CLASS II Video Poker Machines

[rbflylady]

Thank you for all your replies.

I'm still confused about this topic - specifically as it applies the
Harrah's/Indian Casino in Cherokee. I read on one website that they have "class II"
games, including bingo, video poker/blackjack/craps, pull-tabs, etc.

Harry indicated that these are based on bingo and cannot be skill based.
However, I was under the impression that NC only allowed "skill based" games.
Even the Slots require a decision of which reels to hold and which to respin.
Harry suggested breaking a paying pair to see if it returns. I happened to
pass by a player who accidentally? threw away a dealt full-house and got
nothing on the draw.

According to vphobby - there are no Class II VP machines that include a
draw. He goes on to say that to run Class III machines a tribe must sign a
compact with the governor. I doubt they have because they are currently
negotiating to get live table games (and I thought that was considered Class III
gaming). Yet in Washington state Indian VP machines include a draw "which is only
for show." He also mentions that Casino Player was wrong and that paytables
have no relation to payouts on Class II.

Night agrees they meant Class III where you can tell the return by looking
at the paytable.

Kelso didn't think it was a typo, just bad info.

I didn't read the article myself, but Harry's final post gave me some flavor
of it.

Back to the Indians in NC: I read on another website that the max payout is
98%. Yet they have one 9/6 JOB machine (99.5%). I don't believe I'll be
playing it any time soon because it is $100 denomination.

I guess I'll never know for sure how their machines work. Perhaps it would
be best to save my money for a trip to Vegas?

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Harry_Porter]

RBerg9999 wrote:

I'm still confused about this topic - specifically as it applies the
Harrah's/Indian Casino in Cherokee. I read on one website that they
have "class II" games, including bingo, video poker/blackjack/craps,
pull-tabs, etc. Harry indicated that these are based on bingo and
cannot be skill based.

However, I was under the impression that NC only allowed "skill
based" games ... Harry suggested breaking a paying pair to see if
it returns. I happened to pass by a player who accidentally threw
away a dealt full-house and got nothing on the draw.

According to vphobby - there are no Class II VP machines that
include a draw. He goes on to say that to run Class III machines a
tribe must sign a compact with the governor. I doubt they have
because they are currently negotiating to get live table games (and
I thought that was considered Class III gaming) ...

Back to the Indians in NC: I read on another website that the max
payout is 98%. Yet they have one 9/6 JOB machine (99.5%). I don't
believe I'll be playing it any time soon because it is $100
denomination.

I guess I'll never know for sure how their machines work. Perhaps
it would be best to save my money for a trip to Vegas?

The NC Cherokee have a Class III compact with the state. That compact
restricts gaming and doesn't permit live table games. As you note,
the tribe is currently negotiating an extension to table games.

If I understand correctly, under the compact, Class II games aren't
permitted. Video games are required to be games of "skill or
dexterity". Don't ask me what that dexterity part is about. Bingo or
VLT based games are banned.

However, these are games that the state would have no pervue over had
the tribe not entered into the compact and, if I understand correctly,
the tribe engaged in lawsuits to continue to offer Class II games
already on the floor. I don't know what the outcome was.

Personally, if I were inclined to hit their casino, I'd be relatively
comfortably playing vp provided the machines were of mainstream make
(e.g. IGT) and I was comfortable with the paytables. Your observation
of the player who tossed a pat hand and ended with nothing supports
that statement.

I'm not familiar with the specifics of the compact. It's entirely
possible that their is an restriction on game return ... most compacts
have such a provision. I can't comment on the $100 machine. I'd rely
upon the paytable of the particular machine I considered playing.

The vpFREE inventory indicates their are some "recreationally"
playable machines (99%) and that there are some progressives that
might attain interesting meters (although, in having a sub-98% base
paytable, likely can be rough on the bankroll between RF hits).

If you're looking for a quick-fix for your vp addiction ;), these
games might be a reasonable remedy. However, in your shoes I'd
restrict that play to an abbreviated afternoon day trip. Fronting the
bucks for an occasional LV jaunt is likely to offer up so much more in
value and experience as to readily offset the airfare.

- Harry