Long gone are the days of only one type of video poker game on casino floors. Gaming manufacturing companies are answering the call of players demanding more exciting video poker games.

This article explores one of the more exciting video poker games – Triple Double Bonus Poker.

1.    Why you should play Triple Double Bonus poker

Double-Double Bonus poker is a popular version of video poker. Fans of this game enjoy the possibility of several different jackpot-sized winners. In addition to the royal flush paying 4,000-for-5, here are a few more scenarios:

●    Four aces with a kicker of a 2, 3, or 4 pays 2,000-for-5. This hand occurs approximately once every 16,250 hands – on average.
●    Four 2’s, 3’s, or 4’s with a kicker of an ace, 2, 3, or 4 pays 800-for-5. This hand occurs approximately once every 7,000 hands – on average. 
●    Four aces pay 800-for-5. This hand occurs approximately once every 5,750 hands – on average. 
●    Four 2’s, 3’s, or 4’s pays 400-for-5. This hand occurs approximately once every 2,600 hands – on average. 
●    Four 5’s through kings pays 250-for-5 – the same as a straight flush. This hand occurs approximately once every 613 hands – on average.

Triple Double Bonus poker takes the pays for two of those hands to the next level.
●    Four aces with a kicker of a 2, 3, or 4 pays 4000-for-5 – twice what Double-Double Bonus pays and the same as a royal flush. This hand occurs approximately once every 14,200 hands – on average.
●    Four 2’s, 3’s, or 4’s with a kicker of an ace, 2, 3, or 4 pays 2000-for-5 – 2-1/2 times what Double-Double Bonus pays. This hand occurs approximately once every 5,800 hands – on average.

Both of these winning hands pay at least double, and, on average, they occur more often. This is the reason many video poker players choose Triple Double Bonus poker.

Video poker players who really enjoy the big hits are making Triple Double Bonus poker their game of choice.

For more information on video poker playing strategies, go here: Video Poker Strategy (with Charts & the Basics).

2.    Why you should not play Triple Double Bonus poker

It is exciting to hit a winner of 2,000 or 4,000 credits. It is not all sunshine and roses, however. The higher pays have a down side.

●    A hand with three of a kind is paid at 2-for-1 not 3-for-1.
●    Returns for popular pay tables are lower for Triple Double Bonus – 98.15 versus 98.98 for Double-Double Bonus (9/6 version of both).
●    Due to more of the winnings being tied up in fewer but higher-paying hands, the variance for Triple Double Bonus is more than twice that of Double-Double Bonus – 100 versus 42. This means the bankroll requirements are higher.

To see more information about bankroll requirements for video poker, go here: Video Poker Bankroll Requirements.

The strategies for the two games are somewhat different but of relatively the same complexity. The major differences involve hands having three aces with a kicker or three 2’s, 3’s, or 4’s with a kicker. In Triple Double Bonus the kicker is always held. In Double-Double Bonus, the kicker is never held.

 

3.  Pay table and strategy

Typical pay table for Triple Double Bonus Poker:

 

 

4.    Summary 

●    Triple Double Bonus poker takes Double-Double Bonus poker to new levels of excitement.
o    Both games can return better than 98% depending on the pay table.
o    Four aces with a kicker of a 2, 3, or 4 pays twice that of Double-Double Bonus.
o    Four 2’s, 3’s, or 4’s with a kicker of an ace, 2, 3, or 4 pays 2-1/2 times that of Double-Double Bonus
●    There is a cost for the extra excitement, however:
o    Common pay tables return 98.15% for Triple Double Bonus and 98.98% for Double-Double Bonus.
o    Variance for Triple Double Bonus is better than 100. It is about 42 for Double-Double Bonus. Variance for Triple Double Bonus is almost 2-1/2 times as high as Double-Double Bonus. Bankroll requirements are significantly higher. 

If you enjoy playing Double-Double Bonus video poker and enjoy the thrill of the big hits, you may want to try Triple Double Bonus. Just make sure you have an adequate bankroll.

Nevada's casinos hit the jackpot in July 2023, raking in a record-breaking $1.4 billion, with the Las Vegas Strip contributing an incredible $834.9 million. But what does this bonanza mean for you, the player? With a 6.7% rise in profits from July 2022, the odds are tilting in favor of the house. 

This 888casino article cuts through the glitz and glamor to reveal the numbers that matter to you. We'll demonstrate why online casinos consistently outperform Vegas regarding return-to-player (RTP) rates. So, if you're tired of betting against increasingly stacked odds, read on. It's time to make the smartest bets of all.

What is the Minimum Legal RTP for Las Vegas Casinos?

Nevada state gaming regulation 14 sets the stage by mandating a minimum theoretical payout of 75% for each wager on gaming devices. Overseen by the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission, this legislation serves as a benchmark, guiding both casinos and players on what to expect in terms of returns. It's important to emphasize that this 75% RTP is a minimum; casinos can set higher rates.

In a jurisdiction touted for its comprehensive gaming oversight, one might presume that this regulatory floor would be more player-friendly. However, this 75% figure pales compared to what you might expect in other gaming environments, like reputable online casinos. 

 

 

As we delve further into this analysis, keep this number in mind. It serves as a critical baseline when considering where to place your bets, particularly as we explore how online casinos, such as 888casino, measure up in our subsequent discussion. Next, let’s explore just how well Nevada casinos are performing.
 

Players Need to Know How Well Nevada Casinos Doing

Source: Nevada Gaming Control Board (Quarterly Statistics Report) 2023

Here are the most recent stats from the Nevada Gaming Control Board. This is all about Clark County, which is essentially the heart of Las Vegas:

The Current Period (07/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• $1,268,801,831 Win from Table, Counter, and Card Games 
• $121,902,563 Increase from Prior Period
• 10.63% Increase

Fiscal Period (07/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• It is the same as the Current Period, as they coincide

Calendar Period (01/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• $3,520,577,810 Cumulative Win from Table, Counter, and Card Games
• $175,792,820 Increase from Previous Calendar Period
• 5.26% Increase

It's evident that Clark County's gaming industry is booming, which is significant for the casinos but not necessarily advantageous for us, the players.  Let’s shift attention to the Win from Slot Machines at Vegas casinos.

Win from Slot Machines
Current Period (07/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• $2,055,245,162 Slot Machine Win
• $(6,163,565) Decrease from Prior Period
• -0.30% Decrease

Fiscal Period (07/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• Figures are the same as the current period

Calendar Period (01/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• $6,344,559,981 – Cumulative Slot Machine Wins
• $226,121,758 – Increase from Previous Calendar Period 
• 3.7% Increase

It's worth noting that while table games are seeing a noticeable rise, slot machines experienced a relative downturn in the most recent quarter. However, the year-to-date figures indicate growth in the slot machine sector.

Total Casino Win in Clark County
Current Period (07/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• Total Win at Vegas Casinos $3,324,046,992
• $115,738,998 Increase from the Previous Period
• 3.61% Increase 

Fiscal Period (07/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• The figures are identical to the current period

Calendar Period (01/01/2023 to 09/30/2023)

• The Cumulative Total Win is $9,865,137,791
• The Increase from Previous Calendar Period is $401,914,579
• 4.25% Increase

These escalating figures indicate a lucrative arena for casino operators, underscoring the 75% minimum RTP law in Nevada. 

Put differently, Las Vegas casinos are truly making bank. Remember these figures as we shift our focus to discuss how these stats might affect your winning chances, particularly when stacked against online casino RTPs.
 

Online vs Land-based Casinos: The RTP Argument

Understanding Return to Player (RTP) and house edge is non-negotiable for anyone who truly wants to maximize their odds. These aren't just numbers on a screen; they're important metrics that guide your long-term gaming strategy.

Online casinos often have higher RTPs than their land-based counterparts in Las Vegas or elsewhere. This is largely due to lower operational costs online.

Las Vegas casinos have to cover extravagant expenses, pushing down their RTPs. In contrast, online casinos can afford to offer higher RTPs, making your pounds stretch a whole lot further.

RTP Metrics in Popular Online Casino Games

Introduction

Most video poker players simply sit down at a machine and play. They do not keep track of which machine is played, amount deposited, amount cashed out, nor anything else. 

This may be okay for casual players – those who only play a few hundred to a few thousand hands per year – but are more serious players missing something by not keeping records of their video poker play?

This article offers suggestions on what details to keep and why it is a good idea for serious players to document them.

Reasons to document video poker play

Documenting video poker play can be tedious at times. But, is being tedious a good reason to avoid keeping records? 

I keep some quite detailed records of my video poker play. I do it for several reasons, which include: 

• To keep an accurate record of my bankroll.
• To keep an accurate record of certain winning hands and the frequency of those hands.
• To keep track of how various video poker machines treated me – wins, losses, royal flushes, and so forth.
• To keep track of all player’s club points earned. If used for cash, food, lodging, et cetera, to show the impact on the win/loss rate.
• Some records are necessary as supporting documentation for filing income taxes.

It does take some work, and it involves stopping periodically to make notations. Overall, however, the relatively short time involved has proven well worth it. 

Tracking bankroll fluctuations

This is arguably the most important reason to keep records. 

Human memory is amazing. When it comes to gambling, we tend to remember things we want to remember and forget those we do not. Any serious video poker player needs to have accurate win/loss information. A foggy recollection simply will not do. 

Some players keep track of their win/loss by recording how much they and how much they bring home. This may give a 30,000-foot view of things, but it is not accurate. Cash can be used for play, but it also can be used for food, tips, or miscellaneous purchases. Details specifically related to play are required for a good understanding of win/loss.

Tracking impact of player’s club and casino perks

Whether a player wants to count a player's club and other casino perks as part of the win/loss or not, keeping track of that information allows the player to see the impact – whether counted as part of as win/loss or not.

Tracking machine performance

I started tracking certain data from each machine based on one pundit’s claim that machines can be rigged. While I do not believe that to be the case in major gambling jurisdictions, this pundit also claimed that because the random number generator is really a pseudo-random generator, the results of the game might be biased.

I did not find bias in any game, but this data became useful for a different purpose (see next topic).
 

Detecting possible strategy errors

Keeping track of the number of hands played, the game type, and pay table allows players to calculate the return from each machine. Over time, if playing proper video poker strategy, the actual return should become closer to the mathematical return. 

If this is not happening, it is possible the proper strategy is not being followed. Once detected, corrective action can be taken. Without this information, the player could continue merrily along without realizing the casino is getting more money that it should. 

Records for tax purposes

When using itemized deductions for federal income tax filings (along with those for several states), the taxpayer is required to keep supporting documentation for any wins or losses claimed. The information required usually includes casino, machine number, date, start time, end time, and amount won or lost. 

Probably very few tax returns are audited because of gambling wins or losses claimed, but why invite trouble?

Details to record and how to gather and log them

The information I capture:

• Location
• Casino
• Date
• Start time
• End time
• Game and pay table abbreviation, e.g., 9/6 JoB
• Denomination of the game
• Machine number
• Amount of each bill inserted into the machine
• Amount cashed out
• Player’s club points at start
• Player’s club points at end
• Any auxiliary wins from scratch offs, or special promotions
• Royal flush information (meter reading or time, specific cards)
• Straight flush information (meter reading or time, specific cards)
• Four-of-a-kind information (meter reading or time, card rank)
• Hash totals for full houses, four of a royal, four of a straight flush, four of a flush, and flushes completed when dealt four.

It is a lengthy list to be sure. I bring a small notebook and a pen with me and write the machine number, game, denomination, starting meter reading, date and start time as well as label areas for the items getting hash marks. I log the amount of each bill fed into the machine.  At the end of a session, I log the end time, ending meter reading, and amount cashed out. I also jot down any comments I might have.

It takes a bit of time at the beginning and end of each session, and a bit of time with each royal, straight flush, and four of a kind. The hash totals go very quickly.

To calculate the number of hands played the player also needs to know the cost per point. This is not readily available in some casinos. If not, note the point meter, then play 20 to 50 hands and note the point meter again. From this the cost per point can be calculated. From the cost per point, the number of hands played can be calculated from the number of points earned.

At the end of the day this information is fed into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet calculates:

• Session time
• Hands played
• Hands per hour
• Number of, frequency, and hands between each:
• Royal flush
• Straight flush
• Four-of-a-kind
• Full house
• Completion of 4 of a flush

Please contact me at the email listed at the end for more information.

Summary

Documenting video poker play may be tedious, but it can provide valuable information.
Documentation is required to support filing of itemized tax returns.

For a complete guide on how to win at video poker, click here.

Now you might be wondering what the word malafit means. When you work a full-time job and you get medical insurance, eye insurance, dental insurance, pension payments and the like we call those additions to your salary benefits. This comes from the root “bene,” which means good.

The opposite of “good” is bad or “mal” in Latin. If you had a full-time job but your bosses didn’t give you lunch, that absence of lunch would be a malafit. Malafit is simply the opposite of a benefit. 

I invented the word because I think the English language needs an opposite of a benefit. Sometimes language can be somewhat stultifying. Most people have many malafits in their lives but we never had a way to express that. Now we do.

If your spouse is an annoying bully, she/he is a malafit for you. The word just goes with such things. Yes, indeed, you have me to thank for the word. Use it wisely.

[ Please note: True, our greatest writer William Shakespeare added some 3,000 new words to the English language but so far, I only have one – malafit. Obviously, I am not in Shakespeare’s league but at least I am now swinging for the fences; a term right out of baseball.]

Blaise Pascal Creator of Roulette

Scientist, philosopher, and mathematician Blaise Pascal invented roulette in the 1600s. He was looking to discover a perpetual motion machine but failing that (as have thousands of failing inventors throughout history), he came up with the roulette wheel. Soon this wheel became a game; a game that has lasted the centuries and is still played just about all over the world.

Roulette means “little wheel” and the game quickly became a big favorite of aristocratic gamblers ever since it was invented. In fact, it has been a casino mainstay for several centuries among the millions of high and low rollers who try to conquer it.

Just go into any casino in the world and there will be happy or unhappy gamblers enjoying the benefits and malafits by engaging the roulette wheel. 

The Two Standard Roulette Games

Until recently, we have had two standard roulette games offered in the casinos, the double-zero game (0, 00) and the single-zero game (0). The wheels had 38 numbers for the double-zero game, 1-36 plus those two zeroes, and 37 numbers for the single-zero game, 1-36 and that single zero. These numbers are actually pockets in which the ball can fall into and the pocket that captures the ball wins that round.

 

 

The house edge for the double-zero game is 5.26%, a relatively high edge. Still, roulette is not such a fast game so that 5.26% is not as devastating as it could be, say, on some slot machines, which are more often played far more quickly. The faster the game the more decisions for the casino, the worse for the player. 

The house edge on the single-zero wheel is 2.7%, a far better deal than the double-zero wheel.

The double-zero game is known as the American game, while the single-zero game is known as the French or European game. Strangely enough, the American game was developed in France and Europe while the French and European game was developed in America (yes, international relations can be so weird).

Usually, the minimum bet for the French or European game is higher than for the American game. The reason? With a lower house edge, the casino wants to make its money so it charges more to play the better game. Therefore, low rollers tend to go with the double-zero game which extracts more from the low-rollers’ bankroll.

As most roulette players know, there are a legion of bets that can be made at both games. Players can bet single numbers, or groups of numbers, and various proposition bets. Roulette is a wide-open field for players to explore.

Indeed, roulette has been the third-most favored game in the casino (tied with craps) behind slots and blackjack. It’s been this way for decades.

The roulette-playing world even has a favorite number, the 17, based on Sean Connery, the James Bond actor who in years past played that number. It is thought to be a lucky number. Is it? Tonight maybe. Tomorrow night, not.

Roulette, which is available on 888casino, is strictly random if the game’s wheel is perfectly balanced. Today’s casinos have perfectly balanced wheels. Oh, certainly, you will see wild swings in numbers and propositions but that’s the nature of random. Things might look like what they aren’t and players who suppose that such malafits are meaningful are making a big mistake in their playing strategy. 

But now, my friends, a true horror has been visited upon the roulette playing public, a new roulette game has crashed into the casinos and is starting to crush players who play it. The game is known as the triple-zero roulette. Or, just call it the economic blob that might just signal the end of the popularity of the game in many of our lifetimes. Oh, yes, roulette might be in danger of losing its perpetual motion in our beloved casino world.

Here's why:

The Triple-Zero Game: The Roulette Malafit!

Okay, we have the double-zero game and the single zero game, but the triple-zero game now has those 1-36 numbers with a zero (0), a double-zero (00) and a triple zero (000) added to the mix.

That’s 39 numbers but the payout for a winning number is still just 35-to-1. A player’s risk is far greater but the reward is still the same. I do not think of that as a great bargain. It is a true malafit for aficionado roulette players.

What is the house edge on this game? Take a deep breath, folks; it is an enormous 7.69%! Yikes!

Translating House Edges into Money

Many casino players know that the house has an edge on all of its games but many of those do not know how those edges are created. Indeed, just go to any table game or slot machine and you will not see any indication of what the edges are on any of the games.

True, players can read sites such as this or books or articles in magazines (or on the 888casino blog) to find this information out but most players don’t bother to do that. They just want to play the game and bet their money. The casino prefers to keep its malafits to itself and it has been very successful in doing that.

Let me take a quick look at how the edges at roulette are created. There will be some little changes in each game but generally speaking the overall edge will remain 2.7% on the single-zero wheel, 5.26% on the double-zero wheel, and (heaven help us!) 7.69% on the triple-zero wheel.

The casino short changes the payoff from the true one. The casino edge or the house payoff is a created one, not a natural one in relation to the math. 

[Please note: Some casino games or bets do give out the correct payouts but these games have the casino winning more bets than the players. The pass line bet at craps is one such bet.] 

On the single-zero wheel, the chance of hitting a winning number is one in 37 but the payoff is not 36-to-1 as the true math would indicate but 35-to-1. The casino keeps a small amount for itself and shortchanges the player. Making the house edge 2.7%. In terms of losing potential that means a loss of $2.70 per one-hundred dollars wagered.

 

On the double-zero wheel which has 38 pockets, the single-number payoff is still 35-to-1 but instead of paying 37-to-1 on a winning hit, the casino keeps two units for itself thereby creating a 5.26% edge. In terms of losing potential that means a loss of $5.26 per one-hundred dollars wagered.

On the triple-zero wheel, the single-number payoff is still 35-to-1 but instead of paying 38-to-1 on a winning hit, the casino keeps three units for itself thereby creating a 7.69% edge. In terms of losing potential that means a loss of $7.69 per one-hundred dollars wagered.

[Please note: I put the losing expectation based on $100 wagered. If you are betting $10, the losing expectation becomes 27 cents per bet at single-zero roulette; 53 cents per bet at double-zero roulette; and 77 cents per bet at the triple-zero roulette. You can see the amazing increase in potential losses for the player over time on that triple-zero wheel.]

Any Benefits to the Triple-Zero Game?

Proponents of the game have pushed the idea that a player can bet more options at the triple-zero wheel. That’s true but seriously betting more money into more options is not a benefit; it is a true malafit. It just gives you more ways to lose your hard-earned dough. 

How about getting more comps? Yes, you should get more in comps. You will get more comps because you will be losing more money! That’s a monstrous malafit. The casino does not give you more for free because you bet more money. It merely returns some small percentage of your expected losses.

The entire triple-zero roulette game is a malafit. There is no reason to play it. The house edge is ridiculously too high, right up there with many slot machine games. 

What to Do with Triple-Zero Roulette?

Pass it by as in “bye-bye you nasty malafit game!” If the casino where you play has the double-zero game and/or the single-zero game but charges more for them as they will probably do; what should you, the wise casino player, do?

Don’t bet every spin of the wheel! 

If triple-zero has a $10 minimum bet and double-zero has a $15 minimum bet and the single-zero has $25 as its minimum, you can get a better game for your pocket or purse by skipping some spins of the wheel. That is an easy solution to the money problem. Decrease the number of bets and dollar amounts you make. 

You can keep your expected losses as low as you want to keep them. No one is forced to bet every spin of the wheel. You, the player, is in control of how money is spent at playing; not the casino.

If the casino does not offer the traditional options but only has triple-zero roulette, what now? Go to a different casino that offers a better game. Or drastically reduce the number of bets you make to make up for the high house edge at the game if that game is triple-zero roulette. Losing more money is not the best way to structure your betting approach.

Human Malafits

People often anthropomorphize non-human objects by subjecting them to human names, emotions, and motives. “Sally is my favorite canoe” or “Gretel is my fastest honey. Best car in the world. She loves me, I can tell.”

In the casino world there are (maybe) dozens upon dozens of human malafits playing the games. There are (maybe) dozens upon dozens of methods of play which are truly the province of those malafits. 

Let us say you win your very first bet and then you go, “Parlay that, dealer! This wheel likes me today! I can tell.” That player could be called a malafit because moments of good luck are thought to be compounded by more lucky play against a game that has a distinct and rather large edge over the players. Why bet more into such a game that is structured to take a percentage from every bet of theirs over time? Makes no sense.

What about players who are complete and utter malafits? What about such malafits who put their bets on the layout by aggressively knocking over other players’ chips? What about them? 

What about roulette malafits who want only their particular chips on a given number and resent it when you dare to join them on that number? “This is my number; can’t you bet somewhere else?” Folks, such players are out there and they are, in human terms, malafits.

The Bottom Line

The triple-zero roulette will not pay you more for extended play. It will not give you more comps per dollar lost. If it were an animal, it could be considered a savage predator. 

All the best in and out of the casinos.

As promised, at the end of this article you will find the questions with answers to the challenging 21-question test given to the elite blackjack pros at the 2023 Blackjack Ball. Give yourself one point for each correct answer. (If you get 12 or more correct, you did better than all the blackjack pros who took the test.) 

(Note: Several active players listed below used pseudonyms to protect their identity.)

The players with the most correct answers from the 21-question test were:

11 Correct Answers: Frank B, WRX, and Virginia

10 Correct Answers: Marty, Handyman, and Justin

(As an aside, I came close again to possibly advancing to the next round. The person who graded my answer sheet gave it back to me with  8 correct answers. He said my answer to question 21, which was “splitting the profits,” was disallowed. (The correct answer was Chopping.) I had a senior moment and couldn’t remember the name of the casino to question 12, which was the Golden Gate, where I had played their profitable 2 to 1 blackjack promotion every year that they offered it.) 

Since there was a three-way tie for the second most correct answers, there was a run-off. Each contestant in turn had to name a state that had a Native-American casino. If someone named a state that had already been named or answered an incorrect state, he or she was eliminated. 

Result: Justin was eliminated, and Marty and Handyman advanced to the final table with Frank B., WRX, and Virginia.

Next up was the skills competition on a blackjack table with Richard Munchkin as the moderator and dealer.

BLACKJACK TABLE SKILLS COMPETITION

(Note: An overhead camera projected the competition on the blackjack table onto the large screens located throughout the ballroom.)

Round #1.

In the first skills test, Munchkin spread a shuffled single deck of cards face-up on the layout and each contestant had 30 seconds to memorize the sequence of cards. Each player had his deck of cards and he or she had to place face down on the layout what the first card was from the shuffled deck (suit and card value).  Each player then revealed what they thought the first card was. Surprisingly, WRX and Marty got the first card wrong and both were eliminated.  This left Frank B., Virginia, and Handyman advancing to Round #2.

Round #2.

The second test involved card counting a double deck of cards with speed and accuracy being important. Each contestant had two decks of cards. Munchkin randomly removed three cards from each contestant’s double deck and placed them face down in front of them. Each contestant counted down their decks and based on their final count, stated what the three cards were. (A high card, low card, or neutral card.) Bottom line: Virgina was eliminated for incorrectly naming the three cards. The two contestants that advanced to Round #3 were Handyman and Frank B.

(I found this tidbit from Munchkin after the fact. It turns out Virginia never played a hand of blackjack in her life … she was a guest of one of the blackjack pros in attendance. Therefore, it was not surprising that she was eliminated in this round of the competition.)

Round #3.

This round involved knowledge of the basic blackjack playing strategy. Munchkin was going to deal 21 consecutive hands to one of the two remaining contestants. If that player stated the correct basic playing strategy for each hand, he would be the winner. However, his opponent had a bell and if the player stated an incorrect basic strategy play for any hand, he could ring the bell. If he gave the correct basic strategy play, then he would be declared the winner.  

Since Frank B. counted down the cards quicker than Handyman in Round 2, he had an advantage in Round 3 because he got to select the number of decks of cards, the playing rules, and whether he would play the hands or let Handyman play them. 

Since Frank B. has played extensively in Atlantic City, he selected a six-deck game with s17, das, and no surrender and he declared to play the hands.  Munchkin dealt the first hand, which was a pair of 3s against a dealer’s 8 upcard. Frank B. called out split, which was incorrect. However, Handyman didn’t ring the bell so the round continued. Frank B. then correctly played the remaining 20 hands and was declared the winner.

Frank B. won the Grosjean Trophy as the “World’s Greatest Blackjack Player” with full bragging rights. The award was a very large bottle of Luc Belaire Rose Champagne imprinted with “The Grosjean Trophy Awarded to the World’s Greatest Blackjack Player at the 26th Annual Blackjack Ball” (see photo.). Handyman, who finished second in the competition, got a plaque engraved with “The Munchkin Award,” with the date, event, etc.

(As an aside, if Handyman would have rung the bell on the first hand and then correctly stated to hit the pair of 3s against the 8, he would have won.)

 

BLACKJACK BALL TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 

Note: The following are the 21 test questions with answers is as shown on the screens in the ballroom via PowerPoint slides. I did NOT edit any question or answer for style or grammar.  What you see is exactly what was projected on the screens.

Number 1 
True or False? 
Arnold Snyder’s “Give Greed a Chance” Sermon was filmed OVER 100 days BEFORE Wall Street and the “Greed is Good” speech premiered. 
True.

Number 2     
Which of these is NOT TRUE About Arnold? 
A.     He Shuffle Tracked on the Gulf Coast 
B.    1st Publisher to Accurately Explain the Values of Deck Depths 
C.     He and LSD took a Lot of Trips together 
D.    1st to Write Accurate HPH on 21 Games
E.    1st Publisher of an Unbalanced Count
F.     His RGE Publishing Store-Front in Oakland is Still There 
A. He didn’t shuffle track in the South.

Number 3 
Arnold Published This “Deep Penetration Technique” that Relied on “Card Eaters” Depleting Single-Deck Games 
Depth Charging.

Number 4 
True or False? 
You’re Playing Full Pay DD at Stations, Betting in Spots One & Two.  
Off-The-Top, You see the Dealer turn over an 8-Up, True or False: 
BEFORE YOU LOOK AT YOUR CARDS, You already Know that Your E.V. on Both Bets Combined is More Than 5%?
When the Dealer has an 8-Up Off the Top, Your Unseen Cards have at Least a 5.2% E.V.  #4 is True

Number 5
Who is the First Person to Introduce the Illustrious 18?
A.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Arnold Snyder
B.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Julian Braun 
C.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Ken Uston 
D.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Ed Thorp
E.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Don Schlesinger 
F.    Blackjack Hall of Famer Peter Griffin
This one is A or E. Don created it and Arnold Published it in Blackjack Forum Magazine. Either or Both are Correct. 

Number 6
You’re getting a 25% Loss Rebate. Pennsylvania Rules. The Max Bet is $100,000—aka “a Johnson” on One Spot. When You’re Winning, Within a Quarter Million Dollars, What is Your Win/Stop Playing One Hand on This Trip? 
In Other Words, When Should You Quit Playing if You’re Up?  Within $250,000
$2,250,000. With a Quarter-Million Buffer. $2,000,000 to $2,500,000 is Correct. 

Number 7 
True or False? 
The Las Vegas Sphere measures 150’ Wider than it is Tall. 
Not 149’ or Less. Not 151’ or More.
150 Feet On The Money. True or False? 
The Las Vegas Sphere is 516 Feet Wide and 366 Feet Tall. #7 is True

Number 8 
The Washington Tribal Max Bet is $125 on These Games. If You KNEW that the First Card Dealt to You would be an Ace, Which Game would Give You the Highest Possible Expected Profit?   
A.    Blackjack
B.    Mississippi Stud
C.    Three Card Poker 
D.    Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em `
a. Blackjack—53%
b. Mississippi Stud—69%
c. Three Card Poker—64%
d. Ultimate Texas Hold ‘Em—85%

Number 9    
NAME THAT CASINO.
For Some, This “Dream Stream” in Northern Cal Has Graciously Taken BIG BETS For Over 20 Years
Cache Creek

Number 10 
True or False? 
Donald Trump tried to get a casino in Las Vegas and wasn’t able to. The only state that he’s ever Owned or Managed a casino in is New Jersey. 
For a brief while, he had a joint in Michigan and in the early 2000’s, a small Sweat Shop called “Trump 29” was Open in the Coachella Valley. #10 is False

Number 11 
You’re on a Special Team of Four that Needs a $100,000 Bank for a Single Play. You have One BP and Three Play Callers for Five Hours Each. Up $27,200,  Investors and Players get ½ the Win.
You put in $12.5k How much did you earn?
A.    $3,100     
B.    $5,850     
C.    $3,900   
D.    $6,800        
E.    $3,400            
F.    Not Enough Information
 B. $5,850    $3,900 + $1,950 = $5,850

Number 12    
Las Vegas’ Oldest Casino That’s Still Operating Once had a Hotel Called the Sal Sagev  (That’s Las Vegas Sorta Backwards.) NAME IT.  
The Golden Gate Casino has been Open Since 1907
The Sal Sagev Hotel was from 1931 to 1955

Number 13    
True or False? 
IF you were playing DD at Barona, which we know none of you would, and got a 9/8 off the top with a Dealer Ace up, you should Surrender that hand? 
Yes, you should. Since none of you ever play at Barona, the LS rules don’t matter. Except Maybe Later. # 13 is True. 

Number 14     
The closest casino to Amarillo, TX featuring legal Blackjack is the: 
A.     Lawton Apache Casino, Lawton, OK
B.     Lucky Star Casino, Clinton, OK 
C.     Inn of the Mtn. Gods, Ruidoso, NM 
D.     Red River Casino, Red River, NM 
E.     Taos Mtn. Casino, Taos, NM 
F.     Boot Hill Casino, Dodge City, KA 
B. Lucky Star Casino, Clinton, OK

Number 15 
This technique has Made Money For Half-a-Dozen Blackjack Hall of Fame Members, among others who are with us tonight.
BOTTOM STEERING

Number 16
True or False? 
Istanbul is in Both Asia and Europe. The Bosporus Strait Splits the Cities. To the South, Blackjack is Illegal Throughout All of Asian Turkey, Including Istanbul. You Can ONLY play Blackjack on the European side of Istanbul. 
The Answer is FALSE. You Can’t Play ANYWHERE in Istanbul, Even In Europe! 

Number 17 
Which two-card Starting Blackjack Total will Lose More Money for All the Blackjack Players in the Casino than Any Other Two-Card Hand? 
A.    17 
B.    16 
C.    15 
D.    14 
E.    13 
F.      7
E #13 (14, 15 & 16 will actually lose a bit more money on a hand-to-hand basis but due to the frequency in which you receive 13, it is the biggest money loser in the game.)

Number 18 
This Casino Has Been a Pit Stop On The Tour For Almost 25 Years (Southwest of Vegas)
Agua Caliente 

Number 19 
True or False? 
Resorts World in NEW YORK CITY has over 600 Blackjack Betting Spots that stay open from 9:00-5:00 a.m. every day.  EVERY GAME pays 3/2 for Naturals.
They’re Machine Games. You Earn Valuable Comps. For “Real Aficionados” of the Game, It IS Blackjack. Ask Them. #19 is True

Number 20 
You’re playing a 3:2  H17  6-Deck Game Online. 
Just as the initial cards get dealt, you Lose your Internet Connection, meaning that the Website will auto-Stand on your First Two Cards, no matter what they are. 
What is YOUR Percentage Edge on that hand? 

a.    Minus  15.75%
b.    Minus  45.25%
c.    Minus     9.37% 
d.    Minus     5.40%
e.    Minus   62.25%
f.    Minus   37.78%
Standing on Your First Two Cards has a –15.75% EV
a.    Minus  15.75%

Number 21
A Mouth-Watering Event for Everyone on Blackjack Teams.
THE CHOP

To read Part 1 of this article, click here.

Acknowledgement: I want to acknowledge the assistance of Michael Dalton, Anthony Curtis, Richard Munchkin, and Max Rubin for reviewing this article and providing me with some additional details prior to its publication.
 

In the glory days of video poker, many players sought to make a living playing the game. Games were loose: comps, bonus point multipliers, special promotions, and come-back cash were easy to find and earn.

As regular video poker players know, those perks have been tightened or eliminated.

In today’s casino environment, is professional video poker play realistic? Let us find out.

1. Why choose video poker for professional play?

• Many of the same features of video poker that lured video poker fans to consider playing professionally years ago are still there today. The return is still high compared to other casino games. One can find video poker games with returns over 100%. They may be more difficult to locate, but they are out there.
• Unlike blackjack and other casino games where players can obtain an advantage, video poker players tend to be left alone – there is generally little casino heat while playing.
• Unlike blackjack, there is no need for camouflage to be a successful professional player (although it might be wise to ditch the strategy card while playing).
• It is extremely rare that video poker players are banned from casinos.
• Others are not involved in video poker play – just the player and the machine.

2. Tips for success in professional play

• Play the highest return games and pay tables.
• Buy or produce from an app the playing strategy charts for the game and pay table combinations being played.
• Practice the strategy until it is played perfectly.
• Have an adequate bankroll. Playing professionally means playing more often with longer sessions. Make sure the bankroll is large enough to handle any severe drawdowns that are almost certain to occur.
• Unless the player has a huge bankroll, it is best to keep the denomination at the 25-cent level. The variance at the dollar denomination can wreak havoc on a bankroll.
• Play only when alert, focused, and relaxed. Playing when not at your best will cost real money.

3. Consider all costs

Professional play is significantly different from recreational. Recreational play is discretionary. It is less stressful, less rigorous than play that requires wins to survive.

• Requires additional playing time to be successful. This means several sessions a day and several days a week throughout the year.
• If the player does not live within easy access to a large gambling destination such as Las Vegas, there will be travel expenses which must be covered by winnings. Recreational players can use funds from the “day” job to pay for travel expenses.
• The same is true for meals and hotels. These expenses must be covered by winnings from video poker play.
•  

4. Cautions for professional video poker players

Professional video poker play is quite different from recreational play. Things that are trivial to recreational players are potential killers when playing professionally.

• Additional pressure on the player because winnings are required to survive. The professional cannot simply go home for several days or weeks before heading back to the casinos. This is the professional player’s job – no play, no pay.
• Casinos like occasional winners. They can induce additional gamblers into the casino. They despise consistent winners, however. As consistent winners, professional video poker players will have comps reduced or eliminated. The free nights and free food can dry up. This adds to the overhead of a professional player which must be covered by additional winnings.
• If consistently winning players concentrate on just a few games and pay tables, casinos can – and do – change the games. They may eliminate the game(s) altogether, or they may reduce the returns by changing pay tables.
• Professional players must make sure to not overstay their welcome at one casino or casino brand. Spreading play over several different casinos and brands can help minimize unwelcome game and comp changes.

5. What about player’s club cards?

Player’s club cards can offer additional rewards such as cash back, free food and lodging. They can also be the ticket to free promotions and tournaments. These all help add to the bottom line of a professional player.

The freebies provided by player’s club membership are required, or at least extremely helpful in becoming a successful professional player.

6. How much can a professional video poker player earn?

As with any profession, the net amount is what matters. That is, winnings plus comps (such as cash back, free food, lodging, and similar items) minus losses minus expenses. Free play can also be included at the rate of return for the game played. For example, $100 free play on a 99.9% return game would be $99.90 – over time with perfect play.

Currently, player-positive games are an endangered species. Some of the best player-positive returns on the more common games available are:

• Double Bonus Poker Full-pay (10/7) – 100.1725%.
• Double-Double Bonus Full-pay (10/6) – 100.067%.
• Deuces Wild Full-pay (25/15/9/5) – 100.762%.

Note: many casinos offer no player’s club bonus points for games with these return rates.

Listed below are some of the better game returns, followed by some of the better typical cash back or free play.

Game returns:

• Jacks or Better Full-pay (9/6) – 99.544%.
• Bonus Poker Deluxe (9/6): 99.641%.
• Double Bonus (9/7): 99.106%.
• Deuces Wild (25/16/10 – (“Not So Ugly”) 99.763%.

Cash back or free play:

• 0.1% – One of the best available gives one point per dollar played with 1,000 points good for $1 in cash back or free play.
• 0.05% – More typical good video poker rate gives one point per two dollars played with 1,000 points good for $1 in cash back or free play.

Earnings per hour:

• Full-pay Deuces Wild games earn 0.762% of the amount played. At $1.25 per hand and 1,000 hands per hour, the total earned is 0.00762 times $1.25 times 1,000 = $9.525 per hour**
• Full-pay Double Bonus games earn 0.1725% of the amount played. At $1.25 per hand and 1,000 hands per hour, the total earned is $2.15625 per hour**

** These full-pay games usually do not qualify for player’s club points.

• Full-pay Jacks or Better games earn (99.544 minus 100%) or a loss of 0.456% of the amount played. At $1.25 per hand and 1,000 hands per hour, the total loss is $5.70 per hour.
• With a 0.1% cashback, play is still a loss of $4.45 per hour.

7. Progressive video poker

Profits can also be taken from the casino by playing certain progressive video poker games. One or more winning hands on a progressive game increase as the game is played. These can include the royal flush, certain four-of-a-kind hands as well as other hands.

A full discussion of progressive games is beyond the scope of this article. 

8. Summary

• Video poker returns and comps have dramatically diminished over the years.
• Profits can still be achieved playing video poker.
• Professional play has additional costs.
• Professional play adds the pressure of needing wins to survive.
• Casino heat for long-term video poker winners is not as severe as heat for advantage players of other games.
  • Pay table changes to reduce return.
  • Some games are eliminated entirely.
  • Reduced or eliminated comps.
  • Video poker players are rarely banned.
• Even under the best circumstances, earning a living as a full-time professional video poker player is difficult.

Look at the numbers in Section 6. Even with the very rare full-pay Deuces Wild game, the earnings are less than working at a fast-food joint. In addition, the rate is not guaranteed. There will be losses and there will be wins. Sometimes the losing streaks will be very long. Add the probable additional costs of travel, food and lodging and the decision whether to play full time as a professional seems obvious.

Playing on a less rigorous schedule for supplemental income, however, is certainly an option. Some cautions, however:

• Realize there will be ups and downs.
• Have an adequate, dedicated video poker bankroll.
• Do not allow the pressure to win to spoil the fun of the game.

Conclusion:

Video poker is an enjoyable and potentially profitable game – but it is nearly impossible to live solely on video poker play.

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When it comes to entertainment on slot machines, the symbols are part of the fun. Far from just a backdrop, they’re important in enabling game designers to give us an exciting experience that leaves us wanting to come back for more.

There are many different types of symbols. Let’s compile our own slot symbol dictionary.

 

 

A-K-Q-J-10: These symbols suggest playing card denominations, but aren’t depicted on playing cards. Instead, they’re used to make frequent low-paying combinations on games where the less frequent but higher-paying combinations use themed symbols.

Bars: Consisting of elongated rectangles, bars, like fruit symbols have been with us since they early days of slots and are said to derive from the logo of the Bell Fruit Gum company. Machines that use bars usually also use double bars and triple bars, with two or three bars stacked on top of each other.

Bonus symbols: These are the symbols everyone wants to see on modern video and online slots. Bonus symbols trigger a bonus event. When they show up, you might get free spins, you might get to spin a prize wheel and you might get to touch icons on a screen, playing a game within a game to collect bonus credits and build your bankroll.

In the ever-popular Cleopatra, for example, three Sphinx symbols take you to a free spin bonus. In the U.S., the big breakthrough for video slots came in the 1990s on Reel ’Em In, where three fishing lures take you to a game within a game where you choose a fisherman who you hope will land a big fish worth bigger credits.

Bonus events bring much of the fun to slots, giving you a chance to take a break from the main game, do something a little different and win extra credits without risking extra money.

Double symbols: Instead of one character depicted on a themed symbol, the same character is pictured twice. When one of those symbols lands on the screen, it counts for two in a row all by itself.

One notable game with double symbols is Shadow of the Panther. If you have a double panther followed by a single panther, you have three in a row to make a winning combination. Two consecutive double panthers is four in a row, and so one.

That makes it possible to have up to 10 in a row, and gives game designers a great deal of flexibility in creating pay tables with enough volatility to give you a chance at big wins.

Fruit symbols: Symbols depicting cherries, plums, watermelons, oranges and lemons have been part of the slot experience since the early 1900s. The Mills Novelty Co., manufacturers of early slots, copyrighted the symbols in 1910, but they’ve long since passed into public domain and have been slot machine staples ever since.

Multipliers: Multipliers are just what they say: They multiply your winnings.

The classic example is Double Diamond, a three-reel slot that for many years was the most-played machine game in American, land based and online casinos. The prime symbol is the Double Diamond – an oval containing two diamonds.

Three Double Diamonds in a row wins the top jackpot. However, with other symbols, the Double Diamonds double payoffs. If three bars in a row pay 10 coins, then the payoff is 20 if you have two bars and a Double Diamond. If you have one bar and two Double Diamonds, then your payoff is doubled twice, so the total is 40 coins.

That concept has been extended to many other games, such as 10 Times Pay, where instead of doubling wins each of the special symbols multiplies wins by 10. Two 10 times symbols mean your win is multiplied by 100. That makes for some real excitement.

Scatter symbols: Most symbols must line up on a payline to pay off. Not scatter symbols. If you have enough scatter symbols, you win even if they’re not on the same line. Usually it takes three or more scatter symbols to form a winning combination. Sometimes two will do it. On Cleopatra, the same Sphinxes that launch free spins if you have at least three of them will bring you a scatter pay if you have two.

7s: Another common slot machine symbol that has been with us for decades, 7s have had entire games built around them.  Two of the most enduring three-reel games around are Bally’s Blazing 7s and IGT’s Red, White and Blue, where the big payoff comes from lining up Red, White and Blue 7s.

Stacked symbols: Repeating symbols of the same type, stacked one on top of the other, can lead to some huge wins. Stacked symbols can take up an entire column. Three or more stacks in a row give you winners on every payline. That’s when your credit meter goes into overdrive.

I once had a session saved on a game called Cherry Magic when I had Q symbols stacked on every reel. As on many video slots, the Q symbol was a low payer, but when every symbol on the screen is the same and you have five in a row on every payline, the payoff pads your budget nicely.

Themed symbols: In the age of video slots and online slots, slot games usually have symbols designed to fit in with the theme of the game. You can expect to see stampeding dinosaurs in Dinosaur Stampede and animated fruit with an attitude in Freaky Fruit.

Wild symbols: Symbols designated as “wild” match other symbols to help form paying combinations. If you have two of the same symbol lined up with a wild symbol, that counts as three in a row.

There often are restrictions on wild symbols. They usually don’t match bonus symbols, scatter symbols or multipliers, and sometimes don’t match high-paying symbols such as 7s.

The wild symbol concept is borrowed from poker. Wild-card games usually aren’t played in casino card rooms, but many a home game has had players choose games with deuces wild, jokers wild or one-eyed jacks wild. That idea transferred over to video poker and eventually to slot machines.

A subset of wild symbols is called “expanding wilds.” Something that just wasn’t possible until video slots and then online slots game along, expanding wilds grow to fill multiple reel positions.

The most common format is to have the wild expand vertically, so that it fills an entire column, but there have been games where they expand horizontally. The extra wild symbols can mean extra winners on extra paylines, making expanding wild a nice extra to have, indeed.

It's the dream of many roulette players to catch a hot number or number set. A short streak of winning single-number bets with 35-1 returns can bring a big payday.

Casinos feed right into streak players' dreams with tote boards that post the last 12, 18 or24 winners at live tables. Online casinos and electronic tables at live casinos often enable you to see longer-term results. A touch of the screen can bring a display of number history.

Getting Streaky

What to do with that information? When recent results show the same number coming up twice or more in a row, or several times within a short period such as five or 10 spins, the streak players go to work.

There are several approaches:

●    Bet the hot number until it loses several times in a row.
●    Bet the hot number and those surrounding it until there are several misses in a row.
●    Ignore the supposed hot number. Continue betting your usual favorites confident that there is no tendency for a hot number to stay hot or a cold number to stay cold.

That last approach squares with what the casino expects from the game. In a live game or a live feed to online casinos, as long as the wheel is properly balanced and the dealer is alert and well-trained, the odds are the same on every spin. Streaks are a part of normal probability, but past outcomes have no bearing on future results.

The same goes for online games and electronic games in which results are driven by random number generators. As long as there's no programming glitch, the most you can say about a streak is that there has been one. Streaks are not indicators of more winners to come. 

But what if there has been a programming glitch? What if a wheel has not been properly maintained and is out of balance, or has a slight groove worn into the wood through repeated play? What if a tired dealer has fallen into a rut, releasing the ball in the same way at the same speed time after time?

Streak players live in hope, and there is no harm in playing hot numbers. With the random results the casino strives to insure, the odds of continuing to win on hot numbers are the same on any other number.
 

Grabbing Numbers on the Wheel

Making single-number bets on hot numbers is easy enough. But what about playing combinations and betting on surrounding numbers as well as the one that has won several times in recent play?

There's a trap. The numbers surrounding a hot number on the betting layout are not the same as the numbers surrounding it on the wheel. Should you encounter the rare situation where there is a bias in favor of an area on the wheel, it's the wheel numbers you want to heed.

Imagine the ball has landed on No. 17 twice in a row and four times within 10 spins. You want to take a chance on there being a wheel bias and decide to bet 17 and its surrounding numbers.
On the layout, including horizontal rows, vertical columns and diagonals, 17 is in the middle of 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20 and 21.

There are several ways to approach that. You could bet all nine as single numbers. You could put extra emphasis on the hot number by betting on 17 by itself while betting the three-number streets of 13-14-15 and 19-20-21, while accounting for 16 and 18 in a street that repeats 17 or in two-number splits. You can bet splits including 16 with 13, 19 and 17 and splits with 18 and 15, 21 or 17.

You also could approach the combinations with four-number corners, with 13-14-16-17, 16-17-19-20, 14-15-17-18 and 17-18-20-21 all as viable corners.

Regardless of how you build your combination, the house edge is 2.7% on a single-zero wheel or 5.26% on a wheel with 0 and 00 as in standard American roulette.
The streak player is counting on a wheel or dealer bias in favor of the hot numbers and those that surround it to swing edge in favor of players.

 

Adding Numbers for Streak Wagering

➔    Problem: Even if there is a wheel bias, there is no physical cause that would increase the frequency of the ball landing on numbers that surround the hot number on the layout.

Roulette wheels are set up so consecutive numbers are approximately opposite each other on the wheel. They're not perfectly opposite. Perfectly opposite isn't even possible on a single-zero wheel that has an odd number of slots with 1 through 36 plus the zero.

On a single-zero wheel, 16 is not adjacent to 17. There are 12 numbers between them. Likewise, 18 is not next to 17. In the shorter trip around, there are 15 numbers between them.
On the wheel, the numbers on either side of 17 are 25 and 34. If you wanted eight additional numbers, such as those surrounding 17 on the layout, the four numbers clockwise from 17 are 34, 6, 27 and 13, and the four numbers counter-clockwise from 17 are 25, 2, 21 and 4.
Those numbers are not adjacent on the layout. There's no easy betting pattern of splits, streets and corners that will cover everything.

If you want to bet the numbers closest to the hot number on the wheel, you're looking at several single-number bets. Streak players might be well advised to limit extra bets to the two or four numbers closest to the hot number rather than the eight numbers surrounding on the layout.

Numbers are rearranged a bit on a double-zero wheel to accommodate the extra slot for the 00. There are 14 numbers between 16 and 17, and 18 between 17 and 18.

The numbers closest to 17 are 5-22-34-15 going clockwise, and 32-20-7-11 going counter-clockwise.

As on the single-zero wheel, there is no easy combination of combinations such as streets and corners that will cover all the numbers in a minimal number of bets. If you want to take a chance on a bias or a programming glitch and want to bet the hot number and those closest to it, single numbers are your opportunity.

Should you decide to take a chance on building a streak with a hot number, start with the knowledge that actual wheel biases are very rare. Do not increase bets in an attempt to catch a streak. Bet your normal amount, using the streak numbers instead of your usual bets. Hope for the best and enjoy the streaks when they come, but understand the house edge almost always will take its toll.
 

All casino games are based on a random event to determine the results. Standard slot machines are an excellent example of games where winning or losing relies totally on luck. 

A few games on the casino floor can be influenced by the player, however. Video poker, blackjack, and craps are some examples.

This article explores the role of luck and skill in video poker. 

1. Where luck plays the strongest role

The cards dealt for each initial hand and for draw cards are selected randomly based on the results of the game’s Random Number Generator (or RNG for short).

The RNG runs constantly. It cycles through a thousand or so numbers every second.

When the player hits the Deal or Draw button, five numbers are selected. On the deal, they are translated into the initial five cards. For draws, the number of cards discarded by the player are selected and translated into a card for each slot created by a discarded card.

This method of selecting cards has changed over the years. Originally, 10 numbers were selected when the Deal button was hit – the original hand along with a replacement card for each original card. This was called the parallel method. Later, five numbers were selected for the original hands along with five numbers to replace any discards starting with the sixth and continuing through the 10th, if needed.

Notice that every card selected for play is randomly selected – or “pseudo-randomly” - as randomly as a software routine can do it. Even though the trigger for selecting numbers from the RNG relies on action by the player, there is no amount of skill that can be applied to favor any cards. These numbers change every millisecond or so which is far too often to skillfully improve results.

Because no amount of player skill can influence the results in any meaningful manner (there is no way to improve the results), luck is 100% involved in the cards that are selected.

2. Where skill enters the picture

Even though there is no skill involved in the cards that the random number generator selects, skill is involved in successful video poker play.

Since all cards are dealt (pseudo) randomly, the laws of probability can be applied to determine how often the various hands will occur. Knowing this information allows discard (playing) strategies to be developed that will maximize the return of every possible initially dealt hand.

The playing strategies are based on:

• The number and type of winning hands in the pay table (game type). Some examples are:
  • Jacks or Better
  • Bonus Poker
  • Double Bonus Poker
  • Double-Double Bonus Poker
  • Deuces Wild
  • Joker Wild
• The amount paid for each of the winning hands. These can vary from machine to machine, or by denomination even for the exact same game.

A skillful video poker player will know the game and pay table and have the proper playing strategy to extract every last credit possible from his or her play. This is where skill enters the picture.

3. The ever-changing luck/skill balance

As seen above, video poker has elements of luck and elements of skill.

Bankrolls will sometimes expand. Bankrolls will sometimes be drained. This is the luck aspect of video poker.

Even players who play perfect strategy for the specific game and pay table being played (the skill aspect), will not have consistent results. There will be periods where they win hand after hand. There will also be periods where they lose many hands in a row.

There is a balance between luck and skill.

At the beginning, luck will be the major factor with skill coming in a distant second. A funny thing happens, however. As more hands are played properly, the average return will approach the mathematical return. After tens of thousands of hands of proper play, results should be very close to the mathematical return.

4. How to tilt play to favor skill versus luck

Obviously, most players would like to get the best returns possible. This requires skill. Skill requires work.

Here are the steps players can take to fully tilt results in their favor:

• Scout the video poker games and pay tables that are available in their casino.
• Determine which games and pay tables are worth playing. Higher returns are favored.
• Find (or generate using an app) the proper playing strategy for the game/pay table combination. If the playing strategy is too complicated, consider playing a different game.
• Practice the playing strategy at home until it can be played (nearly) perfectly. The closer to perfect, the better the results.
• While playing the game either in the land-based casino or online casino, make sure to maintain control:
  • Bring an adequate, discretionary bankroll. Concern about running out of money can cause mistakes in play.
  • Refrain from drinking alcohol.
  • Only play when alert. Take a break when tired or lacking focus.
  • Do not play when under stress. Take a break.
  • Maintain a low-key attitude while playing. If a losing streak is affecting play, take a break.

5. Summary

• Video poker play is a mixture of luck and skill.
• Luck is involved in the actual cards that are dealt or drawn.
• Skill is involved in:
  • Determining and selecting the best video poker game to play.
  • Having the proper playing strategy for the game(s) and pay table(s) being played.
  • Practicing the playing strategy at home until adept at it.
  • Having an adequate bankroll.
  • Maintaining alertness while playing – no alcohol, take a break when tired.
  • Maintaining composure while playing – take a break when stressed.

Follow these guidelines and your video poker results will be the best that they can be.