go without, I created my Top 10 Slot Machines List!

Now let's say you get super lucky and you win a Jackpot!! You are so excited but then forget HOW Much Money you Should Tip? That's why I'm here, to teach you what I've learned. There's even the question on how to deal with Jackpot Taxes. After you have your money, you need to know WHEN to Cash Out? It's easier said than done, I know, but follow my advice! You definitely must do a Back-Up Spin after a big win before you cash out! One way to have a lot of fun and lose (or WIN!) a tiny amount of money is to JOIN a Group Slot Pull! But if there is one thing I wish I could teach to every single patron at every single casino, it is CASINO ETIQUETTE which could be coupled alongside all of my Pet Peeves. And most importantly when it comes to gambling, is knowing when to stop. Being a Responsible Gambler should always come first. 

Are ya with me still? Good, cuz I aint' done. And if you ever want to come back to this page for a little refresher, just remember, Brian knows bets...err...best. Nah, I like it. Just type in BrianKnowsBets.com and you'll be here! Can it get any easier than that?

VEGAS BOUND

Oh Las Vegas, the DisneyLand for Grown up babies who have hopes of making it rich, but swear to never tell you how they did. After all, it has to stay in Vegas. It's the Law. Now getting to Vegas is a tricky one. Knowing What to Pack is very important and something I have had to perfect. As long as you don't mind paying four times the price, you can find it there. I've also perfected How to Get to Vegas by car or plane as time and cost will wildly depend on time and day.

LET'S GET PERSONAL
​​As much as I think my life is a bore, it seems to fascinate you all, haha. So I've shared tons of stories right from My Childhood,  to my Travels and Where in the World I've lived, even to How Marco and I met. I'm always busy and on the go (currently writing this from my office at 8:19pm on a Friday night) which may make you ask the question, What do I do in my Spare Time? Assuming I have any , haha. One thing I do enjoy is Dressing Up for Halloween! To get a better understanding of what my life is like these days, read A Day in the Life of Brian Christopher. It may not be as glamorous as you once thought. I also talk about my acting career and how I've Died Multiple Times including my Top 10 Favorite Movies! Just like that blog goes, I can be quite cryptic at times. Getting to know What my Sayings Mean is a good read for anyone new to my channel as well as finding out the obsession with #WheresMarco, haha.

START A CHANNEL

If you yourself are interested in starting a channel, you may be interested to learn HOW I Film my Videos and where I got all of my equipment. You also may be surprised How I Got Started on my own channel. Of course with fame at any level, you attract both positive and negative people. The positive always strongly outweigh the negative and you have to remind yourself that the Haters are either unhappy people or are jealous of you, and move on. They're not interested in helping you, but rather in tearing you down. That said, I always listen to all kinds of feedback with an open heart because sometimes they may have valid points. And if they don't - out the other ear. Slots are all about Having Fun and Not about Conflict after all.

So with all of that said, what am I missing? Fill out my form below if you have a topic I should write about. Here is a Current List of all of my Blogs that I will try to keep up to date. Again, it can be reached at any time by visiting BrianKnowsBets.com:

1. A Day in the Life of Brian Christopher
2. How I became a Slot Channel
3. My Top 10 Slot Machines
4. Slots are about FUN, not conflict
5. Why do we go to the Casinos?
6. Casino Pet Peeves
7. What to Pack for Vegas
8. Halloween, a time to be a Kid
9. Paying Taxes on a Slot Machine Jackpot
10. How do I film my YouTube Videos
11. Tipping Etiquette at the Casino
12. Responsible Gambling
13. The Volatility of Slot Machines
14. #WheresMarco
15. When to Cash Out
16. Casino Etiquette
17. To my Haters with Love
18. What I do in my Spare Time
19. How Marco and I Met
20. Drive or Fly to Vegas
21. Where in the World?
22. My Top 10 Movies of all Time
23. The Theory of BackUp Spins
24. How do Slot Group Pulls work?
25. What are Payout Percentages
26. Tips on How to Win on Slot Machines
27. Join me on my Travels
28. My Childhood
29. Say WHAT? My Sayings...
30. I have died multiple times
31. For Better or Worse?
32. WHEN to play Slot Machines

Wowza, that is a LOT of writing!! After 3 years of gambling for my channel, do I still enjoy it? Find out next week!

Brian Christopher xoxo  ❤️

Margie Lopez (and numerous other people) asks, "In your opinion and experience do you think there’s a better time of day to play and win at casinos?”

I’m not sure if there has been one question I have been asked more than this one! Nor have I heard more opinions on the matter. All I can offer is my best informed and educated response based on speaking with slot manufacturers and casinos.

• Morning.
• Afternoon.
• Evening.
• Weekends.
• Holidays.
• End of the Month.
• Beginning of the Month.
• End of the Quarter.
• Brian's Birthday. 

I’ve heard it all, these are the times when you feel a casino is paying or when you feel it is tight. Perhaps the easiest thing to consider is this. If you are a casino and you want to attract people to come, are you going to make some people happy and piss off others based upon when they decide to visit? Probably not.

Secondly, what is the process involved in changing a slot machines payout percentage (the percentage in which a slot machine is designed to pay back to the player)? Many people believe, and use the saying, “they flicked the switch”, meaning they’ve made the slots pay out poorly. Well there is no actual switch I’m sorry to report. There was a movement to make casinos server based, but that went to the wayside years ago. When I recently visited Scientific Games, I asked them what the process was like. Well you may be surprised to learn that in order to change the payout percentage, a casino must appoint at least 2 employees to go up to a machine, open it up and make adjustments inside. This process takes up to 45 minutes per machine. PER MACHINE. So in Cosmopolitan with around 1300 slots machines, that would take them 975 hours, or 40 days to complete. Or San Manuel would take 140 days nonstop, while employing 2-3 employees to complete the task. My guess is that it may not make sense for them to do that.

What they can do instead is move some machines to another area of the casino, which takes a LOT of work and effort to do, and then adjust it at that moment if they chose to.
What you need to remember is that Casinos must follow strict laws set out by the government. They are not about to jeopardize their future on a few slot machines or percentage points
.
Now, I can already hear some of you screaming “NOPE, you’re wrong. I always lose when I go there on holidays, and I always win when I go first thing in the morning. Well, I will just place you in the same category of people who swear that by slapping the button, stopping the reels or touching the screen helps their odds. It’s something we believe because we’ve seen it work with our own eyes – but it doesn’t always work. I’ve seen screen rubbers rub that darn screen 20 times before getting a bonus and then think they did that on their own (insert face palm here). If they think so, that’s great. But it’s not based on fact. Just like YOU always winning in the mornings is a true thing, otherwise quit your job and become a full time morning button pusher, haha.

Another theory that I'll couple into this blog, is the thought that corner slot machines pay out more than others. Well I’ve learned that it is in fact TRUE that corner or end machines do pay out more! The catch - that doesn’t mean they have a higher payout percentage. It just means they are played more. It’s the same as being on an airplane – who wants the middle seat? Not me! The best example of this ringing true for me was when I attended Hard Rock Casino’s grand opening (great video) in Atlantic City. I got to play the slot machines before it was open to the public. All progressive machines started at the base amounts, so you could clearly see that the ones on the ends had higher progressives since they were played more. Therefore it only makes sense that they pay more (often!). 

Based on all of my jackpot wins, they have occurred at all times of days including holidays and weekends. It’s all about timing and it only takes one. Just don’t get #SlotBlocked!

I tell you, slot machines can be darn confusing. Gone are the days of 3 reel machines with just bars, cherries and 7’s. What else is confusing is navigating through all of my blogs, so next week I'll guide you through the best of the best!

Til then,
Brian xoxo ❤️

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Tracy Dickson asks "Extra bets or more/better bets on certain machines. Is it really worth it to pay the "extra" or not?”. It’s an awesome question, and one I will do my best to answer.
 
Some games have two rows of bets (Seinfeld, Zeus, Kronos, World of Wonka, Flintstones and many more). They have regular bets, and then they have ‘More and Better’ ones. So why wouldn’t everyone choose the more and better? For starters they are often more expensive or offer a lower payout percentage. They also have nothing to do with increasing your win size on each regular spin! They are strictly saying that if you get a bonus or feature (depending on the game), then you are ‘more likely’ to have a better bonus. Or some simply say you have better odds of getting the bonus. So is it really worth it to spend extra money every spin to get the opportunity? 

Let’s try an example,
 
You bet the $3 normal MAX BET and after 40 spins, get the bonus and win $30.
OR
You bet the $4.50 ‘More and Better’ MAX BET and after 40 spins, get the bonus and win $75!
 
Well it sounds like a no brainer, you won more than 2 times the amount for only paying an extra $1.50! However, you forget that you are betting an extra $1.50 on every spin to get that, so on 40 spins you actually put in $60 towards it. Let’s also not forget that every single line hit you had in those first 39 spins paid you the exact same regardless of $3 or $4.50 (since the extra $1.50 strictly goes to the bonus). So in this example, you paid $60 more over the course of 40 spins at the $4.50 More and Better bet to win $45 more in the bonus. Do the math, it didn’t work out this time.

​​Now I can tell you that from experience, my bonuses are rarely much better. Granted, I have seen friends get some big hits off of them. But after generally always betting more and better, I’m definitely not ahead.
 
Another great, and different example, is World of Wonka. 

They have two rows of bets that both have a Max Bet of $6, where one of them promises more and frequent Oompa Loompa bonuses! So why on earth wouldn’t you go for that one instead? It’s all in the fine print below the button. ​The More and Better $6 bet pays you 8X on pay-lines, whereas the regular $6 bet pays you 12X on pay-lines for all regular spins. So in this instance, you are giving away 50% of your money towards the ‘opportunity’, or in their words you are "more likely" to get the Oompa Loompa feature. Is this worth it? Some may say ‘it’s all about timing’, because it is! The chances are higher to get that bonus, but they’re certainly not guaranteed – nor are the outcomes of those bonuses.

Now if you watch my videos, you’ll mostly ALWAYS see me playing the more and better. So why do I do that? It’s because I got sucked into the potential of winning more! But I’m telling you now, no more! Those manufacturers know exactly what they’re doing because it worked on me and it is catching on for many machines.

​I have one more example for you that is slightly different, and one I’m not 100% sure if I have the answer on: JACKPOT STREAMS FEATURE on those coin pushing machines. Once again there are two rows of buttons. The bottom row are the regular bets (10, 20, 30, 40, 50 credits) and top row are the ‘extra jackpot chance’ buttons. You can choose to pay a lot more for higher chances to get a bonus and win a progressive with an extra 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 credits. Don’t forget, it’s an opportunity to get a bonus on each spin, and it’s an opportunity to win a progressive. 

​Even if you get the bonus, you can walk away with $7.50 as a bonus prize or the Mini for $50 or something. Now that I say it out loud, and does sound a lot like the other examples I talked about above. I have max bet the jackpot chances and minimum bet the regular spins and put hundreds of dollars in with no bonus before (on many occasions). You really do think that you will get the bonus because you are doing everything ‘right’ in your head. But I think we forget that we are dealing with highly intelligent computers. Not slot machines, but computers. They are technologically designed to take our money, and take it as quickly and easily as possible with us thinking that we are winning, or at least make us believe we are.
 
So after spewing all of that out, are any of them really worth it? It’s a gamble. And not one I think I’ll take any longer…unless I feel lucky. Don’t forget, it’s all about timing! Here's a Video I shot trying out the More and Better on Zeus and Kronos. You be the judge!
 
If all of the above isn’t confusing enough, does it really matter what time of day we play at? Find out next week!
 
Brian xoox ❤️
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