Video Poker Forum

At least in the casino where I play and probably most others, the paytables are much better on single line games than multi hand games or spin poker games. In addition, the spin poker hand games usually have better paytables than multi hand games. Why the difference because in the long run, the return would be the same for the casino if all paytables were equal? Two things come to mind for me. Maybe the casinos do not want the exposure to big payouts for dealt premium hands on multi line games. Second, if one plays a Martingale system or something similar, you have much more flexibility on going up or down on your bets and lines or hands than on single line games. Still in the long run, everything should average out. I especially don't understand why they would pay better on spin poker games than multi hand games. I know there are differences in variance between all 3 types of games, but still long term everything should come out equal if the paytables are identical. Any thoughts appreciated.

I think it is more like avoiding exposure to large payouts such as dealt quads. Otherwise, from playing around multi hand games here, it also allows you to stay in the game longer on average, at least with Jacks or Better.

For me, my gripe is with the paytable differences between the quarter and dollar denominations.

As for the spin poker anomaly, I'm not entirely sure why myself, but I've definitely seen it often.

Also another thing is, at least where I'm located, people are more willing to play the multiline and gimmick games, so they can get away with offering worse paytables.

well I do not know what paytables you all are seeing, but in AC, the multi line gimmick games (say for instance Multi line Quick Quads or Dreamcard, or Super times pray, or Ultimate four of a kind), the payouts for the QUADS are the same as single line games,  but payouts for things like fullhouses and flushes are slashed to crapola.    That's what I see at places like Harahahahas, and Taj Mahell, etc.

Yep, that is where the big difference is. Full houses and flushes. That can bring the returns down from 99% to as low as 95% on some machines although I am not sure any of that matters anymore. I base that on my experiences with 98 and 99 percent machines consistantly returning 95-97 themselves and in the short run much lower than that.

I just enjoy playing jacks or better. I am new to the video poker game but play a lot of video Keno myself.
I would love to see more Keno Tournaments for Silver Level Members like myself

Often better odds can be had by playing single coin at a higher denomination over playing max coin quarters.  I have seen the difference as high as 2% even with the royal penalty.   I have also seen casinos block the coin bet button so you have to play max coins all the time or even set the royal bonus at 10 coins or more. Sneaky ...

I haven't been to Foxwoods in awhile, but last time I was there, they had the correct payout for the Royal on 10 coins in instead of five on quite a few machines and in the High Limit section of all places. For that reason and many others including poorer paytables, excessive smoke, and greater driving distance, it has been 10 months since I have played there. The only thing I miss that they have is hundred play penny machines that do pay the correct amount for the Royal for 5 cents bet.

I can accept most casino cost cutting shenanigans, but setting the royal bonus higher than 5 coins is going too far in my opinion.  When I run into that situation, I walk out and don't go back.

I've read from Wizard of Vegas that not all VP machines at Foxwoods require a 10 credit bet for the 800 credit royal flush, some are set to 5 credit. It seems where Foxwoods has the edge over Mohegan Sun is they offer fast growing progressive VP games (M.S. has a few?) and you can get generous club card cash back on all the video poker machines and not just the short pay ones. The better paying paytables start at dollar denomination at Foxwoods, so M.S. excels for quarter players.

I am from outside the New England area, but for the time being, I can handle short sessions of $5 a hand so I'd go with Foxwoods since they offer cashback.

On another note, the two giant casinos take their rivalry on the baseball field as well from watching nationally televised games. I see Mohegan Sun placards on the backstop of Yankee Stadium and along the outfield walls and the mezzanines. I see a huge Foxwoods logo on the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Boston.