Why do you play VP? - Do you go solo or with your significant other or someone else.

[Tedlark]

Phil, just a couple things -

Why, in your opinion, is it good gambling advice to walk into a casino believing you are going to lose? You are saying that a person should already be in a negative mindset even before playing?

You then go on to say that "Beating your head against the wall fighting a multi billion dollar industry is not your idea of entertainment" yet you say that you go to casinos to "be entertained?"

When you make contradictory statements like this do you really need to wonder why you get jumped on in the forums?

[advantage playe]

think and then talk ! don't talk and then think !

[FloridaPhil]

Phil, just a couple things -

Why, in your opinion, is it good gambling advice to walk into a casino believing you are going to lose? You are saying that a person should already be in a negative mindset even before playing?

You then go on to say that "Beating your head against the wall fighting a multi billion dollar industry is not your idea of entertainment" yet you say that you go to casinos to "be entertained?"

When you make contradictory statements like this do you really need to wonder why you get jumped on in the forums?

Ted, I think you are spitting hairs. The majority of today's video poker games are negative. Where I play VP, that means the house has a minimum 3% advantage. No Advantage Player would go anywhere near the games I have to play. This is the norm across most of this country. If it isn't where you play, it most likely will be soon. The best plan is to take the expert's advice and find something else to do with your leisure time. If you are going to play negative VP anyway, my advice will save you some money.

There are those on this forum who believe they can beat negative games by luck or by walking out ahead. I think they are lying to themselves. I am 100% positive every legitimate VP expert in the world would agree.

I avoid any and all gambling situations where losing money causes me anguish or the slightest feeling of depression. That is why I choose to play video poker small. I know for a fact that the casino will eventually beat my best effort. It's not because of any shortcomings on my part, it's because today's VP games are designed that way. I embrace this fact. Others may not and that's OK too.

I no longer have the need to convince everyone in the world to think like I do. I tried that and it's a waste of time. I do not call other members names or say they are unintelligent or undisciplined because they choose to play video poker different than I would. I think everyone should play VP any way they wish and accept that. If I die tomorrow, the world will continue to turn, the forum will go on and casinos will prosper. I would like to be remembered fondly by my friends and the people around me. The one thing I don't care about is being remembered as the greatest video poker player in the world.

[Tedlark]

I think that when a person walks out of a casino ahead they have beat a negative game, wouldn't you agree? That is; if they were playing a negative game of course.

In your response you made no mention of "Entertainment and being entertained" while you did mention a lot of other stuff not related to my questions.

[FloridaPhil]

Entertainment is where you find it. I have friends who think fishing is boring. I have other friends who can't wait to go. Going to a casino for a day is entertaining to me as long as it doesn't cause me to regret going. I enjoy the drive over and back. I enjoy the anticipation of the pot shots. I enjoy eating lunch with my friends and talking about the day's results. I can even enjoy a $50 quad deuce or a $62.50 royal. What I don't enjoy is watching my money disappear into a bill slot. It makes me feel stupid.

These days I play max coins. I don't do this because the odds are better or I think I will win more money. The stone cold fact is I will lose more money because my coin-in is five times bigger. My wife and I look forward to our mini vacations. This July we are flying out west for a week where we will mix travel and video poker. Most of our rooms will be comped. If I play single coin, they won't comp our rooms. I like getting comped rooms. The casino treats us good and frequently gives us show tickets, extra food vouchers or upgrades our room. These freebees make our losses palatable.

I could care less if someone on this forum beats the casino. I'm only concerned with our results. I have had lucky years too. I've made money playing single coin and lost money playing max coins. The casino always finds a way to take whatever I give them, so I give them as little as I can get away with. I hope that answers your questions.

[billryan]

After all these years, is it possible Phil simply doesn't get the whole coin in concept? If not, does anyone have any idea why he continues to make these claims?

[Tedlark]

Phil your latest post leads me to ask you this:

You write that "I could care less if someone on this forum beats the casino. I'm only concerned with our (I imagine you and your wife's) results."

Why is it then that you have repeatedly stated that you need to inform players that casinos are ultimately bad, they will lose lots of money, and that someone (You) need to tell them this?

Or words to that effect?

[FloridaPhil]

Why is it then that you have repeatedly stated that you need to inform players that casinos are ultimately bad, they will lose lots of money, and that someone (You) need to tell them this? Or words to that effect?

I gave up that pursuit. Players can decide for themselves what's best for them. I will continue to talk about what happens when I play and why I play the way I do.

[FloridaPhil]

After all these years, is it possible Phil simply doesn't get the whole coin in concept? If not, does anyone have any idea why he continues to make these claims?

Bill, my challenge is still open if you would like to take me up on it.

[Jstark]

What I don't enjoy is watching my money disappear into a bill slot. It makes me feel stupid.

Then, as I've said a bunch of times, STAY HOME! Because all of it WILL disappear in that slot. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But it WILL happen.

People with your mindset have no business being in a casino.