Casino Video Poker

There is no silver bullet in winning or losing when you play video poker, but choosing a good game is one of the things a player must consider. A proper strategy of how to play the game or a huge bankroll will not save you from losing long term while playing a bad game.

Most gamblers think that video poker is just a game of luck and that it does not matter what pay table the casinos may offer, but no matter which you refer to, the higher the general expected theoretical return and the expected value of a game the lesser the chances you have for loosing or more chances of winning. This is however true if the difference in EV is large short or long term. Professional players and gamblers sometimes analyze a game through the different formula just to get an hour win or loss figures, unlike players with smaller bankrolls who consider the volatility factor.

Here is a few tips on winnings at video poker – a good games vs. a bad game based on the casinos’ paytables. A good game pays and EV of 99.54% on a Jacks or Better game having 9/6 paytable. A bad game gives an EV of 97.3% on a full house or flush to 8/5 paytable. These games are called ‘negative expectation’ because you cannot expect a long term win or any of them as they do not pay 100%.

Though the results may vary you can get a royal flush or pairs easily to get to a winning session. Though math terms you will be a loser after these sessions it also gives us the answer. If you play 5-hands at a normal speed like 500 hands an hour on 9/6 machines the casino’s advantage is on 0.45%. When you multiply this by the amount of 500-hands you get to lose $2.81% per hour. The same calculation imply to 8/5 paytables where you lose $16.88 per hour.

The loss difference of these figures would be as high as $56.28 per hour. If you play faster you tend to lose higher and faster.

Internet gambling sites provide information for inexperienced gamblers to scout through the different casino games to find a good game. There is also a compact booklet of the information available that you could carry in your pocket or wallet. It is called the Frugal VP Scouting Guide. It provides around 200 most common VP pay schedules, EV for each game, variations, tricky tips, volatility ratings and progressive points.

It is advised that beginners choose the 9/6 Jacks or Better game, however the other games provide more playing options and opportunities.