Seven Deadly Sins for Video Poker Players: 4. Envy

12 January 2025

By Jerry Stickman

Preamble: While browsing through the offerings on television the other night I came across Se7en. It is a 1995 movie about detectives hunting a serial killer that uses the seven deadly sins as motivation for killing. While I am not much of a fan of the movie, lessons can be learned from it regarding video poker play and gambling in general.

This is the fourth in a series of seven articles that each cover one of the seven deadly sins – fourth article, fourth deadly sin – envy.

Envy is defined in Merriam-Webster as “painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.”
This is the proverbial “green-eyed monster.”

It seems to be more prevalent now than in the past.

Thoughts like “I should be able to have a great house like others do,” or “how come they get to have a new car when I cannot?”
More closely related to video poker the following thoughts are likely:

• “I have been playing this machine for hours yet the guy at the next machine sat down just a few minutes ago and he got a royal flush. I should have gotten that before he did.”

• “I played that machine for hours and got nothing. Now she sits down and gets MY royal flush. It is just not fair – that was mine!”

Envy causes players to lose focus and concentration – concentration that is necessary to get the maximum from play.

Without concentration, mistakes in strategy will be made. Mistakes reduce the overall return. Winnings suffer.

Envy can also lead to loss of self-control, which in turn can lead to ruin.

No good comes from envying others good fortune.

You can only control your own actions. Whatever happens to others is beyond your control. Do not concern yourself with others. Focus on what you are doing.

That is a key to your success.

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 and 888casino.com. 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