#ulog (35) The Low-end Gambling Life -- July 19, 2018

This Steemit ulog is a series of posts based on my day-to-day gambling activities. Basically, I summarize my results and possibly add notes or observations based on what happened on a given day at casinos. You the reader, should feel free to ask any questions or provide any feedback in the comments.

Next-day delays in posting are common due to having no stable schedules in my line of work.

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Category Definitions

I split my results into categories based on the type of game and opportunity to make a profit. These categories are:

• Core video poker: These are video poker games/machines that either has a player edge built-in, or which flips the edge from the house's favor into the player's favor when a promotion is applied. If the game has a progressive on the royal flush and/or other hands, the edge is based on the jackpot(s) being at its reset value. In the absence of any other extraordinary opportunities to capitalize on, I expect to spend most of my gambling time on core video poker games.

• Other video poker: All other video poker games that are not part of my normal repertoire (e.g. progressive video poker games with excessively high jackpots).

• Slot opportunities: Slot machines where I know of or perceive an edge in the player's favor. This edge will always be a temporary one except under the most extraordinary of circumstances. Depending on the opportunity, a slot session could be over in just seconds or take several hours to complete.

• Other gambles: Everything else. It could be results from trying out a new slot machine, or playing other games such as video keno.

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Summary Of The Day's Results

I visited two casinos and have aggregated their results.

Core video poker: Played one single-line machine at $5/hand for about 1 hour, 10 minutes and finished at +$1120.

Other video poker: none

Slot opportunities: 1 opportunity, went 1 for 1. Spent 2 minutes and finished at +$52.80.

Other gambles: Needing to use different slot machines to complete playthrough requirements for low-rolling promotions at both casinos, I spent about 15 minutes total amongst them and finished at -$35.

Total: +$1137.80 for the day

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Notes/Observations For The Day

It was my second Thursday visit to the new place, and I managed to stay lucky although things got off to a very rocky start. Going from -$65 to -$400 (i.e. losing $335) on just $680 coin-in (barely over 50% payback during that stretch) is no fun. Thankfully, I was able to hit two sets of $1000 quad 2s afterwards to make a good recovery.

But even my luck wasn't that impressive, as the most notable event of the casino day wasn't on my own action. While I was playing video poker, another casino patron sat down at the machine next to mine, and less than 5 minutes after starting, they got dealt a $4000 royal flush. Now a dealt royal flush... that is impressive luck.