11/6/2003
I want to thank everyone who has written to me and said nice things about More Frugal Gambling. I especially enjoy hearing examples of how players have used my writings to allow them to stretch their gambling dollars into longer casino vacations. It’s also gratifying to read how people who never got comps are now getting them all over the place by using some of my suggestions.
My biggest surprise is the small number of posts from people who disagree, even mildly, with something I said. In most cases, it’s just a matter for clarification. For example, one person wrote: “Just one thing has me VERY upset. In at least two places in the book (i.e., page 323), you mention that the casinos take into consideration your skill level when determining comps (for VP players). Is this really happening?”
Actually, what’s happening is that some casinos are looking at the choice of video poker games a player is making. If he plays only pay schedules that have a theoretical long-term expected return of 100% and over, the casino may decide to cut the discretionary comps they get from a host, which negative-game players could easily get. Or they might cut back on their bounce-back-cash mailings.
The problem with this policy is that the casino is assuming that everyone who plays a “good” game is playing it computer-perfectly. This is far from the truth – the vast majority of people who have read about the best games to play don’t take the necessary next steps: learning and always using the proper strategy. This requires much study, practice, frequent review, and disciplined play – all things that most casual players do not want to do. Therefore, a casino that takes extreme measures to weed out a few advantage players usually uproots, upsets, or loses many players who have been regular contributors to their bottom line, often for many years.
There is computer-tracking technology available that can determine the skill level of a video poker player, but I don’t personally know of any casino using this sophisticated of a system at the present time. When I find out, I’ll let you know.
I have been notified of one error in the book. The vpFREE Web address of www.vpfree.com on page 396 is incorrect. That one goes to a Video Professor Web site. The correct address for this good VP site is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/vpFREE.
Remember there are two e-mail addresses you can use for questions and comments related to More Frugal Gambling: [email protected] and [email protected]. I may not have time to answer every email I receive, but I’ll discuss as many as I can in future columns here. I’m especially hoping that all you eagle-eyes out there will let me know of any errors you find. We’d like to correct them before the book goes for a second printing.
Finally, I want to invite everyone who’ll be in Vegas next Monday (Nov. 10) to stop by the Palapa Lounge at the Palms sometime between 2 and 4 p.m. and join me for a cookie-and-drink break. Brad (aka the Cookie Monster) and my daughter Angela, the Frugal Princess, will be there, as well as my “”little”” sister Starr, an attorney from Indiana. There will be time for photos and book signings and chatting.
And don’t forget – if you want to buy a book that day, you’ll get a frugal gambling bonus coupon. Put 500 base points on your players card in one day during the next month, then go to the slot club booth where they’ll put $5 in free play on your card.
11/13/2003
Hi, Angela here, filling in for the Queen while she’s out of town. I thought I’d take this opportunity to update you on a few things, including my recent trip to Vegas for the More Frugal Gambling book-launch meet-and-greet at the Palms.
For the first time in more than 10 years, I traveled to Las Vegas by myself. Although I was accustomed to being there while my husband Steve was overseas, I didn’t quite know how to act without any responsibility for kids. It didn’t take long for me to get used to the idea, however. My Aunt Starr, Mom’s sister, was in town too, and we were able to play video poker side-by-side. We also roomed together and had a slumber party every night.
The book launch was held at the Palms casino on Monday afternoon, Nov. 10. It was a rousing success and, although the exact number of attendees was hard to estimate with people coming and going for the whole two hours, we guesstimate about 200 in attendance. For the first hour, the line waiting for Mom and me to sign books was unending. I had a great time meeting so many of Mom’s fans and riding on the coattails of her fame for a little while. The $5 free-slot-play coupon the Palms gave to everyone who purchased the book that day was a big hit with all these frugal fans.
As the title of this column suggests, I’ve finally “cut the cord” and have been able to fund my own gambling bankroll. Many of you have probably read how Brad always gave Steve and me gambling money whenever we visited them in a casino town, since we weren’t in the financial position to fund our own. This trip, however, I was able to bring a small bankroll with me, saved from a recent part-time job, my first foray outside the home to work since I had kids. I’d worked hard for that money, so I used it only for playing the best VP game I could find — and at the Palms that meant hitting the full-pay Deuces Wild progressive bank whenever I could find an open seat. I knew I didn’t really have enough money to take me through a long dry spell, but I wanted to see how long I could last. I played slowly enough so I knew I was using the most accurate strategy, consulting the strategy chart I always carry to look up any hand I wasn’t sure of. I took frequent breaks and quit whenever I was tired and felt I couldn’t concentrate well.
I had a few good sessions at the beginning of the trip, hitting a set of deuces early. I was never close to scraping the bottom of my bankroll barrel, although I was down some. After the launch event, the progressive was up on the Deuces Wild flattops, so with a somewhat tired hand from all the book signing, I sat down to play a few minutes before dinner. And yes, you guessed it — I hit the royal! $1,240!
Obviously, I was ecstatic, told everyone within earshot, and even ran to find my mom while the floorperson watched the machine. I’d hit one royal several years ago, but I was playing for Mom, on her money. That one was fun and she did pay me a bonus. But I count this as my real virgin royal!
After I was hand-paid, my aunt took over my seat; I had too much nervous excitement to play further (and I didn’t want to lose any of my winnings!). But while I was over talking to Brad, I suddenly realized that in all the excitement, I’d forgotten to cash out the credits on the machine when I hit the royal — $175! My heart sank, until I realized that I’d given my machine over to my aunt and not a stranger. Of course, she’d saved my money. I’d been lucky a second time! After telling Mom this story, she confessed that she’d done the very same thing herself a couple of years ago, but her story didn’t have a happy ending: Her $200 in credits were long gone. This is a lesson for everyone, not just the newbie gambler, to remember.
Thanks to everyone for your concern about my family this year and for asking about my Army husband, Steve. He was sent to Iraq earlier this year, but made it home safely. We’re being re-stationed at the end of this month
11/20/2003
A new version of the Frugal Video Poker software is now available, one that includes the popular game Pick ‘Em. You can order it here at the Greatstuff4gamblers bookstore. And if you already have the first version, you can download a free update that includes Pick ‘Em at www.frugalgambler.biz.
This week I have a guest columnist. My friend Jen Cuthbertson and her husband sprout useful Web sites right and left, including information on many gambling venues. Go to www.tunica-ms.com and from there you can explore their other sites. Here, she reviews Jim Wolf’s Frugal Video Poker. I like her perspective as a slot player who is just starting to become more interested in VP. She gives beginners some reasons why having VP software makes the learning process easier.
Frugal Video Poker
by Jen Cuthbertson
Video poker and Baskin-Robbins have a lot in common: so many flavors. For a newbie, it can be overwhelming. Also, simply trying them out in the casino can be a very expensive way to learn which game is best for you. Ah — but not so with Frugal Video Poker; with this software, you can select any flavor and topping, then dive in.
If you’re considering learning to play or just want to polish up your skills in VP, we highly recommend Frugal Video Poker, software developed by Jim Wolf. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to sit down and give this program a spin. I have to tell you, I’m a novice VP player. I admire players with high concentration levels, but I just don’t have it. I don’t have to think about playing slots. I needed something to help me learn VP with my “”relax-and-enjoy attitude.”
For some reason, I was relating “”learning VP”” to studying for a rocket-science exam. Not so with this program! I actually had fun using it, and it offered a challenge to this old brain. As a novice VP player, I found Frugal Video Poker extremely user-friendly. Jean has a magical way of making you feel she is there whispering in your ear giving tips as you play, with the scrolling marquee across the top encouraging you and giving advice as you play.
One of the most impressive features is the one where when you made the wrong hold on a hand, the software throws it back to you, disguised in another suit, a few hands later. This puts the practice-until-you-get-it-right theory to work for you without you realizing it. It’s a sneaky way of making you learn, but is often the best way with me.
Frugal Video Poker also has what I call a “”don’t-leave-home-without-it”” feature. After you’ve got plenty of practice under your belt, you’ll want to test your newfound knowledge in the casino with real money. The only problem is, you can’t take Jean or the software in with you. No problem. The program lets you print out strategy charts for your game of choice, so you can hit the casino armed with ammunition. Personally, since I’m longer intimidated by a lack of knowledge, I find myself ready for the challenge.
There are so many bells and whistles on the software, even a video with Jean and Brad Scott, that I could write about it all day. Each time I play I learn something new.
Remember back when you got your first home computer and the hours you spent playing solitaire or free cell? Switch to Frugal Video Poker and learn a skill that will definitely make your casino trips much more rewarding and enjoyable.
11/27/2003
We’re spending most of this week in Reno, where we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day, for the second year in a row, with 3 couples who are dear friends of ours, including their four children of various ages. I like having children around the Thanksgiving dinner table—it makes me feel so “family warm”—with all ages eating and chatting together. I’m sure this group will do as we did last year, going around the table with each person, from the youngest to the oldest, telling what they’re thankful for.
Yes, this dinner will be in a casino restaurant. But it will be as special and meaningful as any gathering of friends and family in any home. It will be a celebration of friendship.
Sometimes I’m asked how I deal with being involved with casinos and gambling, since, as I mentioned in both of my books, I was raised in a minister’s home where gambling was considered a major sin. I must say it’s never easy to go away from beliefs that were taught so strongly during early formative years; the “tapes” continue to run in the back of my mind even now, 47 years after I left home. But I have found an inner peace — by making sure that my behavior and actions when I’m in a casino are held to the same high ethical standards I have in all other areas of my life.
I do not subscribe to the current Las Vegas advertising campaign: “What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas.” I try to live here in such a way, both in and out of the casino, that if my friends or family from anywhere in the world learn of any details of my life, they would not be disappointed in me.
I hope everyone is having a thankful week. Counting our blessings is too important to emphasize just on Turkey Day.
And yes, I’ll answer before you ask: Our Thanksgiving feast will be comped! Did you have even a little doubt?