In the glittering world of Las Vegas casinos, where most punters leave with lighter wallets and dimmer hopes, one man turned the tables spectacularly. Bob Dancer, born in 1947, is not just another gambling author spinning yarns about "systems" and "secrets"—he's the real deal. A professional video poker player who transformed a modest $6,000 bankroll into over one million dollars in just six months, Dancer has become the undisputed authority on video poker strategy worldwide.

Unlike the countless gambling "experts" who peddle dreams, Dancer actually walked the walk. His journey from economist to backgammon hustler to video poker legend is one part mathematical genius, one part grinding determination, and one part sheer audacity. For Australians familiar with the pokies but curious about video poker—a game where skill actually matters—Dancer's story offers both inspiration and invaluable lessons.

Before Dancer became synonymous with video poker, his gambling education took a circuitous route. In 1973, working as an economist for the prestigious Rand Corporation, he stumbled upon a backgammon article in Playboy magazine. Fascinated, he devoured every book on the subject and taught himself to become an expert player.

But there was a problem: "I knew a lot about backgammon," Dancer admits, "but nothing about gambling."

After being laid off in 1974, he began playing backgammon professionally at the Cavendish West, a private Los Angeles card club. For six years, he scraped by—sometimes winning, sometimes dipping into savings. The experience taught him a crucial lesson: knowing the game isn't enough. You need bankroll management, emotional control, and the discipline to grind it out when variance swings against you.

By 1980, Dancer returned to a "regular" job as a computer programmer, but he never abandoned gambling. He taught himself card counting for blackjack, making weekend pilgrimages to Las Vegas to hone his skills. When he was laid off again in 1991, he made a decision that would change his life: he would become a professional gambler full-time.

In the summer of 1996, Dancer met Shirley at a dance floor in Sam's Town Casino. (Yes, Bob Dancer is actually his pen name—chosen for his love of dancing!) Shirley was a California businesswoman with little gambling experience, but under Bob's tutelage, she became a formidable video poker player in her own right.

By 1999, the couple's bankroll had swelled past $200,000. That Thanksgiving weekend, they received a golden invitation from the MGM Grand: join the player's club and earn double points for one month on 9/6 Jacks or Better video poker machines. After crunching the numbers, Bob determined they had a mathematical edge—but it would require playing at the $25 denomination level, a significant step up.

Shirley was hesitant. The volatility at that level could swing their bankroll wildly. But Bob convinced her, and within two weeks... they were down $40,000. Shirley's worst fears seemed to be materialising.

Then lightning struck. Two days later, Bob hit a royal flush for $100,000. Suddenly, they were up $60,000!

What happened over the next 15 months reads like a thriller. The Dancers continued grinding, hitting ups and downs, losing over $100,000 at one point between February and September 2000. But Bob had discovered something extraordinary: some machines at the MGM were awarding player's club points at nearly twice the normal rate due to a programming error. He never said a word to management and played those machines exclusively.

By February 2001, the tide had turned dramatically. During the first half of that month alone, they hit twelve $20,000 royal flushes and six $40,000 royals. The couple was riding high.

Then came February 12, 2001—a date etched in video poker history.

That evening, Bob and Shirley set aside $20,000 to take a shot at the $100 denomination machines—the highest stakes available. Within 15 minutes, Bob hit a royal for $100,000. Then, within the next half-hour, Shirley landed the big one: a $400,000 royal flush.

Half a million dollars in less than an hour.

When all was said and done, the Dancers had netted over $1 million in cash (including cashback), plus multiple cars, computers, a home entertainment centre, and more than four million frequent flyer miles. The book Million Dollar Video Poker immortalises this incredible run, and its cover features a recreation of Shirley's legendary $400,000 hand.

American Casino Guide

So how did Bob Dancer do it? Was it just extraordinary luck? Not quite.

While no one can control when a royal flush appears, Dancer's success came from three critical factors:

1. Mathematical Precision

Dancer approached video poker as "applied mathematics." He only played machines where he had a proven mathematical edge—typically from generous paytables combined with lucrative casino players' club benefits and promotions. He calculated the exact expected value of every game, factoring in cashback percentages, multiplier days, and promotional bonuses.

2. Perfect Strategy Execution

Video poker isn't like slot machines, where outcomes are entirely random and unaffected by skill. Every decision matters. Holding the wrong cards—even seemingly minor mistakes—dramatically reduces your return percentage. Dancer practised relentlessly using computer training software to achieve near-perfect play.

His preferred game? Not So Ugly Deuces (NSUD), a Deuces Wild variant that returns 99.73% with perfect play. "But nobody plays it perfectly," he notes. "There's a whole bunch of penalty card situations, and nobody has them all down pat."

3. Tireless Scouting and Networking

The dancer didn't just show up at any casino and play. He constantly scouted for the best opportunities—machines with programming errors awarding double points, special promotional days offering multipliers, and casinos desperate to attract high-rollers. He networked with other advantage players to learn insider information that wasn't published anywhere.

Wikipedia

Unlike many professional gamblers who guard their methods jealously, Bob Dancer took the opposite approach. "I'm a strong professional player," he says, "but there are others just as strong. My claim to fame is I'm the strongest player by far who is willing to share what I know."

And share he has. Dancer has built an educational empire that includes:

Books

Strategy Cards and Software

Dancer's Video Poker Strategy Cards and his Video Poker for Winners software are the best-selling video poker tutorials of all time. The software acts as a personal coach, correcting your mistakes in real-time until you achieve computer-perfect play.

Classes and Columns

Since 1997, Dancer has taught standing-room-only video poker classes at casinos across America, including twice-yearly semesters at South Point Casino in Las Vegas. He writes a weekly column for the Las Vegas Advisor (with over 400 articles archived on his website) and contributes to Strictly Slots and other gambling publications.

Gambling With an Edge

Every Thursday evening, Dancer co-hosts Gambling With an Edge with Richard Munchkin on KLAV 1230 AM in Las Vegas. The show is streamed live and archived on his website, offering listeners insider knowledge on advantage play, casino promotions, and strategy refinements.

Despite his success, Dancer is refreshingly candid about the realities of professional video poker. When asked what's the single most important thing for average players to learn, he doesn't sugarcoat it:

"The average person is not going to be successful at video poker. Video poker is applied mathematics, and the average person with a casual interest in the game won't get a long-term advantage over the casino because he isn't willing to study hard enough to get an edge."

Professional video poker, Dancer warns, is a "grind-it-out game." Royal flushes occur on average every 40,000 hands—but that's just the average. Sometimes you'll go 200,000 hands between royals. Other times, you'll hit three in one day. The swings are enormous and emotionally draining.

"If one royal flush is going to make a big difference in your bankroll, then you're playing for stakes that are way too high," he cautions.

After Dancer's million-dollar win, MGM Grand executives called him in for a "discussion." His player's club benefits were slashed. Shortly afterwards, the casino increased the points required for video poker players by 25%, eliminating his edge. He never played there again.

This cat-and-mouse game continues today. As players get better, casinos respond with tighter paytables, reduced cashback, and sometimes outright barring of skilled players. "If you're going to play in this game, you have to be willing to get better or be left behind," Dancer warns.

So is it still possible to make money playing video poker in 2026? Dancer believes so—for the dedicated few.

"There are still plenty of games out there, but adjustments need to be made," he says. "There will always be at least 50 players who can make $50,000 or more a year playing video poker somewhere."

The keys? Constant scouting, networking with other players, learning strategies for multiple game variants, and ruthlessly calculating whether you actually have an edge before sitting down. Promotional days—double points on holidays, cash drawings, multiplier events—are where most of the profit comes from.

For Australian players curious about video poker, the landscape is different from the U.S. Video poker machines aren't as prevalent in Australian casinos, which favour traditional poker machines (pokies). However, online casinos accessible to Australians often offer video poker games, and the strategic principles Dancer teaches apply universally.

Bob Dancer's greatest contribution isn't his million-dollar win—it's proving that video poker is a game where skill matters and demonstrating precisely how to gain an edge. He transformed video poker from a casual diversion into a legitimate profession for those willing to put in the work.

At 79 years old (as of 2026), Dancer remains active in the gambling community, continuing to write, teach, and share his knowledge. His story resonates not because it promises easy riches, but because it illustrates what's possible when mathematical precision meets disciplined execution and relentless effort.

For those considering advantage play—whether video poker, blackjack, or any other casino game—Dancer's advice is clear: "Learn one game at a time. Master it completely. Scout relentlessly for opportunities. Calculate your edge precisely. And never stop improving, because the game never stops changing."

It's not glamorous. It's a grind. But for the select few willing to treat gambling as a profession rather than entertainment, Bob Dancer has shown the way.