Author: JonB

JonB is a longtime ZorkFest attendee, Vegas aficionado, and ZorkFest 2025 presenter. He found his way into casino loyalty after first exploring the points and miles world. While he doesn’t consider himself a points and miles expert, he knows how to find the right information and use it when it matters. That background helped him spot value in tier matches, casino promos, and comp systems, and he’s been chasing smart plays ever since. You’ll often find him active in Vegas and gaming-focused social media groups, sharing a practical, no-nonsense approach to loyalty and recreational play. He considers himself a marginal advantage player who understands the math, looks for value, but still enjoys the entertainment side of the casino. Outside of the casino, he works in public safety and as a medical educator.

Actual Value vs. Expected Value

Expected Value

One of the fundamental principles of casino game math (and really, of all gambling strategy) is the concept of expected value (EV). It’s the mathematical average you can expect to win or lose per bet, hand, or session over time. For example, if you play a well-structured game of blackjack or a full-pay video poker […]

Gambling Taxes After the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

Gambling Taxes

Why records matter more than ever. Earlier this month, while I was presenting at ZorkFest, several attendees asked me about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, 119th Congress) and how it might change gambling taxes. My answer at the time was honest. I was cautiously optimistic that a legislative fix would undo the […]