Is it illegal to look up a hand during play?
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I have a video poker app on my iPhone that allows me to enter any hand and show the best play. Every so often while playing I will run into a tricky hand that I cannot remember which is the best holding. I always try to be coy about pulling out my phone and checking but I can't help but feel that at some point a casino personnel is going to come over and say something.
Does anyone actually know if its against the rules to look up perfect play on your phone?
Question #2 - I was at South Point Casino a couple weeks ago and I hit a 400 coin quads on BDLX. Shortly after a casino personnel came over to the machine next to mine and stuck his card in and left. What was that all about?
Thanks!
Quote: SnoobertHi VP pros,
I have a video poker app on my iPhone that allows me to enter any hand and show the best play. Every so often while playing I will run into a tricky hand that I cannot remember which is the best holding. I always try to be coy about pulling out my phone and checking but I can't help but feel that at some point a casino personnel is going to come over and say something.
Does anyone actually know if its against the rules to look up perfect play on your phone?
The casino will probably not allow it on an iPhone. They would probably allow a "card" though. IMHO.
Thanks!
You are now in the winner's data base . Do NOT play VP for the next 91 days. Especially in the same casino.
Quote: buzzpaffYou are now in the winner's data base . Do NOT play VP for the next 91 days. Especially in the same casino.
Are you being sarcastic? What is a winners database and why would anyone care if you've won at any slot twice in 3 months?
Quote: buzzpaffQuestion #2 - I was at South Point Casino a couple weeks ago and I hit a 400 coin quads on BDLX. Shortly after a casino personnel came over to the machine next to mine and stuck his card in and left. What was that all about?
Thanks!
You are now in the winner's data base . Do NOT play VP for the next 91 days. Especially in the same casino.
Buzz-- sometimes being a jerk serves no purpose. Someone was asking a serious question, and your response adds nothing to the discussion. What was the purpose of your post?
I am waiting breathlessly for your answer to the question. The OP is intelligent enough to ask if i was being sarcastic. And perhaps that may have given him pause as to the apparent answer.
Actually he stated the correct answer " why would anyone care if you've won at any slot twice in 3 months? "
Lighten up. No surgery being done here !
And you addition to the discussion ?
MY SINCEREST APOLOGIES TO ALL>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Quote: SOOPOOBuzz-- sometimes being a jerk serves no purpose. Someone was asking a serious question, and your response adds nothing to the discussion. What was the purpose of your post?
To be fair, your comment helps the OP no more than buzz's did. His was at least funny ...
Quote: weaselmanTo be fair, your comment helps the OP no more than buzz's did. His was at least funny ...
I disagree. My comment let the OP know he made a legitimate question, and that other forum members took it seriously. Also, it was possible that the OP thought Buzz was answering in a factual manner. My comment also hopefully opened Buzz's eyes. I think zinging me, someone he has a history with, is different from zinging a new poster just trying to get some information. Now back to more important things, like the HotBlode Challenge......
Quote: SnoobertHi VP pros,
I have a video poker app on my iPhone that allows me to enter any hand and show the best play. Every so often while playing I will run into a tricky hand that I cannot remember which is the best holding. I always try to be coy about pulling out my phone and checking but I can't help but feel that at some point a casino personnel is going to come over and say something.
Does anyone actually know if its against the rules to look up perfect play on your phone?
Question #2 - I was at South Point Casino a couple weeks ago and I hit a 400 coin quads on BDLX. Shortly after a casino personnel came over to the machine next to mine and stuck his card in and left. What was that all about?
Thanks!
I've never had a problem texting, talking, or watching a live box score on my phone while playing. I don't know if the house would have a problem with you using a strategy program or not, but I think they'd have to absolutely stalk you in order to differentiate what you were doing from an obviously allowable activity.
As for the tech next to you...why was the machine open in the first place? Was the Service light on?
As far as checking strategies on a cell phone? what;s the difference if you are checking online or the strategy cards they sell in their own gift shops. Heck, I've even asked casino personnel about proper holds when I first started playing VP.... and they gave me the correct answers too.
I have no idea why a slot person would enter their card into a machine next to your machine. Perhaps there was a problem with the other machine. Perhaps they had to clear a service light. Perhaps he wanted to look busy.
It's okay to win in a casino. If no one won, no one would play.
There was no one in the seat and no service light on. He just walked up next to me, inserted his card, then left. Never said a word.
As for the iphone, it just helps in those rare spots where i'm pretty sure, but not 100% sure. I like to enter it into my phone and verify, then screen capture the hand for later study. When you switch games it is easy, at least for me, to forget some things or confuse them and it helps to have a fact checker in my back pocket. At the end of the day it is the casino's rules, so I was just curious if anyone knew if they would say anything regarding a phone device used to double check perfect play.
Quote: AlanMendelson
As far as checking strategies on a cell phone? what;s the difference if you are checking online or the strategy cards they sell in their own gift shops. Heck, I've even asked casino personnel about proper holds when I first started playing VP.... and they gave me the correct answers too.
I have seen cell use banned at any tabloe game including the poker room. Why would they ban it? One reason might be that a person could be using it to test the RNG, enter the results and see if it is not random but a pattern and then drain the machine. Is this far-fetched? Maybe. Could this go through the mind of a slots manager? Absolutely.
Other reason is same as why I am not allowed to have a cell phone open at my office--all smart phones have cameras. We have beaten the talk of photography in casinos to death, so I will leave it at that.
Quote: AZDuffmanWhy would they ban it? One reason might be that a person could be using it to test the RNG, enter the results and see if it is not random but a pattern and then drain the machine. Is this far-fetched? Maybe.
I can tell you one thing. Counting would absolutely be a breeze if only i could have my cell phone innocently lying at the edge of the table (don't even need to "use it" really).
And no, I would not be limited to Hi-Lo or some other shitty approximation. I would know the exact probability of every card in the deck, and the absolute best play at any given moment.
ZCore13
Quote: AlanMendelsonAs far as checking strategies on a cell phone? what's the difference if you are checking online or the strategy cards they sell in their own gift shops.
The difference is, a cell phone app lets you check specific situations where the cards would give you a different, less than optimal, answer. In some cases, the difference turns a < 100% game into a > 100% one.
So, of course, all you need to do is to replace the "card" with a book of the 134,459 different possible 5-card deals.
It would suck for you to have to pay a lawyer to get the casino to pay you a large JP (ie 4K or 20K) because your phone told to keep 2 to a royal instead of a high pair (or some such insanity).
Can anyone find out if casinos have policy on this? It would be greatly appreciated!
Quote: SnoobertHi VP pros,
I have a video poker app on my iPhone that allows me to enter any hand and show the best play. Every so often while playing I will run into a tricky hand that I cannot remember which is the best holding. I always try to be coy about pulling out my phone and checking but I can't help but feel that at some point a casino personnel is going to come over and say something.
Does anyone actually know if its against the rules to look up perfect play on your phone?
Question #2 - I was at South Point Casino a couple weeks ago and I hit a 400 coin quads on BDLX. Shortly after a casino personnel came over to the machine next to mine and stuck his card in and left. What was that all about?
Thanks!
\Video PokerPerfect play is what you develop on your own from playing so many hands, yes there is a score card available telling you what to do when to do what, there are only a couple of choices that become complicated, the rest is just clockwork.
Use of electronic devices are 100% prohibited in the casino, but take the time and google "Perfect Play video poker"
My tip for you is if you get dealt any combination to make a royal flush, take that opportunity. but if you get dealt any instant wins showing 3 cards or better for a royal Give up the win and hold the cards to make that royal. when you memorize the perfect play combinations you can play pretty much like a robot and catch them royals like they were meant to be caught.
on another note always use your Players card and take full advantage of the Free Offerings as we all know Video Poker offers the Highest Percentage Payout in the Casino. I believe to be 99.5% on most machines.
Good luck with your VP play.
Quote: SnoobertSo we still don't have a definitive answer on this? I would ask a slot attendant but I feel like they would just say no to say no. I don't see how it's any different than having a bob dancer next to you for when you have a question. It's one thing if it's frowned upon to use the app it's another if it's actually illegal and considered criminal cheating.
Can anyone find out if casinos have policy on this? It would be greatly appreciated!
I love Video Poker. I play JOB, Double Bonus and 2 wild.
Each has different strategy.
I practice on my tablet, the program allways lets me know when I am not playing perfect strategy to help improve my game.
When in Vegas (trip in 3 1/2 weeks, staying at 4 queens and the D) I allways play with a cheat sheet, (just a term, not cheating) to help with perfect strategy
This is perfectly legal.
Play with a cheat sheet and relax and play. no worries.
Using an app is illegal but you can probabbly get away with it if you only check it occasionally and are low key about it.
Quote: SnoobertSo we still don't have a definitive answer on this? I would ask a slot attendant but I feel like they would just say no to say no. I don't see how it's any different than having a bob dancer next to you for when you have a question. It's one thing if it's frowned upon to use the app it's another if it's actually illegal and considered criminal cheating.
Can anyone find out if casinos have policy on this? It would be greatly appreciated!
I think technically it is illegal, based on my reading of the statute, but I doubt you'd be prosecuted because it's provably impossible for your use of a VP strategy app to improve your play beyond optimal strategy -- the way card counting can over blackjack's optimal (top of the deck) strategy.
Here's the industry letter from the NGCB about the card counting app a few years ago:
http://gaming.nv.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=5343
Here's what the law says:
Quote:NRS 465.075 Use or possession of device to obtain advantage at playing game in licensed gaming establishment.
1. It is unlawful for any person to use, possess with the intent to use or assist another person in using or possessing with the intent to use any computerized, electronic, electrical or mechanical device which is designed, constructed, altered or programmed to obtain an advantage at playing any game in a licensed gaming establishment, including, without limitation, a device that:
(a) Projects the outcome of the game;
(b) Keeps track of cards played or cards prepared for play;
(c) Analyzes the probability of the occurrence of an event relating to a game; or
(d) Analyzes the strategy for playing or betting to be used in the game,
Ê except as may be made available as part of an approved game or otherwise permitted by the Commission.
2. As used in this section, “advantage” means a benefit obtained by one or more participants in a game through information or knowledge that is not made available as part of the game as approved by the Board or Commission.
There's no question that the VP strategy app would fall under 1(d), assuming it gave you "an advantage." I think the argument you'd have would be on the construction of the term "advantage". If "advantage" is construed broadly, then looking up the proper strategy play on a device provides you with the benefit of making the optimal play when you might otherwise not have, even if that optimal play is not player-favorable. If "advantage" is construed narrowly to mean that it turns a house-favorable game into a player-favorable one (as card counting does), then it wouldn't necessarily be advantageous to use a VP strategy app while playing 9/6 JoB. But I don't think a court would apply such a narrow construction because it leads to inconsistencies. For example, using the app would be illegal for 9/6 JoB w/ royal progressive at 5000 coins but not at 4500 coins.
Bottom line, I wouldn't risk it. Use a paper strategy printout if you need to look up hands, or memorize them, but don't rely on electronic devices.
Quote: varmenti\Video PokerPerfect play is what you develop on your own from playing so many hands, yes there is a score card available telling you what to do when to do what, there are only a couple of choices that become complicated, the rest is just clockwork.
Use of electronic devices are 100% prohibited in the casino, but take the time and google "Perfect Play video poker"
My tip for you is if you get dealt any combination to make a royal flush, take that opportunity. but if you get dealt any instant wins showing 3 cards or better for a royal Give up the win and hold the cards to make that royal. when you memorize the perfect play combinations you can play pretty much like a robot and catch them royals like they were meant to be caught.
on another note always use your Players card and take full advantage of the Free Offerings as we all know Video Poker offers the Highest Percentage Payout in the Casino. I believe to be 99.5% on most machines.
Good luck with your VP play.
quoting for future reference ...
Will they actually prosecute you over it? Totally different question. I would definitely lean toward no since I have never heard of it happening.
Varm the more you say the worst it gets. Most of the time you Dont toss out a paying hand for a 3 card Royal. Thats total bull. This is Mathematical of course then agian you claim math means nothing.Quote: varmenti\Video PokerPerfect play is what you develop on your own from playing so many hands, yes there is a score card available telling you what to do when to do what, there are only a couple of choices that become complicated, the rest is just clockwork.
Use of electronic devices are 100% prohibited in the casino, but take the time and google "Perfect Play video poker"
My tip for you is if you get dealt any combination to make a royal flush, take that opportunity. but if you get dealt any instant wins showing 3 cards or better for a royal Give up the win and hold the cards to make that royal. when you memorize the perfect play combinations you can play pretty much like a robot and catch them royals like they were meant to be caught.
on another note always use your Players card and take full advantage of the Free Offerings as we all know Video Poker offers the Highest Percentage Payout in the Casino. I believe to be 99.5% on most machines.
Good luck with your VP play.
You're like religion anythime someone uses uses logic and science to prove or disprove somthing. They just say you got to have faith or because the bible says so.
Thus I can imagine that a casino with a >100% game might take slight offence with an obvious crib sheet.
btw I had developed an A5 sheet for Players Choice but sadly I didn't get to use it.
Quote: charliepatrickSometime ago Blackjack Switch was introduced to my local casino. This was before all the strategies that are now on the internet; I went away and tried to work out a strategy for switching, and although not complete, brought a sheet with some rules on. I get on well with the casino managers and we all know that some of the HE is due to error - he asked me politely to put the sheet away.
After that, I would have politely left the table. But maybe UK rules forbid non-electronic aids as well. Generally they are perfectly acceptable in the US.
Casinos in the UK, in theory, forbid cameras, but they have to accept there are now phones with cameras. However you're not allowed to be on the phone and bet when at tables (technically it's against remote gambling laws).Quote: tringlomane...I would have politely left the table...
I've known the same casino for over 30 years (although it moved location a few years back), so it really is my "local". Yes I did politely put the piece of paper away and a few hands later stopped. Sadly Blackjack Switch has died out, probably because of the complicated strategy and the need to put up two bets, so I never recalculated the full strategy; but I'm glad they've finally put in FreeBet.
