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Originally posted by: vpwannabe I like to have better self control. I kept saying, "okay, now is the time to leave" but then I'd get a bonus, make a little $$$, and then think "well, maybe a little longer..." As for better return percentages, I'm a slot whore and just really enjoy the visuals, music, bonuses. I play some VP too for fun, not enough to affect my long-term losses though.
I do very well know that it can be hard to get up and leave machines, but if Players really want to do what is best for them and their finances (while in a casino), they really just need to force themselves to have the Discipline to get up and leave the machine when they have lost or won (and then guaranteed themselves) a reasonable and pre-determined amount of money so that they can do what they can to help themselves to cut down on their potential losses.
I say this since depending on what is being played (especially if it is Slots more than Video Poker), it can easily become more likely for the Player to lose money than to win it. And the thing with Players playing on Slot machines is that although they certainly can be "fun," they unfortunately usually have a higher drainage factor as opposed to playing on Video Poker machines (and so it can quickly become a lot more costly when playing Slot Machines as opposed to playing Video Poker).
And so therefore, by playing slot machines, players can increase their chances of having a very uphill battle on their hands to face in order to win and/or be able to last for a while as opposed to possibly (depending on the pay schedule offered and the volatility rate attached to the game) having a smoother ride and a better chance of either winning or losing less (at least percentage-wise) with Video Poker as opposed to playing on the slot machines.
And, as I'm thinking about it now, it is a whole lot easier to get into a "degeneracy" mode when playing a game where not much if any real thinking is involved (with a slot machine as opposed to playing Video Poker). I know that doing something where you don't have to think much can be fun and relaxing, but it can be a lot easier to lose control that way.
This all really can go back to the concept (and the question that Players really need to ask themselves) of how badly do you want to win and what are you willing to do to help you achieve that goal?
Another thing that I would do if I were in this position is, if it is possible, and if the Slot Machine has the option (I know that at least many Video Poker machines do have this option), it is better for the Player to get the machine to list for them the Dollar And Cents amount that they have instead of the amount of Credits that they are playing with which then forces the player into then having to calculate it out in order to convert them back into the Dollars and Cents amount of what they have.
At least for me doing that works good because Credits can be just numbers that don't necessarily at least immediately have some kind of significant meaning.
So for example, with Video Poker, I would much rather see that I have $58.75 (in Dollars and Cents) than to see that I have 235 Credits on a Quarter VP machine. This better helps me to control the situation that I'm in instead of just seeing a number of Credits.
Another thing that can be done to help keep at least some people in line is to have them equate the money that's in front of them (on the machine) to something physical that they could have (or buy).
And another thing that Players can do to possibly help them control themselves is to go to the American Casino Guide and look at the return rate ranges that the different Slot Machines can offer and then at least try to get themselves to only play the games which offer the higher return percentages. So for example, I think that in the book Steve Bourie lists that based on the information that he has gotten from the listings that the machine manufacturers have put out, that the base return rate for "Wizard Of Oz" machines is in the 86% range! That's pretty low and that can therefore end up causing a significant drain on the Player's limited resources of money.
There is definitely some point in time where if the machine has a Progressive Jackpot, that it can actually possibly become a positive (returning percentage-wise) play, but the real question that we need to ask is do we know when that point actually is (since that can be figured out with Video Poker)?
Players also have to realize that nobody is putting a gun to the Player's head to force him/her to continue to sit at any machine. The Player can leave the machine/casino at any time and know that this is their money that they are dealing with and that they should not be concerned with what they think that others might think of them for leaving.
When it comes to casino play, Players need to know that each of us really are islands unto ourselves and so therefore, you should only be concerned about you (and you alone) and how much money you have.
I definitely wish you all the best with this! Take care!
RecVPPlayer
