Players tend to spend too much time and energy making up video poker myths. Be assured, there’s no need. Here’s why:
- Gambling gaming authorities regulate machines to guarantee fairness, integrity, and compliance with gaming laws.
- Casinos must follow strict regulations to keep their gaming licenses.
- Rigging machines is illegal and would lead to severe penalties. Regulations insure slot and video poker machine machines are fair.
- Casino management cannot manipulate payback. Third-party labs certify their fairness for the companies that make them.
THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR (RNG) – A Refresher
The Random Number Generator (RNG), the Rodney Dangerfield of gambling technology. It just “gets no respect.” Players invent reasons for losses playing video poker. But two simple things are true:
- The RNG and the timing of a wager/draw determine card results, (and random bonuses if included in the game), and
- Optimal Strategy increases winning chances based on probability.
The Random Number Generator randomly draws the cards from 2.6 million possible card combinations. It shuffles twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year whether it’s being played or not. When the draw button is pushed, that millo-second chooses the card(s). Then it keeps shuffling the remaining cards until you hit “deal” again. The discarded cards are returned to the deck and the process is repeated.
SELECTIVE MEMORY
When certain events seem to happen multiple times in a short period, it seems contrary to the science and mathematics involved in the work of the RNG. Selective memory can take over. When a player remembers only a certain reoccurring events, a small sample of results becomes the basis of many myths. Let’s investigate.
SPECIFIC VIDEO POKER MYTHS
SAME CARD DRAWS
- Myth: When I discarding one card, it’s replaced with the same card of a different suit. – Truth: you can draw one of the three remaining cards of the same denomination. Remember, there are 2.6 million possible hands in a 52-card deck. Each hand is independent of the last. The chance of a certain card coming up again is the same as any other remaining card coming up.
- Myth: Casinos offer sesame games, but some are “tighter” or rigged. Truth: “Tighter” usually means a lower RTP (Return to Player). Check the paytable of the two same games. A lower-paying paytable offers a lower Return to Player (RTP)
- Myth: Electronic games are manipulated by the casinos. Truth: Every game console contains different paytables for each game. The casino chooses what it will be and leaves it, with very few changes while it’s on the casino floor.
- Myth: “I left that machine, and the next person Got MY Royal Flush!” Truth: Every single event is unrelated to previous events. The RNG decides each result. There is no chance you would have hit the draw button at the same instant the other person did. Just congratulate that player and let go of your frustration.
- Myth: A Royal Flush is due. It’s supposed to Hit Every 40,400 Hands! Truth: Oh, you silly, silly gamblers. Probability means it could be eventually more than 40,000 – or never for you! In 2023, I personally played over 200,000 hands without a single royal flush. Those machines were not rigged. (But, I think it was because I didn’t wear my lucky socks!)
- Myth: Playing Multi-Line Games provides better results Truth: Nope. Playing Multi-line VP games such as 3-, 5-, or 10-Play is the same as buying more quick pick lottery tickets. It does not increase your winning chances because each hand has its own deck. After the initial draw, cards are saved and each hand uses them. The draw uses a different 47-card deck for each hand and does not change the math at all.
- Myth: Playing Multi-hand games is the same as single line games. Truth: there are two reasons why that’s not completely true. First, the pay tables on multi-hand games are often different than the same single-play games. Secondly, playing more games still slightly increases the volatility. This difference will normally decrease your bankroll quicker.
- Myth: Always keep “Kicker” card that increase a four-of-a-kind payout Truth: This is true ONLY when the game’s strategy dictates it. The correct strategy is key to keeping you in the game longer.
- Myth: The Faster I Play, The Better My Results Truth: The best speed to play is the speed you have the most accuracy for optimal strategy.
10. Myth: If you know how to play Traditional Poker, you can play Video poker: Truth: Not even close. Both games generally use the same hierarchy of pairs, 3 & 4 of a Kind, etc. But, VP is played methodically to get the best hand. Playing against other humans in traditional poker involves bluffs, reads and tells besides the probability of optimal strategy.
MYTHS SHARED By VIDEO POKER & SLOTS
12. Myth: Casinos program Machines to Pay More On Weekends/Holidays Truth: These next two myths make me laugh! Casinos get most of their business on weekends and holidays. Players notice hand pays, bonuses, and jackpots occur, more bells, whistle and people. 14.
13. Myth: Casinos program Machines to Pay Less On Weekends/Holidays Truth: The House Edge is enough. Management doesn’t need to change the RTP. Besides, there’s too much involved to legally change machines for this post.
14. Myth: Machines Are Programmed To Show Close Hits Truth: It’s just the natural flow of volatility. Those closer calls are easy to notice. But it’s just another losing event. There’s that selective memory again.
15. Myth: Hot And Cold Streaks Are Programmed Truth: it’s the human effort to make sense of something misunderstood. The perception of “streaks” is always defined AFTER THE FACT. The result on the next deal or draw has the same odds as every other deal & draw before. “Cold” machines are humans rationalizing losing results.
16. Myth: After a game pays big, it will pay less to compensate for the loss of revenue. Truth: the odds are the same after a big hand as they were before that hand. The deal continues to be random. A low-paying makeup time? That’s just another myth.
17. Myth: Continuing to gamble will change my results because I’m Due! Truth: Welcome to the Gambler’s Fallacy. Chasing losses can only mean financial trouble in the long run. Over time, risking more and more will only create greater losses.
Summary
We usually think about myths and legends surrounding electronic gaming devices. Our focus is often on the odd things people believe about slots, video poker, and video keno. Faulty beliefs often capture our imagination.
Learn optimal game strategy. Give yourself the best chance for successful results.
