Ask The Slot Expert

Hi.

What do you think of bonus game video poker machines like Triple Trouble and Gold Mine?

I have had luck with the Triple Trouble when those little devils come up often but noticed they are not full pay machines.

Also, on the Gold Mine video poker, where you get a bonus round if you hit a full house, the full houses seem to come up more often than in other video poker machines. Can the casinos set them to do that since they are video poker machines based on the 52 card deck odds?

Thanks
Teri

Dear Teri,

I don't care much for video poker machines with bonus games. The main advantage to video poker is being able to calculate the long-term payback of the paytable, and you can't do that when there's some bonus game thrown into the mix.

Casinos cannot set a Gold Mine video poker machine to hit full houses more frequently than other video poker machines. The dealing of the cards is completely at random.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

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

For more information about slots and video poker, we recommend:

The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots by John Robison
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Victory at Video Poker and Video Craps, Keno and Blackjack! by Frank Scoblete
Slot Conquest Audio Cassette Tape (60 minutes) with Frank Scoblete
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The Slot Machine Answer Book by John Grochowski
The Video Poker Answer Book by John Grochowski

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John Robison

John Robison is an expert on slot machines and how to play them. John is a slot and video poker columnist and has written for many of gaming’s leading publications. He holds a master's degree in computer science from the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology.

You may hear John give his slot and video poker tips live on The Good Times Show, hosted by Rudi Schiffer and Mike Schiffer, which is broadcast from Memphis on KXIQ 1180AM Friday afternoon from from 2PM to 5PM Central Time. John is on the show from 4:30 to 5. You can listen to archives of the show on the web anytime.

Books by John Robison:

The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots