RNG Questions

[Waiting4RF]

An IGT worker told me the machines are random and not rigged in Maryland. Maryland's terminals (slots & video poker) continuously send reports to the State about the software that is installed, how much money was played, how much was paid, if a terminal is open, etc. If your state has Indian casinos, their regulations should be on line. Why would the machines be rigged when some VP paytables at the quarter denomination are in the 94% range? I have seen dollar VP machines at a 91% return. And the slots lowest legal return is 87% in Maryland.

[FloridaPhil]

A little more time between contradictory statements might help.

Good point. Video poker is full of contradictions. Poorly maintained video poker machines exist because the casino wants them to. It wouldn't be that expensive to send an engineer by these machines once a day to make sure they are working. Sometimes the same machines stay broken for weeks at a time. Eventually, they become totally unplayable and the casino is forced to fix them. Malfunctioning buttons cause player errors. This increases their profit.

The casinos make the rules. This is not a violation of their rules. The rules clearly state " Machine Malfunction Voids All Pays and Plays". As far as I know, allowing this to occur does not violate any Gaming regulations. The best way to avoid this is to choose not to play if you don't believe you are being treated fairly.

In my case, I choose to play video poker small enough so whatever happens doesn't affect me. I firmly believe everyone should only gamble with "throw away money". If you can't afford to lose all the money you take in the casino, stay out of there. The casino is not your friend. They see you as a profit center. If they don't make a profit off you, they will find a way to make that happen. I'm fine with that arrangement as long as I am in control of how much I give them.

[onemoretry]

But, Phil, your 200+ word response did not really acknowledge that you contradicted yourself, nor, obviously, explain why.

[FloridaPhil]

But, Phil, your 200+ word response did not really acknowledge that you contradicted yourself, nor, obviously, explain why.

I am sorry if you did not comprehend my response. I admit I do not have as much patience as I should have.

I find it necessarily to over explain much of what I say on this forum. Sometimes I think I'm in some kind of alternative universe where gambling is the only thing that exists. We have experts who think it's a great idea to gamble for a living. We have mathematicians who can prove the unprovable. We have members who think investing or buying a home is dangerous. I would beam myself out of here, but I know there must be a few people here who think like I do. I hope so anyway.

[onemoretry]

I am sorry if you did not comprehend my response.....

I find it necessarily to over explain much of what I say on this forum.

I must confess that I do have a difficult time interpreting gobbledegook.

I guess it's never occurred to you that the reason you have to over explain yourself is that, often, what you have stated is, at the very least, a questionable conclusion, or, at the most, downright wrong.

[billryan]

Phil,
Is it just possible the reason isn't everyone asks you to explain your ideas is because they simply don't make sense and very often follow faulty logic to wrong conclusions?
As I often explained to my drunken patrons- it is possible that you are right and everyone else is wrong, but the "odds" are pretty slim.
This recent thread is a perfect example. Caught making two completely opposite statements, you can't admit you made an error. Instead ,you launch yet another misguided, and misguided attack on people you obviously don't like or understand, deliberately misrepresenting statements.
Calling you out for making incredibly stupid statements like you can invest in any stock, and sit back and collect six percent on your investment doesn't make someone anti-investment. It makes them anti-bullshit.
Everyone makes mistakes. Men admit theirs. Boys double down on them.

[FloridaPhil]

So be it. I have to live my life and others have to live theirs. I don't have to agree with everything they say and do and I don't expect them agree with me.

As far as the RNG is concerned, much of the testing methods, parameters and results are not disclosed. If the game manufacturers wanted us to have this information they would. It's like everything else in video poker. Claims are made with no real evidence to back them up. Machines are declared honest when no one knows what that means. Anyone with a video camera or a website can call themselves a expert. There are no qualifications or certifications that I know of. It all happens on faith.

I don't believe any of this, not do I care. All I want is to have a nice day away from the phone and the news channel. That's what I get.

[FloridaPhil]

Video poker is big enough for all kinds of players. This forum is no different. If you are a professional gambler or want to be like one, it shouldn't surprise you that some people don't agree with your decision. The last time I checked, gambling wasn't one of the top ten most successful career choices.

I asked for a separate forum eight years ago because I don't want to hear how someone can lose $10,000 in an afternoon and beat the casino. All I want to talk about on this forum is having a good time trying to beat the machine that's in front of me. I take from the experts the things that help me and leave the rest.

I don't post on the Strategy Forum. I'm not going to change any minds, so what's the purpose? So why do we have conflicts? Because a few members can't stand someone who plays video poker differently or has opinions other than their own. This started with the experts. Being called unintelligent, stupid or undisciplined is not a way to make friends or win converts.

My advice is this. If you don't want to hear what we post on the Recreational Forum, don't read what we post. I don't read anything that's on the Strategy Forum and it works for me. Players can pick the forum that works for them and we will have peace. What I am talking about is "tolerance".

Tolerance: the ability or willingness to tolerate something, in particular the existence of opinions or behavior that one does not necessarily agree with.

[Tedlark]

Phil, do you think (even in the most minimalist way) that some of what you write in the Recreational Forum is wrong? And when other forum members, regardless of their status (AP/Professional/Recreational/Whatever) try to point out what you wrote is wrong you then lash out at them? You'll then throw a "I play my way" cloak over whatever you wrote, thinking that will cover the wrong information you wrote in much the same manner as a person who puts a cover on a chair, trying to hide the gravy stain on the cushion?

[FloridaPhil]

I do not think I am always right. I do believe I have the right to disagree just as someone has the right to disagree with me. I have nothing to add to the discussion of Advantage Play except to say I don't believe it guarantees a profit. That's is why I don't post on the Strategy Forum.

We have different opinions on how to play the game. We even have different opinions on the purpose of playing the game. The game I play is not the game a professional plays. Because of this, there will always be differences of opinion. If I play single coin to stretch my money, it accomplished my goal. You may think it's wrong. Who is right? My rights end where your rights start and vice versa. That's the way the world is supposed to work.