Hey Everyone! I am interested in documenting my sessions not only to track my bankroll (wins and losses), but how often certain top hands hit while I'm out and about. Does anyone utilize anything like this? and if so, does someone have a template they wouldn't mind sharing...
Sometimes I am amazed by numbers...
Documenting your Sessions
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cddenver
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:54 pm
This is what I track:
Date
Casino
$, Won/Lost
$, Cash Comps
$, Non-cash Comps
Session Start Time
Session Length
Time Played, by Denomination ($.05 - $5)
For each nice hit I get, I make a note of:
Time, rounded to nearest minute
Type (5's-K's, bonus quad, Aces, kicker or no kicker, etc.)
Game (DB, DDB, BP, Deuces, etc.)
Denomination
I take notes on my PDA, using an application I wrote some years ago and that simplifies my notetaking - the application saves my session info in .CSV format. When I get home, the PDA gets plopped into its cradle and I copy the session file to a new tab in my yearly play spreadsheet model. I then run a macro that links the new info to different places in my model.
Date
Casino
$, Won/Lost
$, Cash Comps
$, Non-cash Comps
Session Start Time
Session Length
Time Played, by Denomination ($.05 - $5)
For each nice hit I get, I make a note of:
Time, rounded to nearest minute
Type (5's-K's, bonus quad, Aces, kicker or no kicker, etc.)
Game (DB, DDB, BP, Deuces, etc.)
Denomination
I take notes on my PDA, using an application I wrote some years ago and that simplifies my notetaking - the application saves my session info in .CSV format. When I get home, the PDA gets plopped into its cradle and I copy the session file to a new tab in my yearly play spreadsheet model. I then run a macro that links the new info to different places in my model.
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ginxxxx
- Senior Member
- Posts: 266
- Joined: Thu Aug 31, 2006 4:30 pm
This is what I track:
Date
Casino
$, Won/Lost
$, Cash Comps
$, Non-cash Comps
Session Start Time
Session Length
Time Played, by Denomination ($.05 - $5)
For each nice hit I get, I make a note of:
Time, rounded to nearest minute
Type (5's-K's, bonus quad, Aces, kicker or no kicker, etc.)
Game (DB, DDB, BP, Deuces, etc.)
Denomination
I take notes on my PDA, using an application I wrote some years ago and that simplifies my notetaking - the application saves my session info in .CSV format. When I get home, the PDA gets plopped into its cradle and I copy the session file to a new tab in my yearly play spreadsheet model. I then run a macro that links the new info to different places in my model.
.Wow. that is so cool. Do you get to a casino pretty often? My tracking method usually goes like this: I go into the casino with a set amount of play money for the time I have, if I win, I might cash it out, put the cashout slip in my pocket, put in new money and keep playing, When the time is up or the play money running out, I stop playing for that session. I like your method, but it sounds like a lot of work.
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shadowman
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 3587
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:42 pm
Keeping good records is not that much work if you are prepared. Just like CD I have a spreadsheet with much the same info he provided. All I take with me to the casino is a preformated 3x5 card. I just fill in the blanks as I go along and then insert them into the spreadsheet when I get home.
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clwn2
- Senior Member
- Posts: 192
- Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:35 am
This is what I track:
I take notes on my PDA, using an application I wrote some years ago and that simplifies my notetaking - the application saves my session info in .CSV format. When I get home, the PDA gets plopped into its cradle and I copy the session file to a new tab in my yearly play spreadsheet model. I then run a macro that links the new info to different places in my model.
I have been thinking about getting a PDA myself. Any suggestion on what kind to get. I am needing help with CRS syndrome.
Thanks in advance...
I take notes on my PDA, using an application I wrote some years ago and that simplifies my notetaking - the application saves my session info in .CSV format. When I get home, the PDA gets plopped into its cradle and I copy the session file to a new tab in my yearly play spreadsheet model. I then run a macro that links the new info to different places in my model.
I have been thinking about getting a PDA myself. Any suggestion on what kind to get. I am needing help with CRS syndrome.
Thanks in advance...
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cddenver
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:54 pm
Wow. that is so cool. Do you get to a casino pretty often? My tracking method usually goes like this: I go into the casino with a set amount of play money for the time I have, if I win, I might cash it out, put the cashout slip in my pocket, put in new money and keep playing, When the time is up or the play money running out, I stop playing for that session. I like your method, but it sounds like a lot of work.
I get in anywhere from 150-180 sessions a year. My session-by-session notetaking is pretty easy, it takes only a few seconds to take down the info for individual nice hits. What's been the most work is my spreadsheet model, which I've spent a few hundred hours on over the years. The little PDA app I wrote isn't any great shakes but I'm proud of it because it's a new technology I learned after I retired. Who say's an old dog can't learn new tricks?
I'll tell you some of the benefits recordkeeping has had for me. The first two years I played, I kept no records at all. Once I started keeping records, the first thing I saw was that most of my losing was coming at the tail end of longer sessions. Fatigue would set in, and I'd start making poor money decisions - mainly trying to salvage losing sessions with a quick "I'm due!" hit on high denomination play; also being too greedy in winning sessions after hitting an early big winner or two. Nowadays it's unusual for me to have a session longer than 3 hours; when I was younger I felt cheated if I didn't get 5-6 hours in.
Another benefit is that I know my average $ won and lost. In a given session I may have not have hit any real big winners, but if I have some play in and I'm above my average $ won I bug out. Same thing on the flip side - I may be down, but less than my average $ lost. Both numbers give me something to shoot for as goals in a session.
I get in anywhere from 150-180 sessions a year. My session-by-session notetaking is pretty easy, it takes only a few seconds to take down the info for individual nice hits. What's been the most work is my spreadsheet model, which I've spent a few hundred hours on over the years. The little PDA app I wrote isn't any great shakes but I'm proud of it because it's a new technology I learned after I retired. Who say's an old dog can't learn new tricks?
I'll tell you some of the benefits recordkeeping has had for me. The first two years I played, I kept no records at all. Once I started keeping records, the first thing I saw was that most of my losing was coming at the tail end of longer sessions. Fatigue would set in, and I'd start making poor money decisions - mainly trying to salvage losing sessions with a quick "I'm due!" hit on high denomination play; also being too greedy in winning sessions after hitting an early big winner or two. Nowadays it's unusual for me to have a session longer than 3 hours; when I was younger I felt cheated if I didn't get 5-6 hours in.
Another benefit is that I know my average $ won and lost. In a given session I may have not have hit any real big winners, but if I have some play in and I'm above my average $ won I bug out. Same thing on the flip side - I may be down, but less than my average $ lost. Both numbers give me something to shoot for as goals in a session.
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cddenver
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:54 pm
I have been thinking about getting a PDA myself. Any suggestion on what kind to get. I am needing help with CRS syndrome.
Thanks in advance...
Mine's old enough that it isn't made any more, plus it's just a PDA. I haven't had any problems with it, but when I buy my next one it'll have all the doodads - cell phone, camera, Wi-Fi, GPS, and anything else I didn't mention. Probably cost less than what I've put into my Ipaq over the years...I don't think anyone still makes "straight" PDAs, anyway.
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EDC1977
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2001
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:12 pm
Wow! Some years I get in a lot of sessions and other years, only when I got to LV for sweepstakes in bowling(twice yearly).Usually when i'm at the casino,I'm there to get away from reality to adult Disney if you will so I don't bother to take notes etc. Foolish you say? My minimum annual gaming losses total $400 or less. Since I do short form, I couldn't benefit from claiming losses just yet. Definitely something to think about for the future though!
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cddenver
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2269
- Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 9:54 pm
Wow! Some years I get in a lot of sessions and other years, only when I got to LV for sweepstakes in bowling(twice yearly).Usually when i'm at the casino,I'm there to get away from reality to adult Disney if you will so I don't bother to take notes etc. Foolish you say? My minimum annual gaming losses total $400 or less. Since I do short form, I couldn't benefit from claiming losses just yet. Definitely something to think about for the future though!
Shorter sessions have really helped my long-term numbers. With less play in a session my avg $ won in a winning session has gone down some over the years, but in return my avg $ lost in a losing session has gone down a LOT.
It's a fun transition from real world to Disney, isn't it? That's the only outfit that doesn't yet have a Vegas operation. Maybe someday they will, and we'll see Mickey getting a few hands in during his lunch break. Oops, as an employee he wouldn't be able to play there, would he?
Shorter sessions have really helped my long-term numbers. With less play in a session my avg $ won in a winning session has gone down some over the years, but in return my avg $ lost in a losing session has gone down a LOT.
It's a fun transition from real world to Disney, isn't it? That's the only outfit that doesn't yet have a Vegas operation. Maybe someday they will, and we'll see Mickey getting a few hands in during his lunch break. Oops, as an employee he wouldn't be able to play there, would he?
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EDC1977
- Video Poker Master
- Posts: 2001
- Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2007 3:12 pm
Once again CD, you're correct! Disney was actually in cahoots with MGM for awhile back when they did their MGM/LV theme park. Turns out adults,not families are most profitable to LV resorts.
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