It seems to me that nobody ever wins at video poker. I'll put in $100 here and there and may hit a few quads, but more often than not that $100 is gone with little return. In addition, at many places it takes twice as much coin in to accrue tier points than other slot games. I understand that if you play the games right, the return should be over 95% depending on the game, where penny slots for instance are in the 80%'s, but are you playing it just to rack up points? Paybacks on $5 or $10 slot pulls seem to be better than VP in my experience. Many folks ONLY play video poker. What is the draw for you?

 

I have never won when I played for a extended time. I now play only short sessions like before dinner or while waiting for the wife. Ill play a $20 or so have a few drinks at a bar and hope to hit a quad. About half the time playing short sessions I win about half the time. The wins aren't very big but I'm at least chasing a ticket.

It seems people who play for hours are hoping to hit enough quads to keep them playing enough to hit a royal.

 

I play VP almost exclusively, and have for a long time. I enjoy the game because it has some of the mindless repetition of slots but I also know going in the exact odds I'm bucking and like BJ there is a proper way to play. And there was a time in Vegas when positive expectation VP abounded.

 

Yeah, the paybacks are 95% factoring in the larger Royal Flush payouts. The standard payouts are much lower when the Royal Flush is not factored in. If no premium hands are hit, you are playing at a lower payout rate

 

You are not playing at a lower payout rate if premium hands aren't hit. (Now you're playing at a lower payout rate if not playing full coin, which is what is needed to trigger the full royal, which is as you note a tick or four of the EV.) Hitting premium hands allows you to sustain play but the EV is the EV is the EV (at full coin).

The EV ranges from 100+ down through the 90s, depending on platform, skill and having the nth coin in that triggers the full RF.

 

Also worth noting that for most VP, the 800x payout on the royal equates to less than 2% of the payback. I believe less than full coin would typically reduce the payback only 1.3%. I'm sure many casual VP players, myself included, burn that much payback just making less than optimal decisions.

 

I'm sure we do.

 

The majority of my gambling is done on VP. I like the fact I have some control and that there is a "correct" way to play. Do a little homework, might the right decision, and your odds go up.

I also find it easier on the bankroll. I love pushing for that "big" win so when I sit at a slot it's only a matter of time before I'm playing max trying to hit the bonus. Same with roulette, couple of losing spins and I'll have 4 or 5 times my first bet on all my numbers. For whatever reason I don't feel the same when playing VP and I'm happy to just sit there and play.

And the booze. Some of my favorite Vegas memories happened just sitting at the bar, playing VP, and chatting with people around me. Never have to sit there and get frustrated cause I can't find a server.

 

For me it's relaxing, I know the payout, it takes a bit of brain work, and I gets LOTS OF DRINKS playing bartop.

At Boar's Head Bar at MSS it's a very laid-back feel, the bartenders are friendly and the client mostly low-key. There's something about the way the bar is just a couple of feet higher than the casino floor, you can look out over the slots and kinda see the craps and BJ area. Plus you get the scratch cards for 4oak or better.

 

I think the "where" of playing is important. I'll take a slant top out on the casino floor but there are some bars where it is better, including MSS. Hit my dealt three-liner at Mi Casa's bar at Silverton. Suncoast's bars work fine, too. SouthPoint. Sure miss Swashbuckler at TI!