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MYTH-CONCEPTIONS
There are dozens of myths and/or misconceptions that have arisen over video poker machines that may mislead players into making wrong decisions about where, when, and how to play. It is time that we debunk some of these "myth-conceptions."
MYTH-CONCEPTION 1:
The machines are controlled by someone in the back room.
Each machine is an independently operating device. Its computer program is set by the manufacturer to a given payback percentage, and the only way to alter it is to physically change the program chips inside the machine.
All of the computer monitoring and player club systems connected to the machines are designed to collect information; they cannot exert any influence on the game.
Even thought the technology exists to design such controls, government regulators would not permit such a "master switch" operation. They do not tolerate "cheating" by casinos any more than by players which is online poker strategy of players.
MYTH-CONCEPTION 2:
When a mechanic opens a machine, it will stop paying.
There are no switches, knobs, or screws inside a machine that will change how the machine is paying. Most of the time a mechanic or floor-person will open a machine only to clear a coin jam or refill a hopper if you have won enough to empty it. There is no way for the mechanic to "set up" a machine to hit a royal or prevent the machine from selecting a winning hand.
MYTH-CONCEPTION 3:
"I have played this machine for hours-it is due to hit."
It may be "due" or even long "overdue," but that doesn't mean it is "ready" to hit. (As we have said elsewhere, a machine is never "ready" to hit.) Every play is completely independent of every other play. It doesn't matter if you have played a machine for five minutes or five hours; every deal is from a full deck and the RNG (which selects each hand) has no memory of what has happened before.
The machine's accounting memory, which keeps track of the statistical information on the machine performance can recall a specific number of previous hands played (depending on the make and model), but the accounting memory has no effect on subsequent hands selected by the RNG.
MYTH-CONCEPTION 4:
The change-girl can tell you which machine is ready to hit.
Again, every machine and every play is independent. No one din the casino has any "inside information" on which machines are ready to hit. A change-person or floor-person may tell you if a machine has hit in the last few hours or the day before, if they know. They may also tell you if it has been played a lot without recent success. These factors may help you decide whether or not to play the machine, but neither is any guarantee that it is ready to pay.
MYTH-CONCEPTION 5:
Using a club card makes the machine pay more often.
The player club cards do not affect the operation of the machine. They will not cause the machine to pay more or less often. Some casinos have modified machines to give bonus payouts if you win with a club card in the reader. However, that doesn't increase the frequency of the payouts, just the amount.
MYTH-CONCEPTION 6:
The professional gambler has a better chance than the tourist.
Every player has the same chance of winning. The machine has no way of knowing if you are a tourist or a professional or if you are tall or short. The machine does not care. It has no feelings or bias. The only edge a better player may have is his ability to choose the best cards to hold. Very few people will throw away a flush or a straight, but it does happen. See the chapter on strategies.
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