Why do people think they can make money playing VP

[wildman49]

Been thinking about this for weeks now. Its not like these games pay back 150% to 200%. You are playing games that pay less then 100% so over years of play break even would be a win in my book. Sure this week you might be up $1000 but next week you might lose $1000.Many of us that play a lot know this first hand. Free play is the real key to break even in my book. The more promos you can play to get free play will help the bottom line. But to think playing VP to earn extra money is a fools game unless there is a monster progressive and your lucky enough to hit it IE  BOB D.

[notes1]

I would think the allure of doing something that one enjoys combined with the possibility of winning, is among the reasons one would be tempted to try making a living at VP.

this would not be unique to just to gambling.

[onemoretry]

I do not play video poker with the expectation of earning extra money. I play for, hopefully, low cost fun and entertainment. If "low cost", on occasion, is negative cost - all the better.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=onemortry]I do not play video poker with the expectation of earning extra money. I
play for, hopefully, low cost fun and entertainment. If "low cost", on
occasion, is negative cost - all the better.[/quote]I totally agree.   Video poker is entertainment and nothing more. If you learn to play the best games effectively and factor in comps, free play and the enjoyment you get out of playing the game, I think it's a bargain. Claiming to make money playing video poker has more to do with how you calculate your profits than anything else.  I consider an actual profit to be a cashed ticket not a raffle win or from some other non video poker playing activity.   Very few players consistently make big money using that criteria alone and those who claim to do so never offer anything to back up their claims.  This is fine with me as long as I don't fall into the trap of thinking I will ever be able to do what they claim to do.

[pokerpokerpoker]

Because I like to gamble.

Slots were kicking my butt and I had to either quit altogether or learn a way to gamble at a far lower cost.

[FloridaPhil]

Video poker is the biggest entertainment value in the casino.  There are few casino games that you can play for a quarter or even a nickel a pull or less.  Even at a quarter a hand, the potential odds are better than 90%  approaching or bettering most slot machine paybacks.  You even have a choice of how you want your game, slow and steady with Jacks or Better or high variance like DDB.  If you step up to max coins, the jackpot is $1,000 which is decent for a $1.25 bet.   If video poker didn't exist, I seriously doubt I would gamble at all.  I think players who grumble about losing have a denomination problem, not a problem with the game itself.  It's like going to a movie and the ticket clerk asks you ahead of time how much you want to pay when It's the same seat and the same movie...   

[FAA]

A waste of brain cells! Let the AP players do their thing and we'll have our entertainment. Even on a $40 per hour loss hapless day, I can stomach that over 2 hours and try to make up half of it at another machine. If I lose fifty, it's a bad day. Content w lowest possible tier card and meager comps with my full pay JOB.

[FloridaPhil]

I agree.  At the moment I'm playing max coins, but I have to admit I still enjoy the game one quarter at a time. You don't need to invest a lot of money to be entertained.  If more recreational players embraced this concept, I believe their would be a lot less complaining and angst about rigged machines.  Chances are you'll never get close to the long term ER on these games, so why not just sit back, enjoy yourself and quit worrying about what someone else claims to do.  Makes sense to me... 

[spxChrome]

Even if you play 99% whatever there are other factors that comps can't cover. Gas, atm fees, credit cards fees and the biggest wg taxes (they count those into an ER)? It's 6% where I play and you can't reclaim state taxes.

[billryan]

Disciplined players dont incur ATM or Credit Card fees.
I doubt they play in states with predatory taxes, either.