Any ideas why?

[ko king]

The pause happens periodically so that the video poker and slots machine can do internal auditing for record keeping purposes before allowing the game to continue.

The older the machine, the longer it takes. Usually slot machines are replaced more often than video poker machines thus it is more noticeable on VP than slots. My local casino has newer Game King models so the pause happens in a split second. Vegas locals casinos have the older machines in which make the pauses more noticeable. Video poker players play at a faster pace hence they run into these periodic updates.

On one of the gambling with an edge episodes from late 2014, Mr. Dancer has addressed this topic before talking to the guest coming in from fan mail. I forgot which episode it was.

Thanks for the answer, not sure if it fits the actual situation though. The machines really aren't that old, in fact there are two casinos that have some dinosaurs and I've never noticed a pause. The more I think about having played for over 20 years I don't remember the "pause in play" ever being an issue. I was leaning more toward a central server issue because this casino has more vp machines than any of the other casinos. In any case I don't think there's anything sinister going on it's just annoying and one of the reasons I don't play there very often.

[FloridaPhil]

I am an old networking guy and have seen this many times. Video Poker machines are computers and they are all tethered to the main server so they can tally your play, download free play, keep records, Etc.  Sometimes the server is busy and it takes a few tries to exchange the packets.  The frequency and length of these pauses depends on many factors like the age of the game machines or the server, the condition and type of cabling, the complexity of the software and occasionally outside interference.  I don't think there's anything devious connected to these pauses.  

[ko king]

I am an old networking guy and have seen this many times. Video Poker machines are computers and they are all tethered to the main server so they can tally your play, download free play, keep records, Etc.  Sometimes the server is busy and it takes a few tries to exchange the packets.  The frequency and length of these pauses depends on many factors like the age of the game machines or the server, the condition and type of cabling, the complexity of the software and occasionally outside interference.  I don't think there's anything devious connected to these pauses.  




The machines are some of the newer ones in this area so that's why I was thinking it was a server or just the fact that they have so many vp machines. My guess is that if a casino was going to go the devious route it wouldn't be that easy to see, at least that's what I told the couple from Reno.

[FAA]

With all this server agita and aggravation, I better see a RF this quarter.

[ddbplayahhh]

I understand the periodic pause. That has always happened, but it's infrequent and pre-deal. It is different from what is happening now at CET casinos. The current scenario is much more frequent, like every 5-10 minutes, and occurs post deal prior to holding cards. It's like a 5 second pause...long enough to think the machine has died. The hold/deal lights go out. When they come back on you can then play on. It affects rhythm of play and is really annoying. It started happening after CET replaced all their video poker machines. I've never seen this in any other casino despite playing in other casinos with new machines. I just find it strange.

[pokerpokerpoker]

I had heard that it happens every 100 hands. It is just the machine tallying up the recent results. At my local, the pause lasts 2 or 3 seconds and happens every ten minutes or so.

[ko king]

I understand the periodic pause. That has always happened, but it's infrequent and pre-deal. It is different from what is happening now at CET casinos. The current scenario is much more frequent, like every 5-10 minutes, and occurs post deal prior to holding cards. It's like a 5 second pause...long enough to think the machine has died. The hold/deal lights go out. When they come back on you can then play on. It affects rhythm of play and is really annoying. It started happening after CET replaced all their video poker machines. I've never seen this in any other casino despite playing in other casinos with new machines. I just find it strange.

I wonder if it's just CET properties. I have played for over 20 years and I've never seen machines do this. We have 13 casinos in this area and it only happens at the CET owned property, The machines at the casino are newer so age doesn't play a part, it's very annoying.

[ko king]

I had heard that it happens every 100 hands. It is just the machine tallying up the recent results. At my local, the pause lasts 2 or 3 seconds and happens every ten minutes or so.

CET property?

[FAA]

If it was every 100 hands, I could handle it. Today I didn't get it. Happy to head home w nominal loss.

[JT]

It used to happen all the time back in the 90's, when the server tracking on the rudimentary player's card systems was really slow. It's been happening now at the CET properties in AC since they upgraded all their VP and upgraded their TR card system. I'm guessing their network just can't keep up with the new systems. Everything old is new again.

It's really irritating because it does break the flow. And I see people WHACKING on the buttons when it happens. Which is really good for the machines and my ears.