I NEVER win playing video poker anymore.

[SaraTG]

    I am finding all these replies very interesting because there are those in the casino industry and even on the forum here who will swear the video poker games are completely random and monitored etc etc but as someone who has played video poker machines since they first were invented..1978? 1979? And who has played literally millions of hands I can sense when things are not right.  As we all know poker machines in bars and clubs are outside of government control and are considered amusement devices.   When I worked long ago the one man I worked for had video poker machines in his strip clubs and bars and he was showing me one day how you could adjust the payout percentage on them and most were set very low. You were basically throwing your money away. Playing them you could just tell they were "dead".  As I got older and played in real casinos you could notice the difference and see the machines hit more regularly and were "looser". You got use to that and could "feel" the difference. Well as others mention in this thread you can "feel" when something is not right. When you dump in bill after bill and hit nothing. Not just on one machine for one day but all over the casino for extended periods. Something has changed. I for one feel that no amount of random "testing" could detect some sort of deeply rooted "hidden" sub-program and even the wording on the casinos own websites make it seem the machines are programed in some manner.

[BillyJoe]

    I am finding all these replies very interesting because there are those in the casino industry and even on the forum here who will swear the video poker games are completely random and monitored etc etc but as someone who has played video poker machines since they first were invented..1978? 1979? And who has played literally millions of hands I can sense when things are not right.  As we all know poker machines in bars and clubs are outside of government control and are considered amusement devices.   When I worked long ago the one man I worked for had video poker machines in his strip clubs and bars and he was showing me one day how you could adjust the payout percentage on them and most were set very low. You were basically throwing your money away. Playing them you could just tell they were "dead".  As I got older and played in real casinos you could notice the difference and see the machines hit more regularly and were "looser". You got use to that and could "feel" the difference. Well as others mention in this thread you can "feel" when something is not right. When you dump in bill after bill and hit nothing. Not just on one machine for one day but all over the casino for extended periods. Something has changed. I for one feel that no amount of random "testing" could detect some sort of deeply rooted "hidden" sub-program and even the wording on the casinos own websites make it seem the machines are programed in some manner.
Sara, if you play in a big casino town like Las Vegas, and really feel that way, I would recommend that you contact the Nevada Gaming Commission, and see if they can provide you with some information, one way or the other, as to whether the VP machines under their control are random or 'programmable'.

[SaraTG]

Sara, if you play in a big casino town like Las Vegas, and really feel that way, I would recommend that you contact the Nevada Gaming Commission, and see if they can provide you with some information, one way or the other, as to whether the VP machines under their control are random or 'programmable'.


    
    As if the Illuminati would allow them to say. 

[BobDancer]

] No one should EVER play video poker with the hope or intention of winning or coming out ahead in the long run.
 You're kidding, right? My belief is that no one should EVER play video poker unless they are the favorite --- including pay schedule, slot club, promotions, mailers, drawings, etc.  You use that methodology and gain the skills to play accurately, you will usually have winning years. You will almost certainly be a long term winner. But this does require significant changes in the way you play. The techniques to win at video poker are fairly well known. Disciplined people who study and practice before they go into the casino can be very successful. "Recreational" and/or "unknowledgeable" people are usually not successful. Video poker is a learnable skill for many people (a certain level of intelligence is required. Not everybody can "get it.") Probably you can win if you apply yourself. Are you willing to do that? Bob    

[ravenbynight111]

 I think Mr Dancer you have a point if you can play full time and have many casinos to chose from, and where the action is.All pro players know were the machines are tight and who has the loose machines. We live in a information world.A lot of folks on this site play maybe play 10 or so times a year. When i sit in a casino for hours on and I never see anybody hitting jackpots, that tells me something. There was a time i knew i was going to win when I hit the casino. Nice to talk to you,have a great evening

[BillyJoe]

[QUOTE=SaraTG]] No one should EVER play video poker with the hope or intention of winning or coming out ahead in the long run.
 My belief is that no one should EVER play video poker unless they are the favorite --- including pay schedule, slot club, promotions, mailers, drawings, etc.
 [/QUOTE]
Casinos would be emptied of all VP machines, Bob, if everyone took that advice. They would be a wasteland of slot machines only.
 
Most of us play at a disadvantage to the casino if we want to play VP, especially at casinos with good Player Club Programs.  

[ginfre]

With the exception of Bob Dancer, billyjoe, a few others,  as an observer, I'd say the fun comes from playing bonus poker as the HIGHEST LEVEL OF RISK GAME, and knowing that game as well as you can.  Then, play that game with the best paytable you can find, with the best promos as Bob Dancer is referring too, and you will get a sore seat.  If you go into the big risk games that's the honey money for the casinos.  Gosh, ya know, you just gotta see two coins for two pair!  This is a base need.  Then you can win and sit and have fun, watch the pay table, though.  Also, if those who have commented regarding playing since the late 70's and such, well, lots of these high risk games weren't around then.  And, finally, look at the trend.  Why?  Look at society.  The End.

[SaraTG]

[QUOTE=SaraTG]] No one should EVER play video poker with the hope or intention of winning or coming out ahead in the long run.
 
You're kidding, right?
 Video poker is a learnable skill for many people (a certain level of intelligence is required. Not everybody can "get it.") Probably you can win if you apply yourself. Are you willing to do that?[/QUOTE]
 
  No I am not kidding. It is simply a fact. Yes it is a learnable skill to know which hands to go for which have the greatest chance of coming out but once you have learned that nothing you can do can increase the level of your winning. Even the casinos and game/machine makers and programers will tell you flat out in the long run you will lose more than you win.  If it were possible as you claim to be able to become smart enough to consistently have winning results and years playing video poker machines the casino industry and game makers would be beating that into the ground as a marketing ploy to encourage you to come and play and "learn" so you could somehow reach this level of expertise. The reason the don't is because that would be a lie. You CAN'T come out ahead in the long run playing video poker simply by "learning" and "applying" yourself.  Maybe if you get lucky and have a few unexpected big jackpots along the way it will tilt the percentage but aside from those non-skill "luck" wins you WILL lose more than you win the longer you play.   If you believe otherwise you are either, A) Lying. B)  Fooling yourself to think this so you can increase your self importance or ego. Or C) Promoting casinos or video poker "learning" programs for profit.
 
   As I said if it were possible to master this "skill" to a level where you would win consistently that fact would be a marketing ploy for every casino.  I could give you links to casinos websites where they flat out state you WILL lose more than you win in the long run. Here endeth the lesson.

[spxChrome]

I didn't read beyond the original posters thread.  But I will say I agree.  The games have changed.  I keep records, but you really don't have to keep records to spot the trend.  Me and 2 of my friends all play over 1 million hands a year a piece.  And you are correct you pretty much have to flop a hand-pay these days.  And its not just us we hear it from all the locals.  You used to be able to play a good 6-8 hour session of 10/6 DDB or 9/7 TDB and win or loose a bit.  Nowadays you loose your bankroll within the first hour or two.  I know people will jump me about this and that go ahead I am just speaking from real life experience.  So it won't change what is happening.  And thats what I go by, not what is "suppose" to happen.

[BillyJoe]

 
   As I said if it were possible to master this "skill" to a level where you would win consistently that fact would be a marketing ploy for every casino.  I could give you links to casinos websites where they flat out state you WILL lose more than you win in the long run. Here endeth the lesson.
Sara, please post one of those web page links. I, honestly, have never read that on a casino-authored website.