Every weekend, a Facebook friend posts pictures of his stacks of casino chips in front of him (apparently he’s quite the poker shark).
ISTR mom telling me that casinos did not allow cameras. Whether or not that’s still the case, I can’t say - I posted a picture of the slots machine I was playing, with my iPhone, and no one batted an eye.
The reason I ask is that I’m seeing a Video Poker strategy app. Even with the app, the ROI is expected to be 99.46% (or something like that), so the casino still has the edge.
So if I bust out my app at the video poker machine, does that mean that casino security is going to want to have a word? They don’t seem to mind people using blackjack basic strategy cards - they sell them at the casino gift shops! But clearly someone could use a mobile app to gain an advantage - a card-counting app, for example.
So yeah, are casinos diligent about keeping mobile devices off of their floors?
They might do so for other reasons (e.g. no photography policy) - but they’d be crazy to interfere with someone deluded enough to think an app can beat a video poker machine.
I don’t know if they’d care… but if they do, they could do worse to you than to throw you out of the casino. Something like card counting is, at worst, against casino policies, but using any sort of device to gain an advantage at any game is actually against the law.
I sometimes take a photo when I get a great hand a video poker (royal flush baby!!!) I don’t think they care. At table games like blackjack, they’ll tell you to step away from the table if your phone is in your hand.
I was at the Venetian and walked up to a blackjack table with my phone in my hand and the dealer told me I couldn’t be near the table with my phone out.
I walked back about 10 yards and made a phone call and he was ok with that.
That’s my experience. At table games, cellphones are a no-no; though as you note, you can step away from the table and you’ll be fine. At slots, it seems to be OK, though you may get a “harrumph” from a passing security guard. Certainly, you can see any number of phone-cam slot jackpots and bonus rounds on YouTube.
And, I had no problem texting my buddy odds on sporting events from a Las Vegas race and sports book the last time I was there.
When PCS phone were becoming popular in the mid 90’s there were casinos that would tell you to put them away. They told me it was afraid you would be able to hack the machine or something. It only lasted a very short time because they became so popular that they realized they were losing more on people walking away from putting money in to make a call then any ridiculous hacking threat.
Playing at the local tribal casinos here in Washington, the rules are fairly consistent.
I cannot use a mobile phone/tablet/whatever if I am playing blackjack. The dealer (and eventually the floor) will make a fuss until I put it away, or step away from the table.
In the poker room, it’s a different story. I have sat my phone in the drink-holder (while waiting for a phonecall) and no-one said anything. People get a bit upset if you are on the phone when you are in a hand (and rightly so). If I ever get a big pile of chips (other than at the start of the session), I will probably take a picture – and no-one will mind.
I’m no casino expert - last night I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express but they do leave the light on for me at Motel 6 - but my thought is the reason they don’t want you on the phone at the table games is you might be getting signals/info from somebody about how to play/bet that hand whereas at the slot machines outside information won’t make a difference.
In the poker room, you’re wagering against the other players, not the casino, so it’s not the casino’s money that’s at risk.
As to how difficult it is to find “full pay” machines, I wouldn’t know. I suspect whoever is making this app is using the same strategy as above with the same restrictions, given that the expected payouts (99.46%) are exactly the same. I hope the app is at least free.