Bovada Jacks or Better: My experience

Hi,

Just wanted to share what has been happening so far with Bovada. My background is I am a very casual player so take that for what it's worth.

I opened a Bovada account yesterday and did a 25.00 deposit + 25.00 matching bonus. Since the offer was x 40, I needed to play 2k worth of JoB to be in the clear.

I started playing on the website. I used a combination of Wizard's simple and Optimal strategies. I only played 5 cent Jacks or better with 5 coins so 25 cents per pull. I never used the double option. By the first 1/2 hour I was down to 40 and by about 2 hours in I was down to 20 out of the 50 I started with. It seemed a real steep drop and I think I got 1 4 of a kind as my best hand out of all the hands I played.

I then came on here and read how some people were having issues with the website version. I dowloaded the Bovada package from the website and started playing. It was like night and day. I was winning left and right and pushed my total back up to 40 dollars. Then about 1-1/2 hours in, the cards started moving really slow. After the slow deals, I lost maybe 85 out of my next 100 hands and any winners were Jack or better with a few 2 pairs. I lost all my winnings plus about 5 dollars leaving me at about 15 dollars. I stopped after that.

The second session was more of the same. I played quite a bit and again as soon as I logged in I was on another winning streak which lasted for close to 1 hour. I was back up to about 25-30 dollars. Then at about 1 hour in, the cards slowed down again and I lost everything down to about 5 dollars. I stopped for the night.

I started again just hoping to kill what I had left but I caught another little streak and went back up to 10 dollars. I stopped before the 1 hour mark.

I just put this here because I have used these forums several times getting tips and help on this game and Bovada in general. In my opinion the web version of the game does have some kind of issue like people were mentioning because I had far far better success in the downloadable version. Conversely the downloadable version seems like it has some kind of issue if you play for 1 hour or more or whenever it starts dealing very slow.

This is of course all conjecture and opinion but hopefully it can help anyone thinking about playing this game through Bovada.

I'm going to try playing bursts of maybe about 30 mins or so at a time or until I get a few slow deals in a row at which time I will totally exit out and relaunch.

Note: There is one difference between the web and dl version in which you need to have 5 dollar increments for the download version. Sometimes I would leave with an uneven number and then have to win or lose enough to cash out and use the odd balance.

Any other tips and stories would be welcomed and appreciated.

As far as casinos go I believe machines are as random as they can possibility get. I even get annoyed at people who think different and I think they are crazy. I REALLY HATE ADMITTING THIS but, I noticed this a long time ago. It was not something I was thinking about prior or something that I heard of. The thought never crossed my mind. I was not looking for anything different. I was not looking for patterns or excuses or reasons I was losing. It was just happening, then it dawned on me when it was happening, during the Java casino play. Ill play short session after session and I always lose way more then one should on the Java. I should have some winning sessions here and there but not one. It seems predictable in a bad way. I believe one of my first comments on this board was about this very thing after reading other comments concerning the same thing. I am so sure this is true I'm willing to make a side bet with someone given the right parameters. Keep in mind I believe the Download version is totally legit when it comes to VP. Is there a way to get a complete hand history and what version it was played on?

It makes me think about some of the Past proven Gaffed and glitched machines in Nevada. Not to mention so called reputable online casinos

Yeah I probably would have lost all my money and racked it up to bad luck if I didn't read a least two different threads on here about the Web vs Download version. It was a huge difference.

It's probably more than I have left right now (10.00) to properly test the slowdown deal situation on the downloadable version but if anyone else is experiencing that please let me know. It will be when you have a sustained period of wins with fast deal then the dealing starts getting very slow and certain cards get stuck from 3-5 seconds. The win rate starts to act like the web version when this happens.

Quote: Perdition

Yeah I probably would have lost all my money and racked it up to bad luck if I didn't read a least two different threads on here about the Web vs Download version. It was a huge difference.

It's probably more than I have left right now (10.00) to properly test the slowdown deal situation on the downloadable version but if anyone else is experiencing that please let me know. It will be when you have a sustained period of wins with fast deal then the dealing starts getting very slow and certain cards get stuck from 3-5 seconds. The win rate starts to act like the web version when this happens.

hmmmm I thought that was just me and my internet or PC acting up and I was just unlucky during that time it dose seem to have a correlation with bad hands. I didn't realize this happened to everyone playing but it had crossed my mind something funny was going on with that. How is it that the poker runs so smooth but the casino stutters constantly? I do think the VP on the DL version is Fair.

So started today playing the download version. About 20 hands in got this:



Gonna keep testing playing for 30 mins bursts and then exiting.

Nice hit! Did you go for it?

They must have seen your post looked up your account and paid you some hush money.

Quote: Mission146

Nice hit! Did you go for it?

Haha no way. I tried doubles in practice and they just seemed way to risky. Now that I have made enough , I might switch to quarters though.

Thank you. I honestly wouldn't have been able to do anywhere near as well without help from here. From the Wizard guide to finding out errors in the system, it has helped me out a lot.

@Axel I wish I knew. If they have been looking, hopefully we are doing them a favor pointing out the discrepancies between the two versions and the slowdown "bug" so that they can do whatever they need to to fix it. I mean if people lose 6 or 8 out of 10 hands when they play the web version, they might not come back or think the site is rigged. So at least can show both sides that you can get the best hand(although I think there are already a few royal threads here) and they do have a setup where you win often.

So just wanted to give an update for anyone who was wondering. Played a little more the following day and then cashed out at about 150. Was a little bit of a loss from where I was but still 7 times my initial investment so I can't complain.

I am thinking maybe next month putting in the max of 250 for the matching bonus. Then playing only on Wednesdays for the video poker promotion. Every 52 dollars you play through gives you a drawing ticket for 520 dollars. If you play 52 dollars through 52 times(2704 total), they give you 52 dollars in bonus cash. Not a bad way to make an extra 208 a month. In about 2-3 hours of playing quarters at 5 coins(1.25 a pull) I was able to playthrough about 1500-1600 so doesn't seem very hard to get through it.

Seems like the best way to maximize it. I will need to play this way for about 8 Wednesdays before I can withdraw any money but I don't mind. Just going to stick to the Wizard's formulas and hope for the best.

If anyone has thoughts or tips, please feel free to share.

I have been playing on Bovada for two years (plus), off and on mostly out of boredom and when I cannot get away to Atlantic city for whatever reason. I believe I know what I am talking about when I say what I am about to say: The site is rigged in terms of its casino games, like Video Poker and especially the Blackjack games.

Its not impossible to win at any of the games at Bovada, but it is incredibly difficult and its pretty obvious the games do not follow typical casino patterns for such games. Still, knowing this, I have never deposited more than 100 bucks at any one time and I try to offset my casino drubbing(s) with real Poker games on the poker site against people, where I actually do fairly well and can make my casino deposits last for several days to weeks.....I use Bovada as a distraction, nothing else. it is annoying at times playing games like 9/6 JOB or Single Deck Blackjack on Bovada and having the games unfold NOTHING like they do in real life in real casinos. I am not sure how Bovada (and other internet casinos) get away with this but clearly the whole "certification" business for online casinos is a illusionary Marketing mechanism.

I endorse the Bovada POKER games, as they actually have some good values in their tournaments and sit and go menus, and although the players are all anonymous so you can never know anything about your opponents (so rating sites like Sharkscope are useless), the play seems fair in the actual poker games.

If you are lucky enough to win at a Bovada Casino Game, cash out ASAP! Do not press it, you will lose it real fast.

I will only say that the video poker on the download version seems fine.

If you really believe anything is gafed you will need to take video of your play and post it online, and even then if you lost 20 hands of blackjack in a row, someone would just say anythings possible, you just rand into one of then astronomical events.

Quote: DaBurglar

I have been playing on Bovada for two years (plus), off and on mostly out of boredom and when I cannot get away to Atlantic city for whatever reason. I believe I know what I am talking about when I say what I am about to say: The site is rigged in terms of its casino games, like Video Poker and especially the Blackjack games.

Its not impossible to win at any of the games at Bovada, but it is incredibly difficult and its pretty obvious the games do not follow typical casino patterns for such games. Still, knowing this, I have never deposited more than 100 bucks at any one time and I try to offset my casino drubbing(s) with real Poker games on the poker site against people, where I actually do fairly well and can make my casino deposits last for several days to weeks.....I use Bovada as a distraction, nothing else. it is annoying at times playing games like 9/6 JOB or Single Deck Blackjack on Bovada and having the games unfold NOTHING like they do in real life in real casinos. I am not sure how Bovada (and other internet casinos) get away with this but clearly the whole "certification" business for online casinos is a illusionary Marketing mechanism.

I endorse the Bovada POKER games, as they actually have some good values in their tournaments and sit and go menus, and although the players are all anonymous so you can never know anything about your opponents (so rating sites like Sharkscope are useless), the play seems fair in the actual poker games.

If you are lucky enough to win at a Bovada Casino Game, cash out ASAP! Do not press it, you will lose it real fast.

I too used to think Bovada casino was off, so unlike most people who just babble like idiots, I actually decided to keep meticulous track of every session of pick'em poker I played for 1 year. After 864,286 hands of recorded data, I can assure you, it's legitimately random, and fair. You get long streaks of both good and bad that you cant imagine, and even periods of 200,000 hands will have variance, but after 846,286 hands, ive been paid back 100.17% on a game that has (had) an expected payout rate of 99.95%. I had been as low as 99.63% after 613,000 hands, and have had an amazing run of straight flushes to jettison my current return over EV.

I have kept track of every paying hand type and compared it to what it should be. I even kept track of being dealt live trips and the conversion rate of full houses and quads for every live trip I was dealt. You can expect to convert 4.16% of every dealt live trip into quads. I had an unbelievably cold streak of 154 straight without 1, but after 3934 of them, i converted 157 into quads, which is about 7 less than I should be. I have 31 straight flushes when I should have about 22. Ive had slightly more straights, flushes and full houses than expected, and slightly less quads (357 when 366 is expected), and the combined payout of pairs, two pairs, and trips should be 79.31, and I've recieved 79.30 (it had been under 79% after 425,000 hands, but is now spot on). I had 3 straight flushes in a 5 hour session recently, which when converted into hands has a bout a 1 in 1500 chance of occurring. I was going to list a detailed report when I reached 1 million hands, but they just lessoned the payout from 99.95% to 99.45%, so I doubt I'll continue playing it, but I can say with absolute certainty that their casino is legit, and random.

Shakhtar, thanks very much for gathering and analyzing the data.

There's another thread on the downgrade(s) here: https://wizardofvegas.com/forum/off-topic/general/15355-bovada-slashes-joker-poker/

I'm really glad you came on here with facts, a huge sample of actual play, and specific information, no matter what the result was (endorsement or not). Thanks, shakhtar!

Quote: shakhtar

certainty that their casino is legit, and random.

I do believe the VP in the DL version is random. Now track big bets on black jack.

Try this bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet Bet *$50 Bet $100*

mix it up a bit 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet *$50 Bet $100* $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1

Repeat as many times as you like.

Then tell me what you think.

Quote: shakhtar

I too used to think Bovada casino was off, so unlike most people who just babble like idiots, I actually decided to keep meticulous track of every session of pick'em poker I played for 1 year. After 864,286 hands of recorded data, I can assure you, it's legitimately random, and fair. You get long streaks of both good and bad that you cant imagine, and even periods of 200,000 hands will have variance, but after 846,286 hands, ive been paid back 100.17% on a game that has (had) an expected payout rate of 99.95%. I had been as low as 99.63% after 613,000 hands, and have had an amazing run of straight flushes to jettison my current return over EV.

I have kept track of every paying hand type and compared it to what it should be. I even kept track of being dealt live trips and the conversion rate of full houses and quads for every live trip I was dealt. You can expect to convert 4.16% of every dealt live trip into quads. I had an unbelievably cold streak of 154 straight without 1, but after 3934 of them, i converted 157 into quads, which is about 7 less than I should be. I have 31 straight flushes when I should have about 22. Ive had slightly more straights, flushes and full houses than expected, and slightly less quads (357 when 366 is expected), and the combined payout of pairs, two pairs, and trips should be 79.31, and I've recieved 79.30 (it had been under 79% after 425,000 hands, but is now spot on). I had 3 straight flushes in a 5 hour session recently, which when converted into hands has a bout a 1 in 1500 chance of occurring. I was going to list a detailed report when I reached 1 million hands, but they just lessoned the payout from 99.95% to 99.45%, so I doubt I'll continue playing it, but I can say with absolute certainty that their casino is legit, and random.

Quick question. Did you play the web version, download version or a mix of the two?

Also an unrelated related question. Does the Wizard get money on every click of the Bovada link or only on sign ups?

Quote: Perdition

Quick question. Did you play the web version, download version or a mix of the two?

Also an unrelated related question. Does the Wizard get money on every click of the Bovada link or only on sign ups?

I will bet it was the DL version.

Quote: Perdition

Quick question. Did you play the web version, download version or a mix of the two?

Also an unrelated related question. Does the Wizard get money on every click of the Bovada link or only on sign ups?

I play the download version. And I have no clue of the Wizard's arrangement (if any exists) with Bovada. I joined Bovada to play poker after Pokerstars left the US, didn't even know they had a casino when I joined. I saw the Wizards endorsement of the game when I visited his site on an unrelated research item and started playing, and I liked the game and was appreciative of the many generous bonuses they offered casino players from time to time (in addition to their weekly bonuses). Their racebook is great too, and they don't bat an eye to pay out a 10k exotic wager, even at a medium sized track. Their sportsbook is a bit on the guarded side, with high juice, late lines, and restrictions on games (not to mention duel lines), but they've been paying customers for a long time, so whatever they have to do to be solvent, I respect. Ultimately, we the player can choose whether or not to play any particular game or bet.

Quote: AxelWolf

I will bet it was the DL version.

I win.

Quote: AxelWolf

I do believe the VP in the DL version is random. Now track big bets on black jack.

Try this bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet Bet *$50 Bet $100*

mix it up a bit 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet *$50 Bet $100* $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1 bet 1$ bet $1 bet 1$ bet $1

Repeat as many times as you like.

Then tell me what you think.

LOL, I'm not gonna try that. I don't hate money.

Does the software function the same in Practice Play mode as in Real Money?