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Video Poker Video Poker/Slot Players: Is there a protocol/etiquette for “saving” a machine?

Discussion in 'Video Poker' started by thecarve, Nov 8, 2012.

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  1. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Up until recently, I was strictly a table games player. Sure, I would throw the odd twenty or hundo into a slot from time to time or play some VP at the bar to get the free drinks. But until my last trip, I don’t think I ever spent enough time at a single machine to ever need a bathroom break.

    Lately though, I’ve been starting to get into video poker. And now that I have the strategy down for a few games, I think I’ll probably spend a little more time playing VP in the future. And since I spend the overwhelming majority of my time on the strip, it often takes a bit of time and effort to find a machine with decent pay tables. So, what happens when I’ve put the time and effort into finding the only “good” game in the casino that isn’t occupied and then I feel nature’s call? Is there a way to “save” my machine? Or do I just have to hope it is still available when I return?
     
  2. Thor

    Thor Beer Drinker

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    i have only sat down for long sessions at the bar and when i need to go, i let the bartender know, lean my chair up against the bar and place a napkin on the screen. i've never had an issue of someone taking that machine while i'm gone. we i get back, i generally tip the bartender for 'watching' out for my machine. :beer::beer::beer:
     
  3. Wezvidz

    Wezvidz High-Roller

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    Bartops: napkin over screen, leave drink in front of machine with napkin over it, ask neighbor to watch it for you.

    Standalones: tilt chair and prop it up against the machine, pretty universal sign for 'I'm coming right back'
     
  4. texdan17

    texdan17 Low-Roller

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    I personally hate to "watch" a machine for just anyone...to be fair, I never ask anyone to do it for me either...not a stranger at least. I am usually gambling with friends and we round robin the wee breaks. :)

    That said, as long as you're not gone too long, turning the chair generally works. I just wouldn't leave money in unattended. You can also ask a staff member to watch it while you're gone. If it truly is just for a moment, this usually isn't a big deal.

    My local casino has a policy against holding machines for anyone below the 4th tier card level...at which point, they will formally hold it for you by locking it down and adding a sign. I have seen them cash out people and turn around chairs before...only a couple times, but it has happened...both during busy times. That's pretty jerky...
     
  5. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    I agree with all of the above. If we decide to go to lunch and really have a good machine, we'll get a bar towel from the bartender and completely cover the face of the machine. Seems more permanent than the napkin for 45 mins or so. But otherwise, the napkin and tilted chair work

    Just please CASH OUT YOUR MONEY, even if only for a quick bathroom break. With TITO, it is way too easy for somebody to hit cash out and be gone in 15 seconds. You can't expect the bartender to watch for that.:nono:
     
  6. thecarve

    thecarve Misanthrope

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    Cool. I figured there was an accepted norm for this. Many thanks!
     
  7. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

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    I just can't see the fairness in holding a machine for an hour or more, I guess that's just me. Having a table held for you (like they do for Natedog) doesn't seem unfair because its just like any other table, but holding a machine for anything but a quick bathroom break or cash run just seems wrong.
     
  8. DonD

    DonD VIP Whale

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    Turning and tilting of chairs is a major safety hazard. Security will turn them around for that reason. It used to be a common practice but not any longer.
     
  9. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    If the bar machines are all filled, they will give it away, but if there are seats available, the bartender will save it.
     
  10. GeorgeJ.

    GeorgeJ. VIP Whale

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    Tables aren't just like any other table...and seats at tables just aren't like any other seat...there are hot seats at times, just like slot machines...I wouldn't give up a hot seat at a table unless I was done playing...for example, he didn't hit anything huge, but a guy who had played PaiGow all night long at Boulder Station left shortly after I showed up at 6AM one morning. He had all of his pockets stuffed with large chips. I asked the dealer what he had started with and he said $100 buy-in...This guy had a HOT seat while he was there...

    I, many years ago, had the same thing at a Blackjack table on a cruise ship...I was only betting small so I was no big threat, but I rarely lost a hand and my $20 buy-in cashed out for $500. Not a huge amount but I gave my ex-wife at least $1000 in chips while we were playing and she gave them all right back to the casino; her seat was colder than hell. Someone betting big would have cleaned up; they probably would have closed the table at some point...
     
  11. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

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    As was fully discussed (and not believed by all) in another thread, hot and cold "streaks" "seats" and "tables" can only be seen in hindsight. Any seat or table (or machine) can go hot or cold at any second unless someone is cheating or the machine is broken.

    However my statement about one table being like another was in reference to an entire table being reserved and out of service for a High Roller. It's not really taking any opportunity away from a player who might come up to that table since he can just as easily go play at another table (superstition aside). With a machine however, it may be the only machine of its kind or it might be the one of those elusive good pay table machines I hear about on this forum. That's all I was saying.

     
  12. mike_m235

    mike_m235 Tourist

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    Holding a seat for an hour, whether at a table or a machine, is rude. I don't care if it's hot or not. Especially at a bartop, which can be premium real estate in a busy casino. If I was that hot, I wouldn't leave for anything other than a quick trip to the bathroom.
     
  13. DeMoN2318

    DeMoN2318 The DERS

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    Flipping the seat up has never failed me. However, I have been gone for a max of 15 minutes when I had to run to the room and get some more skrill
     
  14. leo21

    leo21 VIP Whale

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    If all you are doing is a quick pit stop, it would be reasonable to ask a slot attendant to hold the game for you. Unless the casino is really active, they usual are able to do that. But asking another player to do it seems to be more riverboat etiquette opposed to something you can do in Vegas. You can also do stuff like leave your players card with a small amount deposited or use a jacket to hold your seat. In Vegas if you did that, all that stuff will be gone!
     
  15. Skyler

    Skyler High-Roller

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    This happened to me at Bally's once. Was on a machine I didn't want to leave because it was paying well. I had to pee sooooo bad because I'd been on it several hours and the cocktail waitrees had been very efficient! I turned on the service light and a slot attendant came pretty quickly, I explained my dilemma and he said he'd be glad to watch it for me. He told me to cash out my TITO and take it with me. I tipped him $5 when I got back and thanked him. He seemed happy to do it, even before he knew I was going to tip so I think this must happen for them quite often.
     
  16. nostresshere

    nostresshere Mr. Anti Debit Card

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    Leaving SOME money in the machine does help.

    I have walked up to machines that I noticed earlier had the chair turned around and will start playing if there are not credits. I also have turned chairs around that I know have been sitting there for at least 15 minutes. Some people are totally a$$holes and turn a chair around, and go eat or something. Not right.
     
  17. bbking

    bbking Tourist

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    Totally agree.
     
  18. AlwaysVegas

    AlwaysVegas Now it's mostly Reno.

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    Wow, this is really bringing back memories. I remember putting a coin cup upside down to save my machine, though I'd generally ask a slot attendant, not take more than five minutes, and tip generously upon my return.

    I almost always play video poker on a bank of identical machines, so doesn't matter which one I come back to. With the TITO machines I just come back and pop the ticket back into whichever machine is available. But I remember DREADING caching out 800 coins just to go tinko.
     
  19. Mitkraft

    Mitkraft VIP Whale

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    OH good greif I know what you mean! I was downtown once (not too long ago so I didn't realize everybody didn't have TITO) and put in a large bill on a nickle machine to play while my wife went to the bathroom. When I hit "cash out" and heard the coins falling in the tray I was like "CRAAAAAP" I didn't even have a bucket handy. I had to wait for my wife to come back so she could grab me one.
     
  20. AlwaysVegas

    AlwaysVegas Now it's mostly Reno.

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    What's funny is that I seek out the coin-pay machines across town and then remember this negative aspect of those machines. I hated the TITO machines originally, but now I'm a cult member! (Though I did play them again this week. Snicker...I love the coin-drop sound, though I only put in $10 at a time.)
     
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