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Video Poker Bar top VP for beginners

Discussion in 'Video Poker' started by JCleary23, Feb 20, 2015.

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  1. JCleary23

    JCleary23 Tourist

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    Hey everyone!
    My apologies if this topic is already posted somewhere else on the forum; but, I was looking to gain some information on bar top video poker play in casinos. Are free drinks offered by the bartender simply for playing or do max bets need to be made on a consistent basis? Also, any recommendations on casinos that have the best paytables on their bar tops? I will be staying at Paris for one night and then Aria for two. Thanks!
    :beer:
     
  2. BayouBengal

    BayouBengal VIP Whale

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    Max bet is a must. You don't have to be lightening fast playing but make sure you tip the bartender a buck or two a drink. Max bet and $20 in to start is usually the minimum to get going. As for best pay tables, on the strip they're going to not be great at the quarter level. Check out the sticky at the top of this category for Tring's run down of Bartop and other machines for low rollers.

    I've played at Sully's at Bally's. Quick drink service and ok pay tables. Across the street at the Cosmopoliton you can get better drinks but the pay tables are mediocre. Feel free order off their specialty menu. Tag at the Linq probably has the best craft beer selection if you're into that.
     
  3. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    When you sit down at the bar at a VP machine and the bartender comes over just ask them "What do I need to be playing for comp drinks?" - don't worry about asking making you appear cheap or like asking is some weird thing, they'll be asked that a hundred times every day.

    When you do get drinks the bartender will usually still bring you a receipt for the drink but the receipt will have a small tear or a hole punched to mark it as a comp drink and they will bring you an empty cup to put tips in, but asking will help clarify all that for you.

    - - - Updated - - -

    When you sit down at the bar at a VP machine and the bartender comes over just ask them "What do I need to be playing for comp drinks?" - don't worry about asking making you appear cheap or like asking is some weird thing, they'll be asked that a hundred times every day.

    When you do get drinks the bartender will usually still bring you a receipt for the drink but the receipt will have a small tear or a hole punched to mark it as a comp drink and they will bring you an empty cup to put tips in, but asking will help clarify all that for you.
     
  4. JCleary23

    JCleary23 Tourist

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    Thanks for the replies. Does the machine keep track of pace of play? I don't want to be burning through my bankroll the entire time.
     
  5. smartone

    smartone VIP Whale

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    Just like a slot machine the VP machine will show you the credits you have depending on the denomination you're playing at and you can touch it and switch it to money format. Example: if you put $100 in on a quarter denomination it'll show 400 credits... touch the denomination amount to switch it to .50 or $1 and the credits will change along with it... to 200 to 100.
     
  6. Auggie

    Auggie Dovahkiin

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    The machine? No. But the bartender pretty much sees everything going on at the bar so they'll know if you are playing or just sitting there - but thats where the tipping comes in.

    As far as bankroll goes: you can just sit there and buy drinks from the bartender, you don't have to play video poker. Most people who play VP at the bar are there because they actually want to play VP as well as get the drinks. If a beer is $5, $7-9 for a premium beer, at the bar and you don't want to play VP or risk blasting through your bankroll it doesn't make sense to go and blow through $15-20 feeling you have to play VP just for a "free" beer.

    - - - Updated - - -

    The machine? No. But the bartender pretty much sees everything going on at the bar so they'll know if you are playing or just sitting there - but thats where the tipping comes in.

    As far as bankroll goes: you can just sit there and buy drinks from the bartender, you don't have to play video poker. Most people who play VP at the bar are there because they actually want to play VP as well as get the drinks. If a beer is $5, $7-9 for a premium beer, at the bar and you don't want to play VP or risk blasting through your bankroll it doesn't make sense to go and blow through $15-20 feeling you have to play VP just for a "free" beer.
     
  7. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Auggie is right - most VP bar bartenders have been doing this for years, and have very finely tuned radar for who is playing and who is just trying to low ball and score free drinks. They can spot it a mile away. That being said, once I've played for a bit at max credits and tipped well for my first round, I'll often stop playing for 5 minutes at a time, talk to my husband a bit, check my phone etc, to slow myself down. You are not required to sit there banging off hands rapidly or anything, just to legitimately be playing.

    I agree with Auggie again that most people do it because they enjoy the game. It's cheaper to just buy a drink if that all you really want out of it. I've seen lots of people who are obviously just trying to score the drinks, and they never last long because the bartenders catch on to them quickly.
     
  8. mike mc

    mike mc High-Roller

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    i have no problem getting Ketal-1 at Gustavs at the Paris and quite regular, They will leave a glass with your slips, depending how long I stay I either throw a 10 or a Twenty in there, or If you hit a Royal like my buddy once did there, we tip him an extra 50 and the glass never was empty :beer: Like one poster mention Cosmo Book and Stage comped Ciroc all night during 25 cent VP
     
  9. Suekel

    Suekel VIP Whale

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    Yeah, we play at lot at Queue Bar at Cosmo and Nicole and Jeff keep the top shelf drinks flowing. We tip about $5 for each round of 2 drinks.
     
  10. wanker751

    wanker751 Dutch Rudder Enthusiast

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    I've even have the bartender tell me and seen them tell others what is required.

    Definitely check out tring's sticky tread it is amazing. But go downtown if pay tables are a concern. And if you are there to specifically pound out video poker.

    Few tips I heard but have not expereinced... aria will limit drinks to 1 per 1/2 hr. Wynn will not comp drinks at bartops.

    (Next time I am at cosmo I need to look into speciality drinks!)
     
  11. CosmoGold

    CosmoGold Low-Roller

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    Some bar tops are programmed so they only do max bet.
     
  12. captainron62

    captainron62 VIP Whale

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    Don't sweat it, its not as difficult or well watched as it may sound. There are always exceptions, I have only twice had an issue. I had a bartender tell me in PH that they do not COMP drinks for VP, which is of course not true and I had a bartender at the Cromwell check that I put a $20 in and that I was betting when I ordered a Sprite! You just never know, but issues are very rare. Enjoy and have fun, I love bartop VP!~
     
  13. Joe

    Joe VIP Whale

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    In Vegas, an example please.
     
  14. Kickin

    Kickin Flea

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    You're staying at one of the casinos with the best bartop paytables on the strip if you're playing $1 to $5 denom - Aria. At $5 you'll find fullpay JoB and BP and one-notch below fullpay at $1, I assume other VP games have similarly good paytables but can't confirm. Nice environment, nice drinks, and good paytables all in one place.
     
  15. CosmoGold

    CosmoGold Low-Roller

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    I was at Queue Bar inside the Cosmo this past weekend. I kept looking for the button to "Bet 5". I could find it. I just hit "Draw" and it Bet 5 automatically, there was no option.
     
  16. Bigcasino

    Bigcasino Low-Roller

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    We always play VP at the Rio at the Shutters bar. The bar tenders are outstanding and serve top shelf to the max bet players. They know their job well and they know who is trying to nickel and dime them out of free drinks. We play slow because we miss cards to hold if we go to fast and they are okay with that. We always tip then no less a buck a drink and they will even serve you in a tall glass instead of those little skinny ones that hold nothing much. They also bottle pour. Then at the end of the night I might pop in another 10 or 20 in the tip jar as an extra thanks. They appreciate it and remember us when we come back.

    We have run into stuffy bar tenders at other bars that have said only the cheap well drinks from the gun or some have said play is to slow when we chat with friends we meet at the bar . Even had one at mirage that said he does not comp players even at Max bet. Guess what his tip was? :)
     
    Vegas!
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