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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Captured bear cub awaits her fate Man tried to throw woman off balcony of Ashland hotel Caregiver indicted for theft from elderly woman Man allegedly tried to use fake $50 bills Lack of snow keeps Mt. 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Captured bear cub awaits her fate ... Man tried to throw woman off balcony of Ashland hotel ... Jackson County real estate market headed back to normal ... Captured bear cub awaits her fate ... Man tried to throw woman off balcony of Ashland hotel ... OREGON LOTTERY Suit targets 'auto-hold' video poker strategy Comment By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 7, 2015 @ 4:54 pm By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 7, 2015 @ 4:54 pm » Social News PORTLAND — A lawsuit claims the Oregon Lottery misleads video poker players to think they'll do better if they let the machines play the cards. Plaintiff Justin Curzi told Oregon Public Broadcasting he noticed the issue when using the "auto-hold" feature. It chooses what cards to keep or discard in the game that mimics five-card draw poker. Curzi said the machines didn't always make the smartest plays. For example, he said, the machine would hold cards most likely to give him a straight when other available cards would have given him a flush, a better hand with a higher payout. Lottery officials declined comment, which is common for state agencies facing litigation. The lottery's website warns players they may not do as well relying on the machine: "Auto-hold strategies vary by game, based on the particular features of a game and do not necessarily result in theoretical payouts." Curzi's attorney, Jay Zollinger, says the notice is too obscure, and documents he obtained through a public records request show the lottery knows through research that players believe the machine will use the best strategy. The suit filed in Multnomah County claims lottery officials were warned more than five years ago that the auto-hold function produced worse odds but did nothing to change the games or warn players. "The lottery knows how the players perceive the auto-hold, and the lottery hasn't done anything affirmative to address that perception," he told The Oregonian newspaper. Using lottery documents, Zollinger said he calculated that the lower odds cost players $134 million in lower credits over the last five years. That doesn't mean players lost that much extra money. The amount includes credits racked up but not necessarily paid out to players, who usually continue playing through a number of ups and downs. By The Associated Press MailTribune.com By The Associated Press Posted Jan. 7, 2015 @ 4:54 pm » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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