Are a Lot of People Playing Slot Machines That They Don't Understand?

I was around Vegas when video poker became a huge part of most casinos. I always thought it was because players felt they had a better grasp of the odds than they did with slot machines. Playing a slot machine, you never had any idea how many sevens, cherries, bars, etc. were on those spinning reels, but you knew that a video poker machine had four aces, kings, threes, etc. Plus, plenty of books and tutors taught you how to play. Nowadays, the trend seems to be for incredibly complex slot machines with all sorts of bonus possibilities and you can win on different lines or play multiple hands at the same time and you can't possibly have any sense of the odds. Do you agree with me that a lot of people are playing machines they don't understand?

We couldn't agree with you more.

If you're talking about the plethora of penny slots that pay on strange symbols in every imaginable zig-zag formation, while results that look like they should be winners aren't, it's true that lots of players simply push the button and watch, with little knowledge of what they're even rooting for. Of course, when they play a game over time, they'll eventually figure it out and we never cease to be amazed by those that do. Here's a typical conversation.

LVA: Do you know what you're trying to hit?

Player: Yes.

LVA: Incredible!

Taking it up another notch or three, slot players' ignorance about the machines they're putting their hard-earned money into has generated a whole new form of advantage play. The so-called vultures or grinders pounce on “variable state,” “accumulator,” or “persistence” machines, in which the games are abandoned by unknowledgeable players while they’re in a “state” to return more than 100%.

Plenty of grinders do this full time and make a nice living. This includes the author, Ben Rosenthal, of our upcoming book, Breaking the Slot Code -- Beat the Machines through Advantage Play.

And to answer a question that we're receiving regularly these days, the reason that this book isn't ready yet, even though we've been working on it assiduously for months, is that how to beat these games is very hard to explain!

We've got text (from an excellent writer), we've got photos, we've got videos, and just learning how to play these machines is tough enough, let alone figuring out how to beat them. For those who want a starter course, there's a chapter on playing these machines (along with chapters on vulturing Ultimate X video poker and keno) in the Third Edition of Gambling 102.

If advantage players need books and videos, you can only imagine what recreational players are facing when they approach a machine that looks interesting and fun to play, such as Ocean Magic, Scarab, Golden Egypt, Frankenstein, Buffalo Diamond, and Lightning Buffalo Link -- to name just a few, with more appearing on casino floors every day.

So again, your observation is accurate. Plenty of slot players have no idea what they're rooting for on many machines, let alone how to pick out beatable machines and play them properly.

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Comments

sunny78 Aug-15-2025

entertainment

Some here have a different view of gambling I think than the vast majority of people out there who just want to find a machine with a theme, show, whatever they connect with, and only indeed care about pushing buttons. And have a drink, eat well, take in the atmosphere, and go home. They don't want to make a career out of it, analyze things into the ground, just want some mindless entertainment for a spell to escape. And why not?

VegasVic Aug-15-2025

It Doesn't Matter

It doesn't matter if you "understand it".  You don't have decisions to make with slots.  You push the button and win or not. Slots are boring as hell. Easy pass.

VegasVic Aug-15-2025

And yes...

If you are an AP you have to understand accumulators.  But that applies to less than 1% anyway.

Randall Ward Aug-15-2025

there's a book?

I bought a book like that a few months ago.

Alan Canellis Aug-15-2025

Zoning Out

I agree in part with Sunny78.  Slots are great mindless entertainment, especially with a group of friends all playing next to one another. However, I was given some cautionary advice from a more experienced slot play, "Don't study and learn too much about the machines (odds), you will destroy the mystique." I don't want a job gambling.

Larry Stone Aug-15-2025

not machines

in the old days, slot machines were actually machines with gears and springs.  now they are NOT machines.  they are computers.

Eileen Aug-15-2025

Slots

I agree with sunny78 and Alan C. I've made enough decisions in my 77 years of life and enjoy some mindless entertainment.  Learning a bit about the different slot machines and their themes can certainly be helpful and interesting.  I signed up right away to purchase "Breaking the Slot Code".  Slots may be "boring" to some people but even in my youth I found poker so boring I was hoping to lose my $$ and get away from the table before I fell asleep.  However, I don't berate those who play table games.  To each his own.  And to LVA, while the word "ignorance" is perfectly acceptable in your response, using innocence, lack of awareness or comprehension would have gone a long way to NOT ruffle the feathers of many of us who do play slots and constantly hear how we're just throwing our money away.  If it wasn't for slot players, the casinos would have a much harder time keeping their doors open. Less and less table games per LVA news clips.

Hoppy Aug-15-2025

Zoning In

A Slot Player can become a perfect machine, just like the slot machine they are playing.

David Sabo Aug-15-2025

Advantage Player Warning

IAbout 90 days ago I was trespassed from a Las Vegas casino for my slot play. Normally I would have just run as I felt and saw the heat gathering but since I was an invited guest at the casinoand had a room thereI couldo that.  I stead I quickly downloaded aall my slot points unto free play and turned my free play into a cashable ticket. Almost as soon as I finished security sweep in and banned and trespassed me for my winning slot play.I had to go to room and pack while 2 security guards waited just outside my door to escort me off the property.  I was accused of zero wrong doing but rather told that my slot play was too strong for the casino. Oh well. I had a free room at the next hotel down the street within 10 minutes so no big deal.

O2bnVegas Aug-15-2025

OMG David

Yikes, David! Can you tell or hint at the casino that did this to you?  Strip or Downtown or local?  This is scary.  I'm certainly not an advantage player.  My traveling companion BFF is not either, but she is a lucky one, plays stricktly slots (DR), wins ALL THE TIME.  I've seen her get 7-8 handpays, including some big ones, in 3 days time when we visit.  Last trip she won two big ones at the airport!

Eileen Aug-15-2025

Advantage Player Warning

While I'll never have to worry about being trespassed, I'm sure many of us would like to know what casino did this.  A casino like that deserves to be boycotted!

David Sabo Aug-16-2025

The answer or lack of

The only thing I can sayvis the casino that banned me is a participating party in the LVA POV coupon book. Unless AC says it's alright to name the casino I will not as I don't want to create friction between the unnamed casino and the LVA.

O2bnVegas Aug-16-2025

That's OK

Fully understand the need for discretion, David.  Was it a big winning day, or session, or a lot of smaller jackpots, or perhaps you win big often at that casino?  Surely you didn't whoop it up causing them to look your way?  LOL.

Candy

David Sabo Aug-16-2025

A note to Candy.

Somehow my answers to your question are on today's QOTD anout the sphere walkway. My bad!

O2bnVegas Aug-17-2025

Got it, David

Wow, what an interesting education/job/gambling life you've had, David.  Thanks for pointing the way.

Candy

Eileen Aug-17-2025

David Sabo

So interesting.  But how can you manipulate a slot card to your advantage?  Maybe you should write a book.  Would be funny to know how many people ran to their LVA coupon book to guess the name of the casino that trespassed you.  Hope big wins are always in your future.  Thanks for the info.

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