We have featured Jean Scott one way or another many times at NETimeGambling, mostly because years ago, as a beginner video poker player, I followed her VP suggestions and frugal gambling tips.
What I like about Jean’s work is she leans toward helping the low to mid level player. Her philosophy is not beyond the realm of the recreational gambler. To understand what I mean, you must read the above post. Enjoy it – it could change the way you play video poker in approach and winning.
Video poker is not like slot machines – there is skill to it. It’s knowing the probability of the dealt hands, memorizing the strategy and holding what gives the best advantage for the best winning hand.
Video Poker machines often have a button where the player can set the speed of the cards dealt. Mostly, it is about where your comfort level is with your speed of play, but there is a reason when playing as fast as you can is suggested, as long as it’s accurate perfect strategy.
One time, I sent a question to noted Video Poker Expert, Bob Dancer. For great software to practice your Video Poker Play, go to bobdancer.com. I asked him, “When do you suggest to play as fast as you can?”
His answer – “Always.”
From his stand point, it was the correct answer. However, he insists on only playing advantage games – full pay, or very close to it. That means he plays games such as:
** Please note – The first number = payout for Full House, second number = payout for Flush in these games
Jacks or Better best paytable (called 9/6 because of the full house and flush pay out). Notice the jump in pay out from 4 to 5 coins.
These games are seen as full play because they have a pay out of 99.7% to over 100% with perfect strategy. Because Mr. Dancer plays perfect strategy on full pay VP, his answer is correct – full speed ahead always.
Playing Video Poker as fast as one can should only be played when the player has the advantage, as in the above VP paytables. For more information about which games are FULL PAY, go to vpFREE2 and the Wizard of Odds.
But, the rest of us have a few considerations that many advantage players don’t. Consider these:
PRACTICE
Whatever video poker game you play, you need to practice, and practice. Advantage players can play over 15 hands per minute. They only play full pay VP, and learn to minimize the time for each deal/hold play. Practice teaches AP’s what patterns of cards to memorize for whatever strategy is needed, no matter in what order the patterns are in on the deal.
Playing full pay VP also needs a technique that alleviates excess movement. I average 400-600 hands if needed by using my left hand for the holding of cards and my right hand for the deal/draw. By rolling my left hand slightly, I can hold whatever button is needed without looking down, keeping my eyes on the screen.
LACK of FULL PAY VIDEO POKER
No matter how good, or how fast you play video poker, the fact remains that full pay options are increasingly hard to find. Many casinos offer playable (like 8/5 JOB or 9/5 DDB) to incredibly bad (6/5 JOB, 7/5 DDB). The only full pay video poker in New England can be found at Mohegan Sun – 9/6 JOB.
SPEED CAN KILL (your Bankroll, That Is)
Since most casinos in the country don’t offer full pay VP, playing fast is not a template for success. Playing any casino game – slots, tables, VP – with a higher house edge should be played accurately first, speedily second. Playing slow can be a friend to your bankroll. Besides, if you play fast and make mistakes – don’t play fast. Unless you are playing full pay VP, there is absolutely no reason to speed.
ACCURACY IS #1
The primary strategy is knowing the optimum strategy for the game you are playing. Even with JOB (Jacks or Better, remember?) basic strategy, or the cards you hold, is different depending if the pay table is 9/6 or 8/5.
BOTTOM LINE
Jerry “Stickman” wrote the following in his post “How Fast Should You Play Video Poker?” in Casino City Times.
“First and foremost, if you are playing a machine where the house has the edge, you are best off pacing your play. The more you play, the more you will lose. Sure you may hit some big winners, but the more you play, the more the house will take your hard earned money. So if you don’t have an edge (including slot club points and possibly comps), take your time playing. Don’t rush to give the house any more money than you must. Only play as fast as you can be accurate. When playing with an edge, Wyatt Earp probably said it best when he quipped, “Fast is fine, but accuracy is everything.” Don’t get killed. Make sure you are playing correctly.”
Lights signal bartenders for vouchers. Some are automatic.
What happens in Las Vegas, doesn’t necessarily stay in Las Vegas. When the casino industry changes things, those changes usually migrate across the country in one form or another. Since corporations have taken over in Las Vegas in the 1980’s, the comp systems have been slowly eroding to something of a slow squeeze to visitors and their bankrolls. Diminished payouts, table game rules changed to add to the house’s edge, parking and resort fees, and now, good-bye comped drinks.
Let’s reminisce, shall we. Even as of the year 2000, after parking the car in a free garage (or valet for a couple of bucks), a gambler would checking in to the hotel expecting to pay the hotel fee he booked, or get a comped room, without any add-ons. Then, walking into the casino floor to gamble, could either find low table limits at decent rules (no 6/5 BJ) or Video Poker with good paytables. As he/she played, they were assured of one more amenity – free drinks. And that’s where this post really begins.
IS MONITORING PLAY FOR FREE DRINKS REALLY A BAD THING?
While all the other changes by corporate bean counters has me pulling out the little hair I have left, paying for drinks through play is not so bad in this blogger’s opinion.
KTNV in Las Vegas reported “It gets rid of the people that want to hang around and play a quarter and try to basically, I don’t want to use the word scam, but basically take advantage of the system,” said Albert Tabola with Arden Progressive Systems & Games. Tabola says, if you’re a consistent player, this won’t affect you. You will still get your comped drinks. It simply affects the people who want something for nothing.”
Long Bar, at the D, downtown Las Vegas.
For those of us who study, practice and play video poker at video bars, getting a seat to play, relax and have an occasional free drink is not only part of the experience but expected. But those of us who are avid VP players know the frustration of people who sit at the bar, getting free drinks, while playing $.25 every 5 minutes.
Many times, these VP bars will include progressive payouts, but there are no seats available because the “ploppies” and the “squatters” don’t move.
So, is IS MONITORING PLAY FOR FREE DRINKS REALLY A BAD THING? I say a decisive “NO!”
HOW DO MONITORING DRINK SYSTEMS WORK?
It seems there are two systems growing in Nevada – coupon and lighting systems.
Drink coupon at the Cosmopolitan, Mid-strip, Las Vegas.
The coupon system is easy to understand, just not easy to predict. When your play equals a certain amount, the machine coughs up a free drink coupon. A normal amount of play should not affect your number of free drinks. For example, at the Cosmopolitan in the Vegas Strip, some players have commented they end up with a surplus of coupons not used. But the amount of play doesn’t seem to be standardized yet, with bugs in the software of certain machines.
Caesars Entertainment officially rolled out the comped drink monitoring system by the Arden Progressive Systems & Games mentioned above at all their casinos on the Las Vegas strip about a year ago. Here’s how it works: (see image above)
It’s a green light, red light alert system designed to tell the staff if you’re playing enough to qualify for comped drinks:
When you enter money into a bar top machine like video poker, Blackjack, or Keno, the machine turns on a blue light to show someone is playing.
As you play enough, your light will turn green, alerting the bartender you are ready for a drink.
If you fall behind and don’t gamble at a fast enough rate, your light will turn red.
Either system is a plus. The casino saves money, less ploppies and squatters taking seats meant for players, and true players have more seats available without ten millennials huddled behind scamming the bartender into free drinks.
THE IMPACT ON NEW ENGLAND CASINOS
The Star Bar in Mohegan Sun.
Frankly it could be two years before we see this technology. While CET (Caesars Entertainment, formally Harrah’s) does not have a property in New England, it’s influence could move east to Atlantic City – close enough to make a mark. By 2020, Wynn Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield will be fully operational. We already know that Mohegan Sun has eliminated discretionary comps, but hasn’t succumbed to other national influences in the industry affecting the player. The following casinos still have free alcoholic drinks:
Mohegan Sun
Foxwoods
Massachusetts Casinos – the casino bill signed into law does allow casinos to offer free alcohol to gamblers from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. Massachusetts casinos are trying to extend to 4 a.m. It has recently passed, but is still being challenged.
Plainridge Park Video Poker Machines in Revolution Lounge
Patrons must pay for alcoholic drinks in all Maine & Rhode Island casinos. Plainridge Park Casino, in Massachusetts, while it seemingly can offer free alcoholic drinks by law, doesn’t. Alcoholic drinks must be paid for, even at the one small VP bar with 10 machines.
The real question is “who will be first to change to a drink monitoring system?”
NETG PREDICTION – MGM SPRINGFIELD WILL BE FIRST
I would imagine they will be first to have paid parking because parking has been diminished in the resort’s initial plans and downtown parking is not easy to come buy, with paid parking already established in the city. MGM Springfield will be the first to add this drink system. Wynn will end up with paid parking, but will resist the drink monitoring systems. Mohegan Sun & Foxwoods will resist both to be competitive.
CONCLUSION
Drink monitoring systems are a good change at VP bars are a good change. But, decent paytables must be offered – no more diminishing the video poker odds by diminishing the VP pay tables. May full pay VP is a thing of the past (although Mohegan Sun still offers 9/6 JOB), but offering 6/5 JOB is just offensive – especially if you are playing for your drinks by playing.
A SIDE NOTE
The newest rumor from Las Vegas is that comped drinks through a coupon system may be added to slot machines on the casino floor. More on that as it continues. Wow!
Tomorrow, we finally take a look at the Sugar Factory at Foxwoods.
Video poker is not like slot machines – there is skill to it. It’s knowing the probability of the dealt hands, memorizing the strategy and holding what gives the best advantage for the best winning hand.
PRACTICE
