Players entering casinos often see hundreds of slot machines at once and may think all are entirely unique from one another. In reality, however, they’re not; most slot machines share similarities, differing only slightly in theme, visuals, reel symbols and sound when you press spin/hold buttons. Video poker machines follow similar themes but require greater skill due to deduction and calculations while slots offer little strategy or calculation while can be played at breakneck speed.
Remind yourself that video poker machines no longer only feature one game, denomination and pay table – no longer do they deal out a set number of hands per hour and use different pay tables based on denomination. In my own experience I’ve witnessed identical machines, both offering identical games with similar denominations but differing pay tables, require different amounts of hands in order to generate equal player club points.
Each machine in this category utilizes its own random number generator to randomly distribute cards when you press the Deal button, translating these numbers into odds of hitting specific combinations and consequently payouts that result from them. Video Poker machines may also feature bonus rounds or extra features like wild cards, doubles or re-deals – providing another layer of entertainment and potential profits!
Skill plays an essential part in video poker machine play; the more a player understands basic strategy, the higher his/her payout percentage will be. On the other hand, being dealt a Royal Flush or another lucrative hand can only come by sheer luck!
Video poker requires more skill than its slot-machine counterpart, thus accounting for its lower house edges. A skilled video poker player could still experience losses; therefore it is wise to set a budget before beginning play.
Many video poker players like to switch machines during a session in the belief that this will increase their odds of victory, but this may not always be the case from a mathematical viewpoint; every machine’s cards are randomly selected so it doesn’t know or care whether you have switched machines or not.
Switching machines may be beneficial in certain circumstances, such as switching from a cold machine or making too many errors; however, strictly mathematically it won’t make much difference to your return. Furthermore, remembering that switching games within one casino could use the same random number generator and will therefore likely have no bearing on whether your chances of winning or losing change.