Ask The Slot Expert

John,

I usually take 200 times my bet for video poker and still usually go home broke. Also I usually put my money through the video poker machine about 10 times based on the number of player club points earned per hand played.

What do you think of these numbers?

Dick

Dear Dick,

It seems like the numbers are working out just right.

Let's say you play a dollar machine at $5 per hand. You take $1000 to the casino.

You say you play that through the machine about 10 times, so you get about $10,000 in action from your bankroll. You won about $9,000 during your play. Your payback is 9,000/10,000 or 90%, which is well within the expected range for playing 2,000 or so hands on any video poker machine.

I'm not surprised you go home broke. A negative expectation game (that is, a game that pays back less than 100%, which is just about every video poker machine outside of Nevada and most of them in) will eventually eat your entire bankroll. The trick is to ensure that the slot club benefits and the value you place on being entertained makes up for the money you lose. And, of course, ensure that the money you lose is earmarked for entertainment and not necessities.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos!
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@home.com.

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