Helping You Understand Bankroll Needs – Volatility

Posted on August 18, 2013 by queen of comps

Here’s another guest article by Henry Tamburin, one that discusses a subject that weighs so heavily into your bankroll calculations – volatility.   Articles on this subject often make players eyes glaze over with their complicated “mathspeak” and complex  formulas but here Henry gives examples and charts and  “plain English” explanations that will help even the most  “non-mathematical” player.  Plus it is a good start for those who wish to dig deeper into the subject.

 

UNDERSTANDING VARIANCE

By Henry Tamburin

Astute video poker players know that the best games to play are those that have an ER (Expected theoretical return) close to, or slightly over, 100%, using perfect playing strategy. However, there is another characteristic of video poker games that is not so well known but just as important and that’s volatility.

 

A game that is volatile means your bankroll will experience some nasty up and down swings, and if you are not properly bankrolled, you can easily tap out. Continue reading →

Posted in Bankroll, Video Poker | 6 Comments

More on Bankroll Considerations

Posted on August 14, 2013 by queen of comps

By the comments on the last entry – and the private e-mails I received – I realize that I have touched on a VERY sensitive VP nerve. Many questions have arisen and many comments bring up important related issues.  I will try to answer these questions and address these issues in the coming weeks, but in the meantime I encourage all of you to read the comments frequently.  Often there is as much valuable information there as in the blog itself. A community of knowledgeable VP players is out there, and I am so happy that some are willing to share their experiences and expertise here so we all can all become more skillful and thus more successful players.  So feel free to answer questions other commenters pose, to bring up problems you have encountered, and/or to share resources you have found helpful. Continue reading →

Posted in Bankroll, Video Poker | 5 Comments

Helping You Understand Bankroll Needs – The Royal Flush

Posted on August 11, 2013 by queen of comps

I believe that one of the biggest problems for video poker players, even many very skilled ones, is understanding bankroll requirements.  This has become an even bigger problem in recent years because of the decline of really good VP plays.  Most of us are having to play with a much smaller edge than we were several years, and too many are not recalculating the bankroll needs for their current plays.  Thus in my personal e-mail and conversations with players and reading  Internet chatter on video poker forums, I am seeing  severe disillusionment that is giving rise to doubts that financial successful advantage VP play can really be achieved.

First, players are forgetting or straying away from the basic building block:  playing ONLY when you have an advantage.  You need to change your goals – and rename your hobby –  if you decide to play  – for whatever the reason –  when you do not have the advantage.  I’m not saying that is a bad thing IF you are doing this with your eyes wide open and you can afford purely recreational play.  But don’t try to fool yourself in thinking that you are still an advantage player.  Continue reading →

Posted in Bankroll, Guest Writer, Video Poker | 9 Comments

Sex Toys

Posted on August 7, 2013 by queen of comps

I’m almost never at a loss for words – but I can’t find any to comment on this story.

Posted in Casino Policy | 5 Comments

More Promotions

Posted on August 5, 2013 by queen of comps

Silverton is running an “Earn and Win” promo in August on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.  Earn 100 points for a tall Starbucks drink and 500 points will get you a $20 food credit. You can redeem at the new Redemption Kiosk located next to the slot club desk.  Hopefully that will help you avoid long lines at the desk itself.  We don’t play there anymore but really like their restaurants, which we can still enjoy with gift cards earned in the past.

Hooters has launched a new tiered players club. Continue reading →

Posted in Casino Promotions, Food Review, Slot Clubs | 2 Comments

AUGUST VEGAS PROMOTIONS

Posted on July 30, 2013 by queen of comps

Some people have complained that I don’t cover enough casinos.  Hey, Brad and I are getting old and are trying to act more like retired people and not have such a full calendar.  So I tend to write more about the few where we play and/or the ones where we don’t play but still get mailers.  (I am always amazed at the patience of casinos – some keep sending us offers for years after we stop play there!)

But if you want to know about promotions at a specific casino and I don’t mention it here – or even if I do but you want more details, I suggest you go to the Web site of those you might want to check out.  Surprisingly, not all casinos are “with it” in this computer age.  They don’t see the value of informing their customers about promotions – the old we-are-giving-a-party-but-we-don’t-want-anyone-to-come casino policy.  And some just make a stab at it, but don’t seem to realize that people like to plan in advance so the Web site information contains old details.  I want to know August promotions before August 5.  I don’t want to see July promotions on August 1st!

However, many casinos are really on top of online things these days. Continue reading →

Posted in Casino Promotions | 6 Comments

Your Questions

Posted on July 25, 2013 by queen of comps
  • Several people have asked if I could share a written copy of my presentation at the recent host conference.  Unfortunately not, simply because I haven’t one –  it was not a formal “speech.”  It was in a Q+A format, with the leader of the conference asking me questions.  I had been given a list of these questions in advance and had written down some notes, but mostly I just talked “off the top of my head.” Continue reading →
Posted in Casino Hosts, Family News, Q+A | 3 Comments

Host Conference Follow-Up

Posted on July 24, 2013 by queen of comps

I had asked you all to give your input about hosts – and did you ever!  Both in the “Comments” and in private e-mails, you gave so much fodder for my presentation today at the host conference. Continue reading →

Posted in Casino Hosts | 2 Comments

Desert Storms

Posted on July 20, 2013 by queen of comps

Interesting video, shot at Caesars Palace.  Notice that nothing will dislodge some slot players!

 

 

Posted in City News | Comments Off on Desert Storms

What Would You Like to Tell Your Hosts?

Posted on July 17, 2013 by queen of comps

A few days ago I wrote about hosts and I really appreciated receiving some  helpful comments here and also privately.  And now I am asking for some more comments, particularly about what casino customers who do use the host system like and don’t like in these relationships.

The reason for this call-out is that next week I am speaking at a casino marketing seminar, giving hosts and other marketing executives some input from the customer’s point of view.  Although I have been interacting with hosts for twenty-five years or so and have plenty of “stories,” I would like input from others.   Continue reading →

Posted in Casino Hosts, Comments, Comps | 27 Comments