Video Poker Forum

What a week! That is the only way to describe it.

After many years of VP, some as winners and some as losers, I was enduring an unusual months-long losing streak. Nothing I did seemed to help. I changed machines, changed casinos, changed games, changed the days of the week I played -- all to no avail. My bad luck continued.

The last week of May I flew east to handle a personal real estate investment on the Mississippi coast, and I decided while I was there I would give the casinos a good, hard push to see if leaving Laughlin behind would leave the losing behind.

I am pleased to report that the change in locale resulted in a change of heart for Lady Luck.

The very first night I played at the Sliver Slipper in Hancock County, Mississippi, near Waveland and Bay St. Louis --- about 30 miles east of Biloxi, almost on the Louisiana state line. (As a point of interest, the casino is located less than 10 miles east of where the center of the eye of Hurricane Katrina offically made landfall on August 29, 2005.)

I had lost repeatedly before at the Slipper, but I like the place because it is small and cozy, the parking is fantastic, and the pay tables are decent.
This night, my luck would change. Playing exclusively in DDB, I hit a quad at the $1 level almost immediately, and then another at the $5 level just a few minutes later. Less than a hour later I was dealt 44442 at $5 for $4000. I stayed for approximately one more hour, receiving quad 3’s (no kicker), quad Queens, and quad 9’s, all at the $5 level. 
 
Total W2G earnings for the night were $9,750, and my walk-out earnings were $6,710. (For me, walk-out is what I have in my wallet when I leave minus what I brought in with me.)

The next night I played in Biloxi at the Imperial Palace, now just called IP. I was down $700 with absolutely nothing to show and thinking maybe I was being penalized by Lady Luck for the night before, when I was dealt four to the Royal. The missing jack popped up for $4,000. I left immediately with a $3,180 profit for the night and my trip profit so far was $9,900.

I was unable to play the next two nights, but the third night I returned to Sliver Slipper and hit a $5 quad soon after arrival. I also hit several other quads at the $1 level. Silver Slipper does not have $2 video poker, with the denominations skipping from $1 to $5, which is unusual and also discomforting for me because $2 vp is generally my best game.

The next night, my last of the trip, I pounded the $5 machines at Silver Slipper for quad 4’s and quad 10’s, all within the space of 45 minutes.
 
I left the Mississippi Coast with total W2G winnings of $17,000 and total walk-out earnings of $12,885.

Not bad for one week’s “work”!

Now I have returned to Laughlin (actually Bullhead) and let’s see how quickly I will give it all back!

For the record, this is my fourth largest week ever, but the three that beat it were all won with a single jackpot on a single night. In other words, this is the best week I have ever had in terms of consecutive winning sessions without a single loser.

Rascal, these are the kind of Casino trips that keep us plugging away.

Good for you, rascal. I hate extended losing streaks even though they are part of the game. Let's hope this turns into an extended winning streak.

I kept the streak alive for a few Laughlin sessions, pushing total winnings for the streak to a hair under $20K, with walk-out earnings of $14,235. Then last night, reality & luck hit me like a Mack truck and I dropped $1,100 with zero-zilch-nada to show for it, thus bringing the streak to a crashing end.
 
I feel a little like Fa La La La La.... La la la la in reporting the final streak talley: 7 sessions with 6 being winners. The % of winning sessions during the streak is even more amazing when you consider that I was playing a highly volatile game, DDB, for almost the entire streak.
 
What is most surprising is, because I am a volatile game player, that I usually average 65%-70% losing sessions, even in those years where I have earnings. So 6 out of 7 over a two week period for me is a true blast.

What is most surprising is, because I am a volatile game player, that I usually average 65%-70% losing sessions, even in those years where I have earnings. So 6 out of 7 over a two week period for me is a true blast.
 
The "can't lose!" runs are nice, aren't they?   That's a nice run, and congratulations!
 
If any of the newer site members read this, ask rascal to list his three big winners...it's been a year or so since he's given them, so I think it's time again.  Maybe Rob will see 'em as well, and turn green with envy.

I'm new here... rascal, what are your three big winners?
 
This was a great run even with that losing session in there. You can't expect to come out ahead so often in DDB. Really great stuff, congrats!

I'm new here... rascal, what are your three big winners?

 
I dunno, Eduardo.  That rascal is a pretty modest guy - it may take some wheedling to get it out of him...

Thats nice walkout earnings, playing $5 vp how many losing trips would it take to eat it up? Not that I want that to happen by any meens I was just wondering if you had a specific dollar amount you were willing to lose per session. I saw where you had been on a losing streak if its been as bad as mine it would take that much me smile again. Great run though I like the part where you were dealt Quad 4's w/kicker that sure makes me do a double take when its dealt to me because I play so fast.

Congratulations on such a nice winning streak! Hard to do playing DDB for sure. That mile high guy says you have three better sessions? I'm fairly new as well and would care to read about them. Would it help if I threw you a souvenir token? Just post them. Uncle Sam already got his fair share anyhows! Thanks

OK. The all-time high was $73K (after what I had withheld.) This was on STP DDB in Laughlin NV. The next two were in the mid-20's, also in Laughlin. All three of these were each a single jackpot. I have also had a $20K that resulted in $17K walk out earnings after what I had withheld. However, before anyone thinks I am bragging ala Fa La La La La.... La la la la, let me tell you about the one (the many) that got away!
 
The thing about the law of averages eventually catching up with every VP player is that law does not take into consideration the player who hits a huge jackpot on a highly volatile game. After hitting the big one, I could have lost something every year for many years and still be above the average. And the same thing is true on a lesser scale. And it is also true in the reverse equation: If I had lost $73K that night instead of winning it, I could have played winning VP for many, many years and yet still have a losing average.
 
So..... to my way of thinking, the average only applies if we take the entire body of video poker players worldwide and from this body the expected average is close to perfect. But you are not the entire body of VP players -- you are one individual and anything can happen. Whether you are a winner or a loser depends largely on luck, and on your ability to take advantage of that luck.
 
(And by the way, my ex-girlfriend is a top manager for a large chain casino in LV and she agrees with me 100%. She never ever looks at what an individual player does --- she looks at the average margin generated by thousands of patrons.)