vpFREE2 Forums

Pick'em 'software upgrade'. Should I be scared?

#1

Saw some signs on the $0.25 Pick'em machines at the local racino
(Woodbine Racetrack). The signs indicate that the machines will be
shut down at 2AM on Feb 2 for a software upgrade. These are the IGT
Playmakers. Should I be scared? Right now the machines offer the
usual payout (max coin in) of 6000 RF, 1199 SF, 600 four of kind, 90
full house, 75 flush, 55 straight flush, etc. I'm afraid that
they'll go to 10000 RF, 1199 SF, 600 four of kind, 90 full house, 70
flush, 50 straight flush as I've seen in a few other casinos. My
understanding is that this payout schedule is worse for the player
overall.

What do you think of the upcoming software upgrade? What are the
chances that it'll add multi-hand pick'em instead? Anybody see this
upgrade on their local IGT Playmaker?

Note, these machines are really popular at Woodbine. People sit down
for 12hr stretches and then get cash back + food bonuses. Heated
arguments have broken out among those waiting to play.

nick

#2

scared?

Be very afraid. This week I walked into my local Indian (Native
American, Reservation, please don't be offended) casino in New Mexico
that previously had a bank of 12 GK uprights with full-pay JoB and
Bonus and 9/7 DB this week and was devastated to see little handmade
signs above each of them that said, "Play Max Coins to hit the
Progressive!" You guessed it: every game has been downgraded.

Just how high does a progressive have to be to make 6/5 JoB a +99%
game again?

Rats!

Drew

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "nicolasbello" <nbello@s...> wrote:

Saw some signs on the $0.25 Pick'em machines at the local racino
(Woodbine Racetrack). The signs indicate that the machines will be
shut down at 2AM on Feb 2 for a software upgrade. Should I be

#3

Just how high does a progressive have to be to make >6/5 JoB a +99% game

again?>

Drew,
   A 6-5 Jacks or Barfer progressive quarter game would have to have a royal
at around $2,700.00 to get you TO 99%. The fairly friendly variance of 19
and change at reset would now be around 150. This beast will kill a Sultan
of Brunei bankroll. How about a friendly game of Chess?
              Nudge

···

From: "vpdeuces" <vpdeuces@yahoo.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2005 6:48 AM

#4

Saw some signs on the $0.25 Pick'em machines at the local racino
(Woodbine Racetrack). The signs indicate that the machines will be
shut down at 2AM on Feb 2 for a software upgrade.
What do you think of the upcoming software upgrade? What are the
chances that it'll add multi-hand pick'em instead?

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. What they're upgrading is their hold percentage!

Two weeks ago they "upgraded" 19 of the $1 machines to short-pay (96.7%). These are the machines at the west end, on the interior wall. As of Thursday night, the machines at the east end were still the original, full-pay tables.

I've been watching with bated breath so see what might be next. Your report is ominous .

If, in fact, they are proceeding to downgrade all of the Pickem, they will have killed the ONLY playable game at Woodbine.

I spoke with a few of the regulars, who were happily commenting that "They now can get $4,000 more for the Royal".

Their faces got quite long when I pointed out the facts:

- RF cycle is 352,000 hands - + $4,000

Over those 352,000 hands, the casino is shorting them on average :

- ST cycle (197 hands) - $5 x 1,800 hits = ($9,000)
- 3K cycle ( 33 hands) - $5 x 10,600 hits = ($53,000)

That $4,000 "bonus" is costing them about $62,000.

My suggestions are
(1) Educate as many of the regulars as you can.
(2) Fill out a customer comment form at the Winners Circle. Express your unhappiness.
(3) Right a letter to the Premier. Mr. McGinty recently announced a freeze on any and all new casino construction in the Province. He is presumably anti-gambling, and concerned with the social issues of problem gambling. Indicate in your letter that the casino's cash grab will increase the losses of the typical $1 player BY $90 PER HOUR.

What used to be a modest hourly loss suitable for recreational players will now increase by an order of magnitude. The "advantage players" will simply stop playing. The real social suffering will occur with the problem gamblers - of which there are many hundreds at Woodbine.

Casino Rama, here we come!

Brian

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nicolasbello <nbello@sympatico.ca> wrote

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#5

I'd protest to Loto Ontario; you never know, maybe they'll leave the
$5 alone.

But yes, it is troubling because the pay tables are generally
consistent throughout the Province. Definitely a bad sign, but you
never know. OTOH, I don't see any short pay Brick'em in Windsor
anytime soon.

IMHO, Rama is a drive, but the better play by far, if you can cash the
BB cheques (note use of Canadian English).

Once upon a time, Bally's programmers had the full pay Brick'em paying
out 98.8% with perfect play. I believe that error has been corected
now.

#6

From: "vpdeuces" <vpdeuces@y...>
Just how high does a progressive have to be to make 6/5 JoB a

+99% game again?>

Drew,
   A 6-5 Jacks ... game would have to have a royal
at around $2,700.00 to get you TO 99%.

My question was rhetorical, but I'm going to trust your math and
just say, "YIKES!!!"

Drew

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--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "nudge51" <nudge51@c...> wrote: