Las Vegas casinos have become more aggressive at booting video poker players than they used to be. A number of pros and semi-pros, including myself, are down to a small number of places where they can play unrestricted. Or sometimes, play at all. Some players have no places left in town that welcome their action and have taken to regular trips out of town — or even out of state — so that they can still play.
So, what now?
A friend of mine suggested that I form a group and teach others to do what I do in return for a percentage of their action. That way I could capitalize on my knowledge even though I cannot physically play in many places.
I don’t think that would work for several reasons.
First, I have already written about a high percentage of my “tricks of the trade.” People who can learn from me, for the most part, already have. Or even if they haven’t learned yet, hundreds of my articles and podcasts are readily available. In general, you can’t sell what you’ve already given away for free. I still have occasional students come in and buy a few hours of private tutoring, but that isn’t nearly enough to support me.
Another problem with that idea is that most of my discoveries of profitable situations have been found while in the casino searching for the holes. No two casinos are identical. No two slot clubs are the same. And often the techniques that worked in a particular place six months ago are no longer available today. You must be in the casino working the promotions to find out that at this moment, four separate promotions are in affect at one time — and two of them are particularly lucrative. And to notice while in that casino, they don’t enforce this particular thing. And to hear scuttlebutt about what’s coming down the line at a third casino. And to find out that the theoretical on a certain bank of machines has been mis-set in the players’ favor. Or notice that a typo in the rules allows a one-off situation that will expire as soon as the casino realizes someone is exploiting it. If I’m not actively in a casino trying to beat it, I simply will not know enough about the current possibilities.
Another option is to talk the casino into allowing me to play under certain conditions. I’ve had some success with this, but more failures than successes. Every situation is different. Sometimes I can convince the General Manger that there are some extenuating circumstances that warrant reconsideration. Often the GM is simply not at all interested in changing his mind, whatever I say.
Sometimes it might make sense to continue to play, subject to whatever restrictions the casino has instituted. If you’ve been trespassed or told “Don’t play video poker no matter what!” then continuing to play is not an intelligent option. But a lesser restriction, such as “no mailers” and/or “no multipliers,” might still be beatable. It’s hard enough to eke out even a small edge when you get all the benefits, but sometimes it’s still possible with one hand tied behind your back.
Note that in the previous circumstance, the casino will likely be watching you. The first restriction was intended to get you to stop playing there, or maybe only to be able to play and lose. If you demonstrate that you can still play and win, further restrictions may just be around the corner. Getting lucky immediately after a partial restriction may end up being costly. If you take a month or two off and then come back and get lucky, sometimes you are allowed to continue to play.
A totally different option is to go down in stakes. There are very possibly several places where you could play for quarters or dollar single line where you would be welcome to play. The win-per-hour isn’t as good as where you are no longer welcome to play (otherwise it would have been on your list of places to play in the first place), but maybe it’s still enough.
For some folks, playing with an edge is not as important as playing. (This will never be me.) In general, folks like this generally won’t be excluded in the first place. Although these folks can hit some big jackpots and get thrown out by casinos who don’t understand the winning process, generally these players are recognized as profitable assets by the casino and allowed to play and lose.
A more drastic option is to retire from playing video poker. This can entail shifting to a different gambling game or perhaps giving up gambling altogether. Although I’m personally nowhere near doing this, everyone has to make this choice for him or herself.
This why I would hate to be a one trick pony. One day I might be at a carnival game but later that same day on a slot play. Next day might be blackjack and so on. AP’s should always have more than one bullet in the clip.
NEWS FLASH!!!!!
Casinos do not want you to win on a consistent basis; in fact they like losers better than winners.
Let’s be realistic. The casinos are trying to make a profit and keeping players that are extracting money on a regular basis is not in their best interest. The challenge for them is to make the games attractive enough to keep the losing players coming back while eliminating those players that are regularly extracting money. A difficult task and one of their best tools is barring the winning players. The challenge is distinguishing between lucky players and winning players. The serious local player who can pick and choose might be able to beat this cat and mouse game but the occasional visitor who travels across the country a couple of times a year for entertainment and vacation is being rapidly eliminated. I hate to see the games becoming so tough that the occasional visitor basically soesn’t have a chance but it is what it is.
Just my 7.425 grains worth.
Unless you’re actually cheating with some sort of device, the casino doesn’t care how often you win or what you win.
The machines are set as to what they give back per dollar in, They don’t give two S–its who wins.
All you people who think you;re being watched are nuts. Sure they look, but unless you have something other going on, again, they don’t care less.
Getting backed off from a poker machine or slot, ha ha ha ha.
Jim,
my guess is that you are the kind of player who doesn’t have to worry about being backed off at video poker. That would explain your comments.