Comments on: Luck vs. Skill

By: James McFadden

James McFadden — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 16:31:50 +0000

Has anyone noticed how often four to the royal is being dealt but not completed? My wife and I are probably rated as low roller one dollar VP players. We generally are either in Mesquite, NV or Las Vegas three to four times a month. We probably only run at max maybe One thousand a piece thorough the machines even on three day comped weekends. No matter where we play we will see at least three or four dealt four to the royal. We are more recreational players so we are probably the ones donating to the advantage players but we have managed to keep our head above water and enjoy our hobby. I am wondering if there has been a software change to deal so many four to the royals to try to up the play. We have been playing for around ten years and have never seen so many. In the past we probably completed seven or eight out of ten. This year is more like one out of thirty.

By: Scott Uyeno

Scott Uyeno — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 16:13:40 +0000

It’s interesting reading about other people’s royal droughts. I have always managed to eek out a profit every year, but one. I have always enjoyed the free rooms in Tahoe and Reno, but comp levels seems to be reduced for video poker players. My video poker play is limited to Lake Tahoe and the Reno area. Good video poker games have all but disappeared from the Tahoe area. Normally, I would be playing 9/6 job or 8/5 bonus poker at the quarter level. Montbleu recently downgraded all their 9/6 job and 8/5 bonus poker games. 2 years ago, I had 12 royals for the year, last year the number dropped to 11. This year, I got 2 quick royals during the first few days in January and nothing since then. I would be dealt 4 cards to the royal and then nothing. I average about 2 trips a month to Nevada and play about $60,000 coin in per month. For the first 6 months of the year, I’m down almost $7000 and headed to the worst playing year ever. I keep thinking that the next trip could end the drought, but it seems more of the same. I’ve talked to other video poker players in Tahoe and Reno and all say the same thing. Could there be a conspiracy? Who knows. Either way, I’m in a serious royal drought.

By: Robin Heller

Robin Heller — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 20:47:37 +0000

This is my profitable year so far, but I am banking the wins for the inevitable downturn. This is quite a hobby we have picked! When you are not lucky, you need to be smart.

By: Mo LA

Mo LA — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 19:30:44 +0000

Can you give an example of a game that would be( .5%- edge plays and our biggest plays give us a full 1% advantage)
Sometimes if I haven’t been to the casino in Vegas for a while, I forget the difference with the math, and only stick with the game I have been practicing at home.
Thanks, MO

By: Jane Goldberg

Jane Goldberg — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 06:54:42 +0000

Jean, last year was an amazing one for me, too, and my BR is not as large as yours and Brad’s. this year, also since December 2014 I’ve lost all coin tosses. by this I mean the following: Last year, when I was dealt 4 to the royal, I got the needed card over 70% of the time, thus making for a HUGE year. This year, all but a small handful of four to they royals result of NOTHING. This is also my worst year. I’ve spoken to so many peopel who are experiencing the same thing. Since none of us have changed how and what we play, this sample of gamblers has one commonality; no one is winning. Any thoughts? Can it be that varience caught up to every single one of us, only from December up to an including this very day, 7/10/15? I don’t think so. Varience isn’t this consistent, but changing the payback percentages is. However, can it be that ALL the chains in town are doing this in concert. I say no. But what else can explain the complete devastation to everyone (locals) I’ve spoken to? Maybe my compulsive record keeping (which arose since I read your Tax help for gamblers) will get me my money back if such a conspiracy is ever proven (NO, I’M NOT A CONSPIRACY THEORIST OR NUTCASE). JUst a compulsive gambler who was able to turn the compulsion into a profitable hobby unitll December 2014.