Playing slots the most effective way (part 2)

September 5, 2006

As you may already know, just about all slot machines are programmed to return only a percentage of the money you put into them. For example, a slot machine that has a guaranteed payout percentage of 97% will only pay back $97 for every $1000 you play with. This is a pretty good payback considering your entertainment value and that oh so wonderful chance at hitting the big time jackpots. But not all casinos or online gambling sites have that great a pay out percentage either. Just be able to understand what your pay out percentage is and what this means exactly. Also, when walking through a casino on land, you will no doubt see a neon sign above a bank of machines that boasts 100% pay out percentage. Wow that’s great, but you must understand that this sign is only covering that specific area of slots and not all of that section HAS TO PAY THAT PERCENTAGE by law. There may only be a couple of the machines in that bank of games that does (by law) pay at 100%. Ah, the tricky aspects of casino advertising. This is not to say that all casinos who advertise this way are being completely misleading, you just have to know the details folks.

For the most part I have found that 5 cent slots have a payout percentage of somewhere between 85-88%. The higher the increments of money you use the higher the pay out percentage tends to be. For instance 25 cents machines will usually pay back at about 90 to 92%. Now you are probably thinking that you need play dollar machine because they pay out at around 94 to 95 percent. Think of it this way. At the rate I have just told you, for each 100 nickels you put into a machine, you will lose 12 to 15 of them in the long run (if the pay back rate is between 85-88%). Do the math. When you do, you will realize that getting a better percentage on a dollar machine is no better than the percentage on the nickel slots. Meaning, for every one hundred dollars you plug into a machine (at the rate of 94-95% pay back) you will lose five to six dollars in the long run. It’s all relative. But, again – you may hit the jackpot and you may lose more. These are only averages and percentages.

SO, know that you are aware of the more mathematical side of percentages; you are more likely to play slots differently. There is no skill you can use to make your chances of winning at slots better, but consider the following:

-          Do not ever play slot machines that have poor pay out percentages. Unfortunately these are the large jackpot games (progressives). You will never see a sign over progressives that boasts 100% (or even close to that) pay out percentages.

-          Low coin denomination machines don’t usually have huge jackpots. The lower your investment, the lower the jackpot. Remember machine like penny progressives require max bets anyway so it’s not as though you are truly wagering a penny at a time. You are better off playing a 25 cent machine one quarter at a time.

-          While the lure of higher payouts for larger amounts wagered per spin is enticing, it will take your bankroll faster. Don’t have the mentality that playing two quarters at a time on a 25 cent slot will have a bigger payout just because you plug in two quarters at a time. Think of it like this – you are wagering twice the amount of your bankroll at a time on the same odds of hitting any paying spin. You are better off playing one quarter at a time and reaping the smaller payout than you are by betting more each time for a higher payout.

-          If you are a die hard slot fan, make sure you are playing at online gambling sites that cater to slot players with rewards and player bonuses. Get as much as you can for you loyal patronage. That is the only sure way to get more for your money.

All this being said, slot machines are the most popular form of casino game you will find. Maybe it’s the fact that you don’t have to study any major strategies to play them that makes them so popular. Maybe it’s all the spinning wheels, bright blinking lights and sounds that make players lose their inhibitions when walking through casinos that make slots the casino cash cow that they are. As long as you go into the casino with the above knowledge I have laid out for you and the expectation that is realistic of these games, you will not be a target. Go into your next slot playing session with your newly gained intelligence you got from article and expect to be entertained - if nothing else. You never know, you could be the lucky one too. That is the real value of these casino games – ENTERTAINMENT.

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