How exactly are video poker machines rigged?

[tech58]

Classic post dinghy, I think?
Not sure, into a very good Cabernet here.

[olds442jetaway]

Selective memory…….Hmmmmm……I remember the first and last names of every young lady I ever dated. ( no there weren’t 2. ). I also remember odometer readings of every car I have owned when I purchased the car, probably 30 or so. Now where did I put that shirt I was going to wear today and my pen I just had in my hand?

[dinghy]

Selective memory is deeply embedded in gambling culture. Examples:

The mythology of other players affecting your outcome at a bj table. A player's bad decisions will "mess up the order of the cards." A bad player at 3rd base will "take the dealer's bust card."

Table game side bets often have a 10 to 20% house edge, but others at your table will pressure you -- pointing out any time you would have won on a side bet.

VP players choose their game based on the boosted amounts near the top of the pay table, while ignoring the trimmed amounts near the bottom. Double triple players think JoB players are idiots and will point out any time a JoB player hits aces with a kicker.

Intuition. "I had a feeling it was going to happen." As if you don't regularly have feelings that come to nothing.

[OTABILL]

I think it at least hope they have true RNGs. My point was to emphasize the downgrading of pay tables Nationwide. That alone preys on the less sophisticated gamblers. Totally legal of course.

You have a little "Florida Phil" in you.

LOL. dinghy, FYI, Phil just posted today in the Players Unite FB group.You may be interested in his current thinking.

[asteroid]

Nothing to see here. All the six sigma outlier events you, I and a lot of other forum members observe over and over again are just bad luck.

I can't think of any other explanation.

If you never play straight up and only take down next hand multipliers on UX, like I do, the difference is laid bare between state-regulated and self-regulated casinos. So at self-regulated casinos, I might take down 50 screens a day, where my average edge is 30% - and that's my population of hands. Eventually, after you take down 35,000+ plays over the course of a few years at self-regulated casinos, where your RTP should be 130% and you only are getting a return of around 105%, the writing is on the wall. Anyway, when VP professionals who teach classes and write books, along with bonus hustlers like myself who take down tens of thousands of plays a years say play at Indian casinos at your own risk - they are probably just blowing smoke.

[tech58]

It took 35,000 plays to figure that out?




/

[asteroid]

It took 35,000 plays to figure that out?

Given the fact that high variance games, like triple double bonus and DDB are part of the UX library, along with the fact that most themes of video poker are high variance and all themes in the UX library are (pick 'em poker, which is not part of the UX library, being one of the exceptions) , a statistically significant sample size is required to overcome that variance. The variance is of course significantly mitigated by the fact that I almost always hustle 3,5, and 10 hand UX (five star machines offer the one hand version), but nonetheless, you want a large sample size for a high variance game when you draw a conclusion like this IMHO.

[dinghy]

you want a large sample size for a high variance game when you draw a conclusion like this IMHO.

35,000 "plays" = 35,000 dealt hands?

Do they rig the game only on a 5 coin (per line) bet? If it's similarly rigged at 10 coins, it would be just about unplayable for the civilians.

[dinghy]

Anyway, when VP professionals who teach classes and write books, along with bonus hustlers like myself who take down tens of thousands of plays a years say play at Indian casinos at your own risk - they are probably just blowing smoke.

Yes, I'm the unreasonable one for doubting an outrageous claim.

Only Bob teaches classes. Is there anyone else? This is what I got in another thread:

"Referees are important...I like the idea that I can appeal a casinos action to a reasonably fair referee...There are still states where's there's virtually no regulation. And every Native tribe sets its own rules. If you think a machine is unfair, youre welcome to complain to the tribal council. And good luck." (Million Dollar Video Poker;Bob Dancer; pg. 17. 2003 ed.)

Where's the cheating allegation?

Obviously he's a little less comfortable at a tribal, but he still plays them if he likes the edge. I suspect he would play a 2% edge at a tribal without hesitation, assuming the stakes are to his liking.

As for the bonus hustler chatter, do they ever post online? A cite or two would be helpful.

[asteroid]

you want a large sample size for a high variance game when you draw a conclusion like this IMHO.

35,000 "plays" = 35,000 dealt hands?

Do they rig the game only on a 5 coin (per line) bet? If it's similarly rigged at 10 coins, it would be just about unplayable for the civilians.

Yes 35,000 dealt hands. 35,000 separate screens where at least one next hand multiplier is present. I never play 10 coins - I would assume it is not similarly rigged for a 10 coin wager. In any state-regulated casino I don't think they are rigged at any coin level. My experience hustling UX at state-regulated casinos is totally different than at self-regulated casinos. I have no complaints whatsoever with my take at state-regulated casinos. However the sweat at state-regulated casinos in this line of work is higher and that is why I tolerate the EV haircut at self-regulated casinos.