Is Video Poker Truly Random?
Just like every machine-based game you’ll find in casinos and other gambling establishments, video poker machines are supposed to be totally random. Sure the great players can actually come out on top when playing the game due to their skill and knowledge of the jackpots, but the way the cards are dealt is supposed to be totally random.
At least that’s what we’re commonly told by the makers of the machines and casinos that house them. However, a pro video poker player by the name of Rob Singer has made it his mission to prove that video poker games are not as random as they seem. In fact, he believes he has the evidence to prove that they are not in fact random at all.
Singer has been playing video poker for two decades and has noticed that the games don’t really seem to be so random during his experiences. So he has been playing thousands of hands recently and has noticed some odd observations while doing this. One of the observations he made is that, when he discards a card, a card of the same value is dealt in its place more than it should be.
Another one of Singer’s observations is that, when he is drawing for a hand such as a flush or four-of-a-kind, he is not hitting the card he needs nearly as much as the math would suggest he should (done over a sample of thousands of hands). Judging from Singer’s personal study, it would seem that video poker is not as generous as it should be when played right. Still, Singer has shown a profit over his video poker playing career so it’s probably a lot better to play than other casinos games such as slots.