vpFREE2 Forums

Video Poker Choice

I posted the original question about Video Poker choice and
Diamond status in one day. First, my post was for information,
ideas and other's experiences about both the choice of video poker
games and even the idea of going for Diamond status in one day.
I am not "hung up" on the need to earn Diamond status and was also
wondering if it was worth the effort, and if it was, what was the
best choice of obtaining the goal.
   I originally posted the thought on the new Harrah`s Forum that
started a few months ago. I am a little embarrassed to state my
post on the Harrah's forum was not about the game choice, but rather
if one should play slots or video poker if one wanted to obtain that
goal. I know both methods are an obvious short term gamble.
However, I was wondering about the fact that if a regular slot
machine would require half as much "coin in risk.
Required base points are earned twice as fast on slots vs. video
poker. I believe slots must pay at least 75% in Nevada and I was
wondering if anybody had any experience or knowledge about particular
slot machines that might pay close to video poker return.
   I have never played, and do not intend to play, slot machines.
If going for diamond was the goal, and only if playing a slot machine
was logical because of fewer $ ($9,000 coin in), I wanted to
investigate that idea. Obviously hitting a slot button meant no
fatigue factor and require points would be earned at twice the rate.
I think the fatigue factor should be a consideration in selecting the
video poker game and denomination. I was quickly educated that even
if I knew of a machine paying 93% in was a "no brainier", other than
pure luck, that one should play video poker and put "twice" the
required coin in. After these answers on Harrah's Forum, I thought
it was best to go to the best source (vpFree) and get any possible
information on game and denomination choice.
   My reason for Laughlin was that it is closer to home (Phoenix),
but also that I have a lot of free nights offers in Laughlin. I do
have a couple of free nights in Las Vegas, so that is not out of
the question. I mentioned the games available at Laughlin from the
vpFREE inventory and my knowledge from a couple of "free night"
visits earlier this year. I remember a number of quarter 9/6 JoB
and one $1 NSUD. I also remember a number of higher denomination
JoB in their high limit area. I specifically remember the $25 (full
pay $125) JoB in this area. Talk about comfort level, I couldn't
normally imagine risking $125 a spin. However, for this one goal
and if that goal was chosen, I could play a $125 a spin if you all
recommended it as the best method of playing $18,000 coin in in 24
hours. I imagine I would play it a little slower than I do my
usually $1.25 a spin level! I have played $1 VP, but must admit to
a little apprehension when going at $5 a turn. Again, this is
manageable if it fit's the "best choice for the goal" criteria.
   I need to keep cut this short or nobody will read to this point.
I find it harder to read some of the longer post and I am guilty of
not writing short enough or entertaining enough to justify a long
post. Some of you are great posters and keep my attention and leave
me wanting even more! Unfortunately I am not one of you. I will
write again soon since I have a number of other clarifications and
comments I would like to make to a couple of responses to my
original post.

Again thanks for everything from each of you
Bob

I posted the original question about Video Poker choice and
Diamond status in one day. First, my post was for information,
ideas and other's experiences about both the choice of video poker games
and even the idea of going for Diamond status in one day. I am not
"hung up" on the need to earn Diamond status and was also wondering if
it was worth the effort, and if it was, what was the best choice of
obtaining the goal ...

Whether or not earning Diamond status is worth the effort
is a personal decision that depends on your priorities and
the value that you put on the potential benefits, compared to
the risks (or rewards) involved in qualifying.

I don't place much value on Diamond status or on patronizing
Harrah's, although I can see why others do.

<SNIP>

... Talk about comfort level, I couldn't normally imagine risking
$125 a spin. However, for this one goal and if that goal was chosen,
I could play a $125 a spin if you all recommended it as the best
method of playing $18,000 coin in in 24 hours. I imagine I would
play it a little slower than I do my usually $1.25 a spin level! I
have played $1 VP, but must admit to a little apprehension when going
at $5 a turn. Again, this is manageable if it fit's the "best choice
for the goal" criteria ...

If you decide that you want to qualify for Diamond status, your
game and denomination selection should be a function of your
comfort level, not of what others recommend. On a $25 machine
you can qualify faster than on lower denomonations, but you're
likely to experience a larger loss or gain than you would if you
spread your play out at a lower denomination. The EV of playing
$18,000 through a $25 9/6 JoB and of playing it through on a $1
9/6 JoB machine is the same, but your actual gain or loss is likely
to be more on the $25 machine.

vpFREE Administrator

···

On 14 May 2005 at 13:43, futrend wrote:

Talk about comfort level, I couldn't

normally imagine risking $125 a spin. However, for this one goal
and if that goal was chosen, I could play a $125 a spin if you all
recommended it as the best method of playing $18,000 coin in in 24
hours. I imagine I would play it a little slower than I do my
usually $1.25 a spin level!

Just remember that if you play $125 per hand at 9/6, you probably
would not get a RF, SF, or quads since you will only be playing 144
hands. Assuming expected occurance of all of the lower hands, you will
be down about $1500 for the session. Of course, you might get 3 Royals.

A perk of interest for me might be the health club/gym freebie. I pay $39 a month for 24 Hour Fitness, so that would save me nearly $500/year.
On the other hand, if the Rio's (or Harrah's LV) "health club" consists of a broken-down stationary bike and a barbell...anybody know?

John

Perhaps it is not so valuable in

Las Vegas where you have an almost endless selections of casinos. We
like the extras we receive at the local Harrah's but we especially
appreciate Diamond status when we are traveling. Access to the
Diamond lounge for free food and drink is a good perk. I also like
skipping the line at the buffets or better yet, being seated
immediately and the server brings the comp to the table for us to
sign. We also get free car washes in Kansas City, maybe not so
important in the desert but a good perk in the Midwest. Throw in lots
of free stuff and special promotions and, yeah, it is worth it.

Rick

Rick, are those Diamond perks? they sound like 7* ?
I do agree that if you can find something playable at harrahs and get
diamond or 7* status things are pretty good, I am really spoiled with
7* status, although some properties dont have as many perks as others,
and of course some properties have absolutely NO Playable games. We
recently had a promo here in stl where you could get a laptop computer
and it ended up being a 1% bonus on top of the regular multipliers and
points, we have to keep our eyes open for opportunities when they come.

Happy Royals
Jim

No we haven't obtained the lofty status of 7 star -- $1,000,000 coin
in? Harrah's KC is the only one we have found with the free car wash,
but that's OK, it's where we live.

Rick

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "jimnkelli" <jbecker11@c...> wrote:

Perhaps it is not so valuable in
> Las Vegas where you have an almost endless selections of casinos. We
> like the extras we receive at the local Harrah's but we especially
> appreciate Diamond status when we are traveling. Access to the
> Diamond lounge for free food and drink is a good perk. I also like
> skipping the line at the buffets or better yet, being seated
> immediately and the server brings the comp to the table for us to
> sign. We also get free car washes in Kansas City, maybe not so
> important in the desert but a good perk in the Midwest. Throw in lots
> of free stuff and special promotions and, yeah, it is worth it.
>
> Rick

Rick, are those Diamond perks? they sound like 7* ?
I do agree that if you can find something playable at harrahs and get
diamond or 7* status things are pretty good, I am really spoiled with
7* status, although some properties dont have as many perks as others,
and of course some properties have absolutely NO Playable games. We
recently had a promo here in stl where you could get a laptop computer
and it ended up being a 1% bonus on top of the regular multipliers and
points, we have to keep our eyes open for opportunities when they come.

Happy Royals
Jim

OK, wound up answering my own question today.

The Rio's health club/spa is quite good - one of the best I've seen in a casino/hotel. The exercise room has 15 weight-training stations, and 17 sweat-makers of various sorts. They all face a bank of 3 TVs, so I can watch athletes sweat while I sweat, and can change channels and listen in by turning the the appropriate radio station. Or, if there's no game on, the same wall is glass and overlooks the pool area.

This feature alone makes the Diamond level worthwhile for me. It's a step down from 24 Hour Fitness, but given that the wife and I have a joint account with Harrah's, we both now get free access for a year, and can each bring a "guest" (read: daughter, who's been making noises about joining a gym but can't really afford it and probably wouldn't go on her own anyway). So, that's around $900 in health club fees saved.

Somewhat counterproductive is the other main attraction: very nice free munchies and drinks in their elegant Diamond Lounge. If we each visit there once a week or so (don't want to get "piggy" about it; although theoretically we could essentially LIVE at the Rio now), that is easily $20/week in value. So, figure and extra $1000 of calories for the year. All that, and about $80 in food comps that I earned, plus monthly show tix (albeit to Scintas and Clint Holmes ONLY), plus a couple of free slot tournies, plus some cash mailings. So, while I only finished $25 ahead today, I figure that I won a LOT.

John

John Kelly wrote:

···

A perk of interest for me might be the health club/gym freebie. I pay $39 a month for 24 Hour Fitness, so that would save me nearly $500/year.
On the other hand, if the Rio's (or Harrah's LV) "health club" consists of a broken-down stationary bike and a barbell...anybody know?

John

From: John Kelly <jwkelly@flash.net>
OK, wound up answering my own question today.

So, figure and extra $1000 of calories for the year.

All that, and about $80 in food comps that I earned, plus monthly show
tix (albeit to Scintas and Clint Holmes ONLY), plus a couple of free
slot tournies, plus some cash mailings. So, while I only finished $25
ahead today, I figure that I won a LOT.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

What game are you playing to ge the goodies?

SK
"I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather... not screaming
and yelling like the passengers in his car."

The $5 9/6 JOB in the high-limit room. Not recommended for beginners or the faint-of-heart. I usually don't play above the $2 level, but there's not a whole lot of choices at the Rio. I probably should have trekked over to one of the Harrah's, but I'm a busy guy.

John, the high-roller-for-an-hour

golden bearpa wrote:

···

From: John Kelly <jwkelly@flash.net>
OK, wound up answering my own question today.

So, figure and extra $1000 of calories for the year.

All that, and about $80 in food comps that I earned, plus monthly show
tix (albeit to Scintas and Clint Holmes ONLY), plus a couple of free
slot tournies, plus some cash mailings. So, while I only finished $25
ahead today, I figure that I won a LOT.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

What game are you playing to ge the goodies?

SK
"I want to die in my sleep like my grandfather... not screaming
and yelling like the passengers in his car."

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Just a follow-up on exercise room privileges: Harrah's LV has a pretty good gym as well. Smaller than Rio's, but with 5 well-placed plasma-screen TVs with basic cable service (58 channels or so); you can pretty much watch (and listen to) whatever you want while you work out.
It's on the 4th floor, south side.

John