On our February 4 Gambling with an Edge podcast, Anthony Curtis brought up something that I had experienced, but not understood why it was happening. With some notable exceptions, numerous Las Vegas casinos have really tightened up. Slot clubs are less generous. Promotions are smaller. Games aren’t as loose as they were.
In my opinion, this is not the smart way for these casinos to be acting. Their customers are hurting. Their customers have less money. At least some of the customers are wary about venturing into casinos at all until the percentage of our population vaccinated is much higher than it is now.
Anthony said, (paraphrasing) that when the casinos reopened again, the number of patrons was much smaller, but the win-per-patron was much higher. Why? Because the players who were coming back were the degenerates who are going to gamble no matter what. As a group, they aren’t sensitive to pay schedules. They aren’t sensitive to promotions. They just want to go to the casino and gamble.
So, if this is the type of customers who are flocking to the casinos now, it makes some sense for the casinos to tighten up. A significant proportion of the players who are sensitive to good values aren’t in the casinos right now! They are sitting things out until the pandemic eases.
Are these tight conditions sustainable as the pandemic eases? I don’t think so, but I’m not sure. The old adage that you can shear a sheep many times, but you can only skin it once has merit to it. Sometimes, though, things don’t always go back to the way they were. In blackjack, for example, switching from paying 3/2 for naturals to 6/5, which hurt the players considerably, started out as an experiment and gained momentum. Since enough players were willing to put up with these conditions, the move has become permanent at many casinos.
The same thing is happening in video poker. Under the guise of recovering from a pandemic, casinos are experimenting with what players will put up with. Each one of us is voting with our dollars. It’s not so much what any specific one of us will do. It’s what we all do. You can call the casinos greedy if you like, but name-calling won’t change their minds. What matters is how much money they make at the end of the day.
If casinos lose the value seekers who only played their loosest games anyway, they might well consider it no big loss. I am someone who hopes it doesn’t come to this. or I’ll have to find something else to do when I grow up!
How Long Will It Take?
I regularly get questions about how long it would it take for a particular person to learn to play video poker profitably.
Setting aside the first part of this blog that said that video poker opportunities are getting worse, the answer is always, “It depends.” The obvious follow-up question is, “It depends on what?”
1. Are you good at games? In my case I had been playing, and winning, at various games for 35 years before I ever played video poker. Someone who thinks strategically has learned hundreds or thousands of little tricks concerning playing well. A person like this will grasp concepts much, much faster than someone without this background.
2. How smart are you? Winning at video poker doesn’t take genius IQ, but it helps. Many different game strategies, many slot clubs, many promotions, and many personalities of players and employees have to be balanced. It is usually not the case that you can learn one game, play it over and over again, and become rich.
3. How good is your memory? This is related to your intelligence, but it’s not the same. If you have a strategy memorized, you’ll be able to play at 1000 hands per hour or more, once you are practiced. If you have to look up every hand, you’ll play much, much more slowly. And the strategy for every game is different. If your memory is not what it used to be (I’ll have to admit to that myself), you’ll need to practice much more than if your memory was better.
4. Are you willing to study? A number of authors have created various how-to-win guides about the game. These guides vary in accuracy and usefulness. No one author has said everything (although Lord knows I’ve tried!) and so reading more than one author is useful. And different students learn better from different authors.
5. Are you willing to use a computer? There are computer programs that correct you when you’re wrong. This is important. On a hand like A♠ K♥ Q♦ 2♠ 3♠, the correct play in most games is A23. A high percentage of players with a strategy in front of them will miss that one the first time they see it. They don’t realize that A23 counts as a 3-card straight flush draw. It takes others a while to recognize that A♠ K♥ Q♦ 4♠ 5♠ is played the same way, and that A23 is worth no more and no less.
6. Are you willing to scout out opportunities? This one should probably come earlier on the list. You need to figure out which game you’ll be playing before you learn a strategy. Learning 9/6 Jacks or Better, the game I first learned and the standard game video poker authors write about, won’t do you any good if you can’t find places to play that game for the stakes you prefer. Even when you find and learn one game, casinos change games periodically and the game inventory of each casino is different. Without finding out what’s available to you, you’re flying blind.
7. Can you obtain and keep a bankroll? In video poker, as well as other gambling games, you’ll win sometimes and lose sometimes. Unless you have an appropriate cushion to deal with the swings, you won’t be able to survive these swings.
8. Can you deal with losing? Even winning players have a lot of losing sessions. Being able to deal with this is not trivial. A related subject is whether your spouse can deal with this. Someone who thinks in terms of a regular paycheck for making money and a guaranteed income to plan things out can have a difficult time adjusting to the swings of gambling.
This list is not comprehensive, but it will give you an idea. And just to be clear, I’ve been playing for almost 30 years and I still study and practice.
The patrons that currently are not visiting are:
– people that ran out of money because they lost their business or their job
– people that are unable to visit because of the pandemic
– people that found other interests during this pandemic because many are sick of the panic, the fear, the constantly changing rules and regulations, and of course…lack of promotions. Promotions are great to attract the customers and many (if not most) of them continue gambling ever once the promotion is over.
One point needs to be listed: The fact that air travel nowadays has become such a big hassle, many people (even the ones that would be free to fly) simply don’t want that hassle. And there’s an army of gamblers that can’t visit because air travel is not possible. Cut and dry, I would definetely want to come and visit, but I will not visit and bring my cash to Las Vegas until the day that halfway “normal” air travel and speedy immigration without silly medical checks will be possible again. I don’t “have to ” come and gamble. I would like to come , but I will not come until that “normal” will return. I think I am not the only one to follow this strategy chart. You can’t even blame the non visiting tourists. It’s just a joke to believe that people are willing to take on that burdon.
I agree with the air travel 100 percent !!!! I can drive three hours and get my fix of gambling and not deal the air travel .I feel like the average patron to Las Vegas or any travel destination would figure this out and complain to the air flight companies and our Govt. about what they are losing out on with all these regulations ..
It’s not just gaming odds, it’s also booze. The Linq recently lowered its standard liquor pour to .75 ounces, down from 1.5 ounces. So, watered down drinks, higher prices, worse odds, no shows, no nightclubs — why would I fly to Vegas rather than drive my local casino?
There are probably places that give you better quality drinks while you’re playing. Since the Linq is not known for having the loosest machines in the valley, you could just as well walk across the street to Caesars or visit the Venetian. I am sure they give you what you want and what you need 🙂
Boris, all of Caesars/Eldorado properties are pouring .75 ounce drinks. Just came from Laughlin and Harrah’s was doing the same thing.
Gramps but since it’s free (except the tip) you can order up another shot about 20 minutes later or tell the girl to bring you right the next drink on her next round…
Skippy – I hope you are not going to drink-and-drive to your local casinos
Naw, I was just making a point — Vegas is continuing to lose value as a destination other than for luxury experiences.
Skippy, you’re right: why drive or fly to Vegas for the third-rate product it offers? There are plenty of local casinos. And in recent years many local casinos have begun to offer sports betting. Until recently, one had to travel to Vegas for sports betting.
We play in Las Vegas because most of the casinos will tolerate a small percentage of advantage players.
A half a shot of liquor? A half a beer? A half a glass of wine?
We’ll all miss the old Las Vegas that we remember, but we have to vote with our wallet.
I’ve often thought of buying a video poker machine for my home and just playing there.
Sangria, when you opt to own your private Videopoker Machine, I recommend to buy a Multi-Game Version with all your favorite games. However, I doubt that it would be equivalent to being in a Las Vegas casino with all the machines beeping and flashing and all the people. After all, this is what makes the big difference to online gaming or playing at home. We just need to be patient and wait another 6 to 9 months or so until this madness will be forgotten. And then we can have fun again, in Las Vegas 🙂
Since El Dorado has taken control of the Caesars properties throughout Nevada it’s gone downhill in a big way! Along with the “shots” being lessened they now have the gumption to make Perrier sparkling water a “7 Stars Only” drink. Seriously! If your not the top echelon you can’t get that or a vodka soda. It’s now vodka/water. Even soda water is gone. Everything these casinos are doing is just pure greed & it’s going to bite them harder than COVID! The Cromwell is already charging for parking again too!
I used to go to Vegas (driving in from CA) 4 to 5 times a year. Have a Diamond Elite at Caesars. Means not much any more. Free room, and no resort fee. Since I have not been there since the pandemic started, I have no free food or drink (no rewards points, and do not want to loose $2k just to get a free dinner). And with everyone saying that the casino has upped the hold on slots, and VP pay tables are crappy, why go anyway. I love it there, but the feeling of having no chance to win keeps me home. I am a pretty good VP player, but no expert. Before the pandemic, I was pretty much even across the board, which was fine, as I was not looking to earn a living at it, just have a good time with my friends or wife. Now, I am pretty certain that it will be a large losing proposition. In the long run, it will probably be much cheaper to pay for the room, not gamble as much (dictionary says gambling on the Las Vegas strip and “losing” are the same thing). I think I will wait till they realize that they can no longer rip us off, and still make money. They will always need winners to bring in customers. If everyone only loses, word gets out, no one will come, except for those compulsive gamblers that have to do it. And I do not think there are enough of them to support Las Vegas. My opinion, 2022, pay tables get better, holds go down. Winners talk, and bring in more players.
It is crystal clear that the Vegas’ casinos must give the out-of-towners some kind of incentive as otherwise you would ask yourself why you would take on such a trip to Vegas. Especially air travel will remain a crazy hassle for a while so many people will go elsewhere. And you can’t even blame them. The resort fee would have to be eliminated , as well as parking must be free again. Such as it used to be for so many years. It’s just to much of a joke to say parking is now free and believe that we are grateful for that. It should never have gone to paid parking in my opinion, as this is definetely something that belongs to a casino: free parking.
Good point about local casinos. Although I do not know where to find out how the pay tables or slots do in CA casinos, I do not know that the Harrahs Rincon pay tables and slots sucked before the pandemic. There are some other casino’s around Harrahs (within 25 miles) that had much better pay tables and slots. Hell, since Eldo started running Harrahs Rincon, its gone downhill. Even Pachenga has better odds than Harrahs. And many more machines that I like. One day they will get real craps and roulette. I have not figured out if the card roulette and craps has the same odds or not. I know its not the same feel. Roll a 7, and it could be 9.
The simple question is: Why should patrons come back to Las Vegas?
Anyone can see the growth of slot machines outside Las Vegas over the past 30 years. We now have more land based casinos in the US than say 30 years ago, and many existing casinos have expanded to add more slot machines.
This is basic Econ 101. Or level 400 Industrial Organization type course regarding market structure, performance, and conduct. The market for gambling has become more localized.
We also need to consider the advent of regulated online casinos.
In summary: The “ gambling market” in the US has changed. And if you fail to adapt then woe is you.
Note: 30 years was used due to Dancer’s comment of “And just to be clear, I’ve been playing for almost 30 years and I still study and practice.“
Mailers are kinda chintzy for locals. Playable machines are downgraded on points earned. Not many free slot tourneys or vp contests. One particular casino that goes by a single letter that is between L and N, has dropped mailers to a pittance and removed even 9/6 DDB. And now they just laid off workers. Gee wonder why. I was a decent player there but will not step foot in there now
Boy, I’m glad I don’t drink alcohol nor rely on any players cards to AP casino games.
Let’s focus on the patrons roaming Las Vegas looking and finding trouble . Groups riding scooters in packs on the sidewalk . Fights inside the casino .Loud parties inside the hotel ,we had to call Security twice our last stay at the Mirage due to fights after 2 AM . Las Vegas has become a scary place to visit. My advice is that Vegas needs to clean up its act and embrace the visitors who come for fun and not trouble !
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
When people arrive in Las Vegas, they drive to the local supermarket and buy cases of cheap canned beer.
Casinos only have bottled beer. See how many people are walking around a casino with a can of beer. See how many people at the front desk check in line have a suitcase and a cooler.
The ice machine on the floor of your hotel will always be empty.
Yes , Sangria, I noticed the exact same thing you mentioned when I checked in at places such as The Orleans, Goldcoast or at Texas Station. I can’t believe that these people are the typical gamblers that bring the cash to Las Vegas. If somebody needs to bring his own cooler box full of cheap beer then it’s not an indicator that these people are willing to gamble much. Compare this to the old times when people used to dress up nicely and behave. In a great casino such as the Wynn or Venetian I feel a bit embarassed when I see people walking around in swimwear and wearing flip flops.
Per the win per patron point. On know that I took the time the casinos were closed to tighten up my blackjack game. Then when they opened up the reduced seating increased my hands per hour by at least 50%. The joys of not
Having to wait for 4 other players to decide what to do with a dealt 16 v10!!!
Yes the promotions went down some but that hourly made up for it.
So just saying that some of that increase in patron winnings was due to
APs being able to take advantage of relatively empty casinos.
Sondjata — great if you’ve done well, but the point I was trying to make in the article is that CASINOS are winning more per player, not that some players are winning more from casinos.
Ahh I misunderstood this then:
“but the win-per-patron was much higher. ”
gotchya.
The bulk of the comments show that tons of folks are still thinking that to go to Las Vegas means to stay & play on the Strip. News-flash: It does not mean that. You can stay & play downtown or at outlying casinos. And you will do better if you do not patronize the Strip. The Strip is the most egregious area in terms of all the things that you complain about: bad video poker, paying for parking, facing 6:5 blackjack, etc. Let me laud downtown generally, and the Four Queens specifically. I gave them the somewhat-high amount of play they said they required to get a free stay, and since then, I’ve started to get regular mailers (I live in So. Cal.) that offer 3 free nights (4Q doesn’t have a resort fee anyway), plus some food credit and FreePlay, and I can earn even further perks with my play. They, at least, are not shafting patrons like so many other places are doing. The only caveat is that you must like 9/6 Jacks or Better (which is fine with me) to maximize the perks; playing 10/7 Double Bonus requires more play to get the same perks. Restaurants: They have a nice coffee shop (Magnolia’s), a nice gourmet restaurant (Hugo’s Cellar), and a nice little sports/brewpub (Chicago Brewing Co.) Too many folks are mesmerized by the Strip; de-mesmerize yourself and patronize a downtown or “locals” place, and you won’t have so much to complain about.
Al, although it should remain Las Vegas’ best kept secret…but there is a casino not too far away from the Las Vegas Strip, with great rooms, great coffee shop, nice place, great pool, gym, steak house, and tremendous slot promotions. I will not mention the name of the property at this time but I am sure you know what hotel / casino I am talking about. I agree with you 100 per cent: The Strip is nice to go for a walk, photo shooting, and perhaps for the atmosphere…it terms of gaming and value you might go elswhere. I have been de-mespherized many years ago when somebody showed me the true value of Las Vegas. When I first went to visit red rock casino, I felt like being in casino heaven.
I agree Boris. The wife and I used to dress up real nice to go out for a steak dinner in Vegas. That was fun.
I also agree about the Strip. Red Rock has 9/6 JOB, Four Queens has 9/6 JOB, M Resort has 9/6 JOB, South Point has 9/6 JOB.
At least off the Strip you can get some nice play and a decent meal at a reasonable price.
I’ll have to try a stay in Laughlin someday. See what it’s like there. Stayed a few times in Wendover and had a great time at a reasonable price.
Sangria, there are better games than JOB, as you probably know. Higher payouts, same low volatility, and quite exciting. Ever tried out Deuces Wild Videopoker?
I have been receiving moderate increases in my MGM comps, since I play at Borgata. However for Vegas, they are still not comping my resort fees. I simply will not go until they do. It’s still over 50 bucks a night with a “comp’d” room plus resort fees and taxes. No thanks.
Mark, that’s very unsusual. I get only very limited rooms , well, let’s say, used to get. Haven’t visited now in 18 months almost because of the pandemic and this is making travel from Europe virtually impossible. So, when I received comped rooms at my favorite locals’ places then the resort fees were also waved.
On the other hand, if you get a break on the room rate and they don’t cover the resort fee it’s still a good deal. Depending on how many nights you stay, 50 per night in a luxury hotel is still a good deal. I would still prefer the locals’ casinos any time over the Strip hotels, because of the reasonly mostly mentioned above.
From Switzerland / Boris
Yes Boris, you are correct. It’s much better to pay only resort fee + tax (around $50 USD, rather than room rate as well ($200USD+). And I only stay on the Strip, so they are nice properties. I am coming from East Coast, which is long journey, 2200 miles. Plus the time change of difference of 3 hours behind my local time is a major inconvenience. I am used to getting up for work at 5 am. In Vegas, that’s only 2 am, hardly a good time to go wandering around. I may go in July. I was actually planning on going to Laughlin for the first time, about 100 miles south of Las Vegas. Much better Video Poker options than the Strip and downtown. On a side note, I have also stayed in Henderson at Sunset Station and that was a decent alternative than the Strip.
Mark, it’s great sharing other people’s experiences. From the East Coast to Las Vegas may take you up to 6 or perhaps 7 hours , “from door to door”, so-to-say. Now picture this: Under covid conditions I would expect travel time from Switzerland to Las Vegas being about 20-24 hours, depending on the security and health checks at the airport. Under normal conditions I can get into Vegas within 18 hours or total traveling time, but not this year. I decided to pass on this one for once but I’ll try to convince my favorite hotels to extend my tier level another year. I have been visiting Las Vegas for the past 30 years , mostly 2x a year, for not less than 2-3 weeks on each tour. The casinos may not lose anything for extending my tier but it is fair and understandable that this year may not be a good year for us to travel, even if they allow foreigners to visit the U.S. again in the 2nd half of 2022.
I came to the conclusion that for me it’s more convenient renting a car and staying Off-Strip than checking-in into a Strip hotel and beingn forced to spend most of my time there. I have stayed at so many places that are a little further way and have never regretted this decision. Station Casinos has very nice places where you get great videopoker and affordable rates for your room and dining. Boyd places are great, too.
Sorry, I saw that I wrote 2nd half of 2022. We’re still in 2021. So my plan is to return to Vegas in 2022, hopefully I can do 3 tours then and re-charge my Vegas batteries 😀
Station Casinos VP is now equivalent (more or less) to Atlantic City, NJ VP, which is near where I live. (Station is still slightly better, but not by much.) No longer a draw for me to make the trip. They pulled Full Pay Deuces Wild. In fact, I was one of the very last player’s to play this game at Fiesta Henderson in January 2020, I believe it was the third week, before the pandemic hit. Later that same week, I went to Sunset Station, the games were turned off. I couldn’t figure out why. Then I went to another Station Casino, same thing. Turned off. I started to catch the drift. It was low denomination anyway, not like anybody was making a real killing on it. Maybe 10 bucks an hour if you were really proficient over the long haul. Just goes to show the state of the casino’s bad attitude and business strategy towards the player; give nothing, take as much as possible. I truly believe that although the hard core gambler’s will always come, their misguided strategy will really hurt the business of the casual gambler (me), who can easily still drop at least a grand or more, which in turn will see lower revenue throughout the property in the form of food, beverage, entertainment, etc.
I always rent a car in Vegas and don’t understand why most don’t. It’s much cheaper than Uber or Lyft (for me, anyways) as I like to explore the entire area and even look at real estate when I’m out there. I also generally don’t eat on the casino property and prefer local places.
Boris, I only know one strategy, 9/6 JOB. I am not a good learner. It took me one year to learn perfect basic strategy for blackjack. It took me six months to learn perfect basic strategy for 9/6 JOB. I have had no personal experience with this, but Bob has written before that if you keep pulling a basic strategy chart out of your pocket, the casino has a tendency to frown on that, and I’m inclined to agree. So I just stick with what I know.
Sangria
There are some great places in the valley with excellent videopoker. Take for example the Southpoint casino. You find all kinds of games and the comp value is ok. I am not here to advertise these strategy charts but this would help you play the game better. A computer at home plus a 50 dollar investment for a relatively easy to play software will get you in the driver’s seat. I would definetely consider this during this slow period until the next time you visit Las Vegas.