Comments on: Can You Still Do It? – Part 3

By: George

George — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 00:12:04 +0000

Kevin,

If I understand you correctly, a 25,000 unit bank role is more reasonable, as few people play with perfect strategy. So $1 single line play would need $125,000 and $5 would need a huge $625,000 bank. Though it would seem to me, a place like The Plaza Las Vegas (when you get the Ace level) would work well, with its 100% free play bonus on all Royals? Between cash back and free play earned from royals, this should effect the needed bank role?

By: Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis — Sun, 17 Nov 2013 19:54:38 +0000

Actually, George, you are articulating a huge and common misconception. Jean would be the first to tell you that optimizing your return–whether that’s earning enough to make a living or simply losing as little as possible as a recreational player–is ALWAYS worthwhile. It isn’t a “half empty/half full” mindset. Getting the most value for your money in ANY field of endeavor, gambling or elsewhere, is both sensible and optimal behavior. Labeling being attentive to value and staying away from bad plays/bad values/bad deals as “pessimism” is, more often than not, just an excuse made by people who are too lazy to put forth the effort to find the best deals, the optimum values, etc. And you should realize that even if you’re coming to Vegas for fun and expect to lose money, it’s better to spend/lose, say, $300 than $1200 FOR THE EXACT SAME EXPERIENCE. So MANY people rationalize their losses by saying, “Hey, it’s Vegas, so what the hell!” But when you get home, there’s the depleted bank account and the credit card bills to deal with. Was that weekend in Vegas really worth $1200, especially when simply by doing a few things slightly differently, it could have cost you only $300? I doubt there are many people here to whom that $900 difference would mean nothing.

By: George Mikutowicz

George Mikutowicz — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 20:30:13 +0000

Kevin,it is all about how you look at it,glass is half empty or half full. If your only source of income is from VP, then it is probably half empty. If you are just trying to have some fun with little or no cost, then it still is half full. Granted many opportunities that were available 5 yrs ago(my point of reference)are no longer there, but new opportunities do continue to show up.

Most people that visit Vegas come with a just for fun gambling bankroll and leave it there. Perhaps the motto should be whatever $$$ come to Vegas stay in Vegas. This and a number other websites can help make that visit a lot more pleasurable and less expensive.

George

By: VP Newbie

VP Newbie — Sat, 16 Nov 2013 12:20:56 +0000

Hello Jean,

Thank you for your blog and all your advice. I just wanted to say that we were visiting Vegas from the UK earlier this year and did exactly what you said in your post…
“go to vpFREE2 and do a thorough exploration under the heading of “Games and Machines.”

I spent couple of weeks before we went learning the correct strategy on an old computer game I had. We also cut out loads of coupons to use 🙂

We spent hours in Four Queens playing 9/6 JoB. We played various denominations and I even hit four of a kind 🙂 Our bankroll lasted for ages with your advice.

I would say Downtown LV has the best casinos in the world. There is nothing like it in UK or Europe where I have visited many casinos. I understand that the conditions have become harder for VP players but anybody with access to LV has a vibrant, competitive gaming market with great value in my opinion.

Is there anywhere to see the 48 hours show that featured you??

Look forward to your next posts.

By: Wayne

Wayne — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 07:07:03 +0000

In the past 3 months I have lost my entire bankroll playing what I thought were the same machines I built that bankroll with over the past few years. I have gone 8 cycles without a royal flush. Whether you want to admit it or not, something has changed.

By: Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 05:12:55 +0000

George, I was referring to 10/7 DB and its tiny edge. You can’t discuss RoR meaningfully except in the context of +EV games; the needed bankroll to play a -EV game is infinite. In point of fact, it’s even worse than you think. To achieve a 5% risk of ruin at 10/7 DB with zero cashback, you need 24,114 betting units (five coins), or over $120,000. If you could manage an 0.25% cashback, the required bankroll would drop to 9,602 units, or just over $48,000. Divide these amounts by four for quarter play; $30,000 and $12,000. Yes,that much! Two things to learn: the bankroll you need is MUCH bigger than you think, and cashback makes a huge difference, Since there’s nowhere on the planet I know of where you could get more than 0.1% cashback for 10/7 DB, you should figure that 20,000 betting units is barely adequate to sustain your play long-term. And THAT’S if you play perfectly!

By: George

George — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 19:14:56 +0000

SO then I take it Dollar play needs a full $50,000 in bankroll, if quarter play needs a full ten Ten Grand? So does this mean then $5 play needs more than $250k?

By: Dan Sowards

Dan Sowards — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 17:21:32 +0000

Jean, when I think of bonuses and benefits, I always play a little at Casino Royale. Now, their pay schedules are not the best, but they give me $50 in free play every time I show up, plus among the 10 or so coupons are three coupons for VP worth $90, which I always seem to cash. They are for any four of a kind ($25.00); four 7s/8s/or 9s ($25.00); and $40 for a straight flush. This is for quarter play on non-wild vp games. So, I play about 4-6 hours there on a four day trip and over the past 8 years or so have NEVER walked out of there a loser. Lucky…yes. But the extra $90 in cash and extra $50 in free play certainly helps.

As you know, I’m diamond with Caesar’s/Harrah’s, so I do a lot of play there – always get $300-500 in free play plus a junior suite for free…..and I PLAY MOSTELY QUARTERS! I’ll play dollars with the free play and perhaps more when my bankroll can take it. My host almost always takes care of all food charged to the room, even a couple of meals at Ruth’s Chris, so long as my overall play warrants it. So, for those who play enough for a host and are of a mindset that the only comps they can get for food are the points they earn, they need to think again. A host is always a big help. Hosts can also ADD additional free play to the mailer/email that may be for only $300 in free play.

Sorry that I’m not addressing bankroll, but your Part 3 was also about comps/free play/cash back. Yesterday I received a voucher for $150.00 in free play in the mail that I can combine with an email offer for $300 in free play for December. I plan to do just that.

By: dino priest

dino priest — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 15:44:02 +0000

Anyone VP player should just do the Assignment. That is just some Great advice and Great VP educational knowledge. IMHO….. dean

By: Marcia Quinn

Marcia Quinn — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 13:50:03 +0000

Well said, Kevin Lewis.