Which way to go?

I'm not a big gambler, but enjoy some time at the casino every few months. Don't have a lot of money to gamble with so I'm trying to figure out the best bang for the buck. I enjoy video poker and I don't go higher than the quarter machines. At 5 coins per hand, what sort of stake should I have to give myself a decent chance?

My other consideration is the $1 slots single coin or the quarter slots at 3 coins a pull? As I said, I'm new to this and am looking for some guidance. Thanks for your patience and consideration.

Anybody, repeat ANYBODY who plays a single denomination in a session and thinks they have a decent chance of coming out ahead, is sadly mistaken. Even those who sell strategy, books, videos, perfect-play cards, software programs, and get paid to give classes & advice, lose around 70%-80% of the time. Why else do you think they need to have a real income?

If you want to do it right you need to identify your total gaming bankroll. Then I can help.

Quote: Sharktooth

I'm not a big gambler, but enjoy some time at the casino every few months. Don't have a lot of money to gamble with so I'm trying to figure out the best bang for the buck. I enjoy video poker and I don't go higher than the quarter machines. At 5 coins per hand, what sort of stake should I have to give myself a decent chance?

My other consideration is the $1 slots single coin or the quarter slots at 3 coins a pull? As I said, I'm new to this and am looking for some guidance. Thanks for your patience and consideration.

I personally don't think you can get much "bang for buck" from slot machines, unless you're a VP advantage player.
Why not have a go at Craps? You can have a whole lot of fun for very little outlay, and at very low margin. Just play the pass line, with odds if you can. You'll [probably] become everyone's friend, and generally have a great time. You even get to roll the dice yourself, and one bet can last for ages!

Video Poker. You should have a stake of at least $5,000 to play the quarter games. That's total -- obviously you don't need to bring that with you every time. But be prepared to lose, and lose often. Over the long run, if you play a decent strategy, you'll give yourself a good chance to stay even or just lose a little bit.

Craps with odds is fun, too.

Quote: RobSinger

Anybody, repeat ANYBODY who plays a single denomination in a session and thinks they have a decent chance of coming out ahead, is sadly mistaken. Even those who sell strategy, books, videos, perfect-play cards, software programs, and get paid to give classes & advice, lose around 70%-80% of the time. Why else do you think they need to have a real income?

If you want to do it right you need to identify your total gaming bankroll. Then I can help.

I have a method that can win about 80% of the time. Playing a single denomination machine.

I just want to say one word to you, Benjamin.

Just one word.

Are you listening?

Craps.

Quote: Sharktooth

I'm not a big gambler, but enjoy some time at the casino every few months. Don't have a lot of money to gamble with so I'm trying to figure out the best bang for the buck. I enjoy video poker and I don't go higher than the quarter machines. At 5 coins per hand, what sort of stake should I have to give myself a decent chance?

My other consideration is the $1 slots single coin or the quarter slots at 3 coins a pull? As I said, I'm new to this and am looking for some guidance. Thanks for your patience and consideration.

Four Queens in downtown Las Vegas is one of the few "fair slot" places left to play. For Video Poker they have the so called 9/6 machines clearly marked which if played perfectly lose a very small percent. I believe that they have full play deuces wild which also has a small player positive expectation.

Meals, rooms, are cheap, limits are low, and they have some of the best pizza at the Chicago Brew Pub. They also have a Noble Roman's pizza which is typical fast food.

Quote: pacomartin

Four Queens

Meals, rooms, are cheap, limits are low, and they have some of the best pizza at the Chicago Brew Pub.

Ever have it in your room with a 6 pack while watching hockey on TV? You don't know what you're missing.

Well, I don't know if the words "decent chance" and slot machines should really be in the same sentence.
It depends how much the free drinks are worth to you, perhaps.
Slot machines are so much more profitable to the casino than a craps table that you will get faster and more generous drink service at the slot machine. Are those few drinks worth playing at a very high house edge?

Now if you ENJOY slot machines, so be it. Flashing lights and pretty graphics can be fun, however if you are talking about "bang for your buck" then I think you really have to stay away from slot machines. Its up to you to decide on your priorities in life. If a little fling at the slots is fun for you, so be it. No one here is saying you can't win and win big. You can. We do not suggest you hold your breath until it happens though. And when you've gone through your bankroll and it ain't happened, well... at least you had the free drinks.

So if slot machines are fun for you ... then go have some fun.
If "bang for your buck" is more important to you, then get away from slot machines. The house edge on slot machines is very high. The edge at blackjack, craps, MiniBacc is low. However if you don't enjoy these games then by all means stick with the flashing lights of slot machines. MiniBacc is just about the closest thing to a slot machine there is: the casino even "presses the little red button" for you by dealing the cards. You just decide on which one of two hands you want to bet on. Its not a difficult decision.

I just want to point out that if you're playing a full pay quarter VP machine, the penalty in expected return for playing just one coin rather than five is smaller than you'd think. At 9/6 JoB for instance, you go from 99.54% to 98.37%. Not ideal, obviously, but still better than slots (and even some VP pay tables at five coins). If your goal is to play longer on a small bankroll, I think this would be a fine way to do it.

I spent a very pleasant evening at the Golden Nugget once doing exactly this. I played for a long time outside the Rush Lounge while I listened to the band and enjoyed a few drinks. In the end I think I was even up a dollar or two.

If you pick craps don't take odds. It doesn't help your expected loss one iota.

Thanks for everyone's response. I didn't realize I'd get so much feedback.

As far as bankroll, I'm afraid to use that term. I'm thinking $50 for the night. Craps at a $5 table . . . 10 bets? Doesn't sound like it would last long.
Kayday, you make some sense. Didn't realize the single coin vs. five was not that much of a penalty. Everything I've read says to go max.

I'm embarrassed to put this out there, but I know there are folks like me that don't have a lot of $$$ to gamble; especially in this day and age!

So it sounds like VP is better than the slots?

Absolutely. You can belly up to the bar and play and watch the sports as well and chat with other patrons, if it's that kind of place.

Stick 25c in and the only time you'd regret not paying the full 5 coins is if you hit the miracle royal flush.

You might find a nickel machine in some of the lower rent places. You might have to pay directly for the beer.

$5 on the table games could last a very short amount of time, but I've played $5 craps with no odds for a couple of hours before. Each bet takes several rolls to resolve, so you can be there for a while.

Some of the five reel penny slots can be played at 9 lines by 1 bet - 9 cents -that actually are kinda fun and payoff pretty well.

I'm hearing you . . . That gives me starting point. Now I need to learn how to play!

Quote: thecesspit

I have a method that can win about 80% of the time. Playing a single denomination machine.

I could do better than that playing single denomination. 85% of the time vp players are ahead at some point during their session, only most of them have no clue how to quit when ahead.

Thanks, but if I had $5000, I'd get a second car. The wife drives and she would love to have her vehicle back . . . but I have to work, she's can't.

Quote: RobSinger

I could do better than that playing single denomination. 85% of the time vp players are ahead at some point during their session, only most of them have no clue how to quit when ahead.

Oh indeed. I can do 90% on some machines. I've written and shared about this in another post elsewhere in the Betting Systems. It's called "Simulating Singer" ;)

The thing is, being ahead $1 on a $500 buy in is not what many people would call a successful session -AND- there is no gurantee when you'll be ahead that $1... and you may bust out. In all cases, the amount you risk is always MORE than the amount you gain. (e.g. if you play to gain $1 and have $100, you have a bigger than 1% chance of busting out).

My statement still holds true, I can give you a system that gives you a profit on over 80% of your sessions. :)

Quote: RobSinger

I could do better than that playing single denomination. 85% of the time vp players are ahead at some point during their session, only most of them have no clue how to quit when ahead.

So true. The trick is knowing when to quit. Once I hit 4 of a kind and I walked out the door smiling!

Well if you said 90% instead of 80% earlier, I'd have correctly said 91%!

Quote: RobSinger

Well if you said 90% instead of 80% earlier, I'd have correctly said 91%!

If I promise 80% and deliver 91%, I`m sure everyone will be happier than promising 91% and delivered 85%

At least where I work....

Quote: thecesspit

If I promise 80% and deliver 91%, I`m sure everyone will be happier than promising 91% and delivered 85%

At least where I work....

I don't work---and specifically because of a number like 85%.

Quote: RobSinger

I don't work---and specifically because of a number like 85%.

I guess defending your good name is a labor of love, not work. So I am wrong once again.