There are several times when you should seriously walk away.
When it is no longer fun.
when you have spent too much of your gambling money
If you realize you are suffering slot hypnosis, Dazed and waiting for the machine to “hit”, Because it must give me a jackpot after all the losing spins, the next one is bound to be a winner! (sign of gambling addiction)
When it’s 3 am and you are incapable of making any decision, good or bad
After you get a nice (or any) win – take the money and celebrate with a break – shopping or Starbucks or a celebratory dinner
This little lockbox can help you go home with more cash – something you definitely want to try (it is enforced discipline). Also makes a good gift for the Slot Maven in your life!
Gambling at Casinos is fun but losing money is not – don’t bet more than you plan to lose, and try to enjoy the game! Jackpots are not common, so adjust your mindset for enjoyment – not a big (and elusive) payday! Anytime you leave the casino with money is a win! (Even if you lost a few bucks in the process). Best of Luck!
It really is about what you want to do – extend your play or just lose the $100 quickly on a high-limit slot machine and go home.
Personally, I would suggest finding a machine that has a relatively low max bet, or a .50 to $1.50 bet (with good low wager returns), and get more pulls for your money plus any winnings (which give you more pulls if you don’t cash out).
If you make a decent win, like several hundred dollars, pull some out and continue the strategy, so you can play longer at the machine – and increase the odds of winning by having more spins. And you would be playing with the money you won, not your original $100 bankroll. Remember, anytime you walk out of the casino with money – you are a winner. And if you have fun, even better!
This article talks about it in some detail:
Using Probability When Hitting the Slot Machines – dummies
Remember, machines with “guaranteed” 90% payouts mean guaranteed 10% Losses on average over time. Unless you have luck with you and make a big win, it is unlikely that you will win the big progressive (unless you are playing Max Bet, and very lucky). So Play for fun and extend your play on machines you ENJOY playing!
And, if you want to make max bet on progressive machines, Look at the paytables to see what smaller wins you can get. Pay tables tell you a lot, and give you an idea how the machine will reward winning combinations. and the amount of the Max bet will tell you how many spins to expect for your $100 gaming investment.
You can also divide your $100 into 5 twenty-dollar “sessions” at different slot machines. This is a tactic known as “session gambling”. If you make a win (doubling or tripling your $20 or more), you can cash out and start another session. This gives you a better handle of how your gaming is progressing, and will break up your time at the casino with different machines. You can also end a session early if the machine is “cold”, before it gobbles up your entire twenty!
My favorite Bonus is the Silver Strike collectible casino coin.
This is one from my collection
They come from Silver Strike slot machines, that look like this:
Most modern casinos don’t have these machines (anymore) because they are mechanical machines, not digital, and the souvenir coins cost more than many casino’s are willing to pay for a “give-a-way”.
Personally, I love them, they are a cool souvenir! There is even a “Silver Strikers Club” that has meets at the 4Queens casino every year (the 4 Queens has several machines still in service, and mints event and seasonal coins throughout the year).
silver Strike coins from closed, sold, and re-named casinos are available on Ebay and Amazon. It’s an inexpensive way to have a unique and historical souvenir from Old Las Vegas.
If you want a shot at winning anything on slot machines, you have to play. The Longshot win of someone putting a quarter in a machine and winning a million dollars is Hollywood, but it can happen. (and yes, I do put my few dollars in the giant slot machine when you enter the casino, you never know).
Apart from playing more equals more chances to win (or lose, if you look at it that way), I am a low-roller and a “session” gambler, extending play with lower wagers and $10 – $20 sessions. Winning “big” is a factor of the RNG, the “Random Number generator” that determines the outcome each time you spin. Each spin has an equal chance of winning, although larger progressive jackpots are only paid when the maximum is bet.
While I would be exuberantly happy and excited with a big jackpot, I have never won more than about $200 on any one machine. The real payout is the fun you have with a machine that has aliens, stampedes, hay-wires, super Heroes, or free spins.
So my answer is that I play, to increase the possibility of winning – but luck and the RNG have not granted the “big wins”. (YET).
Slot machine payouts are at regulated percentages over the lifetime of the machine. The machines are regulated, the payouts are calculated over the lifetime of the machine, and – unless the machine is reprogrammed – the RNG (Random Number generator) chip determines the win or lose on each wager. so the machine does not care what day of the week it is, just the RNG.
Having said that, it is obvious that some casinos have increased numbers of PLAYERS on the weekends, and more people playing means that (overall) there is a potential for more winners (and losers), although statistically the odds are the same.
A good read on Amazon
There are machines that use “gaming psychology” to make you feel that winning 50 cents on a dollar bet is a “CONGRATULATIONS!! YOU WON FIFTY CENTS!!” event, when in fact you LOST fifty cents on that wager. Each wager is a random event, so gamble responsibly, understand the payout tables, and avoid superstitions like any machine is “overdue for a big win”.
Play games you enjoy, and have fun at, and walk away when you have invested an amount you are comfortable wagering. Personally, I am a “session gambler”, and will play a variety of machines when I am in a gambling mood.
Great shirt from Amazon; click on it for more choices!
I have touched on the subject before, so take a look at my shameless self promotion:
Slot machines are REGULATED, not “rigged” (or programmed to cheat you for the owners benefit).
Regulated slot machines have payouts that are set by the gaming commission, based on the configuration of the machine. This guarantees the payout percentage of the machine, and also guarantees the percentage of profit that the casino can get from each machine.
Having said that, casinos don’t require a dealer to stand at the machine, and cost very little floor space in relation to the money they make for the casino. When you see a casino with 3,000 slot machines and only 50 gaming tables, it’s obvious that the slot machines make a handsome income for the casino.
Modern slot machines are also more complicated than the old 3-reel slot machines of old; you can wager on 10, 20, 50, or more lines at a time, and at different denominations. basic slot psychology says you have to bet more to win more and the flashing lights lure you in to one more spin…..
Even though the machines are regulated, Slot machines are still games of chance and you have the possibility of a large jackpot – but your winning is NOT guaranteed.
Rather than be upset you are not getting the jackpots you deserve, I strongly urge you to play only slots that are entertaining or fun – and play for the fun! Don’t anticipate winning, as jackpots are random and unpredictable events. limit your contribution to the slot machines, and take frequent breaks to enjoy the ambiance of the casino, and keep a little more of your bankroll out of the casino’s coffers.
Also use your players card! that is the casino’s measure for giving you back some of your wagers in exchange for food, prizes, or points. It isn’t much for me (I am a session gambler and a known “low-roller”).
Also look at the paytables, and bet accordingly. they are not all the same!
The secret to how I win at slots:
I own 2 antique slot machines. Hopefully all my houseguests bring spare change. And trust me, they are really loose! (I would never lie). It’s a great way to monetize my home. You can buy one of your own on eBay.
Thanks for the A2A!
Disclaimer: I own 2 slot machines, so technically I am a Casino owner, such as it is. I also enjoy writing about gaming on my blog, www.thechenkinreport.com.
Slot attendants, and floor mechanics do not know what machines are likely to pay out. The payouts are triggered by a slot machines RNG (random Number generator), and there is no way to know when the next payout will occur, and how big it is.
Some casinos do print a “hot sheet”, which shows which machines are paying out the most, and the staff may share that with you (if their casino prints it, and lets them share). A hot sheet usually shows that the machines with the most play have the most winners – not which machines are “overdue” to release a huge payday for a lucky gambler.
It would be more prudent for a gambler (IMHO) to pay attention to the pay tables on any machine they fancy. As an example, progressive slot machines will only make huge payouts if you bet the maximum ONLY – so it is smart to play progressive machines only with a maximum bet. If you are killing time and want to extend your play by betting smaller amounts, choose a machine that pays out proportionately on any bet. Or the smaller bet you are willing to wager.
Every play on the slot machine has the same odds of winning – despite our belief system that may believe luck, fate, lucky rabbits feet, and timing are somehow working in our karmic favor.
Even if the slot attendant had a “hunch” that some machines are ready to “hit”, they would not tell you – because they could get fired if you did not win and complained to the floor manager. It most likely violates their employment agreement as well. Most would suggest that “people seem to be having good luck over there” implying that you move to some other, more popular, machines.
Rather than pester the low-paid slot attendants, you would do well to become a “session” gambler, to prevent giving your entire bankroll to one machine – or one table. For example, if a session gambler is going to wager a total of $500 on a visit to the casino, the gambler can make that 10 $50 “sessions”. Putting $50 into the machine to start the session, and playing it until:
The $50 is gone (start a new session at a different machine)
A Jackpot came in for $100 or more (cash out that session and start a new one on the same machine, if you think it’s hot, but put that $100 or more in your winnings pocket). FYI – A slot machine will take back your entire winnings and your bankroll over time; move around a bit.
The Big Jackpot came in (call me, I will tell you how to manage it!)
If you happen to meet a regular at the casino, that person can be a goldmine of information (“nobody wins at those machines”) (“people who play the double diamond machine always seem to win big”). These observations may be coming from a half drunk casino dweller, or an “out on the town” businessman, but the insight may be thought provoking. Some machines will take your money faster, so it may seem that “no one wins” on those machines.
So keep your eyes and ears open, watch your bankroll (sessions), talk to the locals, understand the paytables, and try not to get mad or cry if your not winning; it may not be your lucky day – so try the buffet!
If you take the time to learn and practice discipline in the casino, you will keep your spending in check, limit impulsive bets, and teach yourself to look beyond the machines and take in the ambience. You might even have fun!
I hope you found my point of view enlightening and informative.
At this time, IGT has not licensed the Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Slot machine for on-line gaming; you will need to find a physical casino that has one on it’s gaming floor.
How to find a specific Slot Machine:
Most casinos have a “Slot Finder” tool on their website, or list all the available slot machines they currently have in operation. Some of the larger casino websites have location maps so you can find them easier.
Since all Casino’s change up their mix of machines, it is always a good idea to ask the slot attendant if they know of the machine you are looking for. If the casino does not have a slot finder, you can call the casino directly and ask if they have that machine on the floor.
Marilyn Monroe is a very popular theme at the Casinos.
One of the hardest disciplines to learn is managing your bankroll, or gambling money. I would recommend that you learn to be a session gambler. Divide your bankroll into smaller piles. For example, take a one hundred dollar bill and divide it into 5 $20 dollar sessions. When you play a machine, only put in one $20 bill, (or one session). when the $20 is consumed, your session has ended, and you make the decision to switch machines or start a new session. If you jackpot, cash-out and end that session – put that money in your back pocket, for later. If you blow all 5 sessions, hang it up – take a break, and see what else you can do at the casino!
Don’t be afraid to take a few minutes and review the paytables on the machines; paytables have a significant impact on your potential winnings. Progressive slot machines (where a bank of slots contribute to the pool of prize money) usually require a Maximum Bet to get the big prize. You can bet less, but that means if you roll the winning combination – you may get a small payout or NOTHING. Other machines may have graduated payouts regardless of your bet; so if you are playing small wagers to extend your play time at the machine, seek out these machines so you don’t miss any winning opportunities!
Keep an eye on the slot machines maximum bet – usually expressed in credits; wagering 500 credits on a penny machine is $5.00 for that spin of the reels! If your session is $20, that is only 4 spins – if your session is $100, then you have 20 spins. More spins mean more opportunity to win (or lose). Many hard core slot machine players feel you have to wager $200 – $300 on a machine, in order to get any significant winnings. Decide in advance what your gambling budget is, and space it over your time in the casino – then you have an idea what you are willing to spend on gaming, and can strategize the most practical way to meter your wagering.
If you bump into a slot attendant, they may have a “hot sheet” of machines that have the larger payouts on the floor. Not all casinos distribute or publish this information, and it usually just tells you which machines are played the most, which is why they have the bigger payouts.
These books can be very helpful. Read all you can. Now that slots are mostly electronic, the math and “gambler psychology” play into how the machines work. Pay attention to paytables, progressives, and the type of machine you are playing!
