Comments on: Using Math to Choose a VP Play – Part 1

By: Susan Johnson

Susan Johnson — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 02:13:43 +0000

I can find 7/5 bonus progressive at home, Blue Chip in Indiana. When I go to Las Vegas, I only play full pay games, so most tourist casinos are out of the question. We went local when the Stardust starting cutting the pay tables and haven’t regretted it at all. The factors we consider are, paytables, free rooms and food offers. Where else can you go on vacation, stay and eat for free, and maybe go home with more money than you came with? All of this is due to you, Jean, and the Las Vegas Advisor gang. Thanks so much!

By: Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 01:51:18 +0000

The math should also include opportunity cost. If you want to drive those additional 6 miles, it could take half an hour if traffic is an issue. Of course, that would actually be 12 miles, or an hour, extra time to play at Casino B. So what is your time worth? If you think that you’re worth at least $15 an hour, then you’re “losing” $15 to go to Casino B, so the net gain is only $45 in your scenario. And of course, if you’re a quarter player, the decision is a toss-up: the cost of your entertainment is going to be $15 either way.

One could also say that driving to Casino B to pick up and play $10 worth of free play would be a net monetary negative. Your time has value, and you get no benefit from time spent behind the wheel when you could have been doing something else (like eating a nice dinner at Casino A, inventing a cure for cancer, etc.).

By: Jim W

Jim W — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 19:03:09 +0000

Great explanation. For locals it often gets more complicated. Any quick ideas for calculating drawing entries, food bonuses, tournament entries etc. into the equation. Thank you.

By: bornloser1537

bornloser1537 — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 17:55:48 +0000

You might wish to perform a short-term ROR calculation for the two casinos and the amount of play you envision, rather than just looking at the theoretical EV. NSUD is a bit more “volatile” the 8/5 BP.

By: Mo L

Mo L — Mon, 17 Oct 2016 16:44:07 +0000

Thanks Jean,
Who ever said that using that MATH stuff in Algebra so LONG ago was useless must be laughing now that you have given such a great example!!!

I think it was re quoted in a movie ” Peggy Sue Got Married”!!!!
Mo

By: diana thorpe

diana thorpe — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 23:48:34 +0000

Hi. I love that you remind people that we have different goals. When I’m alone or in Vegas, my goals are different than when I’m keeping my mom company. Mom loves playing 5-cent or 10-cent deuces of any kind and can’t remember correct strategy for anything these days. No problem. When I’m hanging out with mom, we’re playing bad pay tables. The pleasure she gets from any kind of deuces balances out the pain I get from looking at the pay table.

By: Georgi S

Georgi S — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 21:29:06 +0000

Great post, Jean ~ it really made things a lot more clear for me. Looking forward to Part 2!

By: Frenchy

Frenchy — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 21:22:09 +0000

It’s almost impossible to find any 8/5 machines anywhere. On the Strip, we stay with 7/5; it’s all we find (Bonus Poker). Even jacks or better offer nothing better. Our status is 7 Star at Caesar’s Resorts. We’re seriously looking at other casinos and their program offers. Does anyone know of a better program?