In late May of this year, I sent an email to the powers that be at the South Point letting them know that I wished to resume teaching free video poker classes on Tuesdays in September. I was told that they would discuss it at the staff meeting and get back to me.
This is the way it’s been at the South Point for almost ten years. Twice a year, we’ve had this exchange of emails. The classes were postponed during the pandemic, of course. For the fall semester of 2020 and winter semester of 2021, my emails to them stated my belief that it was too early to resume classes again, and naturally they agreed with me.
This year, on June 3, I received a message from General Manager Ryan Growney that they’ve decided going forward that they were not going to host video poker classes anymore.
Damn! Double damn!
I was certainly disappointed to hear this. I was surprised, but not shocked. The pandemic was very expensive for casinos (as well as the rest of us). Numerous changes are happening at casinos everywhere as each one re-evaluates everything. Teaching customers how to play video poker well has always been something that some casino decision makers think is a good idea, while other decision makers think otherwise.
I’ve been careful not to be rude or inappropriate with anyone at the South Point. Were I believed to be obnoxious or prickly to deal with, this day would have come much sooner than it did. I don’t believe anyone over there is upset with me, but perhaps I’m wrong. If I’ve offended anyone there, it was certainly inadvertent.
Anyway, as of right now I have nowhere to teach. I’d like to start again somewhere, but casinos are, frankly, much tighter in video poker than they used to be, and very few, if any, offer a lot of different games with good pay schedules. The South Point was unique in that respect. They currently offer a bigger variety of excellent pay schedules than anybody else does. Perhaps this is a signal that their philosophy on this is changing, but I hope not.
It’s been a nice run for me that started in 1997 at what is now called Fiesta Rancho — when it was run by George Maloof. Teaching has allowed me to meet tens of thousands of different players whom I otherwise would not have met. Some have taken a class or two and I’ve never seen them again. Some have taken the classes numerous times. Some have become good friends.
Teaching has forced me to keep my video poker skills sharp. When you stand in front of a group of people and are asked questions about a huge variety of things, your overall knowledge needs to be pretty large. So I continue to study and review. Each time I teach a class, it reinforces my knowledge a little more. I haven’t played Deuces Bonus for years, for example, but I could still sit down and play the game almost perfectly because I’ve taught it so many times. That skill will deteriorate over time, of course. It does for everybody — and at age 74, my retention rate has diminished.
If I can find a suitable place to begin classes again, I will. We’ll see.
Sorry to hear they will no longer host your classes. I would think that the net result from hosting the classes would be positive for them, so it is a bit of a head scratcher. Perhaps the people that purchased the Palms will be open to the idea. Best of luck, Gary
Have you thought about doing online teaching? Perhaps using the Las Vegas Advisor YouTube channel to do so. It would help drive viewers to their channel, create an outlet for your teaching, and provide invaluable lessons to video poker players.
I would think South Point allowing the classes again would send a message to the players: “We do want you to have a fair chance of winning a few dollars from time to time.”
I get the same positive message from a casino that still has 3/2 blackjack. I can lose money to the casino at 3/2 blackjack, but it’s nice to have a crack at a win now and then.
I had the opportunity to attend two or three of such classes during my visit in Las Vegas. The times I joined them it was at different locations. I can’t even remember where it was before Mr Bob Dancer hosted them at the Southpoint. Perhaps at the Suncoast in Summerlin? Anyways, it was always interesting and a great way to gather precious informations about the games. Also, it was good because it was the place where I could find the best videopoker software and from what I remember, interesting books about this subject.
There’s a saying over here that goes like…”if you close one door…another door opens up for you”. This saying is good for many aspects in life, private and professional, and it also works for relationships, interests and lifestyle in general.
I don’t think that it’s automatically the end of “an Era” just because videopoker classes at the Southpoint will be discontinued. To the interested gambler, there will remain sources how to find the best games and work on the player’s strategy and skill. To the novice it’s not a big deal because he wouldn’t probably join such classes as he would not even understand how much work and efforts it takes to become a great vp player. And to the casino it’s definetely a way to cut spending and use that conference room or showroom space differently in the future.
And , what’s my opinion, Mr Bob Dancer and all the other top vp players still find enough ways to make money and live their life the way they like it, as well as the rest of us struggling along trying to win a little bit out of these machines. Life will go on, regardless. Let’s just hope that Southpoint will keep it the way it is and not start eliminating all the machines with the great paytables, as it would definetely not be helpful to the vp community.
From Switzerland
Boris
Bob – I have followed you over 20 years. I took a class at the Palms, and bought all the strategy cards. You have enabled me to gamble smartly. I’ll support you wherever you land. Good luck!
I like the idea of teaching online. Casinos should want to work with you, whether paid advertising, hosting you onsite showing pay tables, having tournaments or drawings etc etc
The boatloads of traffic impervious hard partiers from my home state of California that invade on Friday and retreat for nine hours on Sundays have changed the face of Arrakis, I mean Las Vegas… At first I thought it was a positive, it kept the casinos in business, employed people. But what it ended up doing is raising the table limits and dumbing down the games they offer. These folks that I live with during the week are not advantage players, they are not bankroll or money managers, they rarely think past their next drinking binge. Why should the casinos offer decent video poker when they have an army of people invading each weekend trying to out drink and out gamble other… Video poker is for cerebral centered people, Las Vegas has devolved into a groin centric municipality… I can not predict how this will all shake out, forces are at work, Economic Darwinism, hedge funds and management companies now call the shots. Resorts World looks fabulous, I wish them the best, I look forward to visiting it. But they are not a good thing for the average joe. All I am left with to keep any optimism at all is the entry of ambitious Native American tribes like The San Manuel Band Of Mission Indians. if they think gamblers like us are a good thing they will market to us, if not they won’t…
I was fortunate to attend one of Bob’s classes on Super Double Bonus at the El Cortez back in the day. It was a great experience and it caused me to purchase copies of VP for Winners for me and my wife, and caused both gambling nieces to purchase their own as well. While I agree that online classes by Bob would be welcomed, there’s something to be said for the face-to-face classroom experience. But online would be better than nothing…
Sorry to hear that South Point will no longer offer your classes. Out of curiosity, will South Point continue to advertise on the GWAE podcasts? Please come in and play our games, but we don’t want you to have a chance of winning.
I have thought for several years -reach the game but play or find it where. Schedules have deteriorated for years. New casino’s and owners are not going to let someone use their casino to teach them to make more off their machines. I agree the visitors to Vegas has changed. Casino&s make more money on drinks expensive restaurants and drinks. Whether that will change is ? I think the first correction or reset of economy will shake them out. I also am uneasy in this environment to travel to area where I cannot protect myself. Some of the crowd is paid troublemakers. Vegas put a damper on most of that. No one knows what they have planned next. They have ridden the corona horse to death. Time will tell. Don’t think normal visitation will occur for many months or even years.
Things are steadily getting tighter. Green Valley Ranch, my casino of choice until now, is gradually removing its 99.8 VP machines, and corporate’s apparent decision to not reopen the company’s buffets is sending people elsewhere.
Perhaps Atlantic City at Harrahs or Borgata would welcome your classes. Borgata may have the largest Poker rooms of all full scale casinos in America. Let me know if you want me to speak to management on your behalf.
Dave Dana
I have enjoyed your classes and will be sorry not to be able to find them at South Point! We had not attended in several years, as the schedule doesn’t always coincide with our trips, but online by zoom or something similar would absolutely be a winner!
Thank you,
Robin
DAVID REYNARd
I noticed that Resorts WORLD didn’t have much for V.P. but they had a ton of the new slots with no paytables.The future.
I was one of the people who attended one of Bob’s classes close to 10 years ago. Without attending the class, I never would have started playing a few variants of video poker. I also would not have met Bob Dancer. I consider myself fortunate that, not only did I meet him, but in the last few years, I have been able to get together a few times socially. It will be unfortunate if he doesn’t continue teaching in a public forum. Whenever I am in town, I try to attend one of his classes. He dispenses his knowledge with an interesting sense of humor.
I attended a class at South Point a few years ago. I still have the handouts somewhere. I’ve visited South Point few times since then, but it all started with the class. And now, I’ll not go back. It really is that easy to gain and lose a customer.
One thing that we all can do, about this issue and all other issues, is to send a paper letter to Management, letting them know how we feel. A paper letter inside a paper envelope will have much more effect than an electronic note sent through email or the casino’s Website, precisely because they rarely get paper letters. You don’t have to hand-write the letter; typing it up is fine. (But of course if you’re really into longhanding, go ahead and hand-write your letter.) Some casino executives are dumber than others and need to be told or reminded what is wise with respect to dealing with and treating players. So we let them know that we’ll be taking our patronage elsewhere because of recent stupid changes, such as the worsening of video poker inventory or players’ club cash-back. You can even tell them where you’re going, and why, so they know that you’re not bluffing. And on the reverse side of the coin, send paper letters of thanks and appreciation for those places that ARE treating us well, as I’ve done with my new “go-to” casino in downtown, which has fostered a great rapport.
I agree, handwritten and paper letters dwarf emails, they symbolize the effort it takes to write them, they are much more difficult to discard or ignore… Prior to the pandemic, we were losing advantage plays, now that the dangers have subsided somewhat, the trend has only accelerated. Casinos want a dumbed down customer base, as long as there are legions of people willing to play mindless games, they won’t miss us. When the well runs dry, they might just decide we are worth something, only time will tell…
I’ve attended 2 of your classes, one at El Cortez and one at the Palms. l loved them both and learned so much. I’ve also purchased some of your merchandise. Please keep trying to teach somewhere
You are a great video poker teacher, Bob, and you probably have positively impacted the lives of more players than anyone else in history. Your legacy is secure. You have had a great teaching run.
Why not teach online classes on Zoom? I don’t live in Vegas so I’ve never been able to take your classes but would jump at the chance to learn from you online. People would be willing to pay.
great idea
They were great classes, was fortunate to take a few that elevated my knowledge of the game and others I don’t regularly play. Bob has a big following in the VP world so I’m sure he will find a new spot soon if he so chooses.
I like Al’s and Mike’s idea to send hand-written letters, but without the “prickly” language.
Great word, “prickly”, like “dumb managers”, “decent VP schedules”, or “will spend our money elsewhere”, etc. Don’t do it.
Avoid characterizing the classes as creating VP geniuses who can extract money from the casino(s); better to say something like “Can bring in players looking for entertaining experiences that can build a client base.” Maybe too late for South Point, but some other place might like the idea of a Bob Dancer “master class” offering.
Candy
As a matter of fact, by running such “gaming classes” , exactly this goal is being accomplished. A new army of players is being borne and the casinos will definetely have more coin-in through their slots to register. It takes a hell of practice and study to master the games perfectly. The slightest mistake means more revenue to the casino, no matter how hard you try, mistakes are inevitable. When you practice on your computer at home, you will find out that most of the times minor errors occur, at a rate of maybe 2-3 errors per 100 hands or so. Only if you really play extremely concentrated and focused without distractions your results may be better. At noisy places with people bumping into you or loud music and announcements every 10 to 15 minutes, the human brain is prone to these distractions and causes errors.
From that point of view, there must be another reason why these “gaming” classes have been cancelled and are being discontinued.
I asked my slot manager at the place I work for over here in Europe many times how come that our casino is not offering videopoker. The answer is always the same: “it’s a different gaming culture over here in Europe”. There is no demand for videopoker and the average gamblers likes to play these new games. Perhaps we are entering this new “era” of electronic slot games with more entertainment value and because most patrons lose money at the casino they prefer the games that are entertaining them more than the continues dealing of 5 card combos. Royals and Deuces occur not very often and as long as they don’t show up you can’t impossibly win over the course of 1 session. On any other new slot with a progressive or so there is a permanent chance to hit the BIG ONE.
From Switzerland
Boris
I crossed off all Station Casinos from my list of casinos to frequent because of their decision to eliminate buffets. I will now do the same for the South Point for cancelling VP classes. Frequent Vegas visitor and January 2020 VP class student, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I’ll still follow BD until he retires. I have a vacation booked for end of August. Could be my last. Corporate owned casinos just aren’t that fun anymore.
I will approach Silverton Casino about hosting your classes. I will be there on the 20th of July. I will talk to my casino host.
Never took one of your classes but it was a pleasure meeting BD at the multi-strike games at Southpoint. Hard to understand how the casino could not make a decent profit on these hard to master games.
The casinos make more money by NOT having the players “wised up” by guys like Bob.
You are the Best! Bob. Carmelo and I took your video poker classes over 10 years ago at the Southpoint and Westside cannery Casino period and fortunate Lee I can’t play too often being a type one diabetic 42 years on an insulin pump. Now I have to wear compression stockings in the summertime and exercise is priority. I bought the books the instruction cards and the software. All have been excellent! Hope to see you out there teaching video poker once again and we will keep a lookout for other casinos that might afford you to teach. Good luck!! Susan and Carmelo
Drat – missed out! I knew I shouldnt have tried to arrive in a dust devil…now it’s too late. Oh well.
I always knew Bob had a reputation at South Point – rivaling that of his mystique. When I asked a neighbor “hey, what’s Bob’s real name,” I was told “that’s a trade secret!” His classes had a strong reputation too: at one Henderson-area casino, a manager asked someone if they had ever taken a video poker class. After the person said yes, the manager said “we don’t want your business.” Amazing!