Learning how to win at slot machines is an elusive goal pursued by slots fans around the globe. While the flashing lights and colorful video sequences are enough to whet their appetite, most slots devotees won’t be satisfied until they’ve hit a progressive jackpot or two. In this article, we’ll look at some winning slot machine tactics and tips, as well as exposing some truths about the game that most players prefer to ignore.
The Cold Hard Truth about Slots
There is no magic formula for beating the slots. There’s also a reason why slots comprise the majority of any casino’s revenue: they take in more money than they pay out. If some way to “beat” slots actually existed, don’t think for a minute that casino management wouldn’t find a way to overcome or eliminate it. At the very least, they would just start banning anyone who used such a method.
Sep 11, 2017 The same is true for slot machines at the end of long rows. Pop down from your room, take some cash from a loose machine at the end of the row on the way and you’re off to the buffet or show before anyone even know you won at slots. This is seen as a marketing loss the casino takes seriously. The best online slots at casinos are as simple as spin and win, making them ridiculously easy to play. With just the press of a few buttons, you could be playing slot machines online either for.
At best, playing slots is a fun yet totally uncontrollable experience. Thanks to the random number generator installed in all modern video slots, each spin has the same chance of winning (or losing) as every spin before it.
The best slots strategy is to admit that the game is a crapshoot. Once you’ve broken free of the superstitions that many players cling to, you’ll be able to enjoy the game with a more relaxed attitude.
Since Charles Fey invented the slot machine in the late 19th century, players have been trying to figure out how to gain an advantage over the house. Some have developed elaborate methods of cheating, others have resorted to flawed slot systems, and even more have utilized the slot machine tactics discussed in this article.
Please note that slot machine tactics will not magically allow you to determine where the symbols line up on any given spin; no expert or system can make that guarantee, and if they do they’re lying. However, there are numerous slot machine strategies that will allow you to maximize your fun and get the most out of your bankroll. While you might not win more, there’s a strong possibility that you’ll lose less. For most players, that’s an edge worth pursuing.
Chasing Payout Percentages
The payout percentage on a slot machine is the amount of money it will pay out over its lifetime. For example, a slot with a 95% payout percentage will pay back 95% of the 100% that’s deposited into it; the house will wind up with a 5% profit. These are long-term estimates, however, meaning that anything can happen in the short term.
Slots traditionally offer a payout percentage ranging from 82% to 98%, although the exact number can vary depending on state laws. If a player can find out the exact payout percentage of multiple slots, he can then choose to play the machine with the higher expected return. Unfortunately, there are two major stumbling blocks to this tactic. First, a machine with a higher payout percentage may not pay significantly more in the short term. Second, casinos tend to be secretive when it comes to releasing these figures. However, if you do find a slot with a 98% payout percentage, you’d be a fool not to try it
Tips for Beating Slot Machines
While there’s no way to guarantee a successful slots session, there are other ways to leave the casino a winner. Chief among them is maximizing the amount of fun you have, and this often goes hand-in-hand with making your bankroll last as long as possible. The following tips are designed to help you do just that.
Bankroll Management – It’s difficult to beat a slot machine if you’ve run out of money. That’s why learning how to manage your bankroll is the most important skill that any player can develop. First, calculate how much money you can afford to lose. You need to be honest with yourself during this phase, as you don’t want to spend funds that are needed elsewhere (such as credit card payments, rent, etc.).
Second, make sure that you only take this amount of money with you to the casino. If you’re playing online, only deposit an amount into your account that you can afford to part with.
Don’t Be Afraid of Switching – Some players will spend hours pumping coins into the same machine, even if they’re getting nothing in return. This is often because they’re afraid of walking away from a slot that’s about to get “hot.” Don’t fall into this trap. If you lose continuously at a specific game, don’t be shy about getting up and moving to another machine. Your luck might not improve, but at least you’ll get a change of scenery.
Know the Slots – If you’re going to play a slot machine, it’s important to be familiar with it. How many paylines does it offer? What is the maximum bet? Older machines will have the winning combinations printed on their front, while most video slots will provide you with the same information by pressing a button. You should never let ignorance about a game interfere with your enjoyment.
Find the Perfect Slot – One of the best ways to beat a slot is to find a game that suits your needs. Do you want to play for a long time without spending a lot of money? If so, then you may want to stick with penny slots. Do you want to risk more money for the chance to hit a major payday? If this is the case, then you’ll want to check out the progressive jackpots at the casino. Just remember that online casinos and brick-and-mortar establishments have slot machines that are perfect for every player (unless your definition of “perfect” is a machine that pays out with every spin).
Play Max Coins on Progressives – Some gamblers will tell you to always play the maximum number of coins, but this isn’t always necessary. Many of the lower-end slots will provide decent paydays even if you’re making smaller wagers. The major exception is with progressive slots, where you do have to make the maximum wager in order to be eligible for the top prize. If your bankroll can afford it, this is a chance to become a millionaire within a matter of seconds.
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Beat The Slots At Casinos
Facing the truth about the randomness of slot machines can be deflating at first, but it will set you free in the long term. By managing your bankroll, picking the right machine, and using a little common sense, you can win at slot machines even if you leave the casino with empty pockets.
by Leslie McDonald
Always sign up for the casino’s reward program. I’ve never understood the paranoia some players have about these programs. Yes, playing with your casino rewards card allows the casino to track your play. This is very valuable information. You’re letting the casino look over your shoulder, so to speak, and observe your gambling habits. In exchange for this information, the casino offers a variety of perks: from discounts at the dining venues to automatic bonuses while you play to entries in sweepstakes and giveaways. Even if you don’t intend to stay long or play much, you should sign up for the program. Casinos always have incentives and promotions for new member sign-ups.
Here’s what the casino cannot do with the information you give us: we cannot affect the outcome of the games you play. There is no office where we sit with a big red jackpot button and decide who wins and who loses. We cannot tap into your bank account or access your social security card. And we don’t sell your information to third parties or share it with the government unless you win and we have to report it to the IRS or you’re caught laundering your drug money, in which case signing up for the rewards program probably isn’t a good idea.
Ask and you shall receive. The people who work in guest services put up with a ton of shit. If you are polite, good looking, friendly in a non-creepy way, and actually spending money at the casino and not trying to get something for nothing, guest services will bend over backwards to comp you. What does this mean? It depends on how much money you’re spending, but it can mean free meals and hotel rooms, a limo ride home, concert tickets, green fees, invitations to the tribe’s luxury box at pro sporting events, etc. Typically, only the head(s) of guest services can authorize high-level comps, so find out who they are and ask them directly. The easiest way to do this is to pick up a house phone (they’re everywhere if you look for them) and ask to speak with the director of guest services. Use your common sense: don’t ask for a free buffet on mother’s day when the line stretches out the door. And if the casino has a hotel always, always, always ask for a free night. Many Indian casinos struggle to put bodies in the beds on a regular basis and they want to keep you on the property.
Indian casinos can be dangerous places. Be extra mindful when entering or leaving an Indian casino as the guests drive like maniacs. A bad night on the slot machines can negatively impact a guest’s concentration. Worse than the losers are those whose eagerness to gamble makes them reckless with anticipation. This goes double on weekend nights at casinos that serve alcohol, particularly those in remote locations. At Thunderclap, a state road runs along the edge of the reservation, separating the casino from the shops and fast food restaurants across the street. Even though there’s a stoplight exclusively for pedestrian use, every year someone gets killed. They see the bright lights and think they’re at Disneyland and get mowed down by a pick-up truck.
Be safe with your money. You wouldn’t flash your bankroll in a 7-Eleven, so you shouldn’t do it at a casino. Don’t let the fancy chandeliers fool you. If you stood at the entrance for an hour and saw all the people they let in the place you’d watch your back a lot more carefully than you do. Casinos are reasonably safe, but remember the casino is mostly interested in the security of its own money, not yours. Case in point, if you’ve won big and you’re not a particularly attractive man and you suddenly find yourself receiving amorous attention from a beautiful young woman, you should be very suspicious.
Also, watch out for tweakers.
The best deals at an Indian casino are usually in the restaurants. Most casinos have a food and beverage department headed by an experienced chef, but they’re probably not pouring their heart and soul into preparing the menu for the buffet. (There are exceptions, however.) The best value in the house can generally be found at the fanciest restaurant. The price of the least expensive entrée is likely comparable to what you’ll pay for a trip to the buffet and you’ll have a much better culinary experience. Also, lines for the buffet can be long and time-consuming, particularly during peak hours and holidays, while the upscale restaurant sits relatively empty.
While we’re on the subject of food, find out what the casino does well. Are they known for their prime rib? Seafood spread? Do they have a pastry chef that serves up astonishing desserts? It pays to find out. While the lines for the prime rib or seafood buffets may be prohibitive, chances are these menu items will be excellent everywhere in the casino. For example, Thunderclap has a pastry chef that regularly wins awards for her cakes. She supervises the entire department. So not only are the desserts in the high-end restaurants exceptional, but the sweets at the coffee cart and in the bingo snack bar are pretty amazing, too. And they cost a lot less.
Finally, if you’re over three-hundred pounds and so is your wife and your children are well on their way to childhood obesity and early-onset diabetes, please don’t be rude to me while you ask for directions to the buffet for I will not be able to conceal my contempt for you and the decisions you make for you and your family. I’ll be honest with you, I’m not even going to try, and all of us will be worse off for the encounter.
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