Originally Posted by Alan Mendelson View Post
Wouldn't the "smart strategy" include playing the best paytable?

I do not play 7/5 Bonus. In fact, given a choice between 8/5 Aces and Faces and 8/5 Bonus I will play the Aces and Faces game because it has a slightly better expected return than Bonus.
And there's a good example. Every visit/session is different, and you have to look at more than one aspect in order to be playing "smart". For instance, what's your bankroll for today's play? That would determine if it makes more or less sense to play 7/5 BP or A&F TODAY. Also, when playing goal-oriented strategies, depending on how hi or low you set it, which game is more or less likely to hit that win goal TODAY?

This is where players fall "prey" to casinos. All they want and expect you to do is sit at a machine or two and pound away as fast as you can, because they know they will make money off of almost EVERY machine, positive or negative, over the long haul. That's also why so many casinos have EV-adding promos, tournaments, give-always etc. almost non-stop that consistently push games into theoretically positive territory--and most times lucratively so. They WANT and NEED AP's to keep coming in, keep playing, and in people like Bob Dancer's case, to keep WRITING about them. Why do you think guys like him constantly play at the same promotions and casinos? Why do you think he's put most of his play into Dottys over the past two years? Then think about why I don't chase such things, and how I've been constantly able to do so well. It's not the pay table that's most important Alan & Dan. It's the overall approach.