Trends in Video Poker

Video poker became the hottest innovation in gaming very quickly and, as noted before, new variations continue to appear with canny regularity. Most new games are not attractive because maximum payback falls below 100%. Worse, a new type of variation has started to appear. Unlike the reel machines with total pay backs that are forever a mystery, it is possible to calculate the payback of nearly all video poker machines because we know they deal randomly fro standard 52-card deck (or 53 cards with the joker). At least that’s the case in Nevada where gaming regulators require and test for that randomness.

Some of the new games, however, add a special symbol such a flag or star that may appear randomly on any card. The player receives a bonus if all cards of the hand have that symbol. We have no way to decide whether any strategy modifications are appropriate ate or to determine the maximum payback of these games since the machine does not disclose how frequently the special symbol will show up. Another variation is a simulated reel slot that appears when you hit four of a kind, with no indication of the expected payoff (oaths than the maximum).

Such games are in a subclass somewhere between the regular video poker and the reel machines. If this trend continues, it may spell the end to video poker, as we know it; it will no longer be the intelligent player’s game. It depends on whether or not the general public flocks to the machines. If they ignore them, the casino will remove them. This game has grown at an amazing rate. As for blackjack, we believe that one important reason is the perception that the game can be beat, thus appealing to the player’s ego and intelligence. Most players do not read the books, yet they do their own intuitive judgment which may often result in a higher payback than offered by the reel slots.

Why would the casinos want to undermine the player’s main attraction to the game? The game manufacturers and casinos seem to be overlooking the fact that most video poker players moved over from the reel slots because the games are more interesting and because they have a payback and strategy which can be determined from the payoff schedule. Allow the perception that a game is beatable and you attract more players.

At least a few casino managers know that most players will never achieve the rated payback. This has been revealed in many promotions such as the Super-Full-Pay machines – full pay Jacks-or Better with the flush or full house payoff increased by one, giving a 9/7 or 10/6 payoff schedule. Let’s hope this becomes the dominant trend.