why you should play slot machines....

[shadroch]

You need to consider the money put into action,not just the starting bet. #card poker with a full table is a pretty slow game.Suppose you played only the pair plus bet for $5 a hand. After an hour,you played maybe 30-40 hands,so you have perhaps put $200 at risk.
Playing slots,you can make ten bets in a minute,or 600 in an hour.
A nickle slot player playing a 9 line game betting 3 per line is putting $800 an hour at risk.
Having a lower house edge doesn't mean much if you are putting it at risk much more often.

 

[Unshake]

You need to consider the money put into action,not just the starting bet. #card poker with a full table is a pretty slow game.Suppose you played only the pair plus bet for $5 a hand. After an hour,you played maybe 30-40 hands,so you have perhaps put $200 at risk.
Playing slots,you can make ten bets in a minute,or 600 in an hour.
A nickle slot player playing a 9 line game betting 3 per line is putting $800 an hour at risk.
Having a lower house edge doesn't mean much if you are putting it at risk much more often.

Well if you are playing $5 per hand at 40 hands per hour = $200 dollars. The house edge is 6% (frequently higher) on that bet. .06 x $200 = $12 ... and this is only playing $5 a hand on pairs plus, many places might not even offer that low of limits. Even at playing at a 5 dollar minimum table not betting pairs plus and only ante you frequently raise putting more money out, I have no idea how to calculate anything more in 3 card poker though.

Whereas if you are playing a good 98 or 99% return video poker or slot machine you expect to lose (in your example) $800 x .01 = $8. But this is assuming the "nickel" slot (betting $1.35 per pull). Plus usually better comps

 

[shadroch]

Most nickle slots return closer to 90%,many even less. Video poker usually returns closer to the 98-99% but then your comps are much less than reel slots.

I'm just pointing out that there is more to consider than simply the house edge.