The Overall State of things in General

[shinyvegas]

Problem is, I'm very cynical about the world. I've lived in Vegas for too long. The casinos don't need the gaming board. It's the other way around. Do you know how much NV relies on the revenue generated by gaming? Heck, we don't even pay state taxes.

There are two kinds of winners from gambling. Those that do it recreationally and place a higher value on the comps they get in return. Meaning, spending $2K on a weekend trip to Vegas and getting free meals, rooms and shows. To them, they got their $2K worth. But in reality that only cost the casino half that (if that). And that's okay because they enjoyed themselves. Everyone wins.

And then there's the kind that keep track of wins & losses on a spreadsheet. Those people know exactly what came out of their pockets and how much went back in. And they play to make sure more goes in than out. Whether they do this by taking money from tourists at the Texas Hold-em tables or playing the long game at black jack or craps.

If you think they can't manipulate the winnings of a machine, try playing during a busy weekend, end of the month, between 8pm-1am. Then play the same machine during a weekday, start of the month, early morning to afternoon. If the machine is truly playing a random deck with each hand, then the frequency of payouts should remain consistent despite time of day or month.

I think a machine's payout will indubitably hinge on how much money it has taken in. But that's the thing. Unless you're there 24/7, you really don't know. If I see a player drop $500 in a machine and not get a single 4-of-a-kind, chances are now much higher for me to get one on that same machine.

I feel like I'm talking like a glass half empty kinda guy. But really I'm not. I love playing VP. I've hit it all. But not a 10X royal (but I got a 8x!). I've been dealt royals on multi-hand machines. I hit a dollar royal while waiting to get paid on another dollar royal right next to me. And while waiting for that one, locked up the one right next to it for $3.8K. Rare night indeed.

But ultimately, what every local lives for, is to have that one night of play where you can cash out and say you're even. For me, that would be one helluva night. And I look forward to it.

[DaBurglar]

  One day he may very well be proved right but his delivery of the message doesn't work well to convert non-believers.How do you know?  you mean it just doesnt work on you......seems to me all of a sudden people are responding to my thought provoking questions and observations.    I only report and write about what I personally KNOW, experience, hear and see and try to relate that to the topic at hand which is Video Poker and its ever shrinking returns.    Even my original post in this thread (which has NOTHING to do with YOU personally) asks questions and makes points such as how the so called "advantage" machines Bob encourages everyone to ONLY play are almost extinct, available in only a FEW nevada casinos....this means that anyone NOT in Nevada is screwed, and likewise if they are NOT  at one of the few places that have the few remaining good machines.    this is not some insignificant detail  or drawback, what do people do who are stuck with all the "crappy" machines out there?.....and there is CONSENSUS amongst the vast majority of players and posters here:   Jackpots have tapered off and w-2s have dwindled over the last 5 plus years......what does everyone attirbute this to?   Paytables reduce longterm return but do not explain nearly enough about fewer jackpots since Royals and premium quads still pay what they always have paid for the most part.....  I maintain my message that goes like this: "if a player thinks that there is something wrong with a game, or a machine, don't play it." Take up another game, one that you think you have a better chance of winning. Or invest the time into a new hobby; knitting, latch hook rugs, collecting butterflies or square dancing.    Ok well I maintain MY previous message that if "Poster 1 flatout dislikes on a personal level poster 2 (which poster 1 has clearly made apparent to the ENTIRE forum, as if it was important for them to KNOW this) and doesnt like everything poster 2 writes, nor his 'delivery' nor his message.....then  it behooves poster 1 to ignore poster 2 and just stop stalking and replying with "mocking, loathing and insults" and instead find something ORIGINAL , interesting and thoughtful to write about  .....

[Tedlark]

  DaBurglar you've watched "Twelve Angry Men" a few too many times.    As for me replying to your posts with questions that you avoid answering, that's your hang up and not mine. I have, and will continue to offer original thoughts as I have for years. I may point out that I pay to post on this forum, do you? Fewer jackpots over the course of a machine's life are calculated into the long term payout and they are thusly balanced by a higher number of payouts in the short term. When I play a machine, just because a royal is "anticipated" to hit at 40,000 hands that doesn't mean it will happen. I have hit multiple royals on one machine in a short span, like 1 to 2 hours.    In cyber, it's called trolling and not stalking. I merely respond to your posts and if you don't like it, that's your hang up and not mine.

[DaBurglar]

  DaBurglar you've watched "Twelve Angry Men" a few too many times.    As for me replying to your posts with questions that you avoid answering, that's your hang up and not mine. I have, and will continue to offer original thoughts as I have for years. I may point out that I pay to post on this forum, do you? Fewer jackpots over the course of a machine's life are calculated into the long term payout and they are thusly balanced by a higher number of payouts in the short term. When I play a machine, just because a royal is "anticipated" to hit at 40,000 hands that doesn't mean it will happen. I have hit multiple royals on one machine in a short span, like 1 to 2 hours.    In cyber, it's called trolling and not stalking. I merely respond to your posts and if you don't like it, that's your hang up and not mine.
I dont avoid answering most of your questions.....I IGNORE them  and you.  I dont owe you any type of response.    I wish you felt the same way.....And who cares if you pay?  so what?   that means you are entitled to .....what was it you said before?   MOCK and INSULT me because I open myself up to it?   Where's that stated in your precious forum rules?   ANd trolling, stalking, harrassing......whatever the term(s), guess what?  YOU are guilty of all of them, and everyone here knows it and sees it, but you do not seem to care......AND you absolutely DO NOT "just merely respond to my posts", its something far more obsessive and fraught with hang ups that you do.....

[Tedlark]

  Actually YOU said that I MOCK and INSULT you. I responded by saying that if you felt that I MOCKED and INSULTED you it was only because you open yourself up to it. You didn't suffer a fall recently that disturbed your short term memory, did you? If you did suffer a fall recently you have my wishes for a speedy recovery.

[onemoretry]

I only report and write about what I personally KNOW,....
I hesitate to jump into this fray, since I may get injured in the crossfire, but I will say that I do find it very irritating that you continue to express your opinions as established fact.

You do have your opinion, and that's fine. But, referring to your opinion as fact, is, in my opinion, not fine.

[Tedlark]

  DaBurglar I'm trying to stop beating this dead horse but you don't only report and write what you personally know. What, do YOU personally know? I mean besides all of the third party conversations with bartenders, cab drivers, casino slot personnel, hosts, William Tell, whoever?   What DIRECT proof do you have of any wrong doing on the part of a casino to alter a video poker game? What evidence do you have, in any form, besides notes made by you of your play (these would not be considered as evidence because of the ease in which they can be altered) and conversations with people that cannot be considered as evidence either?   Making statements in your posts such as: a casino could, or a casino can, does not equate to: a casino does, or a casino has. The Chicago Cubs COULD win a World Series. The Chicago Cubs CAN win a World Series, but this would require every other team plane in the major leagues to crash at the exact same time on the third Tuesday of the month.  

[chattycattty]

  DaBurglar I'm trying to stop beating this dead horse but you don't only report and write what you personally know. What, do YOU personally know? I mean besides all of the third party conversations with bartenders, cab drivers, casino slot personnel, hosts, William Tell, whoever?   What DIRECT proof do you have of any wrong doing on the part of a casino to alter a video poker game? What evidence do you have, in any form, besides notes made by you of your play (these would not be considered as evidence because of the ease in which they can be altered) and conversations with people that cannot be considered as evidence either?   Making statements in your posts such as: a casino could, or a casino can, does not equate to: a casino does, or a casino has. The Chicago Cubs COULD win a World Series. The Chicago Cubs CAN win a World Series, but this would require every other team plane in the major leagues to crash at the exact same time on the third Tuesday of the month.  

What was the guys name that cost them the World Series? The guy who interfered with the foul ball down the left field line? I wonder if he still lives in the Chicago area?

[Vman96]

What was the guys name that cost them the World Series? The guy who interfered with the foul ball down the left field line? I wonder if he still lives in the Chicago area?

Steve Bartman. According to the NY Times he still lives there. I feel bad for the guy honestly. I have no problem with the Cubs winning the World Series.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/sport ... d=all&_r=0

Note: I went to Game 1 of the 2011 WS at Busch Stadium. Cost me $225/ea (and that was basically face value on Stubhub). I don't even want to imagine what it would cost at Wrigley.

If the Blues make the Stanley Cup Final, I will be tempted to spend money I really don't have.

[BillyJoe]

  If the machine is truly playing a random deck with each hand, then the frequency of payouts should remain consistent despite time of day or month. 

The terms 'random' and 'consistent' should never collide in the same sentence.