Video Poker Forum

I think it is mostly the way the machine itself acts. Much longer dud cycles, but shorter but stronger hot cycles than years ago. The percentage returned to the player may be the same in the end, but I think they are hoping most will bust or run out of time before the short intense cycle starts. I have no proof other than what I experience playing over millions of hands. I bust a lot more than years ago playing the same way too. The reporting by the casinos in Ct has shown consistent return percentages over the years. In the 91 percent range. Unfortunately, Vp is considered a slot for reporting purposes so it is lumped together.

olds442jetaway wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 25, 2023 8:01 am

The percentage returned to the player may be the same in the end, but I think they are hoping most will bust or run out of time before the short intense cycle starts.

Can you explain further how this benefits the casino's profitability?

To my way of thinking, downgrades are consistent with fair machines. If they have the ability to cheat, why would they downgrade?
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I've brought this up a few times. No one EVER gives a logical answer to this question. They usually just ignore it.

If they were rigged, you should see "full pay" machines all over the place.
The above makes sense!! Note that u will see full pay machines aplenty at VLT class 2 machines since its not a fair RNG but a hoover vaccum cleaner .lol !!

my post above in ref to Vman96.

Hit the buttons at different times. Maybe that'll change your "cycles".

I just think if people run out of time and or money, the casino makes out better. They sure have made out better with me. My marathon sessions are much longer now until I catch that magic 5 or ten minutes. Won’t be able to keep this up much longer. Age is playing a big factor. Also bankroll if I get too aggressive early in a session. As to the magic 5 minutes….the other night I got the following hands after a lengthy dud cycle of about 7 hours…,back to back Wild royals on deuces wild, 3 quads in 7 hands on job, 3 quads on Joker kings in 6 hands, 3 back to back full houses on job, 7 consecutive 3 of a kind that fid not connect. Just a bit too Bizarro for me. Finally, 7 hours on deuces wild with no quad deuces, then hit it twice in less than hour. About due for another Royal, but I think it has only been 50,000 hands or so. Could be a while yet. Hope not long. All of those above hits were within the same 45-50 minutes of play. Sometimes when I switch games in the same machine, I get these crazy events. I think I posted in the Rec forum, the good stuff was squandered going for a big Royal. My mistake entirely after working so hard to get ahead a few hundred bucks

olds442jetaway wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 25, 2023 5:26 pm

I just think if people run out of time and or money, the casino makes out better.

If the casino is overwhelmed with customers, then it may be logical to tighten the games. Bust the players as quickly as possible to make room for the next losers. I think this happened in the early years of Atlantic City.

https://gaming.library.unlv.edu/reports/ac_slots.pdf

For its first few years of operation from 1978, AC slot holds were 13 to 14%. But by 2000 with heavier competition and possibly an exhausted customer base, holds dropped to near 8%.

I'm not sure Mohegan is overwhelmed with customers. And in any event, your theory doesn't involve any tightening. It's not clear to me that a streaky 95% game busts players more effectively than an ordinary 95% game.

All of those above hits were within the same 45-50 minutes of play.

I'm struggling for evidence that streakiness benefits the casino. Quite the opposite, I would guess. Non-randomness would be exploitable by smart, disciplined players. Some games are designed to reward streakiness. Ultimate X. If I'm thinking correctly, Ultimate X would be nicely positive if your winning hands clumped together. Because you'd catch multipliers on nearly all your winners.

Do you know of any winning Ultimate X players?

The Mrs is even for 2023 or very close playing inferior pay tables. Her last trip was mostly void of multipliers which she says she needs or the session will be a loser. I think she lost 300 on our last trip.

That magical 5-10 minute window is our trip motivation. I don’t trust machine after a quad. I immediately cash out and feel relieved to break even. Maybe it heralded a hot cycle and I missed out on another potential $250 in hits! 3 Q in 7 hands is manna from Heaven.

A casino in a competitive market would be stupid to risk losing its clientele if it was perceived to have rigged machines.