From: “Slot Player”
To: Mac McClellan
I have been very impressed by the Peppermill and I love the slots. I have been told that slot payoffs can be set to escalate at certain hours of the day-do you know? Any tips on slots?
Mac McClellan wrote:
The Peppermill is a favorite of ours (as you can tell from the blog). Concerning Reel Slots (regular slot machines as opposed to Video Poker):
Individual machines can be set up to pay off anywhere from 100% on down. But contrary to belief of many, there’s no “switch” in a control room that they can throw and change the payout. A technician has to open up the machine to do this.
You can’t tell how good a slot machine is by looking at it, with a few exceptions. If a bank of machines has a sign over it that says “99% payout” then every machine in that bank must pay 99%. However, if the sign says “up to 99% payout” then only one machine must pay at 99% and the others can pay at whatever they want to set them for.
Generally speaking payouts at better casinos (better for players) are:
*Dollar and up reel slots pay in the 97% to 99% range
*Quarter slots pay in the 95% to 99% range
*Nickel and penny slots pay in the 85% to 99% range.
Casinos in most states are required to report their machine settings to the gaming commission. Here are actual average payouts for the Reno Nevada area. Remember that this includes ALL the machines in town, not just those in major casinos. That’s why the percentages seem so low:
Denomination Payback %
Penny Slots 91.89
Nickle Slots 92.46
Quarter Slots 93.87
Dollar Slots 95.82
What’s so good about Video Poker? You can tell what the machine will pay out (over the long run) by looking at the paytable. That is, assuming you know the basic strategy for that machine and follow it. Payouts above 99% are typical. Add in comps and you’re breaking even (and sometimes getting ahead)
This is similar to Blackjack. If you know and follow basic strategy many blackjack games are 99% payout or higher.
Video poker is one of the only games around where you’ll sometimes have a slight advantage. This is usually when there’s a progressive and the RF is over 150% of normal.
HOWEVER (a big however) if you DON’T know basic strategy for a VP machine, you’re better off playing Quarter or Dollar slots! That’s because making wrong choices on a VP machine can drive the expected payout down below 90%.
Now, all this is immaterial if you are bored by video poker. If you really like slots better, I suggest sticking to Dollar slots, or Quarters with a progressive. Look for banks of machines with signs as discussed above (don’t know if Peppermill has any of these or not).
Here’s a good FAQ on video poker: http://members.cox.net/vpfree/FAQ.htm
Hope this has answered your question. Write back if you have others.
Mac
From: Slot Player
To: Mac McClellan
I have been told that machines have daily timer capability, where the payout varies by time of day. I often feel that I can tell when a game is dead by the spin occurrences, say the 3 lines cannot be made to hit the mark together, etc. Do you know if this is possible? Can one profit by finding machines that are “hot” or are they always random, as some say. Any good info on the non-pokers?
Mac McClellan wrote:
It sure seems like they’re “dead” at times doesn’t it. It’s normal, but it’s not controlled by time of day. They’re set to pay a certain % in the “long run”. For example, over the course of the whole year. Casinos can change payout by changing the internal chip, but they don’t do this very often.
Slot machines pay-out cycle is like the weather. The place where you live has average highs/lows and the annual average temp is usually very close to the same as last year (if you add up all 365 days). However, on any one day it may be very hot or very cold. It’s the same way with slots.
The reels that you see on a slot machine are just there so you have something to look at. The outcome is decided as soon as you hit the button, and the reels are just showing you the result.
In the long run, on average, a person won’t make a profit on reel slots. However, playing smart and enjoying your comps you can have a good time, and if you hit a big jackpot it can be very nice. One big jackpot can make up for several years of small losses!
General Slots Tips
1. Avoid penny or nickel slots, because they’re programmed to pay the lowest %. They take up same space on the floor as Quarter or Dollar machines, so the casino needs a higher take to make them profitable.
2. Sit a budget and stick to it. (If tip #1 conflicts with tip#2, follow tip#2 always)
3. Only play with “full coin” on progressive or bonus machines. For example. On a 3 coin machine, the top jackpot for 1 coin may be $100, the top jackpot for 2 coins $200, and the top jackpot for 3 coins $1000. You should always play 3 coins in this type of machine, because you’d hate to hit the “big one” and only get $100.
A friend of ours saw a man hit a progressive $1 machine once. The jackpot was over $300,000 but he didn’t get it – because he only had one coin in the machine. So, if your bankroll won’t allow for 3 coins in a dollar machine, don’t just drop one coin! Move to a Quarter machine and put in 3 coins.
4. If you play progressive machines, only play local progressives. Machines such as “MegaBucks” with multi million dollar payoffs are linked to MegaBucks machines in other casinos. To build up that huge jackpot they must “hit” at a lower rate. Trying to win the top prize is like playing the lottery. (But it’s fun to put in a $20 every now and then — I play the lottery.)
5. The best play is usually a bank of Quarter or Dollar machines, where the top prize is a nice bonus, many times more than the 2nd prize. (Especially if there’s signage above them showing a high minimum payback as mentioned earlier.)
6. Of course, make sure you have your players club card inserted — I’m sure you know this, but I had to mention it. Comps are a nice addition to the play
Good Luck!
Mac
From: Slot Player
To: Mac McClellan
My favorite machine has been the $1 Wheel of Fortune…I often use the 1 bet option when the machine seems stuck on 1 reel on the payline only. I also have experimented with hitting the spin button after the spin, which seems to alter (shorten )the spin duration. I assume you feel these are wasted efforts?
Mac McClellan wrote:
Wheel of Fortune is the most popular slot machine on earth (or if not, it was #1 for several years). It has some nice payouts even without hitting the mega-jackpot, but the chance to hit that big one is one reason you play, right?So if you’re not having any luck on the $1 wheel, and the day’s gambling budget is hurting, instead of playing just one dollar, I’d recommend moving to the Quarter WOF machines and playing full coin. This way you’re eligible for the jackpot. Regarding experiments on hitting the spin button, my opinion may surprise you. Technically, you can have no effect on the outcome; however, LUCK is important in all kinds of gambling, and anything that you feel brings you luck is probably a good idea. It can’t hurt! And hey, this is supposed to be entertaining too, right? The first game I really loved was Craps, and you know, there are more superstitions around the Crap table than anywhere else in the casino!
Happy travels, and good luck,