Seinfeld "the Contest"

[DaBurglar]

It's more than a little weird that of all the seinfeld episodes that aired, "the contest" is the one that gets mentioned and invoked more than any other.....equating Video poker to masturbation is way way more than a little weird.....

[Tedlark]

Ahh DaBurglar there you go; stroking this almost dead forum posting much like you would any other appendage.

[FloridaPhil]

Some people call the subject of the Seinfeld episode "Self Abuse".  This is not the sex therapy forum, so I think we can skip the specifics.For me, video poker has become a kind of "Self Abuse".  I got into it over 10 years ago and I have to say it's provided me with many hours of enjoyment.  On the other hand, it is an extremely addictive activity that's very difficult to escape from.  The casinos might as well be pushing cocaine.  It's fun when you win, but the consistent "drip drip drip" of losing is something I find depressing.  You find yourself ignoring your losses and making all kinds of excuses for continuing.  Experts say losing doesn't bother them.  I'm not programmed that way.I'm starting to see Ted's view of the game.   I've backed off on my casino visits.  When I get the urge to gamble, I'll go.   If I hit anything, I'll run for the door.   

[Tedlark]

Phil, video poker has many times been refered to as the cocaine of casino gaming and for good reason. The highs that a big hit gives are no different than any other endorphin striking receptors in the brain.

I would much rather look at more benjamins in my pocket and think about what good purposes I'll be able to do with the extra dough than feel cheated because I only spent an hour or so in a casino. Once I leave a machiine I could care less if it "hits" after I've left it because I may be leaving with a profit that I felt comfortable leaving with. I still get mailers and offers for the free goodies but I gamble on my schedule and not the casino's schedule. I've mentioned before that I am selective about the offers that do entice me to go to a casino but just because I make a visit to a casino to pick up gift cards or whatever, I only pick it up but I will occasionally run a couple dollars through a machine just to earn a couple points to keep the offers coming.

And you're absolutely right: video poker can be a form of self abuse but with discipline the abuse can stop.

[FloridaPhil]

I like your approach.  It takes guts to walk away from a machine after a nice jackpot, but I think it's the only way to keep the casino from cleaning out your wallet.   Grinding it out for days on end waiting for the game to turn around is like telling an addict to take more drugs as a cure.  It might work for someone else, but I'm not buying it.I did much better back when I played single coin quarters and took a $20 max coin dollar pot shot once an hour.   At least when I won something, I kept it.

[billryan]

Nothing wrong here that a few meetings won't help.
Get your sixty day pin and see how your attitude changes.

[FloridaPhil]

[quote=billryan]Nothing wrong here that a few meetings won't help.
Get your sixty day pin and see how your attitude changes[/quote]One thing about addicts, they like hanging out together.  Makes them feel like they don't have a problem.

[case]

"Experts" do not sweat the losses because if they are "pros" they should be playing a positive game. They will have many losing days BUT WILL win in the long run. I know you don't believe this Phil but this is where you are wrong. If you put yourself in a positive position and know how to play the game....you will win over time.

Now you are going to ask me how long is long term. True there is no set number but if you play regular you will achieve the positive percentage. It is not that far away PROVIDING you are a regular player.

I wish you had a vp simulator so you could set it to a positive percentage and see how over a number of hands it is reached. I have used simulators in the past but can't seem to find them online anymore. It is amazing to see how the numbers come together.

Positive games are including more than just pay tables as you know.

Now if you are playing negative games sure you can expect it to eat away at your bankroll. You will have some good days but again over time the percentage will catch up with you.

[FAA]

Now if you are playing negative games sure you can expect it to eat away
at your bankroll. The
percentage will catch up with you.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Usually from the outset. It's basically all uphill. Most of the country, if not the world, is playing negative games. Just a point of information. I know that you know this.

[billryan]

Now if you are playing negative games sure you can expect it to eat away
at your bankroll. The
percentage will catch up with you.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Usually from the outset. It's basically all uphill. Most of the country, if not the world, is playing negative games. Just a point of information. I know that you know this.


No one has ever argued that point. It's just that some people understand that playing a game at a 99.54 payout is better than playing the same game at 97andchange.
That is where the disconnect is. Saving a dime today so you can give the casino a quarter tomorrow just doesn't make sense to most folks.