Differences Between Recreational and Expert Level Video Poker Play

Video poker machines have been around for over half a century and can nowadays be found in almost any land-based and online casino. And while many video poker players enjoy recreationally gambling, a small percentage of expert-level gamblers do this professionally.

So, what separates recreational from professional video poker players? Moreover, is it something you can learn and introduce to your video poker sessions to get closer to an expert level? To answer these questions, we’ll explore the most significant differences between recreational and expert video poker play.

Recreational Play Doesn’t Demand In-Depth Knowledge

One of the most apparent differences between recreational and expert-level video poker players is the overall knowledge level. Recreational players often have a basic grasp of the fundamental game features and possible winning hands and perhaps know one or two betting systems.

In comparison, experts study video poker strategies, know payouts and winning odds by heart, and always try to play the game optimally. Moreover, video poker pros try to lower the house edge as far as possible by choosing the best sites like UFABET casino and taking advantage of available bonuses. This leads to the next big difference between recreational and top players.

Expert Level Play Requires Dedication

Video poker gamblers that want to bring their playing skills to an expert level need to put in the utmost dedication and have a different approach from recreational players. Firstly, expert players who want consistent profits from video poker shouldn’t play only for fun.

They need to adopt an entirely different mindset from recreational players and concentrate on playing every hand optimally. This means that every decision they make needs to come from a clear head and be backed up by odds. Video poker players gambling at an expert level need to maximize their winning chances on every hand they play.

This difference in approach also often makes the experience dissimilar. To reach an expert level of video poker skills, you have to put in a lot of effort and learning hours. In other words, many sessions won’t be entertaining, as you should focus on picking up little details and developing your video poker strategy. 

Recreational Players Don’t Track Everything

When you’re playing at a recreational level, you likely aren’t tracking various parameters that show your video poker results. At most, you’re likely only interested in knowing how much money you’re putting in and how much money you’re winning. This basic approach is solid if you’re playing from time to time, but it’s far from how the best video poker players do it.

Gamblers playing at a high-level track every detail they notice during their session. This is mainly because experts are focused on the long run, and having as much data as possible helps them adapt and improve over time.

When it comes to specific parameters that video poker players track, these include money in vs. money out, the session duration, specific time and day of playing, game format, and where they played. Additionally, those that go even more in-depth track how their mood affects their video poker sessions, any tendencies they may have, and other specific factors.

Expert Level Players Have Dedicated Bankrolls

Lastly, video poker players that maintain an expert level of play also pay great attention to bankroll management and practice responsible bankroll management strategies. You can easily tell the difference between a recreational and an experienced video poker player just by observing how they treat their bankroll.

More specifically, recreational players mainly play for fun and don’t pay much attention to their bankroll. Of course, no one likes to lose, but recreational players just want to have a good time and don’t mind as much when they lose. Many of them don’t even have dedicated bankrolls.

On the other hand, expert players maintain tight video poker bankroll control and have a more serious approach. They try to minimize their losses and don’t fool around with the money they set aside for video poker.