Disappearing Pay Tables

7 October 2023

By Jerry Stickman

From Randy:

Dear Stickman,

About 6 or 8 months ago I found a single 9/6 Jacks or Better machine (25-cent or higher) at the bar at a local casino here in Illinois. I was surprised because that casino–as well as others in the area–had removed its full-pay Jacks or Better machines years ago. I just came back to Illinois after an absence of nearly six months. Guess what? That Jacks or Better is now an 8/5 machine.

This leads me to conclude that the 9/6 had been installed in error! Although Jacks or Better is widely available, today's casinos never install 9/6 anymore, do they? The few remaining 9/6 machines are older, leftover from a bygone era.

Anyway, I enjoy your articles, and you may use my note in a future column if you choose.

Sincerely,

Randy

Hi Randy,

Sadly Randy, you are correct more often than any serious video poker player would like.

The old standby video poker game of 9/6 Jacks or Better is becoming very rare. But it is not yet extinct.

It is certainly possible, or even probable that the machine was installed in error. This is not my experience however. Casinos almost never do anything by mistake. If a particular machine is on the floor (or at the bar), it was put there for a reason.

The casino could have placed this one machine on the floor so they could advertise that they had full-pay jacks or better available. They do this knowing that while many video poker players know that full-pay is good, not all that many even know what to look for.

Advertising they have full pay jacks or better video poker available would entice more players into the casino even though they would probably end up playing one of the short-pay games that are plentiful.

Rather than the one machine being a loss for the casino, it would be what is called a loss leader – something advertised to get people into the casino. They more than make up for the one good game by all the additional play on the more casino-profitable short-pay games.

Thank you for your email. I seldom visit casinos other than those in Las Vegas, Atlantic City or Tunica. I appreciate your insight into Illinois casinos.

As always, may all your wins be swift and large, and your losses be slow and small.

Jerry “Stickman”

Jerry “Stickman” is an expert in craps, blackjack and video poker and advantage slot machine play. He is a regular contributor to top gaming magazines. He authored the video poker section of Everything Casino Poker: Get the Edge at Video Poker, Texas Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, and Pai Gow Poker! You can contact Jerry “Stickman” at stickmanjerryg@gmail.com