There any rhyme or reason to playing slots? Are there better slots to play than others? Indian Reservations?

Answer 1

Some vegas casinos post payback rates... I remember seeing dollar slots at Fitzgerald's in Las Vegas at a promotional payout of 98%, although most are in the low 90s. Indian casinos in California don't need to report this and a 60 minutes report had them between 60% and 70%.

As for strategy, the odds always go down if you are not eligble for the maximum payout, which usually requires playing a certain number of coins. So if you want to bet 25 cents per spin, you are better off playing on a nickel machine and betting 5 coins per spin than on a quarter machine playing 1 coin per spin.

Answer 2

First, let me put my answer in perspective. Playing slot machines in a losing proposition and if you play them long enough you will lose. Nothing I am about to say changes that.

I have played one slot machine that I am sure payed out more than it took in. (Of course, I could be wrong.) That was in a casino in Reno that had no front so that it was open to the sidewalk. Right beside the sidewalk was a $0.05 machine that had a jackpot of $7.50. For every $2 to $4 you put it you would hit the jackpot once. The machine would pay out $2.50 and you would have to wait half an hour for an attendant to come and pay you the other $5.00. Everyone one walking by on the sidewalk during that half hour saw the flashing and beeping machine, and some were drawn into the casino by it. In effect, the casino was paying you to b part of an advertisement.

In a modern casino, all the slot machines are networked so the payout odds can be, and are, adjusted without casino employee going near the machine itself.

Like the Reno machine that I mentioned, more visable machines tend to have higher payout ratios.

Generally higher denomination machines will have higher payout percentages. There are fixed costs associated with every machine, such as the cost of the machine, the cost of maintaining it, and the floor space it requires. Every $100 of that cost requires 20 credits on a $5 machine, 100 credits on a $1 machine and 2,000 credits on a $0.05 machine. Add to that equation that gamblers who play $5 machines are generally more desirable customers from the casino's persepective, and it just makes sense to have higher payout percentages on higher denomination machines.

Many machines have bonuses when the maximum number of credits are played. If you play one of those machines, play the maximum number of credits.

If a machine has multiple pay lines, always play all the pay lines since they payout percentages may be higher on the later pay lines.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of other tips about playing slot machines. Treat all tips, incluidng the ones I gave, with caution. There is no way of being certain which tips are good and which are bad.

Remember you go to casinos to have fun, not to make money. If you happen to make money it is a bonus.

Answer 3

If you feel the need to make a contribution to the financial well being of the casino, then slots are the way to go. They have the worst odds of any game. Your best odds can be found on the blackjack or craps tables.

Answer 4

I like to pay machines on the end. Machines in high traffic areas are said to pay out better.

If you know what to look for, you can find loose machines. It just takes practice.