Comments on: For Anyone Who Ever Plays a Slot Machine

By: Mike Sherman

Mike Sherman — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 04:28:06 +0000

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?

By: Mo

Mo — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 23:52:55 +0000

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

By: George Bauslaugh

George Bauslaugh — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 00:12:21 +0000

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

By: Kevin Lewis

Kevin Lewis — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 07:12:33 +0000

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.

By: George Bauslaugh

George Bauslaugh — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 06:23:54 +0000

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

By: Terry Haile

Terry Haile — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 03:57:41 +0000

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

By: C

Sun, 26 Mar 2017 03:36:37 +0000

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

By: Brenda Finchum

Brenda Finchum — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 02:39:30 +0000

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

By: Jane G

Jane G — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 19:58:37 +0000

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.