FINDING THE BEST SLOT MACHINE
Everyone who has ever played slots for at least five minutes seems to feel that they are qualified to find the best slot machine.
Aug 25, 2006 Learn to Play Slot Machines at the Sahara Hotel & Casino on the strip in Las Vegas. Slot Machines are the most popular Las Vegas c. Class ii slot machines explained In a previous article, we explained the general differences between Class III and Class II slot machines. Most of our coverage here will be about ‘Class III’ machines since those are the type you’re most likely to encounter in a major casino jurisdiction ( Las Vegas, Reno.
'Best' usually means the 'loosest' slot, meaning that the machine seems to pay out more coins than have been played, at least for a time period.There are as many theories as there are people on how to find this elusive machine.
Some people believe strictly in luck.If they were wearing their lucky hat the last time that they played and won, then they will ascribe their luck to this hat and be sure to wear it every time they play.
Others like to talk to the slot machines while they play.I once played next to an elderly lady who started out telling her machine to 'Be good to Mama, Baby,' followed by an occasional pat on the front of the machine.After about thirty minutes her tune had changed to 'Pay up you tight son of a bitch,' followed by a whack on the machine glass.
Some folks like to test the temperature of the machine before they begin playing.If the machine is warmer than the other machines, then this qualifies the machine as a 'hot' one, suitable for play.
Some people will only insert cold coins into a machine, claiming that if warmer coins are used, the machine tightens up.
Many players believe that slots should be played only at night or on the weekends, or some other variation of timing.
Still others believe that the rhythm used in pulling the handle is the secret.Implementation of this theory includes such variations as the short hard pull and the slow, almost delicate pull.Each has its adherents.
Others use the 'the attendant must know' theory and ask the slot attendant which is the best machine to play.A variation of this is to observe another slot machine when playing and if the machine has not paid a jackpot in a long time, to consider playing the machine as it should be ready to pay.
The location within the casino is also important for many players.Some players claim that aisle machines are the best, while others believe that the loosest slots are hidden in back corners so that they don't get much play.
I wish I could tell you that one of these approaches works.You may consider that I have saved you some money, as each of these approaches have been touted at one time or another in slot publications of dubious value.I recently purchased a slot bookwhich spent several pages describing how hot and cold machines are laid out in a casino based on the author's theory of how casino executives are supposed to think.
I don't have much to say about the 'luck' or clairvoyance theories of slot play.Perhaps some folks got it and some don't.I know that I don't do very well when I rely purely on luck.If luck does work, I have the impression that it is a very personal thing, and I don't have any advice on how you may increase yours vis a vis winning at slot machines.I am going to assume that you are like me and believe that luck comes to those who are prepared, so we will concentrate on becoming more prepared.
The time of day theories are really absurd.Many players believe that the casinos can push a button inside a slot, or jiggle a couple of levers and change the payouts.With the microprocessor controlled slots, the chip itself must be changed to affect the payout percentages.Changing the chip requires the skill of a trained technician and several hours work.It is also an expensive proposition for a casino to be constantly changing its slots.You can rest assured that slot payouts in a particular casino will not change with nightfall or from a weekday to a weekend.
Obviously, talking to the machine or even caressing it, is not likely to have any effect on a computer chip controlled mechanism.Neither is the temperature of the machine (which is probably most affected by the temperature around it) nor the warmth of the coins.Slot machine levers have zero influence on the random number generating chip controlled machines.The machines could just as easily be activated by a button (as are the video slots) or a pull string.The days of handles activating gears which determined the rate of spin of the reels are long gone.
All of these theories may occasionally win some money for their adherents, but consider:Randomly selecting any machine may work just as well.
We are after something a little more definitive.Let's look first at some of the characteristics of the different types of slot machines.
One of the attributes we will look for on any machine is the ability to play from one to as many as five coins without any penalty for playing less than the maximum number of coins.Why?Because we want the flexibility to adjust the size of each wager dependent upon the exact playing conditions we are facing at that exact moment.
This condition knocks out of contention any single coin slot machines.With a single coin slot, the only option we have is to insert a coin and pull the lever.It is a win or lose proposition, with no alternatives other than changing machines.To have the best chance of winning, we will demand the flexibility to vary the number of coins based on each individual machine's attributes.
With this one condition, we will rule out play on any of the single coin mechanical machines.This restriction is not too severe, as these machines can only be found in a few downtown casinos in Las Vegas, and scattered about other Nevada sites.
By requiring that no penalty be imposed for playing with less than the maximum number of coins accepted by a particular machine, we will also rule out a number of multipliers which do impose this penalty.We will not want to play on any Option Multipliers (buy-a-pay) slots as these machines bring additional symbols into play with additional coins inserted so that with less than the maximum number of coins played, the number of winning symbols are severely reduced.
Less obviously, but using the same logic, we will reject playing on the Multiple Pay Line machines, which accomplish the same thing as the Option machines by bringing additional pay lines into play as additional coins are inserted.
A second condition we will impose is that the machine we select to play is a High Frequency machine.By high frequency, we mean that the machine has been programmed to pay off many lower payoffs more frequently rather than a very small number of higher payoffs.
Table 15 compares the hypothetical payoffs of Low and High Frequency slot machines.
Table 15.Comparison of High and Low Frequency Slots
High Frequency Payoffs | Low Frequency Payoffs | ||
Payoffs | Percent of Total Paid Out | Payoffs | Percent of Total Paid Out |
2 | 20% | 2 | 10% |
10 | 49% | 5 | 10% |
20 | 25% | 10 | 25% |
100 | 1% | 15 | 32% |
1000 | 18% | ||
Total Payoffs | 95% | 95% |
If we look at the payoff schedules on these two machines, we don't have much of a clue as to which is the higher or lower frequency machine.Both machines have similar payoffs, and both machines will ultimately pay back 95% of the coins played.Having the benefit of using this table, we can see that the high frequency payer will return a higher percentage of the coins played on the payoffs of 20 coins or less.If we add the payoff percentages for all payoffs of 20 coins or less on the high and low payoff machines, we find that 94% of the payoffs on the high frequency version are for payoffs of 2, 10 or 20 coins, while only 77% of the low frequency machine payoffs are for 2, 5, 10 and 15 coin payoffs.
For our purposes, the machine paying 94% of its payoffs on payoffs ranging from 2 to 20 coins is the better machine, as it is more likely that we will hit one or more of these payoffs in short-term play.While the lower frequency machine returns exactly the same overall payback of 95%, it accomplishes this by making fewer lower coin payouts and concentrating a higher amount of its payback in the less frequently hit jackpot payoff of 1,000 coins.
In short-term play, we are not likely to ever hit the jackpot payoff.Since 18% of the slot's overall payback is represented by this jackpot, in simple terms, by not hitting the jackpot, our return will be reduced by 18%, a large percentage of the expected payback.
We discussed locations of slots in a general way in the previous chapter.We found that the best paying slots are located in the state of Nevada, and on the average, the lowest paying slots are in Atlantic City.Of course this is from your and my perspective.If you owned a casino, you would prefer the lower payout Atlantic City slots.
How To Play Slot Machines At Caesars Palace
Another aspect of finding the best slot machine is picking the best casino in the best location.Unfortunately, casinos are not very forthright on their exact hold percentages so that this task is not always that easy.
We can, however, refine our selection process somewhat without knowing the exact hold percentage of each casino.
First, we know that we should confine our play to casinos.Grocery stores, service stations, bars, airports and other non casino locations often have paybacks of from 50% to 75%.Your money will disappear very quickly if you decide to regularly play the slots at Joe's All-Nite Market.Needless to say, you should stick withlegal slot machines.If you decide to play illegal slots, who knows what extortion will be enacted on you.And you will have little recourse if you are cheated.
The airport slots at McCarran International Airport are notoriously tight, although I have been known to play them on occasion to enjoy a diversion not usually found in the airports of the world.An elderly neighbor of my mother had an interesting experience at the Las Vegas airport.His plane was already boarding when he hit a $100 jackpot on a quarter machine.Realizing that he did not have time to change the coins into bills, he began stuffing the quarters into every pocket he had.When he finally waddled onto the plane, with quarters bulging in every pocket, his pants fell down from the weight of the quarters.The entire plane gave him a round of applause.
There are many theories about where the best machines are located in casinos.Some players believe that machines located at the end of aisle hold the key to fame and fortune, while others will swear by different locations.If you have ever read about slots, it is likely that you were treated to the author's pet theories about where the best machines were.
To try to separate truth from fiction, I devised a simple experimental approach.Playing with a group of friends who agreed to participate in the experiment, we played a number of casinos systematically and recorded the results.In order to limit the number of variables for each trip to a casino, we played only the same denomination machines, e.g. nickel, quarter, dollar or five dollar machines.Our only variation in these experiments was the location of the slots in the casinos.Each trial was at least at hour long, each player used the same session bankroll, and each player played at roughly the same speed.Over the years, I was able to accumulate a number of these trials.While admittedly deficient in a number of ways (for example we played on slots manufactured by different companies, rather than same company slots, and all of our trips were to Las Vegas so that we didn't 'sample' other slot venues), I feel that the results clearly indicate a pattern of placement of slots by the casino executives.
We refined the terms 'loose and tight' to include three categories of machines:
Loose machines were those whose estimated paybacks were from 97—99%.
Middle paying machines paid out at from 93—96%.
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Tight slots paid out less than 93% of the coins played.
Let's apply these criteria to different slot denominations.
This chapter continues and with specific information about where the best paying slots are found.Read about it in Super Slots!
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We have compiled a comprehensive selection of articles, YouTube videos, and podcasts about slot machines and how to win the slot machine jackpot! Learn how to play slot machines and how these complex machines work. Find out how to win on slot machines by reading these unique strategies from slot experts. Read and listen to interviews with the experts to learn slot machine tips and advice on the best slot machines to play.
Click the links below to read the articles and hear the podcasts.
- Video Podcast – Slot Machines – When to Bet Maximum Coins with Steve Bourie
- Video Podcast – Answers to Common Slot Machine Questions with John Grochowski
- Video Podcast – How to Win on Slot Machines with slot expert Frank Legatoi
- Video Podcast – Slot Machines how they work and how to win with Steve Bourie
- Video Podcast – All about Slot Machines with Michael “Wizard of Odds” Shackleford
- Audio Podcast – Everything you ever wanted to know about slot machines with slot expert Frank Legato
- Audio Podcast – Slot Machines, how to win and how they work with slot expert John Robison
- Audio Podcast – Winning on Slot machines with slots expert Frank Legato
- Audio Podcast – Slot machine myths with slots expert John Robison
- Audio Podcast – Slot machines with John Growchowski
A detailed look at slot machines and how they work
These gambling machines have three or more spinning reels which display symbols. The goal is to spin the reels and have the symbols match up to form winning combinations. In order to play, you would place a bet, spin the reels and hope for the best possible winning combination.
Over the years these machines have evolved and modern slots are more exciting than ever. The majority of slots are played online through online casinos. The best online casinos offer hundreds of slots titles to choose from, and these modern online slots can offer up to millions of dollars in rewards.
So where do you start?
How to play slot machines
The first step in spinning those internet reels is finding an online casino or a selection of online casino games that look promising to you. You can start by reading our online casino reviews to see which ones suit your personal gambling preferences. Online casinos are constantly trying to keep up with their competitors by having the best software, best game selections, and of course, the best offers.
If you are interested in starting on the slot machines, it would be wise to look for those offers. With increasing competition comes better deals and more FREE MONEY! Online casinos love to boast about their long lists of slots titles and massive game selections. Therefore, you can often find casino bonuses that score you all kinds of free play on slots and other online casino games. The most common type of no-deposit bonuses is free spins bonuses. All you need to do is register with an online casino and start playing - no download or deposit necessary!
How to win at slots
Slot machines are much less intimidating compared to table games. There is not a huge deal of strategy involved. If you want to win the slot machine jackpot, you have to bet some money and for the most part, hope for the best. However, there are some slot machine tips that can increase your winning odds and help guide you to the best slot machines to play.
Modern-day slots are controlled by a random number generator (RNG) which is used to generate completely random number combinations. This controls the payback percentage for each slot machine. The RNG is programmed to have a specific payback percentage for its respective slot game. Usually, the more money the machine requires per bet, the higher the payback percentage will be. These payback percentages are rarely ever changed due to the amount of work it requires to make these revisions.
So how much are you willing to gamble? Knowing how much risk you are willing to take is an indicator of how much money you could walk away with. What kind of slots player are you? Are you someone who likes to go in big and take your chances at the progressive jackpot slots who are you okay will going in small and walking away with a bit at a time?
A game’s volatility refers to how much risk is involved with that game title. If you are aware of the volatility of the particular slots you wish to play, you will have an idea of how frequently you can expect the slot to pay out and how to win on slot machines. Low volatility slots will hit frequently but have lower payouts, while high volatility slots will hit less frequently, however, will payout in much higher amounts.
Once you have made this determination, then choose your slots accordingly. When playing slots, always bet high enough to activate a new set of winning symbols. This will increase the overall payback percentage. When betting on progressives, always play the games with the highest jackpots and be sure to bet the maximum amount of coins in order to be eligible to win this jackpot.
It is very important to familiarize yourself with the slots you choose to play. Different titles have different return-to-player (RTP) rates. RTP refers to the funds a player is expected to win back from a certain game over a predetermined amount of time. This percentage is a theoretical number usually used as a reference. The average RTP rate for online slots is 96% however, some online slots have extremely high RTP rates.
Scoring the slot machine jackpot
The best slot machines to play are arguably the progressive slots. These slot machine jackpots titles can pay upwards of $1 million. However, the odds of actually winning are extremely slim. Our experts have taken a look at these and have studied what increases your chances on how to win at slots with progressive jackpots.
The progressive jackpot slots are made from a percentage of the money played in the slot titles included. As more and more players put money into the progressive jackpot, the total grows until one lucky winner gets the winning combination. The payback percentage on the other winning symbols will pay out less and not all progressive slots will payout the same. It is a good idea to learn as much as you can about the types of slots you wish to play, so you can know what to expect from them.
Finding the best slot machines to play
The most advantageous way to browse slot machines is through finding bonuses and special offers. This way, you can try out different games without risking your own money. There are many different ways you can claim casino bonuses and these bonuses all come in different forms.
Oftentimes, online casinos will advertise their game selections by offering free play bonuses and free spins bonuses. These casino bonuses allow you to try out online casino games before registering with a casino or depositing your own money. Free play and free spins bonuses are a great way for online casinos to reel in new customers. There are so many casino options on the market, it can be tough competition for casinos.
Once you have found an online casino or a few online casinos that you feel are a good fit, you can register and receive your welcome bonuses. Welcome bonuses are offered once you have signed up with an online casino. This is a great way for the online casino to reward you for choosing them. Welcome bonuses usually include a certain amount of free spins and free play as well, so that you can start feeling comfortable with the selection of games offered.
When you think you are ready to start depositing your own money, you can expect to start receiving the big bonuses. Online casinos will often offer first deposit bonuses, and some even offer second and third deposit bonuses! These are usually the biggest bonuses, oftentimes offering a 100% match bonus on the first (sometimes even second and third) deposit. This means that if you deposit $500 into an online casino to start playing, they will match you, giving you a FREE $500 to play with. Think of all the spins you can achieve with that!
Of course, you will get to keep your winnings, however, most online casinos will have wagering requirements attached to their bonuses. Always read the terms and conditions before you deposit your money to avoid any disappointment.