For Anyone Who Ever Plays a Slot Machine
I know you never mention The Slots, but I am no good at poker machines. We read your column, anyway.
This was a recent comment on one of my blogs. First, I want to thank you for being a loyal reader even though I have seemed to neglect your favorite casino game. Actually I have mentioned slot machines occasionally down through the years, referring to the times I have joined family members in playing them during purely “entertainment times.” And I have talked about playing slots as research for writing about them.
However, you might see Brad and me at a slot machine now and then these days, not only for the two above reasons, but for a rather new one. We are finding times when a promotion, like multiple-points, is almost as strong for a slot player than for one who plays video poker. This gives us a chance to broaden our gambling reputation so we look more like an average casino customer looking for entertainment – which really is – believe it or not – one important component of our casino play.
This new opportunity has been eye-opening to me because I could never understand why so many casino customers – the majority actually – find slots such a more attractive choice than all the other games, even those that have a smaller house edge to contend with. Now there are many reasons for this – slots are easy to play – no complicated rules or strategies to learn. They are not intimidating – like at a table game where other people might criticize your play. They offer the possibility of a big jackpot. But here is what I have personally found recently to be the overriding magnetism: SLOTS ARE FUN!
Now this is not what I experienced when I was researching slots many years ago, when reel machines ruled. Round and round they spin – that was boring. But machine manufactures of today have been amazingly successful in making video slots SUPER FUN. Now when I pass a machine calling out buf…faaa…lo, I know that excitement is calling me. When I see a “Wonder Woman” game, I know that she is waiting to pop up and award me frequent colorful and interesting bonuses. And I know “Willy Wonka” won’t give me bonuses as frequently, but it is just so much fun to play to see what different scenarios come up on the big screen. I don’t ever watch “The Walking Dead” on TV – I hate zombie stories – but the loud and seat-shaking slot version keeps me intensely fascinated. I love to watch Brad play this – he jumps every time he gets a bonus and his seat gives him a “hit.”
Now I well know the problem with slots. The negative EV (the house edge) will eventually put players in the loser category and sometimes very quickly. The fun factor can disappear very quickly if you are losing more money than you can afford. Players with small bankrolls know that they need to play minimum bets so they can extend their fun time. Hit those buttons with higher level bets and, yes, your bonuses may be more frequent and jackpots bigger but you will very likely go broke before you can gain this advantage! Even when Brad and I play a slot promotion, we plan very short-term play. Rarely would there be one good enough for long-term play like we do on video poker.
If you are a slot player, you will be happy to know that I have given you a whole long chapter in my new book The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide. As well as discussing the history and the various kinds of slot machines, in this chapter on slots I discuss techniques for losing less. I even recommend a book that might help cheer you up during your losing streaks, Cherry Picker – A Literate Look at Losing at Slots. Both this book and my new book can be ordered at ShopLVA.
So, slot players, don’t feel like red-headed stepchildren any longer!
Slots can pay off if you know when to quit. Three weeks ago in Vegas we won over $1000 by playing various slots at over 7 casinos on and off The Strip. Our favorite “Downtowner” is Main St. Station for their awesome and cheap buffet(s) and some loose machines. Of note was the fact that all our wins were at Boyd or M Life properties. Caesars and Flamingo slots were either dead or had puny bonuses (Wonka was the worst. Even bonus rounds.) Enough to say that all expenses in Vegas were paid by The Slots, including two “smaller” shows. Too bad air fare from Detroit is (usually) not cheap. We used to like “Ghostbusters” but they stopped paying off and now they are almost MIA. We had fun. Isn’t that what it is all about?
Love this article, I think the age of the player has a lot to do with the $$ invested in slots, It is all relative to what you feel is fun.. There are many people that go to Vegas and think nothing of dropping a few hundred dollars for going to a club, alcohol and or food. There are many new places inside casinos that are trending toward this.
(Which we found at the Orleans in December)
Fun is an individual thing, thanks for that reminder.
MO
Jean,
I just saw this today and thought you would find this of interest:
A Las Vegas resident won $400,000 at The Cosmopolitan hotel-casino Monday afternoon.
The unnamed guest was playing the 100 play triple double bonus poker when she won around 4:55 p.m.
http://www.ktnv.com/positivelylv/las-vegas-resident-wins-400000-on-video-poker-machine-at-cosmopolitan
I have been known to take a walk on the silly side and play slots now and again, but it’s kind of hard when I do the math and realize how much an hour’s play costs me. Standard slot–90% return. Modest 50 cent per spin bet–ten spins a minute (which is actually rather slow)–$300 coin-in an hour. I figure to lose $30 an hour with even this modest bet size and slow play. I won’t get back more than $2 or so in slot club benefits, even on a multiple point day. And if I bet $1 per spin? $60 an hour loss. Play a little faster? $90 an hour loss. An evening playing “penny” slots, or the Wonka Wonder Zombie games (the fun bonusing games usually require 30 credits per spin at .05/credit) can easily cost you several hundred dollars. I’d rather spend that money on, say, dinner for two and a play or symphony performance–and I’d have money left over. Slots are fun, but they are just too expensive.
One might look at the above numbers and wonder why manufacturers don’t offer low-denomination slots that pay back 97 or 98%. A casino that offered such slots would be mobbed by customers–and they’d still get all their money; it would just take longer.
Jean,
My favorite slot was one from 15 years ago: the $1,000,000 Pyramid, which I give you an IGT youtube video on below. Question, which video poker machine can you make $1,000,000 instant win on (possible on every bonus round) for only a $4.50 bet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj-fH7uTwfw
My wife loves the slots, any and all kinds. While I look for the best Vp schedule in the casino she’ll be going up and down each aisle starting on one row and down the next. She truly loves the different games and excitement they can bring. I, on the other hand, find my “fun” beating the house if possible and trying to offset the loss I’m expecting from her. However I must say that on more occasions than I like to admit she pulls us out of the hole with some good old fashion luck on those slots! Makes me think there’s something to the saying “It’s better to be lucky than good”. Anyhow wondering if you and Brad may be partaking of the Vp slot tournament at Red Rock on May 27th. Meeting you is still on my bucket list of must do’s in LV. If so please bring your new book with you as I’d love to purchase one in person! Thanks for all the great information Jean, Terry Haile Post Falls, Id
Ms. Frugal Queen,
I got a kick out of this post. I used to deal cards, and in addition, I’ve read all of your work. I’m fully aware that the slots are taking my money at a rate faster than I care to admit, but I’m with you in that SLOTS ARE FUN! I love sitting down to a session where I don’t have to do anything right or wrong and can enjoy a few drinks without it affecting my EV.
It’s fun to see you come around to this after reading you for years. Simple math tells you where you should insert credits, but the idea of just sitting back, hitting “spin” and hoping for something amusing to happen can be a lot of fun too. I’ll keep looking for you and Brad at the VP terminals, but I certainly wouldn’t complain if I sat down next to you at a Willy Wonka slot to watch you have some mindless fun.
To put it another way, thanks for keeping current with this stuff. I agree that the casinos like to see a little slot play diluting our advantage play, and I hope that those of us who are willing to risk a little for mindless fun keep being kept in the loop of offers.
Take care,
C
Hello Jean,
My question does not involve slot play but need your advice. Who should I contact about this? I am a Diamond player with Harrah’s. I have offers at Gulf Coast for weekdays. When I request Friday night, I am given a rate of $92. On trivago they offer an $81 a night rate to the general public.
Smiles and Thanks,
Brenda
I am a loyal video poker player, but (and you knew the ‘but’ was coming), I enjoy some of the new slots, too. For the high roller who can afford max coin in .02c, .05c and .10c the new Lightening Games can return thou$and$ of dollars if the bonus shows up. However, the arrival of the bonus can cost around $300-$500. IF you get the bonus, you’ll usually get a taxable win, even if you don’t hit any of the progressive jackpot amounts advertised on each of the individual machines in the bank. That said, even the .60c player can hit ANY of the jackpots, including the grand, which starts at $10,000. I met a man who, playing 60c won the Grand TWICE in one week, playing .60c. If it had been just he who told me, it might have been an exaggeration of the truth. But, I met others who told me of his wins, others who are locals (who were playing the bank at the same times). The two times winner is a high school teacher on spring break from a southwestern state. I met him and he shared his story, a story I’d heard in a different casino, just this same week.