Hi All,
I am the member for whom "vp_free" kindly posted the "Is VP Random @
Turning Stone - Verona, NY" message.
I found more info. at http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Tips/video-
poker.shtml which makes me even more concerned about allegations
that JoB video poker found at Turning Stone Casino (operated by the
Oneida Indian Nation) may not be the commom 8/5 game that it appears
to be.
"...there are casinos operating in places that do not have gaming
regulations. Examples... and some Indian reservations that are not
subject to state regulations. ...the technology exists for machines
to be set so they do not act randomly. These machines are actually
programmed to avoid giving the players better hands and they wind up
giving the house a much bigger advantage."
Turning Stone has recently installed about 65 (25 cent) Game King
machines with 5 games: Bonus Poker (96.87%), Double Bonus (94.2%),
Double Double Bonus (96.79%), Deuces Wild (95.96%). These machines
appear to be just like Game King machines found in AC. Is it
possible/likely that these machines are of the "rigged" variety that
do not give the expected return that the pay tables would indicate?
(FYI - in my experience on the JoB machines, I lose at a rate that
seems typical (or better) for a standard 8/5 machine - $65 in 2
hours, $150 in 8 hours, $25 in 4 hours on 3 recent trips).
I have written a letter to the casino (including the comment from
another poster warning VP players to stay away) asking if they would
verify whether their VP machines are "standard" (IOW, if the
machines have the same expected return as I would find on a machine
with the same pay table in AC) or if they are "non-standard".
I have no idea if/when they will respond, or what kind of info. they
will give me. If they won't verify, is there any way to get a
definitive answer? I've heard that NY State "officials" are involved
in the operation of the casino so as to ensure the place runs on
the "up & up", but I don't know who those officials are or what
information they may be required to disclose about the specific
games.
This is an important issue to me as Turning Stone is my only option
for a day trip (90 minutes, vs. 3.5 hours to Niagara Falls or 4.5
hours to AC).
Or maybe I'll just take up Black Jack, which I hear is reasonable at
Turning Stone. 
Thanks for any information anyone can provide.
Karen