Pros playing for progressive at Bellagio

[mvpax]

I was in Vegas for a comped New Years Eve party and searching for good video poker odds. I looked in the high limit room and there were three college kids camped out at the bank of 25$, $100, $100 single draw machines near the slot host office. They had tons of credits in the machines and food containers everywhere. One of the slot attendants said they'd been there for days trying to win the progessive. They're probably still there today! The odds suckered at Bellagio and the MGM so I don't think they'll come out ahead in the end.

[case]

How high was the progressive? Maybe it was positive EV. Does not mean they will be ahead but might be a reason they are playing. They would still need a huge bankroll.

[FloridaPhil]

“There's a sucker born every minute.”
―
P.T. Barnum

[FAA]

A terrifying scene.

[Vman96]

How high was the progressive? Maybe it was positive EV. Does not mean they will be ahead but might be a reason they are playing. They would still need a huge bankroll.

I would hope positive, but if they've been there for more than 2 days, they very may well still end up in the hole even after hitting it.

Worked pretty well for poker pro Huck Seed at Aria in 2011, he said he only played through $40k.

[notes1]

i wonder how much SEED pumped into VP machines before the big win and since.  posting pictures of big wins means nothing. on alan mendelson's site, he has posted pictures of some of his big wins from this year, including a $100k and $20k. yesterday, he posted that he still lost money at VP this year and has never had a year, where he ended net positive. that is honesty, something that is very much lacking from many who post.

[case]

Alan Mendelson should be a loser as he only plays at Caesar's properties. They have poor pay tables. His big jackpots are hit on high denomination machines. He is just playing to the machine's return.

[alpax]

Alan Mendelson should be a loser as he only plays at Caesar's properties. They have poor pay tables. His big jackpots are hit on high denomination machines. He is just playing to the machine's return.

That is correct with regards to Caesars properties, Mr. Mendelson has at least taken some of his play to MGM mLife, but at the Bellagio out of all their places. Taking 8/5 Bonus Poker over 9/6 Jacks or Better is also another flaw, Total Rewards offer tier status points at a lowered rate while mLife counts the same for tier status points. He does have the means to play for high stakes with a six figure annual income, I am sure there are people here who can get more value than he can given the same bankroll. Those that are able to play at $5 stakes will find the strip much better than locals casinos.

However, he stated that 2015 was the only year or the second year out of the 19 years he has played where he has to declare himself a net winner to the IRS and owes tax payments. The $100k royal has a lot to do with it, since he just plays a few of that $25 and hit. That is the biggest point of FloridaPhil's theory.

With regards to the progressive, sometimes it works out and sometimes it does not like this situation. These people who chase progressives are brilliant minded in my opinion and are well funded, at those high stakes, it has to be from an experienced group. They know the risks involved and the progressive has to be high enough so they will be able to hire people an hourly rate to either sit or play (must show they can play at 99.6% or better accuracy), the people being paid won in that case. MGM already got their money's worth with the progressive already built up.

Despite their losses, they will go after it again if the opportunity comes again. It could take as little as 20 minutes to even things out.

[Tedlark]

Frank Kneeland used to write extensively here about progressive hunting teams; it made for some entertaining reading.

[notes1]

Alan Mendelson should be a loser as he only plays at Caesar's properties. They have poor pay tables. His big jackpots are hit on high denomination machines. He is just playing to the machine's return.
 using that same reasoning, would you assure one that plays accurately on only positive machines a positive result?