Food for thought

[ko king]

Had a long talk with a casino host yesterday, they were inquiring about my vp play, used to be a seven star but I'm no where near that now. The discussion revolved around why I wasn't playing as much and if I was spending more time playing elsewhere. I told the host it wasn't for lack of trying to play it was just costing way to much to play anymore, almost every time I went to the casino I was getting destroyed. Wasn't the pay tables, they hadn't changed, the hits just quit coming. I then brought up the fact that most times there was no one else even playing the machines. The host who said they had also played vp for years mentioned a few possibilities as to why I had done so bad. Since there are so few people playing the vp machines it may have slowed the cycle time down on the games. It used to be that the machines were seeing so much traffic catching the big hits was easier due to the cycles flipping so fast, made some sense to me. Since so few people are playing the machines it's almost like I'm the only one pushing the cycle along therefor reducing the chances of more frequent big hits. This all makes sense to me because a few years back I used to get multiple W2-G's but now I'm very lucky to get 1.

Now after our conversation I got to wondering could cycle times be altered, increased or decreased. The games would still remain random but it would take longer for the big hits to show their face. I've never seen a thing in gaming regulations referring to cycle times on any games and I've also never seen anything in the regs that mention the statistics for each hand. So my question is could cycle times be increased and could this have an effect on individuals who play the games?

[notes1]

what came first, the chicken or the egg? did players reduce their play first or after the bad results? i have mentioned the reduced number of players causing reduced turnover on the machines. this makes good sense to me. also wondered if anyone else believed that casinos that were consistently busier, provided them with a better return.   i have no idea about regulations on cycle times.  prior to 2008, there were a lot more people with a lot more extra money. some of those monies went to casinos. not all of those players really knew how to play the games. the profits just rolled into the casinos. now, there are fewer players, with fewer dollars and more casino options and many casinos are hurting financially. until the economy improves for the masses and/or a thinning of casinos, i believe things will continue as they have in recent years.

[ko king]

what came first, the chicken or the egg? did players reduce their play first or after the bad results? i have mentioned the reduced number of players causing reduced turnover on the machines. this makes good sense to me. also wondered if anyone else believed that casinos that were consistently busier, provided them with a better return.   i have no idea about regulations on cycle times.  prior to 2008, there were a lot more people with a lot more extra money. some of those monies went to casinos. not all of those players really knew how to play the games. the profits just rolled into the casinos. now, there are fewer players, with fewer dollars and more casino options and many casinos are hurting financially. until the economy improves for the masses and/or a thinning of casinos, i believe things will continue as they have in recent years.


I can only comment on this area, haven't spent enough time playing elsewhere. First came many players reducing their play which is why I ask about the cycle times. It didn't get this bad overnight, it was a slow decent. Like I mentioned in another thread, there was a time when you were lucky to get on a machine, then it got a little easier, then you started having a choice as to which machine you would play, today chances are you'll be one of very few playing, last time I went I looked around and nobody was playing vp and I would guess that there was around 50 machines.

[wildman49]

I am one that leaves hits on the machines and move, I have been back to the casino a week later and the same hit still there. Yes less people playing, but if random then whats this cycle deal have to do with it? Here we go is it really random at all. I been on the fence a long time on it and have been leaning one way.

[FloridaPhil]

This is a very interesting subject.   Less players means less hands played which could equal more time between jackpots?  The casinos in Florida are always full of players and video poker is still a very popular game.  I think it's because affluent seniors and well heeded tourists have not been affected as much by job losses or the economic downturn.  Perhaps this is why I haven't seen the big drop in jackpot frequency that others on this forum have reported?  It does seem to me that I get way more quad deuces in Florida than in Biloxi or Cherokee.  Could also be my imagination... 

[notes1]

i have played at the tampa casinos about a half dozen times. yes, it is busy during the day, but i am always surprised how it empties out after about 11pm, at least during weekdays. i have never been to cherokee when it was not crowded day and night, likely because it is the only game for 4 states. i have seen many premium hands at both. b/t/w, i like both places and their employees are very nice. i do think the fact that casinos that are busier, do provide more opportunities to get premium hands, if you happen to be at the right machine at the right time. 

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=notes1]yes, it is busy during the day, but i am always surprised how it empties out after about 11pm, at least during weekdays[/quote]  I can understand this.  I'm in bed myself by 9:30 PM. 

[olds442jetaway]

Nearly all of my big hits over the last 6 years or so have come between 4:30 AM and 7:30 AM well after the big crowds have left.

[notes1]

Nearly all of my big hits over the last 6 years or so have come between 4:30 AM and 7:30 AM well after the big crowds have left.
 with the schedule you and phil keep, you could both be at the casino on the same day and never run into one another.

[ko king]

I am one that leaves hits on the machines and move, I have been back to the casino a week later and the same hit still there. Yes less people playing, but if random then whats this cycle deal have to do with it? Here we go is it really random at all. I been on the fence a long time on it and have been leaning one way.





Well it wasn't a week that went by but I hit a quad while playing $2 denomination DDB for $500, I cashed out for $515. We left town to take case of some business and stopped back by late the next day and the machine still showed the $515 player paid.