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Need reassurance on video blackjack

Discussion in 'Casino Gaming' started by hotreds, Aug 11, 2015.

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  1. hotreds

    hotreds Illegitimi non carborundum!

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    I'm playing the digital version of BJ- the one with the five buxom dealers always telling you to make side bets. Twice now I have been beat in such a way it makes me feel the games are rigged. Almost every time I got a 17, 18,19, the dealer came up with one more! The dealers several times came up with five and even six card 20 and 21s. In the space of an hour the dealers had six BJs and I had one.

    If this is just luck of the draw stuff, fine. But is sure seems awful odd how those dealers pulled rabbits out of their hats!

    So far I don't feel confident enough to play at a live table, but if these digital games are rigged I might just have to suck it up. Ideally, though, I'm just having a streak of bad luck. Please lmk what you think.....
     
  2. Malibugolfer

    Malibugolfer High-Roller

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    I lost 18 straight hands at Mandalay several years ago playing perfect blackjack. Same odds of that happening as a royal in JoB.
    It happens.
     
  3. DaiLun

    DaiLun R.C., L.C., and A.A.N.G.

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    There has always been a question in my mind about how machine dealt BJ (and Keno) works.

    Since I haven't seen any concrete evidence that proves/disproves it, I am curious to know whether or not the odds of winning are predetermined and the cards are dealt to match the predetermined outcome.

    It has long been assumed that machine based Keno works that way.
     
  4. hotreds

    hotreds Illegitimi non carborundum!

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    Indeed that is getting to be a concern of mine!
     
  5. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Nevada state law is my personal assurance. See the PDF file below. Bottom half of page 171. Section 14.040 2. a and b. I bolded some things for emphasis.

    http://gaming.nv.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=2957

    2. Must use a random selection process to determine the game outcome of each play of a
    game. The random selection process must meet 95 percent confidence limits using a standard chi-
    squared test for goodness of fit.
    (a) Each possible permutation or combination of game elements which produce winning or
    losing game outcomes must be available for random selection at the initiation of each play.
    (b) For gaming devices that are representative of live gambling games, the mathematical
    probability of a symbol or other element appearing in a game outcome must be equal to the
    mathematical probability of that symbol or element occurring in the live gambling game. For other
    gaming devices, the mathematical probability of a symbol appearing in a position in any game
    outcome must be constant.

    This law also helps explain why some of these also offer 6:5 BJ. If you think gaming manufacturers and casinos are willing to break state law despite what's written, then go back to a real table i suppose.
     
  6. hammie

    hammie VIP Whale

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    Midweek in Atlantic City, even during the summer, is not very busy. I would recommend that you walk over to the Taj Mahal in the morning and find a $10 table. You should not have a problem finding an empty table or seat. You will learn by doing, don't worry about making mistakes, just remember the last perfect man was nailed to a tree.
     
  7. h0und10

    h0und10 VIP Whale

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    i would hope the laws and government group that checks on these things would be keeping it on the up and up but im skeptical too.. so i never play those machines... but for more "practice" you can always find free games on the pc to play until you get the hang of it. even myvegas has a blackjack game you can use for practice and gain some free rewards.
     
  8. hotreds

    hotreds Illegitimi non carborundum!

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    Thanks, all! I guess that, bottom line, there can be no reassurance. What should be might not necessarily be. OTOH people here have talked about astoundingly unlikely results at a table, so maybe it was simply a run of bad luck. I did win at these games in Vegas, perhaps NJ has them set differently. Leaving tomorrow so will give it one more go and then foresware these in A/C if I get skunked a third time.
     
  9. seviay

    seviay High-Roller

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    I think this topic has been covered on the forum before. The machines are not "fixed payout ratio" like slots, and it would be illegal for them to program them this way. Since the machines are distributed by large, reputable businesses, it would not be worth the damage to their reputation to fix the odds.

    I have had many times playing blackjack where it felt like I couldn't win -- draw to 21 vs. dealer 6, dealer magically draws 5 card 21, lose 20 vs dealer 5/6/7/8/9, lose splits and doubles -- and if I were playing versus a machine, I would have called into question the legality or legitimacy of the game. Over millions of hands, we know what the expectation is, but in the short-term, you could win or lose 15 hands in a row and it's not that statistically significant or improbable.

    Having said that, I have played on these games and never felt comfortable betting more than 15 or 20 dollars because I could not physically see or feel the cards. I just did it to drink and pass time, mostly.
     
  10. hotreds

    hotreds Illegitimi non carborundum!

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    Don't disagree. But, who would know? Interestingly, one of the machines went on the fritz, and the person wasn't able to complete their bet- the touch mechanism failed. It's kinda funny to see those dealers smile and say' "Hey- while we're young, here!" if the bet is not made in a timely manner! I decided to go play a slot to earn some points- boy that $100 went away with no enjoyment at all! All in all SWMBO and I enjoyed AC very much and will be back in May of 2016 if the FC Diamond status deal is still on. That Diamond Lounge is great, I can only imagine what the 7 Stars lounge must be like!
     
  11. grosx2

    grosx2 Have fun storming the castle!

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    As long as it's printed on paper and not on electronic device (a smartphone), you are allowed to possess and refer to a strategy card, even at a live table.
     
  12. hotreds

    hotreds Illegitimi non carborundum!

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    Yes, I have one of those cards. It was interesting that a number of people were using charts on their phones while playing the video BJ.
     
  13. PaulBowdry

    PaulBowdry Low-Roller

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    I trust Nevada state law and their agencies. This is there bread and butter for the state. Now native American casinos I have a harder time trusting.
     
  14. grosx2

    grosx2 Have fun storming the castle!

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    While still not technically allowed, it's far easier to get away with this at a machine than at a live table. I've pulled out my phone in the past to check proper strategy for a VP play.
     
  15. bardolator

    bardolator Lifelong Low Roller

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    The game is not rigged, but the live game is a lot more fun and nobody shills side bets. Practice your basic strat and next time, find a 3:2 table and take the plunge!
     
  16. hotreds

    hotreds Illegitimi non carborundum!

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    This was in Atlantic City. I actually won on these in Vegas! Maybe the Garden State casinos fiddle with the machines?
     
  17. tringlomane

    tringlomane STP Addicted Beer Snob

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    Also illegal in New Jersey and many other gaming jurisdictions, fyi.
     
  18. Krh2o

    Krh2o MIA

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    There is the same probability of a video black jack game being rigged as there would be a loaded deck of cards at a table.

    The fine would cripple a casino or game manufacturer and the upside to cheat is so low. It makes no sense to offer good rules and cheat. If you want to make more offer crsppy rules like the game king machines do.
     
  19. hotreds

    hotreds Illegitimi non carborundum!

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    I do hope so, but their is always that nagging feeling when the dealer keeps getting one point more than I do. I was watching other people play and it sure seemed they were also getting skunked regularly. The number of 20s the dealer got was uncanny! Be that as it may, I always hear about casinos having the "loosest slots" in the industry, so there must be a way to manipulate the outcomes. Bottom line I'm gonna hafta suck it up and go to a table even if I get the evil eye from the experts playing there!
     
  20. Krh2o

    Krh2o MIA

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    Play enough black jack and you will see your fair share of cold tables. I have had runs where dealer gets 19 or 20 almost every hand and I'm getting 13,14, or other crap. It's part of the game. Key is to make sure you have enough money. I like to have 40 units per session that can ride out a cold spell.
     
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