Question of the Day - 15 November 2015

Here's a link to the voting results of our last Reader Poll; now, as promised, here is some of the additional feedback you emailed to us, for which thanks -- we truly appreciate the candor and honesty from all who took the time to write to us:

• "I've studied about various games, and have knowledge about the games I stand a chance of beating, and the ones that will be money vampires. I occasionally play a stupid slot with poor odds just for entertainment. Mostly, I play the advantage games, BJ, Poker, VP. Unfortunately, I don't play regularly enough to see any meaningful advantage in wins vs losses."

• "I visit Las Vegas 4-5 times per year and only play the slots. I come for what I call 'mindless entertainment." After more than 40 years at a tough job, I don't want to spend my senior years thinking too hard. I promised myself when I retired, I'd study all things Bob Dancer to have a little variety in my Vegas schedule and maybe come closer to breaking even once in a while. But that was too much thinking for me, I guess. The concept never took. I can truthfully say I never, ever, win and always spend most of the approximately $2K cash I take with me to gamble. If I do go home with any of that money it's because I never played it in the first place. So there must be a category for people like me - surely I'm not the only one stuck in a Ground Hog Day situation. Maybe a reader's poll to further categorize people like me. Something beyond stupid and idiot, of course. We've already heard that :)."

• "I am a life-event gambler. I gamble when I drive that I won't get in an accident (I do buy auto insurance just in case). I gamble when I eat food past the expiration date that I won't get sick (I do have health insurance just in case). But other than that, I never gamble."

• "My choice was "Not a pro but..." -- I have worked very hard at studying strategy and focus my casino play on the video poker games that have the best pay schedules and those which I am fairly proficient at. Comps matter significantly to me as a non-local. For example, my 3 or 4 trips a year - usually about 3 weeks in duration each - are possible because of casino offers of free rooms - or at least steeply discounted ones. Just got back on Oct. 15 from 22 days in Vegas. Total hotel bill: $89. Stayed and played at Cosmopolitan, Hard Rock, Monte Carlo, Green Valley Ranch, M Resort, and Golden Nugget. Thank heaven for comps!"

• "I do look for the most advantageous payouts and am more or less disciplined. However, I play for the combination of winning AND fun."

• "I'm a serious recreational player. I use proper strategy, and I seek out the best games and comps. I don't look to make a living from video poker, I'm just looking for free vacations."

• "We play keno and on our last 2 trips to the casino, we hit a total of 12 jackpots for hand payouts...not too bad for a 'sucker's' bet."

• "Another fun and interesting Poll! I find myself torn between 'advantage player' and sucker bettor. If I'm playing to 'win' you'll find me at the BJ table counting cards, and with the best odds. If I'm having 'fun' I'll be playing Texas Hold'em, three-card poker, etc, hoping to hit 'the lottery'...haven't done it yet, but of course I've seen the guy next to me hit it a few times."

• "None of your categories seemed to fit. I'm not Bob Dancer, but I enjoy studying the games on my PC and playing well. I play for smaller stakes and shorter periods of time. I don't haunt my local casinos. I see gambling as a recreational activity, but I have fun playing well. It's mentally engaging. Slots bore me because there's no skill or strategy involved. Playing for smaller stakes doesn't generally give me access to great odds, but I look for the best plays and don't play when it's terrible. The money does matter! I consider myself a skilled recreational player."

• "I'm recreational. I gamble for fun. While I don't expect to win, but I do give myself the best fighting chance by not playing stupid high house edge games or side bets. The only stupid bet I make is my $1 weekly donation to the office lottery pool. But that's more so I'm not the office jerk ... and so I'm not the one left behind in the unlikely event that we actually win..."

• "I fit the fourth choice, except that I don't break even. I do lose a small amount but I consider this a good value for the entertainment I got."

• "I am a recreational player, I gamble for fun, not for profit. But for me, learning the correct strategy and looking for the best play is part of the fun. Where ever possible I will look for the best VP, I'll check VP2Free, I'll use coupons and promos to my advantage. And I like to challenge myself to play with the correct strategy. However, if the best VP I can find is 7/5 Bonus Poker, as is often the case, then that is what I play. I know it's a negative expectation game, but I'm on vacation and want to play. You could say that I get back in comps what I lose in the casino, but I think that might be a SLIGHT exaggeration..."

• "I'm a recreational gambler. Budget each session. Search the casino for the best video poker pay tables. Only play the games I've studied the strategy for. Always use my players card. If all the pays are lousy I pass."

• "Read the books, took the time and energy to learn close to perfect play on 3 different games of video poker. Only won a couple of $1k royals in a 20-year career. Realized luck is the major factor. If I'm not winning at a strong game, I switch to something else and often do better."

• "I know my limit and play within it. I know my loss limit and as crazy as this might sound, I know my win limit. I also learn the game that I am playing to max my entertainment."

• "I'm strictly a 25 cent to 1$ single hand video poker player in San Diego Indian casinos, and realize that there are no good pay schedule machines here (at least where I normally play). I do study strategy, though, and practice regularly on Video Poker For Winners. I'm careful about budgeting my bankroll (except the few times there's alcohol involved). I'd say I'm way ahead over the last few years, especially when you consider food and room comps, but can't be bothered to keep a log. When I hit a W2G hand, I don't have any taxes withheld, and just pay the taxes when I file."