Rise of the Machines

by John Carlisle, MA, NCC

Starting this month, the Trump Plaza in Atlantic City will be offering poker players a new means to play. It will be classic Hold 'Em, with all of the same rules and procedures that the game entails. What there will not be, though, is a dealer or cards. You see, electronic Hold 'Em poker tables, like the PokerPro machines at Trump Plaza, are gaining popularity fast. Trump Plaza is the first major outlet in Atlantic City to house these machines, but we've started to see them at other card rooms across the world. As they start creeping toward a casino or card room near you, it is time to inspect these machines, their rising popularity and how they might change the game.

There are a few manufacturers of poker machine tables, but each is essentially the same. Small monitors are at each seat, allowing the player seated there to peek at their own hole cards and to see all of the other pertinent table information, such as chip stacks. In the center of the table is another screen, which shows the community cards and designates which players have folded, called and raised. Much like what you'd expect to see on the screen at your favorite online poker website, buttons are on each person's screen to designate an action in turn.

The benefits to using these machines for the casino are obvious. The machines, unlike human dealers, will never demand raises, never call off sick, or never need a salary or health benefits. Likewise, there will be no wait time for players for the dealing of the cards, shuffling cards between hands, and gathering the cards that are tossed toward the muck. This equates to about 50% more hands per hour, according to the machine's manufacturers. More hands per hour means more rakes for the house. The casino management will also boast that the machines will not make mistakes, mis-deals, and will all but eliminate the chance of cheating via card manipulation. Also, the casino's marketing department knows that machines are an attraction for curious, but inexperienced players. Computerized machines for table games such a blackjack, three card poker and roulette are a norm in most casinos these days. These machines often serve as the introduction for new players. Nervous to make a fool of themselves in front of the watchful eye of the dealer, pit boss and fellow players, many amateurs are simply intimidated to try table games that they know little about. Machines are non-judgmental, and nervous gamblers find the anonymity a very comforting cloak to play behind. These sorts of machines may also allow poker to become available at some "slots-only" casinos in states such as Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In some jurisdictions, the use of machines for games like blackjack allow the casino to offer the game without breaking the ban on table games.

Savvy poker players might identify these machines as potential cash cows. Since they will indeed be attractive to the less experienced players, there is sure to be more than a few hapless fish taking a seat at the pretty and interesting-looking table. With most tables in the No Limit area having a quick and easy "All-In" button, there is apt to be some big bets. Along that same line, with the digital read-out of the amount of money the player has having less of a psychological impact than a tactile stack of chips, there is more likelihood of big bets, bluffs, and poor calls. When many amateur gamblers place $50 or $100 into any machine on the casino floor, they psychologically chalk that up as "spent" money. They are paying for the time at the machine in terms if entertainment, along with the outside chance of getting lucky and coming out with a profit. If players stumble upon poker machines with that same mindset, poker players who display some patience and skill are sure to benefit greatly from facing off against these kinds of opponents. In addition, that psychological feeling of anonymity that the machine breeds equates to many players making risky and unfruitful plays. The guise of anonymity is also likely to make players exude tells. With their focus on the screens in front of them, they will not concentrate on masking their emotions and thoughts. Also, cheap players might note a benefit as there will not be tips to the human dealer that can erode a portion of money from players.

It is hoped that poker with live action dealers and poker machines will coexist in the casinos. As a comparison, blackjack machines have not killed the table version of the game as both are available at all major casinos that I am aware of. It might be great if poker follows suit, allowing the new to partner with the "old" version of the game where we can ruffle the chips, feel the cards in our hands and hear the tall tales of from the veteran poker dealers.

There is no doubt that many veteran poker players will scoff at this new version of the game, noting that poker is not really poker without a human dealer, real poker chips and cards that can be held in the hand. Of course, not long ago I recall poker veterans scoffing at online poker or at the idea that the top players in the world would allow their hole cards to be videotaped for airing on TV. Since I am a guy who enjoys the camaraderie of the game and often chats it up with the dealers, I certainly can see some inherent negatives to this version of the game. Being a person who is always looking for a new way to increase my winnings and bankroll, though, I also see the potential in the new electronic poker tables in major casinos. I will invite newcomers to the table with a wide smile as they attempt to play the game of Hold 'Em that they saw a few times on ESPN. Curious players will probably make their way to the low and medium-limit tables. Having a few players at the table who do not understand how to use position or calculate pot odds is enough to give the savvy players a serious advantage. The new players will be so focused on the interesting game and the flashy computer components that they might neglect to mask their reaction to the game at hand, allowing you to pick up tells easier than ever. I will also revel in the fact that the electronic tables will push out more hands per hour, allowing me to fit in more chances at profit in my tight playing schedule. Whether this change is good or not is certainly debatable. No doubt, though, change is inevitable and the poker machines are coming. Since they will be coming to a casino near you very soon, you might as well be mentally prepared to attack these new tables of new players to gain some profits. Now, go make it happen.

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About the Author:
John is a National Certified Counselor (NCC). He has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling from West Virginia University, and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Lock Haven University. You can find out more about the psychology of poker from "the Poker Counselor" at pokercounselor@yahoo.com