Going through our October casino mailers the last few days, a couple of unusual bonuses for “slots” caught my eye. I am used to seeing ongoing promotions for bonus-point days that give more points for slot play than for video poker play, often twice as much (6x vs.3x at the Cannery Casinos) or even better (5x vs. 2x at Silverton).   However, in October, South Point is offering no bonus-point days for video poker but 5x points every day for slots.   And Ellis Island has added three 12x-point days just for slots, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursday. 

Some people use the word “slots” to refer to all machines in a casino, whatever the game. When I use the word, I am always excluding video poker from the slot category - and casinos are doing a better job these days in spelling out what they mean. For example, in the above-mentioned promotions, South Point says you get 5x points on “slots and video reel machines.”   Ellis Island says you get 12x points on “all reel and video reel machines.” 

But these definitions can be confusing and open to interpretation, particularly when casinos talk about “slot machines” in connection with a bonus promotion. Sometimes all machines are treated the same, i.e., if the bonus is awarded on all W-2G jackpots. If it is a royal flush bonus, obviously that would refer only to video poker machines. Where one might need to check details would be on a multiple-points bonus – are keno or blackjack machines considered “slots”? 

Most people know that Brad and I play video poker almost exclusively. However, you might see us playing a little social blackjack on a cruise ship or notice us at a crap table or another casino table game when we have coupons. 

But down through the years you might have been surprised to see us occasionally at a slot machine and wonder why we have strayed from video poker. It could be that a promo a casino is running is “juicier” on slots than on video poker. Or, there is some script or coupons that can only be redeemed in slot machines. (That happened in a casino in Venice, Italy.) Or, the slot machine has a progressive or it is a bonusing machine that has gone into positive territory. It could be that we know a casino may give much better rewards (like higher bounce-back) to a gambler who “mixes up” his play than to someone who only sticks to the best video poker games.  

However, on rare occasions we might just be in the mood for some recreational play and see a new slot machine that looks entertaining. I could just call it “research” – but there is no sin in just having fun!   We need to relax more in our golden years anyway!

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