video poker
 

Hello fellow Fodorians,
My wife and I are thinking about a 3 day venture to Vegas. We both love to play video poker and was wondering if anyone knows the best place to play out there. We understand the payout tables and was wondering if most places are the same.
Thanks for any and all advice.
Mike

Mike: This is not from personal experience, but ...

www.cheapovegas.com has 2 links that might interest you.

One is the hotel "comparison chart" under Cheapo Games.

The other is the "video poker" link, also under Cheapo Games.

Donna

About 25 min outside of Vegas.........

www.casinomontelago.com

We were there in June and video poker at the LV Hilton was one of the best in town according to a website my husband subscribed to.

I would second the cheapovegas site for information on which casinos have the best video poker. It is my understanding that the Palms has very good video poker. However, my first hand experience has been primarily with Caesars, Venetian and Rio. Caesar's has decent .50 double bonus and double/double bonus. Rio has a few .25 double deuces (which pays $500 for four deuces, rather than the typical $250). Venetian is just okay (9/6 double bonus, if I remember correctly). Good video poker is getting more difficult to find. Away from the strip, Green Valley Ranch is said to have good video poker.

mike

I is my belief that you can find a "good" machine (payout wise) at most places. It is just that some have more than others. Palms has some great machines but I rarely do well there. Off strip places are likely to have better odds, try Orleans. I have friends that swear by Sams Town and some of the Station casinos.

On the other hand, on my last trip, I met a local who is sure that payout line is not that important. He claims that carousels of machines can be and are loosened or tightned remotely at the whim of management...looser on weekends. This info comes with the standard begining of "I know a guy who..."

I think that guy is wrong at least insofar as video poker is involved. The payout line does matter. It is my understanding that it is illegal in Nevada to program a video poker machine to pay out more or less. The machine works with a 52 card deck. The cards for each hand are selected randomly. As such, the percentage of payback depends on the pay lines.