Are video poker machines getting tighter?

21 Jul 2007

By John Robison

Dear Mr. Robison:

Thanks so much for your column. It's nice to read the feedback from yourself and other players.

I am a video poker player who plays five days per week minimum and for 6-12 hours depending on how well, or not so well, I may be doing on those given days. I would like to address the article about slot paybacks being down. Specifically, the past two months. I play here in Las Vegas where there are plenty of full-pay video poker machines. The Palms has been the best bet for me so that is where I primarily play. I play mostly $0.25 9/6 Jacks or Better and 10/6 DDB. I hit well over 25 Royal Flushes for 2006 and so far am struggling in 2007. I consider myself an advantage player as I have read books, bought Dancer's WinPoker and practice a lot besides my 40-60 hrs per week live play. I have been playing educated video poker for over three years.

I too, have noticed a significant drop in slot paybacks. I agree with the article of payback concern and there is a lot of buzz out here in Vegas so it can't be that everybody is on a bad streak at the same time. We video poker players are beginning to assume that now that the casinos have the technology to change the payback at will that they are certainly going to do it. I typically use $200-500 per day for bankroll. My comps are suffering now too as I am feeling the crunch. Can it be that the casinos just don't care about the advantage players' business anymore and can turn us off at will, much like they don't want the business of the blackjack card counters? Something is happening out here to the video poker machines, and that is a fact. We players who love the game and play a lot can attest to that, and we can't all be wrong. It's not a secret anymore and most of us have figured it out. I won't say that I will quit playing but this most recent turn of events will put me back on a search for a more fair game like most of my VP counterparts who have already disappeared to look for greener pastures. Trust me, somebody out there wants my business and I will find them. This is Vegas, baby!

SN

Dear SN,

Thanks for the kind words about my column.

As you know, you can tell the payback of a video poker machine from its pay table. If the pay table hasn't changed on a machine, then neither has its long-term payback.

If you and your friends are still playing 9/6 Jacks or Better and 10/6 Double Double Bonus, then your bad luck streak is exactly that. There's nothing the casino can do to video poker machines to lower their paybacks other than changing the pay tables.

If you haven't already read them, I recommend reading the books that Jean Scott and Bob Dancer have written to see just how long a bad luck streak can last.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.

Are video poker machines getting tighter? is republished from CasinoCityTimes.com.

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	Are video poker machines getting tighter? 21 Jul 2007 By John Robison <a href='https://ad.casinocity.com/adclick.php?n=a21efcd1'><img src='https://ad.casinocity.com/adview.php?what=-site:vendors/width:250/RON&n=a21efcd1' border='0' alt='' /></a> Dear Mr. Robison: Thanks so much for your column. It's nice to read the feedback from yourself and other players. I am a video poker player who plays five days per week minimum and for 6-12 hours depending on how well, or not so well, I may be doing on those given days. I would like to address the article about slot paybacks being down. Specifically, the past two months. I play here in Las Vegas where there are plenty of full-pay video poker machines. The Palms has been the best bet for me so that is where I primarily play. I play mostly $0.25 9/6 Jacks or Better and 10/6 DDB. I hit well over 25 Royal Flushes for 2006 and so far am struggling in 2007. I consider myself an advantage player as I have read books, bought Dancer's WinPoker and practice a lot besides my 40-60 hrs per week live play. I have been playing educated video poker for over three years. I too, have noticed a significant drop in slot paybacks. I agree with the article of payback concern and there is a lot of buzz out here in Vegas so it can't be that everybody is on a bad streak at the same time. We video poker players are beginning to assume that now that the casinos have the technology to change the payback at will that they are certainly going to do it. I typically use $200-500 per day for bankroll. My comps are suffering now too as I am feeling the crunch. Can it be that the casinos just don't care about the advantage players' business anymore and can turn us off at will, much like they don't want the business of the blackjack card counters? Something is happening out here to the video poker machines, and that is a fact. We players who love the game and play a lot can attest to that, and we can't all be wrong. It's not a secret anymore and most of us have figured it out. I won't say that I will quit playing but this most recent turn of events will put me back on a search for a more fair game like most of my VP counterparts who have already disappeared to look for greener pastures. Trust me, somebody out there wants my business and I will find them. This is Vegas, baby! SN Dear SN, Thanks for the kind words about my column. As you know, you can tell the payback of a video poker machine from its pay table. If the pay table hasn't changed on a machine, then neither has its long-term payback. If you and your friends are still playing 9/6 Jacks or Better and 10/6 Double Double Bonus, then your bad luck streak is exactly that. There's nothing the casino can do to video poker machines to lower their paybacks other than changing the pay tables. If you haven't already read them, I recommend reading the books that Jean Scott and Bob Dancer have written to see just how long a bad luck streak can last. Best of luck in and out of the casinos, John Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question. This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net. Are video poker machines getting tighter? is republished from CasinoCityTimes.com.