When does the RNG decide?

[JayBareet]

New to the Video Poker world - Not sure if this applies to all VP machines - or if a techy type may know the answer.I've been wondering about the Random Number Generator that ultimately decides our fate while playing VP.First - there's the deal - five cards dealt as decided by the RNG = correct?Next - the draw.So my first question is... when does the RNG decide what will be dealt? - is it the moment you hit the DEAL button?My second question applies to the DRAW - Is it pre-decided at point you push the DEAL button - or decided by the RNG at the moment you push the button on the DRAW?Sometimes between the deal and draw - I pause - thinking about the cards I need - and hoping the cards will hit - other times the cards feel hot and I'm quicker to hit the draw. Ultimately - I realize it doesn't make a difference - as its all decided by the RNG - just would like to know when my fate is being decided.Hope this makes sense to someone  

[DaBurglar]

It depends on which BRAND of game you are playing....consider:I am personally familiar with two main brands, the dominant and ubiquitous  ITG games, and the less frequently seen but still popular  BALLY games.    ITG employs a constantly shuffling/generating RNG which only gives you the desired hands/cards when you hit the deal button.    Likewise when you hit Draw after you discard, the RNG is shuffling until you hit DRAW.With the BALLY games however its different.    The RNG is constantly shuffling UNTIL you hit DEAL>   at that point the Bally games select the first 5 cards of the top of the deck and the remaining 47 cards stay where they are, and when you hit draw it continues drawing from that same deck!  In other words, Bally games deal just like you and your friends would at home in a friendly card game.

[JayBareet]

I appreciate your succinct and knowledgeable response. Very enlightening!

[DaBurglar]

I appreciate your succinct and knowledgeable response. Very enlightening!

No problem.....I wish you success in whatever game you choose.

[Tedlark]

Actually the first respondent was incorrect, it is IGT and not ITG. IGT is an acronym for International Gaming Technology. I am not familiar with ITG.

[Vman96]

It depends on which BRAND of game you are playing....consider:I am personally familiar with two main brands, the dominant and ubiquitous  ITG games, and the less frequently seen but still popular  BALLY games.    ITG employs a constantly shuffling/generating RNG which only gives you the desired hands/cards when you hit the deal button.    Likewise when you hit Draw after you discard, the RNG is shuffling until you hit DRAW.With the BALLY games however its different.    The RNG is constantly shuffling UNTIL you hit DEAL>   at that point the Bally games select the first 5 cards of the top of the deck and the remaining 47 cards stay where they are, and when you hit draw it continues drawing from that same deck!  In other words, Bally games deal just like you and your friends would at home in a friendly card game.



I doubt Bally still does it that way. That method is now illegal in Nevada. And Bally VP machines certainly still exist in Nevada.

Sec. 1.400 6. of Technical Standard 1: "Integrity of Gaming Devices"

PDF link to Technical Standard 1 can be found on this page: http://gaming.nv.gov/index.aspx?page=51

6. Additionally, video poker games must not determine replacement cards prior to the player selecting hold cards and initiating a draw.

[billryan]

In some jurisdictions, a machine can look like a video poker machine but is really a video lottery terminal.
In that case, the results of the hand are determined before the first five cards are drawn.

[FloridaPhil]

Video Lottery Terminals as Class II slot machines do not have RNGs.  Before Florida allowed Vegas slots the Hard Rock had lots of them.   You could identify them as they held the cards in advance and did not have the odds schedule displayed at the top.  We occasionally see them in small Indian Casinos around the country.  We never played them as they are not random and you never know what the odds are.

[billryan]

The ones in NY have paytables listed, just like normal vp machines. They give the impression you are playing a great game- 9-7 JOB but in reality, the pay schedule is about 85% from what I've read.
Its fun to be dealt a pair of Queens and throw them away, to a watchers horror, only to get a pair of queens on the draw.

[paco13]

Billy, I threw 4 Aces away once to prove a point to a player next to me. Wouldn't ya know I drew another 4oK plus a match card bonus to make it a $2000 pay off. The look on their face was priceless.