Better to play Quarter VP than higher denoms?

So here's an interesting question. Since you dont pay tax on a Royal at the quarter level....and you do pay tax on a royal at the 50 cent level.....then isn't it simply better to play quarter vp? And when those quarter progressives get over $1200 its probablty the same issue isn't it? The payback percentages dont take into account Uncle Sam.


You're really better off hitting a standard Royal for $1000 than a progressive royal for $1250, no?

All gambling wins are subject to tax. Just there is no paperwork (W-2G) until win is $1200 or more.Text

If "better off" means not having to mess with W2-Gs at tax time and collecting your win-loss statements from all the casinos, yes you are better off with wins that do not generate W2-Gs.

Otherwise it really makes no difference, unless your documented winnings (total W2-Gs) exceed your documented losses for that particular year.

True, but nobody in the known universe submits gambling wins on their taxes unless the casino submits the form on their behalf. Can we agree on that?

Playing $.25 VP just to avoid IRS paperwork is probably not the best strategy to maximize your profits.

Without getting into the "paying/not paying taxes" debate, one should look at the hourly win rate to calculate the overall return at the various denominations.

When looking at the hourly win rate, be sure to include the value of any points earned, promotions, monthly mailers, etc. If you have the bankroll (another very important consideration) then playing the higher denominations will generate higher returns per hour.

You will also find better schedules at the higher amounts, especially outside Vegas. Why would you ever play a progressive that was in the $1200-$1800 range? I once got burned at $1215 (I had just hit a royal and was sure I wouldn't get another one for a while...right!).
Once you are use to $ returns, its a real bummer when you hit the big combinations on a quarter machine...or whats worse, kicker aces playing dues wild!
Handling W-2g's is just not that big a deal.

IN WISCONSIN, YOU HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 6 PERCENT TAX ON ALL WINNING SESSIONS, you could win 5 $1200 jackpots and lose $1000000000000 over the year and yup you guessed it, you pay for this 5 winning session. In Wisconsin, taxes are a more addictive drug than coke, pot, meth, and herion put together. logic gets thrown out the door!!!!!! So yes I almost always play 25 cent machines for this reason alone.

Thats pretty high. In Tunica its less than a $100 on a 4K win, and, of course, it doesn't matter whether you win or loose.
Update (10-19)- just got back from Tunica and it cost me $120.00 on a 4K win.

Most definitely agree.

With VP, quarters are definitely the denomination to play.

By and large, the best mathematical returns come a the $0.25 level, it's rare that a good $0.25 paytable improves at the $0.50 or $1 level. And nickel paytables generally suck.

Second, you can generally avoid tax forms with a royal on a $0.25 machine.

Third, the fun factor of the game is independent of the amount wagered. There's a psychic reward to hitting a royal, no matter the money won.

Fourth, earned comps are overrated. Hotel rooms and meals are so inexpensive in Vegas that it's generally foolish to try and get them comped by significantly upping one's play, say by moving from quarters to dollars, thereby increasing bet sizes 400%. I know that's heresy here, but the days of Comp City are gone, people, there are very few crumbs left to chase.

Just play quarters. It's fun, you can win some, you won't lose much, and all but the fanciest casinos will still send you free and discounted room offers and freeplay and whatnot.