This is the final part of the 2001 Strictly Slots 2-part series about how to lose less/win more at VP:
10. Last here, but perhaps first in importance, is this advice: Have patience. The long term can be just as the term says—loooong. You can be doing everything right – but you will still have losing streaks. However, I sometimes, joking, say to people who are complaining about losing, “Play faster – you will get to the long term quicker!”
Oh, one more thing. I promised you last month that I’d tell you how 2000 ended for us. If you remember, we had happily experienced 10 straight winning video poker years before the new century arrived. But then we fell into a horrific losing streak that lasted for more than 11 months, and we were preparing ourselves for a big red final figure. However, on December 26, we hit our biggest royal of the year, and the next few days we went to casinos all over town collecting hundreds of dollars of cashback. When we closed the books on December 31, yes, we did have a red figure—but a tiny $373.
However, we thought about the winning figures of the past 10 years, some of them very substantial. And we thought about the thousands of dollars of comps we had enjoyed in 2000, but weren’t included in our cash total. We decided it wasn’t a bad year after all.
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I know some of you are glad to see this series ending. However, many of you have mentioned in the Comments, or in personal e-mails, that you have enjoyed this nostalgic trip back to the “good old days” of video poker. And many have related their experiences in using these same techniques to achieve financial sucess and/or an enhanced lifestyle in those past years and continuing right up to the present time.
Of course things are changing – and that is why I added updates in most of the entries in the series. However, it still amazes me how much the basics are unchanged. Read again all 14 parts and you will see the blueprint for VP success, one we have used for 19 years and are still using today.
No, it isn’t easy – but it isn’t impossible.
Jean,
When you first started talking about losing (14 parts ago) I believe it was in response to some people asking you about losing when you routinely write about winning. I was hoping you were actually going to write about some of your actual losing experiences to show people what can and does happen even to the “best” players.
We’ve all heard (and read) the feel good stories like needing a tank of gas, stopping to play at Terrible’s to earn some gas cards and hitting a $4,000 royal, running through free play at the Hard Rock and landing a $20,000 royal. Joining forces with another couple and scoring a half million dollars in a slot tournament, being dealt a royal on quarter 100 play, cashing a check and winning a $10,000 prize and more.
I don’t wish losing on anyone but it’s part of playing VP. I think you do a good service teaching people how to win, or at the very least lose less but I also feel you do a disservice by not presenting the realty of losing. I know writing about personal losses doesn’t sell books, software and strategy cards but why not tell us some of your horror stories as well? Tell us about the days where you chased a 103% royal and dropped 10k, lost 2k for that tank of gas or the $75/hr play that ended up costing you $25,000 because you didn’t hit a royal.
https://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/frugal-vegas/?p=722 for Senior Promotions
I have enjoyed reading our VP series and I have bookmarked parts of both of your books. I do have problem’s navagating on the blogs though. Can you tell me about the senior deals again. I thought I recall that you had an article last Nov. but I think it was before the “blogs” started. I tried archiving Nov 09 but couldn’t find the info.
Thanks again I am returning to Vegas (Dec. ’10.)
Mo
Jean,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. At 45, I don’t currently play too much (got a kid that’s a senior in high school, and looking at paying for college!), but I’m storing away this knowledge for the future! My wife (also a teacher in Indianapolis!) is also an avid VP player, and I can honestly say that by following your advice, we’ve had an overall good experience with video poker. We only play at .25 to .50 level right now, to keep our exposure low, but I would like to emulate your retirement experience!
You’ve put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into bringing your experiences and advice to all of us readers, and for that I am eternally grateful! Thanks!
Pete
Westfield, IN