IS THIS TRUE?

[FloridaPhil]

I just picked by a copy of a book written by John Grochowski called The Video Poker Answer Book.  In the book, he makes the following statement.
"Laws in some states including New Jersey, allow video poker programming to be more like that for a slot machine. One way a program could depress payback percentages would be to have a high card or high cards appear less frequently than once every 52 cards."

[olds442jetaway]

This is what we have all been trying to find out. If it is true, I am done with vp and it will be back to craps for me. I don't like the way they lump player return percentages ( public record) together for slots and video poker. That in itself almost gives me the answer I dread. This information is for Ct. I am not sure how the other states do it, but the return percentages for Ct. are in the 91% range. Anyone can go on the web site for the Ct Division of Special Revenue and view return percentages right through March of 2014. Everything is referred to as Video Facsimile Slot Machines in the numbers and that includes video poker.

[Vman96]

Of all casino game authors, John is probably one of them who I would also expect to misinterpret New Jersey's very poorly written law like DaBurglar has. John rarely writes about anything that is significantly technical.

[4625601]

olds..very enlightening data..so the preset "rake" is almost 9% and has been that way almost since the place opened..i went to the website and looked at the #s expecting to see a big increase in the "rake" starting in 2010-11 as that is when i started noticing the marked decrease in signers and all 4 of a kinds..it was shortly after that time that i went from dollars to quarters...i also did not go nearly as often...so if the rake has been fairly consistent over the years and the paytables really have not changed that drastically yet the money is disappearing quicker than it used to then the only conclusion one can come to is they are using different chip which could possibly alter rng..in other words they tried to bleed every penny they could out of every vp player..its a rotten job but it theirs to do...the choice is ours...do we bend over and take it or choose not to be made a sucker out of...im choosing the latter   

[jocker]

What are the "SOME STATES"? This will make a difference in my locations for VP!

[FloridaPhil]

I hate to say this, but I now believe the majority of video poker machines in Florida and maybe a lot of other states are rigged. I also believe video poker machine manufacturers are offering special software to unregulated casinos on the QT.   Here's an example.  I've been playing max coin quarters .50 and dollar VP for years.  I got tired of stomaching the loses so I switched to single coin quarters a month ago.  Nothing else has changed.  I'm playing the same 8/5 DDB machines as before.  The difference in play is shocking.  I am now averaging 3-4 quad aces a trip and have yet to lose a dime.  Quads are all over the place and I'm actually ahead by about $400 for the past 30 days with zero royals. This is a huge win playing .25 a pop and I'm just not that lucky.  These machines are programmed to pay more on very low denominations and pay less on anything above.  This actually works in the casino’s favor as most people get depressed when a great hand pops up at single coin, switch to max coins and lose again.  One month is not enough of a test, but I'll bet it continues.  We'll see...
 

[Minn. Fatz]

Don't know about New Jersey but I have heard of "video poker" machines that actually are video lottery machines, Class III I believe they are called. Those generally don't give you a choice of which cards to hold however.

In Minnesota the maximum return on video poker is set by the state's compact with the tribes to no more than 98.5 percent. Most machines I have seen return at least somewhat less; those I play are a shade under 97 percent. A vanishing number of full-pay One Eyed Jacks machines are exempt; these are the only games in the state returning over 100 percent.

[Vman96]

What are the "SOME STATES"? This will make a difference in my locations for VP!

Not many.

Alabama, few casinos (maybe none anymore) in Florida, New York racinos, some casinos in Oklahoma (not all), Rhode Island, and Washington.

I could be missing some states, if you question your state, just say where you play. Most "exceptions" are racinos, or Indian casinos that do NOT have an agreement with the state they reside in to offer "Class III" gaming. Most tribes have an agreement though. "Class III" gaming is slot machines and video poker that behave like they do in Vegas, AC, riverboat states, etc.

[FloridaPhil]

I thought about this some more after posting this tread.  In DDB, quad aces are more common than other quads because you throw away the second pair when you draw aces with two pair.  I do have to admit that 3-4 quad aces in a day is a lot. Also, I'm playing at least 3 times as many hands playing single coin quarters instead of max coins which gives me a chance at 3 times as many quads.  This is because I am taking $200 with me to the casino and there's no way you are going to bust playing a quarter a hand in 6 hours with that bankroll.  Interestingly enough, I have yet to get into my second hundred.  Still, I do believe that there's something in the software of these new machines that's moving the curve around to the casino's advantage.  In Florida, we do not have a gambling commission of any kind and it looks like Jersey and some other states may have rules that would allow this to happen. As for me, I'll keep chunking away at single coin quarters.  My gambling bankroll is growing and my losses aren't reducing my regular checking account either and that's a  good thing.

[spxChrome]

Like I pointed out in my other post, the only casino VP that plays the way they did a few years back is a small high limit section that was closed when all these chips where changed and never had their chips changed out. They have since repopened and it is so obvious when you play there now they play completely different than the machines at the adjacent casino that have had their chips changed out.