“Big cigars, diamond rings, Ridin’ all around in a limousine,
When you finally hit the top,
Man you know what that means,
Everybody’s ready for the next big thing”
Lyrics/Song By Vince Gill
Doesn’t matter whether it’s music, fashion, celebrity or a casino
game, everybody’s looking for the next big thing. It’s fair to say
that Americans have a short attention span, so to remain at the top
of the heap you always have to try something new or add a whimsical
twist to the old.
Gaming manufacturers already know their industry, even more so than
others, they cater to people who are looking for heart-pounding
thrills in exchange for their disposable mad money. Their customers
may be risk-takers, but whatever you do, don’t bore them. It’s quite
a challenge to constantly create and produce the next big thing when
even popular traditional games lose some luster after repeated play.
If Bennie Binion (original Horseshoe owner) or Si Redd (IGT founder)
were to enter a casino today, they’d be dumbfounded by what they saw.
Even table games offer unusual side bets as well as game variations,
like Spanish 21 or totally mechanized versions of Texas Hold’Em and
other traditional felt standards.
The greatest changes, however, are with the glittery, vibrating,
talking devices occupying the majority of space on the casino’s
floor. Comfy but gaudy slots along with endless video poker options
are enough to make your head spin. Here’s the latest view of the next
big thing.
Slots Versus Video Poker
Slots: Players understand that slots are primarily based on luck so
their rapid pulse vibrations must come from the whistles and bells
along the yellow brick road. You should play smart by making sure
you’re betting enough to be eligible for the big jackpots if there
are any. For example, if it’s Mega Bucks, bet max coins or don’t
play. Also, many of the new Aristocrat games (Outback Jack, Mr Woo,
Zorro and others) have stand-alone or separate jackpots. Make sure
you play the machine with the largest jackpot amounts. You will not
know the expected return (ER) for the device you are playing and side-
by-side machines may have different return chips.
Developers have done a bang-up job of continuously besting
themselves with new products. Star Trek, for example, has several
levels that you attain by earning “medals” along the way; it’s also
continuous from session-to-session and casino-to-casino if you create
an ID. You can even annoy others by putting the sound as high as it
can go and then feel the seat vibrate when you hit a bonus. Mesmerizing!
In short, when it comes to making profitable slot machines,
manufacturers and developers have clearly delineated objectives.
First, create user-friendly and totally entertaining games and then
make sure everybody knows about them by advertising and marketing
like there’s no tomorrow. (As P.T. Barnum put it, “Without promotion
something terrible happens ... Nothing!”)
Video Poker: Even though video poker is lumped with slots and in the
short run there’s a component of luck, like with all casino games,
there are still many differences from slots. First of all, you can
use the pay schedule on the machine to determine the expected return
(ER) before you even deposit your money. Secondly, you can either
bring a strategy card for the game with you or practice playing
statistically correct at home by using tutorial software. Playing
smart, then, involves finding a game with a good ER and playing
accurately. (Details can be found in my book, The Video Poker Edge,
available in major bookstores or through amazon.com.) Many players
are drawn to games where they can have some control over their own fate.
Game developers have tried applying their winning formula for
innovative slots to video poker, highly entertaining games along with
major advertising blitzes, with mixed results. That’s because when
you inject skill, which varies from player-to-player, the average Joe
runs short of bankroll too fast when trying quirky new games. On the
other hand, highly skilled hustlers will use the latest technology to
play accurately and they’ll pounce on every player-advantage game in
the house. Tough games with high ER’s attract the pros, while the
same game with a low theoretical return chases everybody away.
Next Big Thing for Video Poker
Even the brilliant marketing wisdom of P.T. Barnum won’t help the
long-term success of any casino game that pounds gamblers every time
they play. Winning or just seeing others beat the house spurs people
on so they will keep on trying. So the video poker objectives for the
future involve finding a game that’s an adrenaline rush, not too
difficult for recreational players and not too attractive to
professionals. Sounds tough but the latest products to hit the market
do all of these things.
Multiple Options For Core Games: Since the late seventies when
Jacks or Better (JOB) made its casino debut, video poker has been a
big hit with players as well as a major money-maker for casinos.
Really, it’s the perfect combo; patrons get lots of stimulation for
their wager while the house rakes in their sure-thing profit. Still,
like most gamblers, video poker players are adrenaline rush junkies
and want new forms of titillation as time goes on. Game developers
really did an A+ job of coming up with some wacky but thrilling
choices; many appeared to be sure hits after focus group evaluations.
The problem was real customers played with their own hard-earned
money and when their lack of skill on games with complicated
strategies caused results to be considerably lower than the expected
return (ER), the love affair ended. It’s important to note that the
only time long-term results mirror theoretical expectations is when
the game is played accurately.
Back at the drawing board it became clear that many core games could
be played fairly well by the average customer; some, like JOB, are
pretty intuitive so few mistakes were made by most frequent players.
The place where the rubber hits the asphalt, then, would involve
adding multiple options to standard video poker fare.
These objectives can be achieved:
Bigger Thrills than Traditional Games: You can bet that potentially
winning a jackpot of 10 times the traditional one, even though it’s a
long shot, will make a gambler’s heart beat faster.
Good Return for Recreational Players: Most people play for fun and
expect the casino to make money over time, just like every other
business. Frequent players hope for a fair shake by getting a decent
amount of time on the machine.
Not Attractive to Pros: If a game’s return, assuming perfect play, is
less than 100%, pros won’t touch it with a 10-foot pole. They’d
starve to death if even after comps and cash are computed, the house
still has the advantage.
Here’s a quick synopsis of some core games included on the ever-
growing list of player options. Smart players will take the time to
learn the basics of some of them so they can broaden their range of
options once they get to the casino. Free removable strategy cards
for eight core games, including these, can be found in the back of my
book, The Video Poker Edge.
Note that the game designation numbers below refer to the per coin
payouts for the full house and flush respectively. For example, 9/6
JOB pays 9 for one on the full house and 6 for one on a flush.
Jacks or Better (JOB) This original video poker product remains
popular, just like Oreo Cookies or Coca Cola. 9/6 JOB has an ER of
99.54%, it’s a low risk choice since you’re paid double your wager
for two pair and the basics are easy to learn. The major player
complaint was it was too boring. That problem is immediately solved
when format options provide a jolt.
Bonus Poker (BP): Even without extra format choices this game is
more exciting than standard JOB because players are paid extra for
specified quads. 8/5 BP has an ER of 99.16% and you can use the same
basic JOB strategy.
Double Bonus (DB): 10/7DB has an ER of 100.17% making it too
attractive to pros, especially if more format options result in
increasing the size of wagers. Even if the theoretical edge is small
the incentive to play is greater for pros as bet size increases. To
solve that problem either 9/7 DB (ER of 99.11%) or 9/6 DB (ER of
97.81%) are typically offered. Accurate DB play requires more
deviations from basic JOB strategy than BP so make sure you either
bring a strategy card or practice on tutorial software (several
excellent products on the market) before trying it in a casino.
Double Double Bonus (DDB): 9/6DDB has an ER of 98.98% and is risky to
your bankroll even without the extra punch of more options to the
base game. Tread lightly before choosing DDB by making sure you have
the strategy down pat and that you stick to pre-determined budget
limits.
Format Modifications: If you’ve been to a Midwest casino lately
you’ve surely noticed some of these options on the gaming floor. Look
for even more in the future from IGT, Bally and every other
manufacturer. Here’s a rundown on each.
Multi-Play (Also called Multi-Hand): You can play from three to 100
hands on a single game. Your main hand will be on the bottom of the
display screen. Each of the hands you play will appear in smaller
graphics above the main hand. Be aware that the cards held in the
main hand will be held in every hand you chose to play, but separate
decks are used for each hand in the draw portion. If you choose
either 50 or 100-play games you may select as many hands as you want
and play max coins for each hand without a short-coin penalty for the
royal. However, if you chose any other multi-play game, say a 3-play
or a 5-play, you must play max games and max coins to receive full
odds on a royal flush. For example, if you are just playing two hands
on a 50-play machine, then a 10-coin bet (max of 5-coins for each
hand) will return 800 to 1 for a royal on either hand. If you were to
make the same 10-coin bet on a 5-play machine then you would be
forced to bet just two coins per hand and only receive a 250 to one
payout for any royals.
Multi-Strike Poker: This popular choice has been around for a while
and you must modify your strategy as you progress from one level to
the next. You can choose either a single deck or a multi-play
version. For the sake of simplicity, let’s assume you selected single-
deck multi-strike and chose to play max credits. Instead of a max bet
of five credits you will be betting 20 credits. There are four levels
and you must win at the previous level to climb the ladder to the
next level. A new deck is used at each level and the stakes double in
value as you advance. For example, you would use a standard pay
schedule at Level One, double the payouts at Level Two, four times
Level One at Level Three and a whopping Eight Times Level One at
Level Four. A new consideration is the importance of just winning so
you can advance to the next level. That’s why the strategy is
different from the base game; you will receive high premiums just by
advancing to the next level. Make sure you take the time to practice
on tutorial software offering multi-strike before you try it in a
casino.
Quick Quads: For complete details on this option check Midwest Gaming
& Travel’s video poker archives for February 2009. You must wager an
extra coin, that’s six coins for a max bet rather than the standard
five-coin max. After the draw, if you have three of a kind, the two
non-matching cards are added together, Ace through Nine. If they add
up to the same rank as the three-of-a-kind then you have quads. Of
course, only three-of-a-kinds Two’s through Ten’s can make quads for
the bonus feature. For example, let’s say you hold three dealt Fives
and draw a Four and an Ace. You will be paid for four of a kind
because the Ace counts as a One and 4 + 1 = 5. Traditional quads are
valid as well. You will have to make some adjustments to basic game
strategy to increase your odds of achieving quads with the bonus
feature. If played accurately the quick quads feature increases the
expected return of the base game, so it’s well-worth the extra coin bet.
Super Times Pay: Here’s an excellent choice to rev up the fun-factor
of any base game. Just like with quick quads you must bet six coins
rather than just five for a max wager. In return for the extra coin
you will randomly win a multiplier bonus. When this happens you will
see a number from two to 10 in a box located on the left of the
display screen. Your winnings for the hand will be multiplied by the
amount indicated. For example, if you win 40 coins on a full house
with a multiplier of 5 in the box, then you would receive 200 coins
rather than just 40 for the hand. (40 X 5 = 200) Like quick quads the
super times bonus feature increases the theoretical return of the
base game. If this bonus is offered definitely wager the extra coin.
Spin Poker: Just like the other formats you can apply this feature to
any base game. There are 15 blocks where virtual cards will appear,
configured with a top middle and bottom hand. You will have to check
the winning pay patterns to determine the nine pay lines. (They’re
accessed by pushing the help button on the bottom of the display
screen.) It will cost you 45 coins for a max coin bet, that’s five
coins times nine games. The first hand is dealt on the center payline
with two other decks used for the lines above and below the main
hand. That’s a total of three decks, but the cards held on the main
hand (center line) will be held for the other two hands as well. Some
people find the paylines, there are nine of them, difficult to follow
visually. Again, I recommend that you practice using either tutorial
software or by going to the website of a video poker manufacturer,
like IGT or Bally, before trying it in the casino. The game is fun,
but you have to make sure you don’t get carried away and spend more
than you budgeted for the session.
The new format options included here are just some of those already
on the floor in Midwest casinos.
Golden “Error”: You can see by the recommended core games, close to
but not quite 100% theoretical returns, that there’s the potential
for management to make player-advantage mistakes. It’s not going to
happen often and, given the inability of most gamblers to make
accurate video poker holds, it will have little or no impact on
casino profits. On the other hand, if you are able to compute the
comps and cash yourself (include multiple point promotions), you’ll
stumble upon some excellent opportunities from time-to-time. With the
latest options you’re actually playing for higher stakes on base
games than in the past. For example, a 10-play quarter game now costs
$12.50 per hand instead of just $1.25. If the game is 9/6 JOB
(99.54%) plus 1% cash back (.25% cash back on a four times points
promotion) you have a 100.54% play with an expected value (EV) 10
times that of the core game. In the current “golden era” of video
poker you’ll find more “golden errors” than in the past.
Final Thoughts: If you listen to country western music then you may
have heard Vince Gill sing “The Next Big Thing.” It’s a sardonic look
at the latest fad, which is sure to dissolve into oblivion when
something newer comes along. Video poker players can expect the
future to hold the best of two worlds — golden oldies combined with
format options that allow players to up the ante on old standby
games. Sort of like Nabisco offering the original cracker as well as
several variations with more or less kick. Unlike country music songs
video poker classic games will remain at the top of the charts, only
now you can season to taste.
— Linda Boyd ,a long-time table game player before turning to video
poker, writes for many gaming publications. Look for Linda’s story in
the 2009 edition of American Casino Guide. Her book, The Video Poker
Edge, includes free removable pay schedules and her free strategy
cards for the most popular games. Available at
amazon.com, bookstores
or www.squareonepublishers.com.
