Ask The Slot Expert (Playing the Same Video Poker Machine)

Dear John,

What about playing the same machine all the time?

Say you play at a casino four days in a row. On day one you hit a royal. Should you go back the next day and play the same machine? And if you just happened to hit a royal on that second day, should you still play the same machine the next day?

Thanks,
Rose Mary

Dear Rose Mary:

It doesn't make any difference whether you play the same machine all the time or play different machines. All machines with the same paytable have the same long-term payback. The probability of hitting a royal flush or any other paying hand is the same on every hand--even the hand immediately following a royal flush.

I have a favorite machine at the Desert Inn in Las Vegas and it is the only single-hand video poker machine I play there. When I hit a royal on it, I continue playing it the same day, the next day, and every other day. I continue playing it because there is no advantage to switching machines. The probabilities are the same on all the machines on every hand.

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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