Something to Think About

The lighter side... playing for entertainment, less concerned about "the math."
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FloridaPhil
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Re: Something to Think About

Post by FloridaPhil »

olds442jetaway wrote:
Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:47 pm
Getting back to comps and casino offers for a moment, I wonder if casinos use programs like LexisNexis Risk Solutions to look into our personal lives and using some formula come up with a factor or chance that giving some players better offers than others will line casino’s pockets better regardless of the patron’s current play level.
There is software available to track everything you do. Data is one of the highest priced commodities in the world right now. Facebook, Twitter and a dozen other entities sell your data on a daily basis. I own stock in a company called Salesforce (CRM) that is a leader in customer-relationship management applications focused on customer service, marketing automation, analytics, and application development. It's a great company with a terrific future.

When we go on our comped trips, most of the people with us are affluent seniors. I am sure the casinos know the net worth of every individual they invite. I rarely see anyone in the high limit room. Just because someone has the resources to do stupid things doesn't mean they will. A lot of women are like my wife, if they are losing they go shopping in the casino stores. My wife says she wants something for her money other than memories. This works for her.

If you are a senior video poker player who plays a lot of hands and you aren't getting offers, you should find out why. Go to the player's club and ask what they will offer you. Most casinos have a website where you can set up an account to track your comps. Comps that you can use are part of your winnings. Comps that you don't want or need are worthless.

OTABILL
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Post by OTABILL »

Why does this thread remind me of the movie Groundhog Day?

tech58
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Post by tech58 »

Jstark wrote:
Fri Apr 10, 2020 7:05 am
I don't want comps nor would that be my goal. I want cash! Casino crap, including food at their restaurants, is way way overpriced. I also don't care about "free" (and we all know this stuff isn't free) rooms, suites, trinkets, etc. I'd rather pay cash for these things and be unknown to the casinos marketing departments. If I could go back in time, I'd never sign up for club cards.
JS agree totally about the "free stuff". The only thing i count at all are gas cards,cash back, and premium play. With no card in, these three combined,per month, = Zero.
With top card in,where i play, the combined total can range from apx.- $840 to apx.- $3640 per month.
Significant? It is in my league.
Their computerized player rating system determines where you fall in that range, and it is not based on coin-in only.
As mentioned before we are working to break the code of this system.
This of course is irrelevant to non-card AP's who want to stay under the radar for good and lucrative reasons like you have
For the rest of us the $30K+/year difference could impact our ER.
Despite the fact that it doesn't seem to concern anyone else, our research continues.
Well,someday, maybe. :)

Webman
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Post by Webman »

seemoreroyals wrote:
Sat Apr 11, 2020 12:28 pm
Thank you Webman and New2vp. Did not realize it was only $20 a year more above the gold membership. Sounds reasonable to me. I think I will do the trial run and fork over the $20. To Webman: Is the $20 per year billed separately from the gold membership or can you pro rate so that you are only billed once a year for both? If possible I would rather pay once a year.
Pro Training can be purchased (and billed) separately if you just want training, however if you are already Gold and want Pro Training, you'll definitely want to upgrade to Pro Membership, which will then only bill once a year like your normal membership (or monthly if you prefer).

davidearl
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Post by davidearl »

Phil said "Years ago it was possible to make a decent living playing Video Poker. Today it's impossible."

In my experience, you are wrong. In my experience, the math works for me. I don't recall Bob Dancer or anyone else saying you can make a living playing video poker. Most advantage players I know, myself included, have other sources of income. A business (me), retirement (me), job, working spouse, and investments (me). For the last 10 years I have made money playing video poker, each year. Only 3 W-2G's in that time.
Phil says "The casino doesn't want players to live off them."

In my experience, you are wrong. Some casinos do, some don't. My casino receives a lot of great free publicity because of their playable pay tables. None of us is famous. At least not as much as you! In my experience, the math still is working for me.
Phil says "The problem with today's video poker is, the math won't help you."
In my experience you are wrong. The math works for me. (Gotta get a nickel to tape onto the record player arm) Ten straight years, Phil. I only play when a promo gives me an advantage. When the promo is over, I'm done. I go home.

FloridaPhil
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Post by FloridaPhil »

davidearl wrote:
Sun Apr 12, 2020 12:58 am
Phil said "Years ago it was possible to make a decent living playing Video Poker. Today it's impossible."

In my experience, you are wrong. In my experience, the math works for me. I don't recall Bob Dancer or anyone else saying you can make a living playing video poker. Most advantage players I know, myself included, have other sources of income. A business (me), retirement (me), job, working spouse, and investments (me). For the last 10 years I have made money playing video poker, each year. Only 3 W-2G's in that time.
Phil says "The casino doesn't want players to live off them."

In my experience, you are wrong. Some casinos do, some don't. My casino receives a lot of great free publicity because of their playable pay tables. None of us is famous. At least not as much as you! In my experience, the math still is working for me.
Phil says "The problem with today's video poker is, the math won't help you."
In my experience you are wrong. The math works for me. (Gotta get a nickel to tape onto the record player arm) Ten straight years, Phil. I only play when a promo gives me an advantage. When the promo is over, I'm done. I go home.
David. Thanks for the comments. Our personal opinions are based on experience. This is not a Vegas forum. We have players that play video poker in all parts of the country. I have traveled all over this country playing in every casino I could. If I lived in Vegas, I would play video poker at Red Rock and Southpoint. The last time I was there, those casinos seemed to have the best odds and comps. I am sure there are other casinos nearby that may have even better games, comps and incentives. Some may even be out of Nevada. Those casinos are over 2000 miles from my home in Florida. By the time my wife and I buy plane tickets, it would wipe out all our potential profit.

You are posting on the Recreational Forum. I asked for this forum over eight years ago and my request was granted. The reason I asked for this forum is so players who don't have the advantages or skills you have would have a place to discuss topics more relevant to us. My posts are often misunderstood by members like yourself. We only know what we know. In our world, all casino games have a significant house edge. The comps we receive are not nearly enough to overcome that edge. Our world is expanding while yours is contracting. You must admit the opportunities you have today are not as good as they were twenty years ago. They won't be as good in the future either.

I do not know Bob Dancer. I have never met him. What I do know is gambling is addictive. I would never enter into a business that had serious human consequences. I wouldn't sell vaping to kids, tobacco or liquor either. If I were a professional player like yourself, I would keep what I do and how I do it to myself. I believe it does serious harm to some people and families to lead them to believe video poker is profitable. I would rather have them believe it isn't so they could concentrate on playing more hands and receiving more comps for their money.

My goal when I go to the casino is different than yours, it has to be. I enjoy playing video poker on this website for free. I enjoy playing at my local casino not because I believe there is potential profit to be made, I enjoy the casino experience. My wife and I both play video poker. We enjoy travel. We have crisscrossed the country many times. Video poker allows us to stay in beautiful resorts either for free or at a discount.

I don't believe I am going to change many minds on this forum. Those that play video poker dreaming of profits will never be convinced. A very small group of players do profit, most of us don't. What I am attempting to do is provide alternative ways to enjoy the casino without losing a lot of money. This has value to many of us. You would think someone like a Bob Dancer would applaud these strategies. My strategies are not good for casinos, they are good for players who play negative games.

I am sure you and others will make negative comments about my post. This will not deter me from doing what I believe is right. Gambling for profit has consequences. Not all of them are positive.

onemoretry
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Post by onemoretry »

FloridaPhil wrote:
Sun Apr 12, 2020 5:39 am
I am sure you and others will make negative comments about my post.
Here are a couple of quick jabs so you won't be disappointed.

Why did you feel it necessary to say that this is not a Las Vegas forum?

Your statement reminding the poster that this is the recreational forum seems to imply that he (or she) is ineligible to post here because they have done their due diligence, and figured out how to take best advantage of what the casino offers. Does that mean we all have to play and think like you to qualify to participate in what you obviously think is "Your" forum?

You called the poster a professional. Do you consider that a successful recreational player is automatically a "professional"? For that matter, why do you assume that the motives of a more successful player must differ from yours?

I could go on and on, but there probably isn't any point.

Tedlark
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Post by Tedlark »

Phil, your posts aren't really misunderstood by most of us. You only want to think that we all misunderstand your posts because you can always use that as an out when someone here calls you out on something you wrote.

Poster X: Phil, yada, yada, yada about something you wrote.

Phil: Oh no you idiot, you completely misunderstood what I wrote. I meant this.....and then you correct whatever fault one of us found.

FloridaPhil
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Post by FloridaPhil »

Today is Easter Sunday, a day of celebration for many of us. I was raised by people who believed we should care about others. I do not want bad things to happen to anyone. My greatest fear is someone will read what I post on this forum and conclude they should gamble for profit.

Some of my brethren believe all gambling is wrong. I do not share in this belief. My wife drinks a little wine at dinner. This does not make her an alcoholic. Thousands of years ago, God gave us ten laws. A little thievery, adultery, murder or idolatry is forbidden. I do not see anything in God's commandments about playing video poker. In my opinion, selling products on the basis of turning gambling into a source of income is immoral. Even if a few people benefit, you are profiting from the misery of others. Teachers can teach players how to be better players without claiming profits are guaranteed by math.

This current world crisis should show us that nothing is safe. There is only one way out and that is to work together for the betterment of everyone, not just a few APs.

olds442jetaway
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Post by olds442jetaway »

Everyone stay safe and well. Today is a day for reflection and celebration. David brought back a memory for me today. We placed a penny on the arm of the record player so it wouldn’t skip. Boy do I miss Radio Shack and going there with a bag of tubes to test with my dad. I actually bought my first stereo system from them. The speakers were beautiful solid walnut. Impossible to get today. Actually still have them in the attic. The rest of the system is long gone. One of my favorite records that I still have by the way is Sound of the drags 1964. When I cranked it up, you thought you were there. Can’t say as my mom liked it much, but she tolerated it. Sorry no vp talk for me today except my well wishes.

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