How to Play Slots in Las Vegas and Win!
Online Slots and Las Vegas Casino SlotsSince there are so many people who
play slots online I will talk about
this type of play first, and then go on to the actual casinos.
Surprisingly, the
online and the actual slots have one very important
feature in common. They both use a computer chip known as a random
number generator. This device determines the outcome of your bet.
Whether you click a mouse to start a spin or pull down an arm, whatever
the random number was at the time governs the result. This number
changes more than a thousand times a second.
Slot Machine StrategySo when I tell you that slots are luck and not skill, you now know the
reason. However, there are some things that can be done by way of money
management to affect your play. You can increase your probability of
winning larger amounts by selecting $5, $10, $25 slots, or winning more
often by playing cheaper slots with low to medium pay outs.
Many
online casinos give you a bonus of money when you deposit funds
into your account to play. The amounts vary, but 10% per deposit is not
unusual. If you just want to sit back and play in a relaxed manner many
of the casinos have a nickel bet on their slots.
The online slots are designed to pay off at rates between 85% to 97%.
Keep in mind this does not mean that you can only lose the amount of
money the machine is designed to hold back. It simply means that over a
very long period of time with infrequent jackpots the unit pays off at
this rate (you will lose 15% to 3% in the long-run). As stated, it is widely believed that the highest paying
slots are the ones that require the largest amounts to play, and the
worst paying ones are the nickel and dime ones.
Another approach to a better pay off is when you have the option of
choosing 1 to 5 coins, always select the maximum. When you have the
option of lines, play the maximum number (these give you multiple ways
to win). Also if the online casino offers bonus points or has a players
club, it is usually best to take advantage of the offer.
Going To A Real CasinoPlaying the slots at a real live casino gives us
certain opportunities that we
do not have online. But always keep in mind that a computer chip is
generating random numbers that determine the out come of the bet. The
bells, whistles and spinning wheels are just for show. It’s luck and not
skill that makes the wheels go around. The outcome is exactly the same
if you pull on the mechanical slot handle, or press the spin button.
It’s a funny thing, but no matter what I would say about the odds or the
payoffs, people just love playing the slot machines. That is why the
casino devotes so much room to them. The very same payouts apply to the
casino slots as the
online ones
- 85% to 97%. Just as with the
online
slot machines, there is no guarantee of these payouts in the short term.
It is also true that the higher amount slots pay off better than the
lower amount machines.
How to Pick the Best Slot MachinesObviously, it is better to play on a looser payout slot. Here are two
suggestions on how to locate them. Play where the locals play. The idea
being that they know where the looser slots are to be found. If you can’t find a local,
check with the hotel staff as to where they, or their friends and
relatives play.
Some casinos have a raised area loaded with slot machines. Often these
units pay well because when they do, it puts on a show for the casino
patrons.
Casinos have been known to put looser slots in well traveled areas to
attract people to play.
Progressive SlotsAnother attractive aspect about slots is that when you bet $5 at 21 and
you get a blackjack you win $7.50, but your $5 bet on the slots can win
you thousands. Many of the slots have a progressive payout, which means
as the play on the machine increases the jackpot raises. Sometimes they
link a few slots together to raise the jackpot. Betting the maximum
number of coins on a spin will enhance your chance of winning. Usually
the choice is between 1 and 5 coins. The odds are very low, but you can
literally win millions if you hit the jackpot on some progressive payout
slot machined.
Slot Machine Tips
1 ALWAYS INSERT YOUR SLOT CLUB CARD
Using your card can increase the payback of the machine you are playing
by as much as one percent. It just takes a few minutes to join a slot
club and there is no down side. It also qualifies you to get rated,
which translates to free comps at hotels, like free shows, dining, and
even hotel rooms. Do this before you risk any money in the casino.
2.) PLAY ONLY WHAT YOUR BANKROLL CAN HANDLE
You will need to have an estimate of the cost per hour a machine will
take. This depends on the type of machine, payout rate, and how you bet.
The following examples are based on an average of 8 spins per minute and
a 90% payout rate.
- Nickel Machine 2 coins:$5/hour 3 coins:$7/hour 5 coins:$12 hour
- Quarter Machine 2 coins:$24/hour 3 coins:$36/hr 5 coins:$60/hour
- Dollar Machine 2 coins:$96/hour 3 coins:$144/hr 5 coins:$240/hour
You then need to decide on the number of hours you will play over the
course of your entire stay. If you start with a bankroll of $600 and
plan to play an average of five hours a day for three days, then that
comes to 15 playing hours. When you divide $600 by 15 it comes to $40
per hour. In order to stay within this budget you should not playing
anything over a 3 coin quarter machine (e.g., $36/hour).
3.) BE CERTAIN YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
Slot machines are like any machine and get wear and tear. They can also
malfunction. One of the best ways to protect yourself against a
malfunction is to observe the glass payout schedule and the paylines as
you insert each coin to be sure the correct sections light, up, showing
that they are properly activated. If you hit a winning combination that
does not pay because only two of your three coins registered, you are
out of luck. If one of your coins does not register, be sure to contact
an attendant or press the change button and wait for someone to arrive.
Don't spin the reels until the problem is fixed.
4.) ONLY PLAY ONE MACHINE AT A TIME
Casino managers know that some people like to play two side-by-side
slots at the same time, so they always put a loose machines with the
tight one on both sides:
(loose machine)<->(tight machine)<->(loose machine)
At best, you will win from a loose machine only to lose your winnings to
a tight on, or you will lose to two tight machines. Every casino has far
fewer loose machines than tight one and they never place them together.
5.) NEVER PLAY NEXT TO SOMEONE WHO IS WINNING
If the winner's slow is loose, the machines on either side will be
tight. You might consider waiting for the winner to leave and then
playing the same potentially loose machine.
6.) STAY WITH A HOT MACHINE
Don't leave a machine that just paid a big jackpot. It may be a hot
machine that could continue to pay out nicely. Don't abandon the machine
unless it has not paid anything for 5 or 6 consecutive spins.
7.) OBSERVE OTHER PLAYERS WHO ARE WINNING
Watch players who are hitting jackpots and winning regularly and keep
and eye and ear out for sudden big winners. Many times, big winners cash
in and leave their machine while it is still hot. If you see that happen
and you are on a cold machine, move over to the hot machine and give it
a try. Many slot players think a machine will turn cold after a big
payout, so they leave. The truth is that it is more likely to still be
in a hot cycle.
8.) ABANDON A COLD MACHINE
If after six spins the machine has paid very little, abandon it. Don't
throw good money after bad. If the machine next to it is available, move
over and try the new machine that may be loose. Remember, tight and
loose machines are usually next to each other.
9.) NEVER LEAVE A MACHINE THAT OWES YOU MONEY
Sometimes when you hit a big jackpot, an attendant has to make the
payoff, or you may run into a situation where the machine runs out of
coins. Stay with the machine no matter how long it takes to get the
attendant to arrive. Occasionally a machine malfunctions and you can't
redeem your credits, or the bill acceptor gets hung and eats your
dollars without give you credits. Stay with the machine. If you leave
the machine to get an attendant you will have trouble claiming what is
rightfully yours.
10.) REMEMBER TO PRESS THE CASH OUT BUTTON
Most slot machines accumulate credits as you play, and you must press
the CASH OUT button in order to convert the credits into actual coins.
Even if you have just won a hand-paid jackpot, before leaving the
machine be sure to press the CASH OUT button and be sure the credit
meter reads zero. If it doesn't , call an attendant because the machine
may need a hopper fill, or the coin mechanism may be jammed. On cash
ticket machines, always check the ticket slot. If you are distracted
when you leave your machine and forget to cash out or retrieve the
ticket, someone else will get to enjoy your winnings.
REMEMBER THE MOST IMPORTANT RULE: QUIT WHEN YOU ARE AHEAD AND NEVER QUIT
DURING A WINNING STREAK.
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