News in Nevada

Video Poker Tips

No. 1: Play video poker games that have the highest Expected Return (ER). Expected Return (ER) is a percentage that tells the theoretical amount of money you can expect to win in the long run assuming you play every hand perfectly. The most important variable that determines the ER is the game’s pay schedule. For example, a Jacks or Better game that returns 9 times the amount bet for a full house and 6 times for a flush (known as a 9/6 game) has an ER of 99.54%, meaning over time a skillful player can expect to get back 99.54% of the money bet. This assumes that the player is using the basic playing strategy for this game (i.e., is making no playing mistakes). You’ll often find Jacks or Better games that pay 8/5 or worse 7/5 for the full house/flush. The corresponding ERs for these games are 97.3% and 96.15% respectively and a skillful player would never play these games.

How do you know what the ER is for any video poker game? After all, the casino manager isn’t going to tell you which game in his casino has a high ERs and which ones have low ERs. No, that’s the player’s responsibility to figure out. However, that’s OK because it’s quite easy to learn what the ER is for any video poker game.

Many video poker books and internet sites list the ERs for different video poker games. By reading these books or visiting these web sites, you’ll learn what the ER’s are for different video poker games based on their pay schedule. Two good video poker books that I can recommend are Frugal Video Poker by Jean Scott and Viktor Nacht, and Video Poker for the Intelligent Beginner by Bob Dancer.

Once you decide which video poker game you want to play (presumably one with at least a 99% or higher ER), you need to check if the game is available at your local casino. To do this, go to www.vpfree2.com and check the region you are interested in (e.g., Las Vegas, Gulf Coast, East, etc.). You’ll get a listing of the video poker games with the highest ER’s for each casino in that region.

Tip No. 2: Learn the basic playing strategy. In order to achieve the high ERs, you have to learn the basic playing strategy. This is not as hard as you think. You’ll find the basic strategy for different video poker games in the above books or websites (e.g., www. wizardofodds.com). However, the best way to learn the strategy is by using a video poker computer software trainer. When you make a playing mistake, the software will alert you and show you what the correct play is. The software will also track playing accuracy and show you how much playing errors cost you.

Tip No. 3: You should bring a video poker strategy card that contains the playing strategy with you to the casino. These strategy cards are casino legal and you can refer to them if you not sure how to play a hand. By having them with you, you’ll always play with 100% accuracy.

Tip No. 4: Always sign up for a casino’s player’s card and use it every time you play video poker. You’ll get cash back or free play, comps, and mailers from the casino that usually contain more free play offers. These benefits will boost your overall return from playing video poker to at or slightly above 100% (if you are over 100%, you’ll be playing with an edge).

What are you waiting for? Make a goal to get started learning how to be a smart video poker player. You’ll never look back once you do it.

Adele at Nobu Villa

The Nobu Villa is getting some attention. It’s the penthouse suite at Nobu Hotel, the 181-room boutique hotel within a hotel that occupies 10 completely overhauled floors of the original Centurion Tower, which opened in 1970, at Caesars Palace. The rooftop Villa is 10,300-square feet and accessible by a private elevator; it features three bedrooms and three baths, an omakase sushi bar, media and game room, gym and massage room, art gallery, plus a 4,700-square-foot patio overlooking the Strip, with a barbecue pit, full bar, fire and water fixture, and a secluded Zen garden with an Italian-made spa. The Villa also comes with a butler and 24-hour room service. It lists for $30,000 per night. It’s just been announced that Adele will be staying there during her residency, a mere $2.7 million freebie for her 90 nights in Vegas.

Cake & Pizza Vending Machines

Buddy “Cake Boss” Valastro has two cake vending machines on the Strip, both at Harrah’s. Now, Valastro is jumping on a new vending-machine phenomenon: pizza. VegasChanges.com reports (and has photos) that at least one new pizza vending machine has appeared at the LINQ. Apparently, it’s not operating yet, but it should be soon. For some background on this new style of pizza delivery, check out the story on Thrillist.com.

What's News in Nevada . . .

Wynn Win

A player firing up $50 a hand on a Dragon Link progressive slot machine at Wynn Las Vegas recently hit the jackpot for roughly $1.5 million.

MGM Takes Over Cosmo Sports Book

The Cosmopolitan recently took its first sports wager as the BetMGM Sportsbook & Lounge. It’s a small but cool and comfortable book, with a center video poker bar and lounge (already branded as a BetMGM venue), some game tables (foosball, table shuffleboard), LED video wall, betting counters, and kiosks. The book’s conversion to BetMGM officially launches Cosmo’s transition to becoming an MGM Resorts property, with more changes in the works.

Jonas Brothers Encore

The Jonas Brothers pop band has announced a three-night reprise of their residency earlier this summer at Dolby Live at Park MGM. The group stated in a tweet, “Just like last time, we will be playing a different set list every single night.” The dates are November 10, 11, and 12 at 8 p.m.

Snoop Helps Stewart

Snoop Doggy Dog, the 50-year old rapper, actor, media personality, and dedicated family man is an unlikely friend of 81-year-old retail and media mogul Martha Stewart’s, but there it is. And it’s quite heartwarming. The two met in 2008 when Martha, for some unknown reason, invited Snoop to appear on her Martha Stewart Show and the two bonded over a bowl of mashed potatoes. Snoop made a second appearance making brownies; then they sat together at a 2015 Comedy Central roast of Justin Bieber. The pair went on to launch the VH1 hit show, the Martha & Snoop’s Potluck Dinner Party in 2016. So, it was no surprise when Snoop made an appearance to help Martha open her new restaurant at Paris, the Bedford. “She’s the big sister I never had,” Snoop says. “Being able to correct me, to teach me, to show me how to be better, to give me something to aspire to be.”

7 April