Low-paying VP machines get play, high-paying VP machines sit idle

In almost every casino I play in, I'll search for a 9/6 video poker machine among all the 8/5s. Many times I'll find an empty 9/6, and next to it a frenzied player is eagerly slapping an 8/5 machine. The same goes for the joker and wild card video poker games. A few machine pay at the best odds — and are often empty. I don't mind. The other players cover my free drinks and comps.

Casinos will frequently have a mix of high-paying and somewhat lower-paying video poker machines. You always have to check the pay table on your machine to ensure that you're playing at one of the high-paying machines.

I have seen the same thing you have. High-paying machines sit idle, while people play lower-paying machines in the next aisle, across the aisle, or even next to the high-paying machines.

Maybe the light is better at their low-paying machines.

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. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.