Video poker battle in casino

Proof That Video Poker Strategy Works: Just Watch The Casinos

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Playing Video Poker with a strategy gives you an advantage over the casino, and they know it.

If you’ve ever doubted that playing video poker with a strategy beats just guessing, look at how casinos act. They’re not just sitting back—they’re fighting hard against smart players. Here’s clear evidence that using a strategy pays off way better than playing without one.

 

Casinos Cut Paytables to Stop Smart Players

Casinos tweak video poker machines to make less money for winners. They shorten paytables—think lower payouts for hands like a full house or flush—so “advantage players” (people using strategy) either walk away or win less. If strategy didn’t work, why would casinos bother? They know skilled players can beat weaker machines, so they rig the game to keep their cash.

 

Fewer Player Points for Video Poker

Ever notice how casinos give fewer reward points for video poker than slots? That’s no accident. Video poker pays out more often when you play smart—using charts or memorizing the best moves. Slots are mostly luck, so casinos love them and pile on the points. With video poker, they cut points because strategy players hit winning hands more, and casinos don’t like handing out extra perks to winners.

 

Goodbye, Full-Pay Games

Check out what’s missing: full-pay Deuces Wild and Jacks or Better—games that give the best payouts—are disappearing. “Full pay” means the machine’s paytable is generous, like 9 coins for a full house and 6 for a flush on Jacks or Better. Once they were on every casino floor. These games can even give players an edge over the house with perfect strategy. Casinos yank them because advantage players clean up. If strategy didn’t matter, they’d leave those machines alone.


Tracking Players with Tech

There’s a company called Acres that sells software to casinos. It watches every move video poker players make—tracking bets, holds, and discards—and compares them to the perfect strategy. Why? To spot advantage players who win too much. Casinos use this feature to flag or ban them. If playing smart didn’t threaten their profits, they wouldn’t spend money on fancy tech to fight it.

It’s a Real Battle

This battle is a war between players and casinos. Smart players study strategy—like knowing to hold a low pair over a single high card—and it pays off. Casinos hit back with worse machines, fewer rewards, and high-tech spying. They wouldn’t bother if strategy was a myth. Every move they make screams that skilled play works.

To the Doubters

Still think strategy’s a waste? Look at the casinos. They’re scared of players who know what they’re doing. Short paytables, point cuts, disappearing games, and tracking software—it’s all proof. Playing video poker with a plan isn’t just better than winging it; it’s so good that casinos are losing sleep over it. Next time you sit at a machine, remember: the house is watching, and that’s because you can win.

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