Video Poker VP Batrop Etiquette

What is the proper etiquette on if I want to play a machine but there a several people occupying seats but not playing? Is there a difference if they're activly running a tab paying for drinks versus just taking up space watching a game, hanging with friends, etc....? Should I ask the bartender?

 

what's a batrop?

a simple "please move" should suffice

 

I always go thru the bartender --
Some people might just get rude if you ask politely,for them to move.
I believe the casino policy is "players first" ----
hell, that's why the machine is there.

 

That is always a difficult situation. I've seen bartenders move non-players out for known players. The off-strip casinos seem to have more "players take priority" types of signs on the machines. On the strip it seems more of a free for all.

 

Some casinos, like Suncoast for example, have signs on each machine that states seats are for players only.

I guess asking politely might work, but I think my first try would be through the bartender. Less hassle that way.

 

I guess I'm in the minority on this...maybe even the only one who feels this way.

I never ask a non-player to move from a chair, whether they are at a bartop or at a slot machine. My spouse and I often enjoy sitting side by side, playing one machine together, taking turns. Sometimes we just like to sit next to each other, while one plays and the other looks on. We are constantly asked to move. It's very annoying.

When someone is sitting at a machine that I would like to play, I temper my sense of self-importance and find another machine to play or wait until the seat is available.

 

A batrop is a video poker machine where all of your drinks come with those little paper umbrellas.

 

OIC

 

I generally try to be this way too, but it was pretty tough to do at cosmo at 1 am on a Saturday night last trip. I played a bar top standing up this time. Half of the bartops were not being played at all, but definitely all the seats were taken.

I believe the only time I asked someone not playing to move from a machine in vegas was at Gustav's bar at Paris after my g/f found a paytable error on only that one machine earlier that day. Double Double Bonus was set at 10/6 (100.07%) versus the usual 8/5 (96.79%). I politely asked and there was an open seat right next to his g/f on the other side, so it wasn't a big deal, but generally I just try to find an open spot.

RIP gaffed machine.

 

If its on the casino floor then just asking the person politely if you can play the machine they are sitting at will almost always get them to move.

If its at a bar I would go through the bartender and just ask them if they have any open VP spots because unlike on the casino floor where somebody is just sitting there, at the bar they could be sitting there but also ordering drinks so in that case they are still a legitimate customer for that spot.

 

Sometimes I just want to take a break from playing and order a drink, and If I've paid for my drink I'd like to sometimes sit at the bar. I do play VP a lot and so I try not to just sit if all the games are taken and there are people who look like they want to play. I don't think I'd ask someone to leave unless they are really nursing their drink and not playing or watching TV.

 

Which is cool with me unless I answer, "No, I'd like to sit here", which never seems to be a satisfactory answer for the person asking me to move. So now, whenever we are asked, we just stop playing the machine we are sharing and we both move. And I secretly wish bad luck on the person who takes my seat.

 

Gosh, I've NEVER asked someone to move. I've also never sat and taken-up a machine without playing either. I've gone past a bar lots of times and see people just drinkin' and chattin'... I just keep moving until I find an open spot there or at another bar.

 

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That's pretty much what I do. I don't play much VP. About the only time I do is when I want to relax with a drink and maybe catch a game so bartops work well with that.

 

Not only that, but they're probably making more money from the people ordering $14 well cocktails and $8 beers than someone playing VP. It amazes me how expensive the drinks at Lift Bar are, for example (which is where I do most of my VP).

 

Yeah the casinos would much rather have people paying $14 per drink than someone like me running $200 coin-in per hour or less on a 6/5 bonus machine. I save them money, I usually only get those $8 beers comped.

On the strip, retail beer costs always outweighs my expected losses. If they don't, I'm gambling too much and drinking too little.

 

Yeah I was unable to play at Bond bar in the evening because of this. But I just moved on.

 

I have to play Bond early to think about getting a spot. I camped out there for awhile after learning they have Chimay. I was tired of liquor. I'm really looking forward to finally playing at TAG soon though.

 

Yeah I made that mistake thinking I would get a spot for 3 guys. I went to Chandelier and got spots. I did not think of pursuing the drink menu though. Next time.

 

I disagree. If a non-player is sitting at a slot machine NOT playing, I don't have any issue in asking them to move. I've also been asked to move when I was just sitting next to a friend or family member. If they want to play, I'll always move for them.
I don't think it's a matter of self importance on MY part.