Obviously, we needed an expert to answer a question on experts, so we forwarded this question to one of the "culprits" -- Bob Dancer himself. (We would've asked Jean Scott as well, but she was on vacation in Turkey.) Here's what Bob had to say about professional video poker players diminishing the profit potential of non-professionals.
Dare accepted.
First of all, you need to replace the word "professional" with "strong player." In addition to the professionals, many strong recreational players are also net winners. It's not just the Bob Dancers and Jean Scotts of the world who are "ruining" it for the weaker players. It's anyone who knows which games to play and how to play them.
For example, though I rarely play games that return less than 100% before the slot club and promotions are figured in, some very competent VP players do play these machines. Casinos might make $50 a day off of these machines, whereas if there were no particularly knowledgeable players out there, the casinos would be making $500 a day off the same machines. So even when the casinos try to chase off the best players, knowlegeable people still outplay the rest.
What you're saying, in effect, is this: If the knowledgeable players would just go away, the not-so-knowledgeable players would get better deals. Knock yourself out wishing this would happen! It's analogous to saying that if only Brad Pitt would go away, you’d have a shot at Angelina Jolie!
What’s more, the more people who learn to play, thanks to my efforts and those of other video poker teachers, the more the games will continue to tighten. In any competition, when one side (in this case, the players) improve, the other side (the casinos) make adjustments to stay in the game. You can moan and groan all you want about it if it makes you feel better, but the trend will continue. Guaranteed.
There's an old saying: "If you can’t beat 'em, join 'em." If you want to earn money from casinos by playing video poker, you’ll either have to become more knowledgeable or you'll be left in the dust. My new book, Video Poker for Intelligent Beginners, which will be published by HP in early 2009, gives you the information you need to "get into the game and stay in it."
If you need some version of Video Poker for Not-So-Smart Folks to get the basics, you’ll never be successful anyway. The fact is, video poker is a game of applied mathematics and there’s a certain amount you need to know. Some information can be spoonfed to you, but you’ll have to learn to apply your knowledge, as the situation regularly changes. If you have some smarts to start with, this book gives you a chance. In addition to being a companion volume to the Video Poker for Winners! software, it helps you obtain the edge you need to compete in this game.
