Video Poker: What are you playing for?

[redietz]

The hosts call Rob because it's a privilege to have his schlong on property. It's called "being overschlonged."

(Sorry, folks. Football starts for real tonight, and I need some comic relief. We did some stuff today -- have ULM +3 vs. Wake Forest, which is a good number, but will hedge a percentage of that now that they're -2 some places.)

[Alan Mendelson]

Unfortunately, Rob is still stuck in some weird mindset that he can beat very -EV games through self-defeating special plays and start/stop play patterns. It is sad that someone in the gambling world for such a long time still hasn't developed a basic understanding of how these machines work.

Unfortunately for you Dan, "how these machines work" has nothing to do with how you can make money on these games with negative expectation paytables. You are still confusing the discussion about how, even on negative expectation games, people can and do win. Rob Singer isn't the only one who does it. I see little old ladies and young kids walk up to machines all the time, hit a winner and cash out and leave. That's all it is. And I see players who violate proper strategy and hold KK instead of for example KK55 on DDB, and draw the quad KKKK and leave. That's all it is.

[Rob.Singer]

I actually agree with you on the ATM's, hosts, and credit use, although I'd say there are specific instances wherein using credit can work for you (short term) from a convenience perspective. I'm not sure American culture has much to do with strong discipline -- we're number two on the fattest list. We're probably number one on the energy consumption list. I think the fact that displays of your kind of discipline are such a rarity says the opposite about U.S. citizenry, in fact.

Probably true. Liberals are fat; conservatives aren't.

My strong deterrent & discipline comes from my first ten years of work after college--in the US Govt. It's a whole different story today of course, since they now teach timidness, retreat, and cowardice.

Alan, keep telling yourself that fantasy about that credit line and I guarantee, you will always have a casino host as your best friend in LV.

[Rob.Singer]

Unfortunately for you Dan, "how these machines work" has nothing to do with how you can make money on these games with negative expectation paytables. You are still confusing the discussion about how, even on negative expectation games, people can and do win. Rob Singer isn't the only one who does it. I see little old ladies and young kids walk up to machines all the time, hit a winner and cash out and leave. That's all it is. And I see players who violate proper strategy and hold KK instead of for example KK55 on DDB, and draw the quad KKKK and leave. That's all it is.

I did that yesterday at Tamarack Junction Alan, exactly like that with KK55. And who would've thought....giving up a better chance at a FH for an opportunity to hit a quad. Isn't that how "the machines work"?

[Alan Mendelson]

Alan, keep telling yourself that fantasy about that credit line

What fantasy? That I don't like to carry large amounts of cash? That's no fantasy. I don't carry large amounts of cash.

Years ago... I flew to Vegas with a date who carried a large amount of cash in her purse (handbag for you non-New Yorkers). SHE LEFT IT ON HER SEAT ON THE SOUTHWEST FLIGHT and didn't realize it till we were in the limo. The purse flew on to Albuquerque. Luckily a flight attendant saw it, put it aside, and it was returned to us in Vegas the next day.

[Rob.Singer]

I KNOW you don't like carrying large amounts of cash. But it's always the smart thing to do when you are going on a gambling trip. Why open yourself up to closer scrutiny at any casino--it's just not how a player who plays to win does things, but it's something a player who goes to a casino to feel like a big shot, who goes to casinos to have a good time win or lose, and who for some reason feels the need to be "connected" to one of those prying hosts, who's job it is is to cajole "their" players into doing whatever necessary and within reason in order to empty their accounts. They have no other function. Every single effort they make is for the casino's benefit and not yours.

And you DO carry large amounts of cash after getting cash hand pays that you've talked about depositing the hundys into the BofA ATM. It's not a crime you know, and only dipsticks leave cash behind. And who the heck knows what amount you're carrying? But that's not the main point. Using casino credit is what the casinos want and expect players to do. That should tell you right there that it is not something beneficial to any player. Dancer keeps claiming it's some type of interest-free loan--probably because he always needs the money for his gambling habit. But that's just stupid justification. I'm surprised you don't see the huge downside to this.

[Alan Mendelson]

Rob. Rarely do I accept cash handpays. Only when I am with Jason and when he can go with me to the ATM to deposit. Sorry I am not going to follow your advice on avoiding ctedit lines.