THE SWITCH

[tech58]

Rather than locking yet another thread, I've deleted the recent posts that were purely personal instead of adding to a group discussion.

Thank you. I would like to see more members initiate their own posts. Surely their must be something going on in our casinos that we can talk about?

How about this? The food at the Tampa Hard Rock coffee shop is great!

Great idea FP.
Bad buttons is a sore spot with me because i found out that leaving a machine soon after i put my card in negatively affects my rating and my comps. Which leads to this thought. My hosts are vague about how the system works. I don,t know what to expect and would like to see a thread to learn more in this ares that is important to our total return. will try to remember to start one. Anyone else, kick it off .
The casino is not our friend. WE are.

[rascal]

BTW, in most cases sticky buttons are just a matter of the connection not being tight.

Any attendant can open the machine and go right to the problem button and push the connector to make it tighter. No tech needed for this one. This works for sticky buttons and non-op buttons.

If the attendant is reluctant, just have them open the machine and point to the correct connector for them, and they will actually learn something. I do this all the time. I have only had ONE attendant flatly refuse me, instead reporting the problem to a tech for "eventual" repair.

I find that VP machine buttons are in worse shape than slot buttons because there are many VP players who slap the buttons or otherwise abuse them.

I agree with Case that as long as a casino can make a profit off of VP they will continue to offer it. Some casinos heavily favor slots while other casinos have a more balanced offering of slots, VP, table games, etc. It really just depends on the market.

[FloridaPhil]

I'm not complaining about the odds, they are what they are. I would like to ask a casino manager and the game manufacturers how they feel about video poker? Do they like these games on their floor or not?

Except for early in the morning or late at night, the machines I play are always full. Video poker players run a lot more money through the machines than a slot player. The management knows these machine are in bad shape, why not send a technician to check them out on a regular basis? On Friday the guy playing next to me knocked his drink over on his keyboard. Within two minutes they sent someone to wipe it up. I was a computer technician for many years and this machine was going to have problems.

It's not just my casinos. It's a problem almost everywhere. If the machines are being played, why take them out? I assume the game manufacturers still make them?

[case]

Phil, do you put the service light on and get the machine fixed. Trust me, it works.

My local casino is a caesars. Odds are better than caesars in Vegas but not great. I only use them to accumulate free rooms and food. Every Tuesday they offer a 7 x reward credit for platinum,10 x for diamond and 15 x for seven stars.

By the way I am in Vegas now but staying free at Orleans. I was in three tournaments this past week. Heading home Saturday

[FloridaPhil]

Phil, do you put the service light on and get the machine fixed. Trust me, it works.

Yes, I have done this a few times. If they are not too busy, they fix it. The Tampa casino is one of the busiest casinos in the country. Getting a tech is a challenge.

[tech58]

Phil, do you put the service light on and get the machine fixed. Trust me, it works.

Yes, I have done this a few times. If they are not too busy, they fix it. The Tampa casino is one of the busiest casinos in the country. Getting a tech is a challenge.

I have seen service people respond to the light,do nothing, open the machine sure but only to sign the records sheet,and leave. This happens about 30% of the time.
Another 30% of the time they play with connectors,sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
Another 30% they call for help and usually get it, at least for a day or two.
10% of the time i give up waiting.
I should have noted earlier that i usually write a note on a bar napkin (arrow pointing to bad button) and move. So i am not waiting at the bad machine, i am playing a machine or two away. Waiting at the machine only wastes my time and never seemed to alter the drill.

[FloridaPhil]

I never play any video poker machine with sticky buttons. Nothing good ever comes from it.

[tech58]

I never play any video poker machine with sticky buttons. Nothing good ever comes from it.

I agree.
While i have literally 150-200 full pay JOB"s to choose from, only 2 of them have $2. I battle stickies on these bar machines every time i step it up. Sometimes they are a way-point on the road to tap-out city.
Other times a savior. Proportion of each being no better or worse than most of the veterans here.
So i check these 2 upon arrival and light up the red light, sometimes it even works.

[FAA]

Only 2 of 200 let you lose BR at an alarming rate? First world problems, Exhibit A.

[tech58]

Only 2 of 200 let you lose BR at an alarming rate? First world problems, Exhibit A.

Huh?