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Gaming Guru  Is This a Penny Machine or a Quarter Machine?29 June 2009
Dear Brett, Just a few years ago, Downtown Las Vegas was the only place you could find penny slots. Now you can even find them at the poshest casinos on the strip. But penny slots create a problem for casino management. If a player bets only a few pennies per spin, the slots can't earn enough money to justify their placement on the slot floor. The solution is to gave players more. One way to get them to bet more is to offer bonuses for max-coin play on a line or overall on the machine. Another way to get players to bet more is to have a minimum bet, just like the minimum bet at a table game. Are you sure that you had to bet in 25-cent increments? I haven't played a minimum-bet machine yet, so I don't have any firsthand experience with them. When manufacturers first discussed programming in a minimum-bet requirement a few years ago, the thinking was that it didn't matter how you got to the minimum, just that you bet at least the minimum. One way to meet the minimum on a 25-line machine is as you described, one coin on each of 25 lines. Others are to bet five coins on five lines or three coins on 10 lines or 25 coins on one line. We're in uncharted territory with these machines. I don't know that any jurisdiction has updated its rules to deal with these machines specifically. As for my views, if the machine operated as you described (you can bet in 25-cent increments only), then it's no different from playing a quarter machine. On the other hand, if it's a penny-denominated machine with a 25-cent minimum, the situation is murkier. Do we call it a penny machine or a quarter machine? Looking at table games for an analogous situation, a $10 minimum table is a $10 table, even though you can bet $15 or $11. The minimum bet determines the "denomination." But in the slot world in the past, the denomination has determined not only the minimum bet, but also the minimum increment. You bet in credits and the denomination specified how much each credit is worth. So, should this machine be in with the penny machines or the quarter machines? I went back and forth many times until I arrived at the correct conclusion. I'm going to come down on the side of protecting players. Players sitting down at quarter machines know they are going to have to bet at least 25-cents per machine. Players sitting down at penny machines expect to have to bet at least a penny. I think a 25-cent minimum machine belongs with the quarter machines. Best of luck in and out of the casinos, Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question. This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network, John Robison managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. What Is Keno Tracking?27 June 2009
Dear John,
On my last visit to my local casino, I had two security guards come up to me and accuse me of "tracking" on the keno machine I was playing, and threatened to take the cards "away" on which I had some favorite birthday numbers written down!
... (read more)
Are the Amounts I Win in Bonus Rounds Pre-Determined?22 June 2009
John,
Enjoy the column. It makes me a more knowledgeable slot player. If only it could make me luckier.
Your comment about VLTs choosing an outcome when a game is initiated reminded me of a question I've had for a while. I know the outcome of a spin is determined when you push the button ... (read more)
Does Your Knowledge of Slot Operations Give You an Advantage?15 June 2009
John:
I have often wondered if someone with your knowledge of slot machines could likely do a better job of winning at a typical slot. Better job than who you ask. I mean the guy off the streets who does not make his living in gaming. Question: Does your knowledge of slot operation give you ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Hit Frequency, Reno, Atlantic City, Double UpHi there, Has there ever been any research done into what number of times a slot machine will pay "anything" during one hundred spins on the average? I have counted many times and find the average slot machine will pay roughly 16 times out of 100 spins. That includes winning a lowly cherry return to a bigger win. ... (read more)Ask the Slot Expert (Slot Machine Pay Off)Dear John, In reference to the reader's question about slot machines where you play for gold or silver tokens: In Las Vegas, many of the casinos have 25-cent slots that pay off a $10 jackpot with a $10 silver souvenir token. ... (read more)Declare Your Independence from the SlotsOn this Independence Day as we celebrate 226 years of independence from the tyranny of the British, consider making your own Declaration of Independence from the tyranny of the slot machines. You don't have to stop playing machines altogether. Just switch to playing video ... (read more)The Slot Expert's Guide to Winning at Slots: The Best Number of Coins to PlayEvery casino guide to gaming recommends playing maximum coins on all slot machines. And almost everyone who's written a book about slots also recommends playing maximum coins when playing a slot machine. I analyzed over 1,000 slot machine programs and I discovered that ... (read more) |
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