Diamond 7's Ascends To The Throne

Last week's games of choice, Classic Ruby and 20X Lucky, each lost a Grand Prize knocking them down the list. Percolating to the top is Diamond 7's. This game has two of its original 7 Grand Prizes left and an estimated 23% of its float left. There is a positive ratio of 1.19 when comparing the number of Top Prizes remaining and the prize money associated with those prizes. 60.6% of the revenue for the game is returned to players who win less than $100. You have one chance in 437,000 to find one of the $77,777 Grand Prizes.

Top Rated Games

1. $5 Diamond 7's #1822 - Luke warm top choice. A poster has had good luck with the game. 
2. $3 QFG Crossword #3208 - Lots of small prizes and a positive ratio.
3. $1 Wild 8's #1813 - Mrs. Vader's favourite game after a $100 win. 
4. $5 Cross Tripler #1810 - Decent choice.
5. $10 Classic Ruby #1792 - Took a hit last week. 

Games to Avoid

1. $4 Dbl CFL #1170 - Great Grand Prize; nothing else. Negative ratio. 
2. $2 Black Jack #1804 - Worst ratio of any game. 
3. $10 Bejeweled #1786 - Poorly rated on both factors
4. $3 Wheel of Fortune #1809 - Devoid of Grand Prizes
5. $2 Cash For Life #1169 - Nice Grand Prize for a $2 game. Nothing else to recommend. 

Top Games If You Only Want The Grand Prize

1. Double Cash For Life
2. Classic Ruby
3. Bejewelled
4. Money Multiplier
5. Extraordinary

Games With All Grand Prizes Claimed

• Black Jack
• Crossword #3207
• Cashingo
• Wheel of Fortune
• Words With Friends

Comings and Goings

No games were retired this week.

Welcome to Fruit Explosion #1834. An earlier version of the same game was the top rated game for a while and ultimately retired with the OLG becoming the winner of unclaimed Grand Prizes. It is a bread and butter $3 game. Check CL66's review in the comments to last week's blog entry. He rates the game as 11th overall; I have it at 10th.

Personal Play

After two good weeks of results I took a predictable drubbing last week. I expect that I felt a lot like the Maple Leafs do this morning. I have also begun to include all "lottery" games in my overall results. That includes the LTL games for which I won nothing after a $30 investment, and even the $10 worth of 50/50 tickets I bought at the Gatineau Olympiques playoff game this past week. If you enjoy hockey, a playoff game at the Robert Geurtin arena should be on your list of places to visit. It's wild!

In Conclusion

An interesting article in the news this week involved "surprise" fees that credit card companies charge if you use your credit card to either deposit money at www.playolg.ca or purchase lottery tickets at the same site. The credit card company treats such purchases as cash advances which entails a fee in the $3-$5 range plus interest effective from the date of the transaction at the typical usury rates. Transaction fees may also be applied for debit card transactions. The OLG advises customers to check with their bank to be sure.

Also noteworthy is the number of shindigs being staged lately when the OLG makes good on their contracted payments to municipalities who house slot palaces. The OLG's head honcho even issues press releases speaking to the wonderful partnership and all the good deeds that are possible thanks to the OLG. If you look behind the curtain you'll find that throwing an annual party in honour of the OLG is mandated in every host contract. What a heartwarming spontaneous outflowing of emotion!

Finally, it is noteworthy that Mayor Tory is open to expanded gaming at Woodbine. You will recall that Toronto City Council previously voted it down but only after it was presented as a fall back position by the OLG who had tried to straight arm city council into approving a downtown casino. After that gambit failed, the OLG tried to salvage something but the council voted 24-20 against the previously unavailable second option.

In his comments Mayor Tory speaks of job creation but we already know that such statements have already been discredited. Any new jobs at Woodbine would have to be offset against people presently employed who would lose their jobs when ownership of the present slot palace is passed from the OLG to the selected contractor and jobs in surrounding municipalities would be cannibalized in order to expand the Woodbine facility. Still, it's up to council to make the best decision despite the chicanery of the OLG.

Best to all.


Doug