Well I'm not saying that it's a good as it used to be. I'm saying there are still good things out there. I think it's fairly obvious that things aren't as good as they used to be. The times, they are a changin.
Back in the heyday I had "rules" about the things I would play and ignore.
1. Never play anything under a 2% edge.
2. Never play a progressive under twice cost. (As independent) (Team had different criteria)
3. Never start a play without enough money to run bad for 6 cycles without hitting the jackpot. This equates to about a 1 in 1000 chance of going bust.
4. Etc..
In order to stay in action in today's market, I've had to drop every single one of those standards. The result is interesting. My theoretical earn is about the same as it ever was, perhaps more. My risk, on the other hand is far, far greater. Quite literally, off my previous scale.
I used to pass on big hourly earn plays to play things that were worth less but far safer. I've now been forced to play things which are actually worth a higher hourly, just riskier...and I'm not happy about it. I was all about the safety. I hate gambling.
There is also the skill requirement. If you knew the strategy for 3 VP games well, you were a pro in 1990. If you know ONLY 3 VP strategies today, you aren't out of Bob Dancer's beginner class.
I think the biggest reason no new VP teams are popping up is due to the absurd skill requirement. To run a team today, like the one I ran before, you would quite literally have to employ nothing but geniuses and somehow talk them into working for McDonald's employee wage.
So it's still doable, but far harder. For a really smart individual there's still money to be made as a pro gambler. For a really, really smart individual, they might choose to do something easier like rocket science.
The only reason I still play is due to preexisting skill and knowledge. I would not want to start fresh as a pro today, but as long as I'm already here, might as well take advantage of my experience.
The only thing I advocate now is ways to improve your casino result and get more out of a trip to Vegas. I would not try to train someone to do my job...I'm not that cruel!
~FK
Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.
-- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Mickey" <mickeycrimm@> wrote:
And for awile they had the Williams early surrender video blackjack >> that came in about 100.4%.
Finally, a machine from the "good ol' days" that I've actually played. I
didn't start playing video poker until about 2002, and from what I
gather, I missed the gravy-train days.
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "wolverines72" <wolverines72@...> wrote: Not if you listen to the ramblings from the "geniuses" over at LVA free for all forum.
