Dollar slots can be the way to go if you like the one-armed bandits. It depends on the size of your bankroll but if you have enough money, dollar slots will often pay out at a higher percentage than other machines. Every slot machine has a set payout percentage which varies from machine to machine. Depending on the structure of the game the machine will pay out differently. These percentages are usually around 99%, but some progressive machines can pay out at percentages exceeding 100% when the jackpot grows big enough.

The dollar slots will often pay out at a higher percentage because the casino makes revenue faster with the higher betting level. Attracting players to this faster revenue is best achieved by setting the machine at a higher payout. The machine pays out more but still makes more profit than a quarter machine with a tighter payout percentage.

The NFL lines for Week 8 were fresh out of the oven at press time, and several of them looked golden brown to handicappers.

The Patriots, for example, are 17-point home favorites against Washington. It’s one thing to beat up on the Miamis of the NFL, but the ‘Skins are a pretty good team: 4-2 SU and 2-2-2 ATS, with one of the best defenses in the league.

We’ve also got the Bengals getting four points at home against the Steelers. This is exactly the same situation the Broncos were in this past Sunday when they upset Pittsburgh. We might have to re-evaluate the Steelers, but Cincinnati is still a bad team at 2-4 SU and 3-3 ATS.

My personal favorite, off the cuff at least, is Philly as a pick ‘em at Minnesota. Each team is 2-4 SU, but the Eagles are playing at a significantly better level. They’ll run out of new ways to lose eventually.

The betting lines just keep getting tighter as the NFL season gets longer. But there’s one Week 7 matchup that sticks out like a hyperextended thumb: Pittsburgh at Denver.

The Steelers are 4-point favorites on the road. But there’s a huge gulf in talent between these two teams. Pittsburgh is ranked third in the league in efficiency; the Broncos are 24th. Denver’s defense is especially bad, allowing an NFL-worst 187.6 yards per game.

The Broncos’ offensive line, arguably its best asset at No. 7 in run blocking and No. 9 in pass protection, has lost both center Tom Nalen and guard Ben Hamilton for the rest of the year. That’s going to make life very difficult for sophomore QB Jay Cutler against the league’s best defense. With four TD throws and six picks in five games, Cutler has yet to prove he can win a game “by himself” with his arm – which is his assignment Sunday night.

It’s a regular Boston Chalk Party. The Red Sox went into Game 3 of their ALCS against the Cleveland Indians as –120 road favorites to win the game and –155 to win the series.

We hate to say we told you so. Actually, no, we enjoy it. Boston is a perfect storm of chalk for fade-minded handicappers in this series: a public darling with some question marks in the pitching lineup after Josh Beckett. Did we mention Boston and Cleveland each finished the regular season with 96 wins?

Of course, the Sox can still come back and win. And they might finally be worth betting on for Tuesday’s pivotal Game 4 matchup at Jacobs Field. We were still waiting for the official betting line at press time, but it looks like Boston will be a slim underdog with Tim Wakefield on the mound. Finally, the sani is on the other foot.

You’ve seen him on those late-night infomercials. You might have seen him on the talk-show circuit. But you might not see much more of him outside of Court TV.

The man behind Girls Gone Wild, Joe Francis, was indicted in April by a federal grand jury on two counts of tax evasion. His trial was supposed to begin last week, but it’s been postponed until April 2008. That may or may not be good news for Francis; he’s in jail in Reno, and he’s been denied bail because he’s also facing six felony counts in Florida.

Francis is pegged at –220 on the entertainment props market to be convicted on those tax evasion charges. These are serious charges, too: The United States Department of Justice claims Francis made over $20 million in improper business deductions. Given his laundry list of previous encounters with the law, it’s highly unlikely Francis will be hobnobbing with the young and topless anytime soon.

The Phil Spector trial was a bust, and nobody seems to care about Britney’s kids. But here comes O.J. to save the day.

Check out the Celebrity Props, and you’ll find wagers on O.J. Simpson and his latest brush with the law. Last month, the former football superstar was arrested on a number of charges, including assault with a deadly weapon, after some Simpson memorabilia was stolen from the Palace Station Casino in Las Vegas.

Will Simpson accept a plea bargain? “No” is the favorite at –170. His lawyer, Yale Galanter, said after a Sept. 19 hearing that Simpson would not agree to a plea bargain “as long as I’m representing him.” Legal experts are coming out of the woodwork to give their opinions; the consensus is that the case against Simpson has a number of hurdles, including the reliability of witnesses and the ownership of the memorabilia in question. Looks like we’re going to trial.

If I had one dollar to bet I could choose from many options. I could try and stretch it out and go and play the penny slots. I’d have 100 chances at hitting a jackpot, or perhaps hit one nice spin that would double my dollar. But I don’t think I would do that.

I could take the dollar and put it on red or black on the roulette table, or play one hand of blackjack. Both situations give close to even odds on winning and doubling my dollar. But it would be all gone if I don’t win that first hand. I don’t think I would do that.

I could place a bet on the Patriots beating the Browns this weekend, and make about ten cents in profit, but I’m not going to do that either.

I’d bet it on the lottery and try and hit as big as I could.

1. Play Poker - the best way to make your money last online if you play against other players.

2. Play Blackjack – you can play by yourself or with other live players.

3. Play Video Poker – play regular or progressive jackpot games that pay out as much as 99%.

4. Play Roulette – play the fastest-paced roulette there is and you decide when there’s “no more bets”.

5. Play Craps – get all the excitement of the live game that’s controlled at your pace.

6. Play Caribbean Stud Poker – progressives for the Royal Flush make it a good gamble online.

7. Play Baccarat – games as low as $10 and always new games starting online.

8. Play Bingo – some big jackpots can be found online.

9. Play Backgammon – lots of action and serious money to be won.

10. Bet on a Game – bet on any sporting event you want at numerous sportsbooks that offer enticing specials.