Video Poker at the bars vs the casino

I have heard lately that it is better to play the video poker machines in the casino rather than sitting at the bar. It seems like the play tables aren't different. Am I missing something or is it just the perception?

This claim is more often than not true, but it is not always true. There can be better pay schedules at some bar machines. Really each machine should be checked out individually because some machines can have better pay schedules than others even if the machines all look the same or are made by the same manufacturer.

This differs not only from one casino to another but also within the same casino (just as rules on Blackjack tables will differ not only from casino to casino, but even from one table to the next within the same casino) and this is also why it really is important (if not crucial) to know which pay schedules are decent and which are not as opposed to just sitting there and thinking that all pay schedules are the same.

So everyone should please take the time and effort to carefully check pay schedules on all machines -- most especially if you want to at least be able to increase your chances at play for a longer time on a machine before your money possibly drains away!

RecVPPlayer

I have heard some say that the casino ones are looser than the bar ones. I tend to look for 9/6, but willing to accept 8/5 but thats about it.

I enjoy bar top VP and have found both good and bad pay schedules, even at the same bar. For me, I like talking with the bar tenders and usually quick beverage service as well as watching Red Sox, Bruins or Patriots on TV while away from home. It seems more social.

The only casino I found better schedules at the bar was at the IP in Biloxi...they were the only FP DDB machines in the place. Every other time I've checked they are the same or worse than the floor. I also find the bar machines uncomfortable to play...I much prefer slanttops.

Go check out https://www.vpfree2.com/video-poker/search. This link will tell you where you can find good Video Poker pay schedules including sometimes at Bars in a casino.

And so as I said before, there are places where there may be a playable enough game on a machine at the bar although I will say that it is more likely for there to be Video Poker with better pay schedules on the floor rather than at the bar.

And also, keep in mind that the 9/6 pay schedule is only (at least for the most part) a decent enough pay schedule on some Video Poker games (more specifically 9/6 Jacks Or Better, 9/6 Bonus Deluxe and maybe 9/6 Double Double Bonus Poker -- although 10/6 is better for Double Double Bonus Poker). It would not be a good pay schedule for the game Double Bonus Poker.

And an 8/5 pay schedule is also not always good because it depends on what game it is on and what that game's entire pay schedule is.

Plus, do make sure that nothing else on this game's pay schedule has been monkeyed around with such as the Royal Flush.

And so as I said in my previous post to this thread, this (a decent pay schedule at a bar machine) can differ not only from Bar to Bar from casino to casino, but also from bar to bar even within the same casino.

So for example, if you look at that listing, you can see that for example, the Boar Head Bar at Main Street Station has 9/6 Jacks Or Better. So again, some bars may have bad stuff and some bars may have good stuff or there will be good stuff mixed in with bad stuff.

RecVPPlayer

Check to see that I have added some more information to my second post in this thread.

RecVPPlayer

I can remember the good old days when I could play 100% plus schedules on bartops at many places.

On VP, if you know the game, and check the schedules, and make sure you have the rewards card in for the comps, and sometimes find a progressive to make an average machine better - after doing all that I prefer the bar.

I play 9/6 Jacks at the MSS bar and get full slot club credit. Which makes it the best place in the casino to play that game.