So, I won $1000 in free slot play in a drawing recently, and I'm trying to figure out how to put it to the best use. It comes in two $500 increments that have to be used one after the other.

I've read somewhere that the best use of free play is on high variance bets, so I'll list some of the games below and welcome anyone's thoughts and suggestions.

Slots (standard variety, no monster progressives around yet)
Video poker (payouts are for **** except on the 100x machine that runs JoB at a less bad 8/5 - max denom is .25, so total max bet is $125 at 5 credits x 100 hands)
Craps (uses real dice mechanically jumbled about; standard layout for center action minus non-red hop bets - not sure how much odds can be taken)
Sic Bo (standard? No idea, never played it)
Roulette (standard, real wheel & ball with electronic betting)
Baccarat w/ "Lucky Nines" side bet** (more on this in a minute)
Blackjack w/progressive something or other (not much experience with it)
3 card poker (standard; no 6-card side bet)
4 card poker (not much experience here either)
Ultimate Texas Holdem (trips max bet $25, standard paytable where you get more on the blind for royal/straight flushes)
Mississippi Stud (haven't played this either)

**I think this side bet has potential (pays for each nine dealt in player/banker's first 4, starts at 1:1 for the first 9 and goes to 1000:1 for 9999), but I'm not sure what the max bet is and if the payout is otherwise capped.

I also have squat experience counting, but having seen one of the shoes change once, it looks like they're using 8 decks and penetrating to just under 6 maybe? That's probably gonna be tough to beat, right?

Anyway, if there were some general approach someone could suggest (if it's worth the attempt), it would be pretty easy to implement since there's a good 30 seconds between each hand to track the cards and decide if/how much to bet.

I think you're thinking of slot loss rebates where high variance is a good thing.

On collecting free slot play, playing the game with the highest EV is the optimal play, and play through the free slot play only once, obviously.

So with all these options, I'm guessing you can receive the FSP at table games?

And what casino offers Sic Bo, but has such crappy video poker they only offer 8/5 JoB?

Craps with odds is a reasonable option, as is blackjack.

I wouldn't try the progressive bet or the baccarat side bet, they usually have terrible edges.

Or Match bets. Those you want fewer, larger wins.

Just curious, what casino are you at?

As for your question, the answer is the video craps machine, assuming you can use free play on it, no question.

Friend, you don't know the half of it. 8/5 is only on the hundred play machine; it's 6/5 on all the standard machines.

I have to look at it every time I pass by just to make sure I'm not imagining that people could be so evil. Almost as bad as paying 6:5 blackjack imo (which they don't, in their defense)

Anyway, thanks for clarifying everyone on whether or not high variance or just highest EV is desirable here. Just checked on their craps tables and it's 3/4/5x odds, so not bad.

The establishment in question is Maryland Live, btw.

At least every 50 or 100 play I have ever seen has the capability of betting any amount of hands at 5 credits each. Yep, I'm "that" guy when it comes to multiline video poker. The most hands I've ever played on one of those is 17 hands I think. I can't afford $5 or $6/hand on penny machines...lol

From an EV perspective, craps with w/max odds has to be the best option. Unless MD offers something crazy like S17 on blackjack.

8/5 JoB really makes me sad though. They didn't sneak in something like 7/5 Bonus or 20/12/10/4/4/3 Dueces Wild, right?

Many casinos in my experience, JoB isn't the best paying game. But you're probably right; I'm just holding out hope for you. But with 3x/4x/5x odds available on craps, you pretty much need 9/6 JoB for video poker to measure up to that...lol

pass line bet with max odds allowed on the craps game, and if you wish add some come bets with max odds

Thanks for the advice - just turned the 1k free play into 1.6k real money

Won my first line bet with odds, then a couple naturals, but hit a few PSOs after that so I obv tilted and put my roll across plus the remainder on hard 8 w/point of 8, then as if on cue:

4-4

...ship it!