Dear Mark,
When I'm at a video poker machine, I sometimes hear
people say that these particular machines are looser (sometimes tighter)
than some of the other video poker machines they have played. If every
game uses a 52-card deck, how can a video poker game be any different
than any other machine? Shouldn't the odds all be the same at every
machine? Tom T.
Youbetcha. Random is random, but sneaky is also sneaky. You identify
tightness or looseness of a video poker machine by standing tall in
front of it, introducing yourself with a smiling hello, and INSPECTING
THE MACHINE'S PAYTABLE. The sneaky-peeky that's called. Memorize that.
The paytable reveals what the casino pays for a pair of Jacks-or-better,
two pairs, three-of-a-kind, flushes, a full house, etc. Math laws set
the odds, but the accountant sets the price.
Take your standard Jacks-or-better machines, for instance. A 6/5
paytable (6 coins returned for a full house, 5 for a flush, with one
coin inserted) would be considered tight, no, very tight; whereas a 9/6
machine (9 for a full house, 6 for a flush, with one coin inserted)
would be considered loose.
If you were playing on an 8/5 machine (8 coins returned for a full
house, 5 for a flush with one coin inserted) you'd be giving the house
an additional 3% edge over what they'd get from a 9/6 machine. You see,
Tom, random surely is random, but a slight alteration on the paytable
brings that sharp grin to the face of the casino owner.
Another
example--the key to evaluating the potential return on the very popular
Deuces Wild machine is the payoff on four-of-a-kind. If that hand is
paid out at 20 for 5, with one coin inserted, rather than 25 for 5, the
machine is considered tight. Why? Well, four-of-a-kinds occur
frequently, and this lower payoff drops your percentage return by well
over six percent. Ouch!
But with your own mental screwdriver, you can tinker even that machine
into the loosest cow in the casino. With maximum coin play and perfect
strategy, a five-coin return for four-of-a-kind gives you a slight edge
against the house--a 100.76% return versus 94.34% if the machine returns
just four coins.
As illustrated above, Tom, with a modest mental tool-kit, you can create
your own loose and tight machines.
Dear Mark,
Since you love to slam my favorite game of Keno all the
time, how's about your views on bingo, especially as played in casinos.
Ray D.
When you are down to your last fiver, trying to score free hooch,
perhaps even needing a place to sleep, the keno parlor can seem a
gambler's oasis. But, when you need a calculator zapping out exponential
notations just to figure out the payoffs, even you might get a bit
crusty on good old keno.
But, when it comes to playing bingo, Ray, bingo can be sound gambling.
Yep, you're reading it right; that was no misprint.
Bingo is one game the casino offers that generally operates as a
loss-leader for the house. Casinos can actually show a net loss for
bingo by paying out more in guaranteed prizes than they take in. If you
think $5 is a hefty price for a buy-in, try any special non-cash
game--yes, FREE -- that some casinos occasionally advertise.
Yo, keno
players, are you hearing this? Bingo does offer a great return and is a
nice, relaxing change of pace when you're on a losing streak and need to
slow your losses.
Gambling quote of the week: "Video Poker is here to stay, and
if it is here to stay then it is taking in far more money than it's
giving out." --Rob Singer, gaming author.
