Well chef, I agree with a lot that you say, but I also take issue with some.
The key point is about "life of the slot." Here is where luck comes in. If you happen to be sitting at the VP machine when the cards deal the royal, you come out way ahead-- and you dont have to be at the machine for the life of the machine.
So, in fairness to the math guys, your "session" is a slice of the life of the machine, and your slice can be better, worse or the same as any other slice. this is where the "luck" factor comes in.
I put more weight on luck than on math. I think a player can win more on a lousy paytable with lots of luck than a player who only plays FP video poker. But I also believe that a player who only plays FP video poker does have a better chance of winning more than if he were on a machine with a poor pay table.
But like you, I really doubt that playing VP for a profession can offer a good income unless you had a lot of luck to go along with the big bankroll that would be required to play those high coin-in games.
Again, I must recall that session with Dancer (years ago at the Fiesta in North Vegas) when he said his annual income from VP was $250K a year, but half came from winnings ($125K) and half came from cash back. And he was playing triple line $25/coin DW. Thats $375 per push of the button. And even if I had that kind of money to play on a single push of the button over and over again, I wouldnt. And I also question if that kind of cash back is still available today.
The key point is about "life of the slot." Here is where luck comes in. If you happen to be sitting at the VP machine when the cards deal the royal, you come out way ahead-- and you dont have to be at the machine for the life of the machine.
So, in fairness to the math guys, your "session" is a slice of the life of the machine, and your slice can be better, worse or the same as any other slice. this is where the "luck" factor comes in.
I put more weight on luck than on math. I think a player can win more on a lousy paytable with lots of luck than a player who only plays FP video poker. But I also believe that a player who only plays FP video poker does have a better chance of winning more than if he were on a machine with a poor pay table.
But like you, I really doubt that playing VP for a profession can offer a good income unless you had a lot of luck to go along with the big bankroll that would be required to play those high coin-in games.
Again, I must recall that session with Dancer (years ago at the Fiesta in North Vegas) when he said his annual income from VP was $250K a year, but half came from winnings ($125K) and half came from cash back. And he was playing triple line $25/coin DW. Thats $375 per push of the button. And even if I had that kind of money to play on a single push of the button over and over again, I wouldnt. And I also question if that kind of cash back is still available today.
