1. Is it fair, random and regulated? In the case of machines, is the
manufacturer licensed in the state of Nevada where they are subject
to strict testing for randomness and, most importantly, are the
machine's roms subject to independent random inspection to ensure
they have not been tampered with?
2. If it is random, statistics can be used to determine the average
return. Is the average return, including comps and promos, positive?
Video poker is partially a game of skill, do you have an optimum
playing strategy that can achieve the statistical average return?
3. If it is random and the average return is positive and you play
with an optimum strategy, statistics can be used to determine if you
have a sufficient bankroll to play. If the average return is
negative, the bankroll requirement is infinite.
An excellent free tool (java based) to determine average return and
bankroll for random games is here:
http://www.gamblingtools.net/vp/vpanalyzer.html