Why are you doing that?

[FloridaPhil]

I believe all video poker is a long term loser.  You can add in comps or whatever you want but no matter how you cut it, you will lose money long term.  I know some people claim to win big money playing video poker, but I'm not "some people".   If you're truly honest with yourself, you know you're not "some people" either.  So why are you playing?  Is it because you love hitting big jackpots?  How big is big enough to satisfy you?  Do you like hanging out at the casino with your wife or buddies?  Is it because you just want something to do?   Is there another reason?  All of these things go into your decision on how you approach the game.  To me video poker is an enjoyable pastime that my wife and I can play while spending quality time together.  We will be married for 50 years this November and I still enjoy her company.  I like to play a full day and I want to do it without coming home feeling bad about the money I lost.  I play 90% of my hands with single coin quarters because it's the best compromise between odds and cost to play.    Am I having fun?  Yes!   Is it costing me a lot of money?  You decide.  My daily bankroll is 1,000 coins ($250) and I come home most days with at least half of it.  Some days I come home with $1,000 or more, but that's not often.  I am not a crusader for single coin play.  I want everyone to enjoy what they are doing and to feel like they are getting their money's worth.  If it takes running 500K a year through the machines to satisfy you and you have that kind of disposable income, that's OK.  If It means playing single coin quarters like me, I'm OK with that too.  The only time I get ticked off is when someone who doesn't know me or why I play the way I do calls me stupid for playing my way or tells me I don't have enough discipline to make the "Big Time".  The truth is the "Big Time" is a total fantasy.  Once you finally get this, you can think clearly about your own reasons for playing and start enjoying yourself every day like I do.  Good Luck!

[alpax]

This is probably the lamest set of reasons but here are mine:

Top reason, some casinos have fabulous restaurants and buffets. If you account theoretical losses with the vouchers you can receive, it could be eating for a discounted price or paying for the meal itself and the video poker action comes at a discounted price.

The slim chance at winning a casino drawing (only happened once so far).

The occasional gift giveaways at some places.

The occasional invitations to shows at some places.

Free drinks.

Before all of this, it was primarily the thrill of being lucky and having a place to stay in Vegas during major holidays.

[alpax]

I believe all video poker is a long term loser. 



I do not believe that is the case. You are only going by your own jurisdiction at the Hard Rock and by the places you've been. Also I believe the latest posts by Mr. Dancer has been the motive behind the post.

I would say there are two things for certain that are winners.

Full Pay Deuces Wild if played well over the long run is a significant winner even if it is for few thousand dollars year in and year out.

There are the wealthy ones who hire video poker experts to form teams when a progressive gets very high. They are paid by the hour and take up all the seats on a progressive bank. If it did not work out for them, would they keep going after these progressives? It is still a risk to them since it can take an unpredictable amount of time to hit the royal flush, but it still goes on.

[case]

Ya I agree with Alpax. People do and will make money on VP over the long term. But to do so you need to be playing full pay. Of course luck plays a part in it but if your game returns over 100% and you play perfect, why can't you win? Some count drawings and comps into that as well.  Progressives add to the bottom line and many people or teams attack them when the numbers are right.It gets harder each year but it is still doable.

[djc32]

[QUOTE=FloridaPhil]

I believe all video poker is a long term loser. 



I do not believe that is the case. You are only going by your own jurisdiction at the Hard Rock and by the places you've been. Also I believe the latest posts by Mr. Dancer has been the motive behind the post.

[/QUOTE]
I have to agree with alpax on this one. The motives for these types of post seem to have more to do with feelings being hurt than actual facts.
As case said, it's harder to have success at VP than it use to be, but to say ALL video poker is a long term loser is a bit extreme.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=djc32]I have to agree with alpax on this one. The motives for these types of
post seem to have more to do with feelings being hurt than actual facts.[/quote]This is possible.  However, think about this for a minute.   Six Bob Dancers are sitting at a big progressive.  Dancer number one hits the royal then goes on his Radio show and tells the public that video poker is the road to riches.  Dancers 2-6 go home to lick their wounds.  This whole idea that there is some mathematical system to winning long term is ancient history.  Years ago that may have been true when just a few players had the knowledge and the casinos didn't understand that video poker could be beaten.  Today the entire casino is full of experts and the casinos have taken steps to cut their losses.  I'm not saying Dancer's strategy is a bad thing.   I'm saying luck is the most important factor in video poker and the majority of players won't have enough no matter what strategy they use.   Are you going to be Dancer #1 or one of the other guys? 

[DaBurglar]

awesome thread......I thank (and salute) florida phil for having the nuts to put his.....nuts.....on the chipping block by making this post/thread in the first place and thus opening himself up to the inevitable backlash that comes from making such posts in the first place!as usual with many debates about video poker that find their way to this forum, BOTH sides on this debate happen to be right, and both sides are also WRONG!!!Sure, it is POSSIBLE (in the strictest sense of the word) to 'beat" vdeo poker, but  it is highly, HIGHLY  unlikely.....also, the exact reasons people play Video Poker, or any casino game which confers a big advantage on the house, are complex and varied, and truly this is all that matters.   When a casino sets up a inventory of video poker machines, it chooses the exact composition of this inventory based on what it perceives are the most important reasons ITS customers are visiting it in the first place!I suspect that "ENTERTAINMENT" (or  FUN)  is by far the most common and consistent of all the 'reasons' people might give for playing at a particular casino.....therefore, when selecting  which games to stock its floor with,  the casino will look to games like Good times pay, dream card, Stupor Times Pay, etc  as good matches for a clientele that wants "EXCITEMENT" and a little something extra when it plays video poker.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=DaBurglar]I thank (and salute) florida phil for having the nuts to put
his.....nuts.....on the chipping block by making this post/thread in the
first place and thus opening himself up to the inevitable backlash that
comes from making such posts in the first place![/quote]I have no problem stating what I believe to be true. Others may do so and I respect their opinions. There is more than one way to gain enjoyment from video poker.  Professional strategy turns the game into a tedious job with questionable rewards and I have already had a bunch of those in my life. I am not afraid of criticism because I have nothing to gain or lose.  What do I care if someone who has spent his whole life sitting on a casino stool thinks I'm an idiot?  I'm having fun and that's all that matters to me. 

[wildman49]

  I'm having fun and that's all that matters to me. 



I got your back Phil. I am in your camp since I started playing systems 1 year ago, I am up to 60,000 hands a month, at the casino four times a week and have had more fun and the best year ever! Learning from Vegas Bob I have worked the promos getting extra entries to the drawings and got called 3 times for $500 free play each time! As for winning at poker it self I don't see it at max bet. In the short run 1 week, 1 month or 1 year maybe but the math says over years of play it's not going to happen no matter the pay table unless your in the Vegas market and can find 100% plus and even then very tough to do.Working free play promos is the only way I see to gain an over all profit from the casino, VP at best with LUCK on your side is break even playing max bet. I will stick to systems (non max bet most hands) as I can play near even most trips and wait out my luck at a max bet hit.

[FAA]

It's fun sitting there with four to a RF and contemplating the screen and potential riches. I like to linger on that screen and savor the possibilities, procrastinating the reality of one of the 46 dud cards arriving and hitting a flush if I'm lucky. I like to form an image of all the winning redraw possibilities when dealt a strong hand. It's good fun, even for free on an app.