Walking through casino promotion areas is like trying to get across a war zone mine field. Even if you don’t find actual technical errors in newspaper advertisements or Internet information sources, the details may be too incomplete for you to have accurate information.
Published information on multiple-point benefits may not distinguish between slots and video poker bonuses. For example, saying that Silverton has 10X-16X points, depending on tier level, is a true statement, but not of help to video poker players, since this refers only to slot play. Silverton almost never has casino-wide multiple points for VP play.
Rampart Casino has a big ad about their new slot card and says: And points are always worth 5x more. The question is “More than what?” Worthless information that is purely hype! Then they give this “formula”: 1000 points = $5 cash back. This is a common example of incomplete information that is useless to players unless they have one other figure: HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU HAVE TO PUT IN THE MACHINE TO EARN A POINT? Here are the other facts you must know: It takes $1 to earn one point on slots. It takes $2 to earn one point on video poker. If you do the math – or like I did, just go to vpFREE2 and click on “Rampart” and then “Player’s Club” – you would find that this players club pays .25% for your points earned on VP (.5% on slots).
I’ve been meaning to write here about how to choose where the best play is, especially on holidays and other times when there are several multiple-point bonus options. Misinformation out there for yesterday’s Labor Day promotions has sent me screaming to my keyboard.
Here is the way you choose if you want to stick with the best mathematical play. If you just want to play at a casino near your house, or where you once hit a bit jackpot so you feel lucky there, or where you like the restaurants, or where the employees are friendliest, go ahead with your own non-mathematical plans – you don’t need my advice. But if you want to maximize your chances for long-term better financial results, here is what I have learned over the last 31 years:
- Learn the EV of the game you want to play.
- Find the players club point value
- Add them together for the EV of the regular total play
- If there is a multiple-point bonus, add that to get the total play for “special days.”
It’s that simple. Do that for all the possible plays, compare them, and choose the one with the highest EV.
I’m exhausted now, explaining things I have talked about for 25 years. If I get my strength back, hopefully in my next blog I will give you some specific examples. But in the meantime, you can use vpFREE2 and start your own figuring. This old lady will not be around to hold your hand forever!
