Slots slots advice for a newbie

OK- so I want to get a change of pace occasionally from Blackjack. Was thinking about trying the slots, esp. since these seem to really give you brownie points quickly. I was wondering which machines I should look for that are less a rip off than most! I've read that the simpler machines are usually better, and that I'm better off playing one line at a higher dollar input than five at a lower input. This advice may be incorrect, I don't know. What I do know is that some of my confreres here play lotsa slots and do relatively well- please enlighten me!

 

Just my opinion - Slot machines are a losing battle. Sure, you get lucky once in a while, we all do; but in the long run it's all about the entertainment value for the money spent.
Love BJ, been playing it for over 30 years now, my go to game is Video Poker. Another game of skill, like BJ, but not so much a game of chance (or luck) as in slot machines.

If you're looking for comp points and love to throw tons of money away - try slots! The better payback machines are at a higher denom such as dollar or five-dollar machines. You should try these.
You might also try some Video Poker, which you can play at home or on your smart phone.

Don't get me wrong, or take my opinion on slots as factual evidence; but, I love Black Jack and VP as well, but sometimes I do stray to the bright lights and sounds of slots......only to find myself in a losing battle with them.

 

If you want your very best odds while playing slots, play dollar slots. Casinos look very favorably on slots players who play dollar slots. I get ridiculous offers and I don't even really feel that I play all that much and it's probably just because I'm playing dollars instead of pennies. Also, do the slot machines that are less flashy. The branded Marvel/Star Wars/Star Trek/Flintstones/Princess Bride/Britney Spears etc. machines have interesting visuals, but they generally have absolutely terrible odds and usually won't give you very much when you win. Try older reel slots and older video slots instead and you'll get better results. Have fun!

 

Don't do it, it's addicting! :evillaugh

 

It's only addicting if you win something. But if you do get that big hit, it's super fun.

 

Yes- VP is another option I've been exploring, even purchased a book about it. But I was turned off because this book told me that each of the dozens of VP games has a different specific strategy you need to learn in order to maximize your gains, bal, bla, bla! At least with BJ you learn the basic strategy and it's essentially the same under most circumstances.

 

There is no way to tell what an individual machine pays out. The payback percentage (RNG) is set by the casino and a machine that has an 85% payback could be right next to a machine that has a 95% payback. In fact they could have the same game on them for the same denomination and there is no way for you to tell which machine is the good one. But, by looking at the back pages of 'Slot Player Magazine' and it's sister publication 'Casino Player Magazine' you CAN find out the general payback percentages of slots in the neighborhood that you are visiting. I find the magazines generally show that the Strip casinos report to the Gaming Commission an approximate payback of about 90%...with $1 being the best denomination to play and $.01 being the worst. BJ has a payback of about 99%. If you're going to play slots to chase comps, don't expect to win much, in fact, in general you're going to lose about 10x as much.

 

High dollar amounts pay better. 3 coins on dollar machine better than 300 on a penny machine. Few percent.

Machines with a lower high payout are better than those with a real high payout.

Gimmick (theme, names, star wars, etc) will pay less.

 

I'm a craps player and VP player (got interested in VP lately). Once in a while I like to play the penny slots for pure visual entertainment. Penny slots are really misleading since almost all of them require a substantial amt. of credits to be eligible for bonus play.

I used to love playing the older 3-reel type dollar machines like Red White and Blue, Triple Double Stars and such.

My sister has a pretty good slots "strategy". She slips a twenty in a nickel machine of the ones I just mentioned. If she gets up to 50 dollars she'll switch up to quarter play. If she manages to get up to 80 or so she'll play at the dollar level. If she get's no wins she goes back down to nickel play.

She gets lots of play time, comps, and free drinks this way. Not a bad way to play imho.

 

Older machines do pay better (reel machines made from 1996-2004) mainly because the payback percentage chip has to be physically changed out of the machine and must be with a gaming control rep present to verify an authentic chip is installed and he has to cover it with tamper proof tape. Newer machines have the chips incorporated into the circuit board and can be changed on the touch screen. Also keep in mind any machine that has higher multipliers (3x, 4x, 5x 10x) have to take in a lot of money to pay those extra amounts. Also check the top award amount, if a 3 coin machine has a top award of 1000/2000/5000 it will pay better then a machine that has a top award of 1000/2000/25000.

 

Here is a quick summary:

1) The higher the denomination the better % the payback will be set too
2) 3 Reel slots generally are easier on your bankroll (My favorite is Double diamond with the adjusting diamonds)
3) If you want to play the video slots.. always play max lines (You do not have to play max bet per line). The payback percentage is based on all lines played each spin so not playing them will lower the set payback percentage even lower.

If you truly are just playing to earn comps.. I actually find it better to find one of the cheapest machines and play the lowest amount while still playing max lines. This is not a great way to actually win money because these machines will have a lower payback percentage and you are betting soo small that you wont win anything large. That said, here is a quick example as to why this generates comps:

-You run $20 thru a penny machine (assuming 85% payback) at 40cents a spin giving you 50 Spins. Without getting Lucky It is very likely for you to have multiple "wins" between 10 cents and $1, resulting in you having between $10-$15 left at this point (so you not have earned 4 tier points on $5-$10)
-You run $20 thru a $1 real machine (assume 90% payback) at $3 a spin giving you 7 spins (assuming you use $1 from your wins). Without getting lucky It is very likely you will hit a cherry once, resulting in you "winning" $3 but you used one of them to get the last spin in. So now you have $2 left and have earned 4 tier credits.

In other words.. the Risk of Ruin is much higher on the $1 slots.
Soo.. If you are playing slots to actually win something.. Play $1 slots or better... If your plan is to pad your account with Tier credits/comps.. play pennies at a low amount. (I am sure others might not agree with this but this is how my experiences have went)

 

Remember, no one ever loses playing table games, they only lose playing slots.

Yes, the higher dollar amounts do have better odds, but if you are simply giving this a try don't worry about playing only higher dollar amounts.
You probably won't play enough in a weekend to see a difference in playing the "right" machine.
If playing a $1 machine it could be usually $2-$10 max spin. Which ever machine you play, read the rules because some machines require you to play max bet to enable the bonus.

With the penny machine you can play for as little as 35 cents a spin and still have the bonus enabled.

Walk around, find a machine that catches your eye.
Read the rules to unsure bonus rounds don't require max bet.
Stick in a $20.
Hit the button a few times.
Did you enjoy that? If so, continue to play.
If not, cash out and try again with another machine.
Some of these slots are pretty entertaining and will give lots of mini wins to keep you entertained.
Others will seem to suck you dry like a cheap hooker.

Its your vacation, so I suspect you want to do fun activities. Keep this in mind when playing slots (or any other game).
If you aren't having fun, move on.

 

Thanks to all! In fact, I just want to try the slots as a diversion from my main "game" of BJ. And I do want to play them primarily to up my "comps" since my main area of concentration will continue to be BJ. I will take the above advice and any more I might get and incorporate it during my March trip and see what happens with my comps after I spend a week adding some slot play to my gambling day.

 

For the most part... this!

 

I sometimes employ a similar strategy - start small and work up. Not sure it's so much as strategy as routine, though when my BR was very small I would call it my win big or go home strategy. LOL Similar reasoning to your sis, but would add:
1. I enjoy playing slots, if I'm super unlucky I get more playtime
2. I like penny themed slots
3. There isn't as much selection at higher denoms, I would get bored too easily, not fun

 

No one loses playing table games?

 

I like to play the machines that have speakers built into the seat head rest and where the seat moves. Slip in $20 and crank the volume to 11. You're there to have fun; not win money. Yeah, winning is fun but I can play for a longer amount of time with $100 in a penny machine than $100 in a $1 machine with its boring old fashioned reels.

But that's why the casinos have choices. Find what works for you.

FYI, I was playing a penny 100 times play VP machine yesterday in Harrah's AC and the minimum bet was 2 units per hand. So, a penny machine isn't always a penny machine.

 

I would like to add that a slots player should mix it up a little. Maybe play penny slots for the pure fun and visual entertainment. Then switch to 3-reel dollar slots for those potential "quick hits" that are not life changing but extends the BR and fun. Then play a skill slot machine like Video Poker (brush up beforehand on quick to learn strategies like Jacks or Better) to stimulate your mind. Rinse and repeat.

All of the above are fun activities that keeps it from getting boring and all of them offer a chance to win big money. Even though the chances are slim it's still there and that's why people play (besides the fun and entertainment part).

And if you STILL get bored come join me at the craps table. It's the only place where you can WIN, LOSE, laugh, smile, cry, and have the time of your life doing it.!!!

 

Excellent! Looks like I'll have plenty of options to try to get a change of pace from BJ!