Slot Machine Strategies That Actually Work

Slot machines account for 70% of all gaming revenue. That means there are a lot of people coming home with empty pockets after visiting the casinos. Slot machines are no longer used to keep the women occupied while the men bet the “real” money on table games. Slot machines now bring in the “real” money, and slot machines are played by both women and men of all ages.

There are no secret tips that can guarantee a person will win on slot machines. Any claims that are made that slot machines can be beat are completely fraudulent. Every slot machine is programmed to payback less than the amount of money it takes in. In other words, if you own a slot machine you are guaranteed to make money. That being said, there are some strategies that can help a player increase their chances of success while playing slot machines. I am going to present to you ten useful strategies and tactics that will improve your play.

Strategy #1- Determine your bankroll before you get to the casino

This is the most important tip I can give you. Before you ever sit down to play a slot machine, you should have already determined a fixed amount of money that you are prepared to LOSE. You need to assume you are going to lose all of your money. I am going to go over ways to keep that from happening, but you must be fully prepared for the worst case scenario. Make sure you are okay with losing that amount of money, and if you are not, then reduce the amount. Do not have access to any other money while you are playing. Use the bankroll that you have, and that is it.

Strategy #2- Difference between class II and class III slot machines

One of the hidden secrets in the gaming industry is the use of class II slot machines instead of class III machines.

Class III slot machines are known as “Vegas-style” slot machines. They’re the machines that most people think of when they think of a slot machine. However, slot manufacturers have managed to develop class II machines that look and play very much like class III machines.

Why is that a problem? Well, class II machines were developed in states that had laws against the use of slot machines. Many of those same states allowed the game of Bingo. Slot experts figured out a way to side-step the law. They developed a slot machine that was based around the game of bingo. The class II machines today look and play almost exactly like a regular slot machine, but internally they are very different.

Any class III slot machine in a regulated gambling jurisdiction must have a random number generator (RNG). The RNG insures that every spin of the slot machine is completely random, or at least as close to random as humanely possible. The specifics of how the program works are unimportant, the important part for the player is to know that each spin of the machine is truly random and not programmed into the machine. Class III machines in regulated jurisdictions such as Las Vegas and Atlantic City are often tested to make sure this holds true.

Class II machines are not completely random. Unfortunately, the exact workings of class II machines are a bit ambiguous and therein lies the problem. Supposedly, the games are based around the game of Bingo and you are competing against others in the casino. Each spin represents a numbered ball that corresponds to a board similar to a Bingo board. The bottom line is it has already been determined who is going to win. The spins are not random, they are programmed into the machines. You cannot hit the jackpot on every spin of a class II machine, but on class III machines you can. Class III machines provide the security of knowing that every time you push the spin button you have the same chance of hitting the jackpot.

My advice is to make sure any machine you play is a class III machine that works with a random number generator. I would be hesitant to play any class II machines. If you want to learn more about class II and III slot machines, I have written an entire post on this that you can view here at my professional gambling blog.

Strategy #3- Casino must be regulated and have independent third-party oversight

This strategy relates to the previous strategy because usually you find class II machines in casinos that are not state regulated. Most class II machines are found on Indian gaming reservations where many state regulations do not apply. Most Indian casinos are self-regulated by a tribal gaming counsel that is composed of fellow Indians. This is not to say that they are unfair, but there needs to be independent third-party oversight with any casino.

For land-based casinos, make sure they are state regulated by some type of gaming commission that answers to the state and the people, not the casinos. For online casinos, there are now independent third-party regulators who test the accuracy of the software that online casinos use to make sure that it is completely random. Whether the casino is on land or on the Internet, there needs to be an outside unbiased party that is regulating the casino where you are going to play.

Regulated Class III Casinos

Aladin's Gold
Bonus 200% UNLIMITED for 7 days
Lucky Red
Bonus 400% up to $4000
Manhattan
Bonus 100% up to $747 twice

Strategy #4- Split your total bankroll into session bankrolls

Once you’ve determined your overall bankroll for your trip, you need to split that up into session bankrolls. You do this based on the length of time you will be staying and playing at the casino. If you arrived at a casino on Saturday morning and plan to leave Sunday at lunchtime, you might want to plan four gambling sessions. Then you would split your bankroll into four equal parts and bring ONLY that amount with you during a session.

Be careful not to stay longer than your bankroll will last, unless you plan on not gambling. If you only have $100 to gamble and you are staying for four days (3 sessions per day), that would leave you with about $8 per session. That’s not very practical or realistic. If you are the type of person that can’t be around a casino without playing, be sure you figure out your length of stay based on your bankroll before you make reservations.

Strategy #5- Limit your session playing time

In correlation with your session bankrolls will be the length of time for each gambling session. No gambling session should be longer then two hours. At the end of two hours, you must take at least a thirty minute break. This break needs to be away from the casino floor. It can be in your room, in a restaurant, outside, wherever you prefer, but remove yourself from the casino atmosphere. It is very important to adhere to this rule. After two hours of play your body and mind become fatigued and begin to make rash decisions. You are no longer thinking logically, your emotions have taken over.

We’ve all witnessed someone playing a machine for hours on end, getting angrier and angrier as they continue to lose. They can’t will themselves away from the machine. Even though their rational mind knows they should get up and leave, their anger and frustration won’t allow them. They continue to play until they win their money back, which usually doesn’t happen, or all their money is gone.
If you follow this advice, you will notice that once you get away from the casino atmosphere your emotions will subside and you are able to think logically again. Poker players call this “going on tilt.” When poker players allow frustration to override their logical decision-making process and they begin betting wildly and can’t leave the table, this is known as “going on tilt.” Don’t allow this to happen to you.

Remember, two hours is the maximum, but if after an hour you find yourself getting agitated and not enjoying yourself, leave. Get away from the environment. Casinos create this atmosphere intentionally to make it difficult for you to walk away from the machines. It is important that you exit the casino as soon as you begin to feel frustrated.

Strategy #6- Find the best “comps,” promotions, and bonuses

One of the best things about being a slot player is the complementary or “comps” you receive. Casinos have come to realize how valuable slot players are so they will do everything in their power to keep you there. Take advantage of each and every incentive that they give you. The rewards will range from free food and free rooms to free slot play, and they will even give you cash back. Make sure you know everything about the rewards program in the casino you choose, and try to plan your trips around special promotions.
The one thing you don’t ever want to do is increase your play to get more comps. Never play more than you planned solely for this purpose. It is counterproductive and can cost you a lot of money. Play your established bankroll and whatever rewards for which you qualify. Make sure you use them all!

Strategy #7- Set strict win limits

You may know someone who never leaves the casino a winner. This person will hit mini jackpots and maybe even a large jackpot, but they always manage to give it back to the casino. They do this by playing erratically. They may jump to a higher denomination or increase their session time, somehow they always come home empty-handed.

Follow these win limits and this will never be you. If at any time you double your session bankroll, end your session. Even if it is your second spin, go back to your room and put the winnings in the room safe or anywhere it won’t be used. Then you may return to the casino with the original session amount.

After two hours have expired you are going to cash out. That money you have remaining will now go into the “win” pile and is not to be used for the remainder of the trip. Remember, you’ve already determined how many sessions you are going to gamble and you have enough money for each session. Winnings need to be put aside so that you are guaranteed to leave the casino with some money in your pocket.

Strategy #8-Slow down your speed of play

If you’ve noticed, casino slot machines are getting faster and faster. From the casinos perspective the more spins the more money they make. Make sure you slow down your play. When you win, do not hit the button to speed up the counting of the credits that you’ve won. You are there to have a good time, enjoy each spin. Order something to drink and sip it as you play. Strike up a conversation with the person next to you. Gamblers often have a built-in bond because all gamblers are trying to take money from the casino. Whatever you need to do to slow down your play is fine, just make sure you do it.

Strategy #9- Don’t bet maximum coins unless it is a jackpot requirement

On the older three-reel slots, the advice was to always bet the maximum number of coins allowed because that was the only way you could qualify for the jackpot. Most new video slot machines don’t adhere to this rule. Most video slot machines pay proportionally to the number of coins you bet and there is no bonus for betting the maximum.

This is when you need to study the machine you are playing. Never just start playing a slot machine. Always make sure you understand the payouts, the bonuses, and the requirements for the jackpot. If the jackpot does not require you to play the maximum number of coins, then don’t. I will explain why in the last strategy.

Strategy #10- The higher the denomination the higher the set payback percentage

Even though class III slot machines are completely random on each individual spin that does not mean they are not set to payback a certain percentage of the money it takes in over the long-term.

Each slot machine is set to payback anywhere from 80% (very bad) to 99% (very good) of the money that it takes in. This average will appear after thousands, if not millions, of spins. As a slot machine player it is difficult to determine the payback percentage at which a slot machine is set. There could be two machines right next to each other and one may be set at 86% and the other at 93%. Statistically you would have a much better chance of winning on the machine set at 93%, but how do we know.

Well, there is a method that generally holds true. The higher the denomination, the higher the payback percentage is set on slot machines. This is why you don’t want to play maximum coins unless there is a bonus for the jackpot. A gambler is better off playing one credit on a $1 denomination machine than playing four credits on a 25 cent denomination machine. The $1 denomination machine is almost always set at a higher payback percentage than the 25 cent machine.

With that being said, do not play a slot machine denomination that is too high for your bankroll. Don’t play the $1 machine for the higher payback if you can only afford one credit on the 25 cent machine. If that is what you can afford, it’s better to play one 25 cent credit than 5 credits on a nickel denomination machine.

Conclusion:

As I stated in the introduction, there are no hidden secrets that can help you beat the slot machines. However, all of this information that has been provided will absolutely increase your chances of success. If you follow each strategy, you will be much more likely to walk away from the machine with money in your pocket.

Are there any strategies you think I left out? Do you disagree with any of my strategies? I would love to hear your thoughts.

73 responses, Add Yours

  1. pistola462
    pistola462
    March 11, 2013
    23:48 pm

    I would like an explanation of how a spin can be completely random if the machine is programmed to pay out a certain percentage.

    1. Reply to pistola462

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      March 12, 2013
      06:33 am

      @pistola462 An excellent question. Payout percentage in Class III slot machines is manipulated by changing how much you win with each line in the paytable.

      Suppose 777 gives you 170 credits by default on a slot machine with 100% payout fresh from factory. Given this example, a casino governed by Class III gambling jurisdiction can only change the payout of 777 to 160 in order to lower the payout percentage, while Class II slot machines operators could in theory also alter how often you hit 777.

      Professional gamblers know this and they know how to calculate the payout percentage of a Class III slot machine just by looking at the paytable (and knowing the occurrence of all symbols on the reels). They would never play Class II slot machines because these may not be completely random and there is no way they could calculate the payout percentage if the odds to hit a combination has been altered. They wouldn't even know IF the odds have been altered.

      So you see Class II slot machines can be pretty deceiving - on the surface the paytable can show 100%+ payout, but behind the scenes the real payout could be set at 70% and you wouldn't even know it.

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      2. pistola462
        pistola462
        March 23, 2013
        06:31 am

        @Jaz Thanks for the response but let me make sure I have this straight. What you are saying is "the payout percentage has nothing to do with whether or not a spin hits a winning combination". Is that correct? And, I would also like to know how to calculate the payout percentage, if you don't mind.

        Thanks.
        Tommy

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        2. Jaz
          Jaz
          March 23, 2013
          12:59 pm

          @pistola462 Yes, that's correct, but only as long as the random number generator generates completely random spin results, as is the case with Class III slot machines.

          No I don't mind at all showing you how to calculate the payout percentage. Though when I started writing it here as comment, it got so long I figured I better dedicate a full blog post for it.

          You can read it here http://777click.com/how-to-calculate-slot-payout/

          Enjoy!

          1. Reply to Jaz

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  2. Eileen
    Eileen
    September 26, 2014
    05:35 am

    My mother followed all of these rules and usually came back with, at minimum, what she started with and had fun too. Her main philosophy was "don't be greedy." If you win a bonus move on. Seems to work for me too.

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      September 26, 2014
      07:58 am

      @Eileen Always glad to see people putting these rules to the test and successfully so. Your mother seemed to be one smart woman, her advice is valuable not only in casinos, but in life in general.

      1. Reply to Jaz

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  3. Becky
    Becky
    October 20, 2014
    01:29 am

    I read somewhere that it is best to play slots between 2am and 6am. Any truth to that?

    1. Reply to Becky

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      October 22, 2014
      17:58 pm

      @Becky Hi Becky,

      It's a common misconception and falls under the same category as "if someone has played on a machine for an extended period of time and it hasn't paid out much, it means the machine is "hot" and it's going to pay out any minute now". It's called a gambler's fallacy or Monte Carlo fallacy.

      This type of strategies have been mathematically proven not to work so I wouldn't put my money on it, unless of course you know someone working in the casino, turning up the payout % during early morning hours.

      That being said, I recommend you only play during the time your mind works the best so you can make better decisions.

      1. Reply to Jaz

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      2. Darrel
        Darrel
        January 7, 2015
        04:21 am

        @Jaz For Class II slot machines it may be true. In my experience the casino I went often will hit nothing during 12:00AM-1:00AM and then after that period of time people start hit somthing again.
        The author's suggestion is so useful. I am going to put a note in my pocket and read it before my trip.

        1. Reply to Darrel

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        2. Jaz
          Jaz
          January 7, 2015
          05:50 am

          @Darrel Thank you for the comment Darrel and good luck for your next trip!
          Let us know how it went :)

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    3. Lorraine Swinford
      Lorraine Swinford
      March 19, 2016
      19:35 pm

      @Becky In my experience I have found the early morning hours more pleasurable to play. When the casino is at its peak and the noise level high my energy is lowered. I also like the selection of available machines. I can stroll around at my own pace and not have to dodge people. I have won my best payouts during this time, however I think that is because I don't feel as stressed and have a clear mind.

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    4. Tom Hunt
      Tom Hunt
      May 27, 2017
      16:43 pm

      @Becky There are several things I keep an eye on during a session of gambling at the local racino. I watch the activities at the cashiers cage, the action at the ATM and finally, I checked the casino's Facebook page before leaving the house. They post pictures of all the major jackpots. If I see a lot of jackpots being posted, I know the machines are in a paying mood. Also, I have had my best luck latter in the evening during the middle of the week especially if there is inclement weather. My best session ever was during a snow blizzard. I usually try to play VP between 2 and 6PM on Friday afternoon, as they like to get people hopped up for the weekend and before the dinner crowd arrives.

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  4. Maggie
    Maggie
    October 30, 2014
    16:18 pm

    Will the class III machines be marked "RNG" so I can easily spot them?

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      October 31, 2014
      03:24 am

      @Maggie Hi Maggie,

      Slots in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and licensed online casinos, are all Class 3 slot machines, regardless of any labels.

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  5. Joyce Ackman
    Joyce Ackman
    November 9, 2014
    16:26 pm

    It seems when there are 3/4 of same machines grouped, one usually pays out more than the other three Is this true..

    1. Reply to Joyce Ackman

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      November 10, 2014
      04:29 am

      @Joyce Ackman Hi Joyce,

      Class III slot machines are completely random, it means the outcome of a spin is not determined until you push the spin button. But that doesn't mean the payout cannot be different. Luckily it's easy to compare the payout of class 3 slot machines of the same type by just comparing their payout tables. Next time you go to a casino, you can check that by yourself to be sure.

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  6. Lazaro
    Lazaro
    December 17, 2014
    08:04 am

    Thanks for the Strategies!!!
    But I want to hear from you. What do you think about this strategy I came with! It Seen that works for me every time I go to a casino with class III Slot machines! So this is my strategy, first of all I have this app on my iPhone that is a timer, and I use this timer to time myself on every spin I make, here an example of what I mean. Let say I playing the $1 dollar single line Double Diamond Deluxe slot machine!!! I put in $20 dollars, but I only betting $1 dollar for each spin, so that's 20 spins, ok so for each spin I'm going to hit the spin button every 30 seconds until I get to 20 spins for a total of 10 minutes and whatever I win! I take out, so what Am I saying is that if you wait a few seconds before the next spin, and then hit, I know Is not guarantee but you might get something and at the same time you stretching your dollars, because I have watched some people next to me when I doing this, by the time I finished my $20 dollars! They have spent $30,$60 $ 80 or more in 10 minutes of my playing time!! of course they going to get something or not out of that machine but It might be to late!!! Anyway I want to hear from you on my strategy and by the way I listen to music while I'm waiting on my next spin is fun for me and you may never know, JACKPOT

    1. Reply to Lazaro

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      December 17, 2014
      08:59 am

      @Lazaro Hi Lazaro,

      The idea is to have fun in a casino so I think it's great you have found a way to have the most bang for your buck.

      Personally though, I would much rather play with lowest denomination on penny slot machines than wait certain amount of time between spins (unless winning the jackpot requires maximum bet of course), but to each his own :)

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      2. Lazaro
        Lazaro
        December 17, 2014
        13:15 pm

        @Jaz Thanks! For your comment, One more thing my strategy applies to any slot, penny, nickle, quarter, dollar! All depends on how much you want to spend and how many seconds you want to wait, but anyway it's fun for me, and any one can feel free of trying it!!!

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    3. JEAN MICHAEL
      JEAN MICHAEL
      March 24, 2015
      12:50 pm

      @Lazaro I have heard at Casinos run by the state such as Empire City Casino in New York the machines are set to pay out a certain amount per day. If you see the payout on a machine is high (in a row of the same style machine) you can test them by playing the middle. If it does not pay well, try the next. It is not proven to work but one which gave a higher payout often does pay out well. Do you think this is random or coincidence?

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      2. Kevin
        Kevin
        June 1, 2015
        07:04 am

        @JEAN MICHAEL Those are video lottery terminals and although they look like slot machines, they are completely different in how they work.

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      3. Elizarea Martin
        Elizarea Martin
        March 30, 2017
        08:28 am

        @JEAN MICHAEL Jean I'm not sure if you can go by the the last payout because sometimes I have put a $100 bill in a machine and then decided no I want to play something else and immediately cashed out and it will show payout $100 but I didn't win $100 I was just getting my money back

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      4. Tom Hunt
        Tom Hunt
        May 27, 2017
        08:03 am

        @JEAN MICHAEL I only play cat II video poker machines in NYS. I have found that the end machines in a row of VP machines pay out better. I don't know if it because they are played more often, or if they are set up looser. Occasionally the center machine is also set up looser.

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  7. Melissa
    Melissa
    December 23, 2014
    01:52 am

    I just wanted to say this was a great and well written article. I like that you addressed each ones concerns/questions. I learned a lot from this and cannot wait to try it. I'm not sure if it's just me but if I go in not "expecting" to win but lose a certain amount and have a couple of drinks I seem to do better. Again, I know it doesn't ultimately decide the slots. Thank you again, I enjoyed reading everyone's post on here. Melissa

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      December 24, 2014
      08:53 am

      @Melissa Thank you for the kind words, Melissa!

      Playing slots is fun, drinking while playing is double the fun :) it's just that most people make better decisions while sober. But if you don't expect to walk out of a casino with million dollars anyway, it shouldn't be a problem for you.

      Merry Christmas!

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  8. Dee
    Dee
    February 27, 2015
    12:14 pm

    When I'm at the casino, how can I tell the difference between Class 2 and 3 slot machines?

    1. Reply to Dee

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      February 27, 2015
      13:18 pm

      @Dee Hi Dee!

      You'll find class 3 slot machines in Las Vegas and Atlantic City where all legally operated slot machines are regulated by the state. All casino games, including slots, offered by licensed online casinos, also work on the same principle as class 3 slot machines.

      When it comes to class II slot machines, these can be mostly found on Indian gaming reservations and illegal gambling establishments as well as unlicensed online casinos, where state regulations don't apply.

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      2. Merle
        Merle
        January 27, 2016
        17:55 pm

        @Jaz In the type II machines there is a bingo card in the upper left and there appears to stationary numbers and moving numbers right under the stationary. what does this mean? there was a patron of the casino that said the stationary or the moving numbers meant that the casino was taking your money and as long as the numbers were moving, your chance of winning was highter???

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        2. Jaz
          Jaz
          March 4, 2016
          13:37 pm

          @Merle Almost everybody wants to find a way to beat a slot machine. Sometimes they come up with wild theories such as this.

          In reality no slot game is programmed to work that way - to have increased chance of winning when some arbitrary thing is happening on the screen, or keep holding the button down as the wheels spin, show your lucky token to the screen and so on.

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  9. Debbie
    Debbie
    March 2, 2015
    20:24 pm

    Cannot tell you how much I appreciated your explaination of the Class II and Class III slots. You also went into detail (other blog) regarding how to tell the payout for a particular machine. I remember seeing machines that state the payout of them when I was in Vegas last. Big sign above them might would say 98% payout or something like that. Can they be trusted as advertised? Also, if you are playing a slot with up to say 3 paylines, would you play all 3 coins or just the center payline? Thank you for your time!

    1. Reply to Debbie

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      March 3, 2015
      05:26 am

      @Debbie Hi and thanks for the kind words Debbie!

      Yes, you can trust the labels above slot machines in Vegas to be true as false advertisement would be against the law.

      As for playing single or multiple paylines, then that's a very good question and unfortunately I can't give a straightforward answer because it depends on a slot machine. On some machines you need to pay all paylines to be eligible for winning the progressive jackpot so you should definitely pay all paylines on these machines. 1 coin per line is usually enough as multiple coins per line don't change the payout percentage. You also need to pay attention to bonus events and see if they are triggered only on active paylines of multi-line slot machine, in which case you should play all lines to take advantage of all the potential bonus events.

      On some other machines however, it doesn't matter how many lines you play, it doesn't have any requirement regarding the number of active paylines to win progressive jackpot or it might not have a progressive jackpot at all. Also bonus events on these machines are triggered independently from active paylines.

      Hope it answers your question.

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  10. Kevin M
    Kevin M
    March 6, 2015
    00:35 am

    Question : On Strategy # 10 : What about multi-line machines...... Ones that have buttons for say 10lines 20lines 30lines 40lines 50lines and then a set of buttons for credits per line like 1credit 2credits 3credits 5credits 10credits and so on .......

    What would be your approach on this type of machine ?

    1. Reply to Kevin M

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      March 6, 2015
      01:28 am

      @Kevin M Hi Kevin!

      An far as payout is concerned, multi-line slot machines where paylines have been divided into groups are no different from machines where you can select paylines individually.

      On multi-line slot machines of any kind, it's advisable to play all the paylines in order to take full advantage of bonuses and a progressive jackpot should it have one. 1 credit per line is usually enough as more credits rarely increase the payout percentage.

      Hope that helps.

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      2. Ken Hallquist
        Ken Hallquist
        September 22, 2016
        04:05 am

        @Jaz Would the 1 penny per 50 lines apply to this theory too in class 2 casinos?

        1. Reply to Ken Hallquist

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        2. Jaz
          Jaz
          September 22, 2016
          05:48 am

          @Ken Hallquist It would, yes

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  11. Jim
    Jim
    March 12, 2015
    17:12 pm

    What a great article of information that can save us from losing a lot of money playing slots. I don't frequent casinos that much but am ready to get back into it using a slot strategy that requires me to log in the number of units that I win or lose. When that unit number gets to a certain level, positive or negative, then I should take appropriate betting action. My question is whether or not logging down the results on a piece of paper is allowed? I'm no professional gambler but I intend to win at this game. I don't want to go against conventional rules that are in place by me tracking my activity on a piece of paper. Can you give me some dos and don'ts on me writing this information down while playing? thanks.

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      March 13, 2015
      09:52 am

      @Jim Hi, great comment, Jim!

      Absolutely, you can feel free to take notes in any casino. I have even seen people take strategy sheets with them to a blackjack table and I have never heard anybody sent away over this. You might get some weird looks every now and then, but otherwise you should be fine. If you have a smartphone, you can also use that to take notes, as far as everyone else is concerned, you could be texting with someone.

      Here is another idea, where log could be useful:
      In a typical casino not all slot machines are set to the same payout percentage, even if they look exactly the same. If your log indicates you have been putting a lot of money into one particular machine over several sessions, chances are the slot machine close to it has higher payout percentage. You should switch machines and take a note so you won't stumble on the same low payout slot again.

      Good luck and let me know how it went.

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  12. Gary Chapman
    Gary Chapman
    May 4, 2015
    11:27 am

    I play an online casino in UK called mFortune. The slots are excellent although as a regular player, I obviously lose more often than I win.

    Although I understand the RNG principle, the machine I play called Vegas Vegas clearly has 'patterns of play' and although I can never predict a winning line, I can predict within reason when a certain combination is likely to occur. For example, I know that when a combination of 3 symbols hasn't occurred for a long period, there is a much greater likelihood of there being 4 or 5 of that particular symbol when it next wins. This, in my experience, applies to all symbols. I have also heard that online slots have a chip or programme within which can alternate between high payout and low payout. This seems to be the case for the slot I play and the pattern of reel spins and symbols generated is easy to spot so that I know when the machine is 'taking money'. It can sometimes take £15-£20 when it is in this mode without a winning line on 10 pence spins!

    Any views or advice would be eagerly received.

    Thanks,


    Gary Chapman.

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  13. Steve
    Steve
    May 9, 2015
    09:33 am

    I fall into almost all of your don't do categories but love the thrill of the chase of the large payouts. :) so I'm going to try some of your advice to see if it works on me because I seem to never be able to bring money home or even break even:(
    However I notice in Vegas and elsewhere that video poker slots will give you let's say a full house and then the next 10 hands you won't even see a pair.. I've also noticed that after I get a pay out on a video poker machine that most likely the machine will get its money back before another pay out. Another one is once a machine gets to a total credit of approx. 200 you had better take your money and run, because the machine will go on to a no win mode and perhaps take most of those 200 credits back and there are times I will see no winning hands inbetween. Those situations do not feel like random numbers are being selected without the assistance of added programming that is affecting the out come.
    I like to play a lot and find it to be relaxing but expensive.
    Perhaps you can respond to my adding program thought.
    Thanks

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  14. david
    david
    June 8, 2015
    22:12 pm

    I have been playing slots for several years now and I know for a fact that they hit in cycles . You get on a machine and hits like crazy for a few spins then it suddenly stops hitting anything, slowly but surely taking your winnings away. Thats when I move to a different machine. If it was totally random would,nt they always be the same? I have seen this happen hundreds of times. What is your thought on this?

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  15. Elizabeth miller
    Elizabeth miller
    July 16, 2015
    17:40 pm

    Do you have any advice for video poker machines?

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      March 4, 2016
      14:29 pm

      @Elizabeth miller Hi Elizabeth,

      Yes, make sure you know what the perfect strategy is for a video poker machine because unlike normal slot machines, your input has a huge impact on your payout percentage.

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  16. Corrine
    Corrine
    October 15, 2015
    13:07 pm

    I have been a gambler for over 20 years. There is alot that I agree with. People, use your comps, the casino's will take more than they give. I visit the "Reserve Casino" in black hawk Colo. Main reason, #1. The employee's make me feel safe, comfortable and welcomed. #2. When playing with my players card it pays .80 per ever dollar spent. My food and drinks and rooms are always free. Here's the deal , I've made such good connections there, that it doesn't matter if I have money to gamble, to eat or sleep. They take care of me. Even if my coupons are expired. #3. If I put $20 in a machine, when I get to $40 I pull it out. I'll put another $20 in when it doubles I pull it out. On an average I come home with the money I went up with. #4. I like casinos that have bands, concerts, giveaways. Nice restaurants, to get that break.

    On a personal note. I won a substantial amount on a machine at 2:30 am but not a jackpot it was accumulated.
    I also won 10K at 10 am on a Wednesday morning. I think the hour of the day has very little to do with it. Just remember it's gambling not winning. If you win it's a bonus. Go have fun relax. "BE SAFE"!

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  17. Wayne Scanlon
    Wayne Scanlon
    February 22, 2016
    17:59 pm

    I have found it is tough to win the middle 2 weeks of the month @ the Indian Casino I attend. The last week of the month and the 1st week of the month seem best. Could they be turning machines down during the middle weeks? Also I wonder if they have a quota to make every month?

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      March 4, 2016
      11:46 am

      @Wayne Scanlon Hi Wayne,

      To answer your first question - Technically they could, but I can't think of a reason why they would change the payout percentage this way.

      To second question - I see where you are going with this, but no, I haven't heard they have a quota they need to match and as a result need to tinker with the payout to make their ends meet.

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  18. Jenny Quinta
    Jenny Quinta
    March 4, 2016
    01:32 am

    Thanks so much for this information. I'm one of those gamblers that get greedy when I hit a "little" jackpot & always want to keep playing until I hit a bigger one -- sometimes it works & sometimes it doesn't (there was only 1 occasion when I actually WON $20,250.00 which I asked for a check & went home & went shopping the next week instead of putting it back in the machines).

    I received an offer for 2 plane tickets, $800 play money & a hotel room for 4 days -- when asked if i could drive instead of flying (3 hour drive) I was told yes, but I won't get the $800 (of course I know the goal is to keep us there for the entire time & to end up spending money out of my pocket & that's not going to happen this time because I'm leaving all my ATM cards at home). I am going to use your strategies & will let you know how it worked for me when I return on 3/21. I just got the same offer for April & yes I plan on going but this time without my better half. I figure I better use it before they realize that I'm not spending my money & stop sending me these awesome offers.

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      March 4, 2016
      11:13 am

      @Jenny Quinta You seem like a smart girl, Jenny.

      I hope you will take home another big win with these strategies. Good luck!

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  19. Mike
    Mike
    April 25, 2016
    11:15 am

    I followed your advice and tripled my modest bank roll. My 45 minute session paid for my lunch. I set my bankroll, time limit, played the higher percentage slot machine and left after 20 reached 67. I also waited after each play. Thanks.

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  20. Pammieo
    Pammieo
    May 25, 2016
    05:49 am

    My mother. Had her own system that seemed to work not only for her but for myself aswell , twice in Vegas & twice in Reno, we flew to Vegas ,on a Friday 4th of July weekend,enjoyed shows, shopping,sswimmingsweating as it was 106 degrees when we landed,ma'says ok so its Sunday evening ,after dinner at mgm grand, we will rest till about 2:30 am , by that time most people will go home the casinos have raked in a lot of money, the slots are full,now theres less people ,so the chances of winning are increased , she says listen to the sounds as we enter the casino if you hear bells ringing & lot of activity going on that means the casino is paying out,you can feel the energy, as we entered the El durado. We listen, it was about 3:40am & the place was popping, I won on a slot machine that an elderly lady had been playing for some time, she was tired , said she was going to bed , she said play this machine young lady! The money is hot its gonna pay , so as I play three slots of my choice I add a 3 to 4 dollar coins to her slot it gives & takes, as the coined are coming out they are hot! I thought she meant hot as in hot to win , not hot to the touch! But yep the coins were hot as I win, so I lose, I play my last $50 , as I put my last 4 coins in her slot , my 3 are ready to pull , I start with my machine I pull 1234 so her slot is the last pull so all machines are spinning 1& 2 pay small 3 takes my $ 4 hits the 4 7s & the bell starts ringing lights are going off & hot coins are pouring out of # 4,first time. In Vegas first time gambled, first time Iwin $4,000 in hot coins

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  21. george
    george
    June 8, 2016
    21:11 pm

    Best to play a machine that has a progressive Jackpot I'm from Australia and we probably have more slots than Vegas and I have seen people win thousands playing just 30 cents a spin.

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  22. Judith S.
    Judith S.
    June 9, 2016
    18:31 pm

    I've read many posts about Class II and Class III slots as I play in Indian casinos. I was never really sure what they were saying. After reading your post I finally feel I understand. I agree with you, I don't like the idea of predetermined outcomes. Thank you for your explaining in lay mans terms.

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      August 11, 2016
      16:21 pm

      @Judith S. You are welcome Judith!

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  23. Jan
    Jan
    June 11, 2016
    14:58 pm

    So should a person stay away from the casinos on Indian Reservations?

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      August 11, 2016
      16:16 pm

      @Jan If possible, yes. Or play in online casinos instead.

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  24. Rob
    Rob
    August 5, 2016
    16:40 pm

    The Seminole casino - Hard Rock in Tampa Fl- seems to be the tightest slots in the world. It's not uncommon to have 30-40 spins and win nothing!

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    2. Kareem
      Kareem
      April 24, 2017
      17:04 pm

      @Rob Fresno California casino "Table Mountain casino" is WORSE!! I was playing the $10 dollar slot machine the other day and put $1400 in and did not win a single thing. Other times I put in $100 and won $4000, but 140 spins and no win? That's bullshit!!

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      2. Channing
        Channing
        September 26, 2022
        05:43 am

        @Kareem My grandmother would do the same thing on $100 machines. I have been standing right next to her and she has put $1500 in a 100.00 machine (only betting 100.00) and not winning a damn thing. And of course I cringe every time she bets $100 for a single spin. I'm like "woman just give me that hundred dollar bill"

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  25. Mick. Brisbane Australia
    Mick. Brisbane Australia
    August 16, 2016
    22:19 pm

    Hi Jaz, thanks for the very well written and thorough article, and your polite request to leave comments. I have allocated a few dollars for my play that I used to spend at a bar, say $40 a week, and figured at least I get some money back from the pokies and have a chance of maybe winning a good few dollars, but like the set spend amount I have also decided the amount of spins I'll play with that money, and when I'm done leave, always with at least some money left in my pocket, no massive win yet, not impossible, a little patience. Thanks again.

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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      August 17, 2016
      04:24 am

      @Mick. Brisbane Australia Thank you for the kind words Mick, appreciate it.

      Allocating money you would otherwise spend on some other form of entertainment is a good idea. Casinos are entertainment establishments first and foremost.

      Hope your patience pays off and you win big, good luck!

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  26. Bill
    Bill
    September 17, 2016
    12:16 pm

    I once put $20 in the wheel of fortune slot machine and I won $1000 and I felt like god.

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    2. Master
      Master "freakin"Cylinder
      August 2, 2017
      18:58 pm

      @Bill Bill there are 2 types of gamblers, those who call anything over the amount they came with a win and those who are looking to change their lives. Personally leaving with 0, 1 or 2 hundred more than I came with does nothing in the satisfaction dept . I see that as want to be or nuisance money. I am not greedy in any sense, perhaps a realist. You only get one shot thru life, if you cant win enough to buy yourself or a loved one something nice you have teased yourself and indulged your fantasies. Reality is you are barely better off than when you arrived. If you cant change that why even bother.

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  27. Bob
    Bob
    September 20, 2016
    13:51 pm

    I never lose all when I go to the casino. If I play a slot for .20, .30, .40, .50, or more, I multiply that by 100 and play that many spins. For example: $20.00 will give me 100 spins at .20. I will always have some of that $20.00 left, or more if I got lucky, and then I cash out.

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  28. Rick
    Rick
    October 6, 2016
    22:02 pm

    I always win on a special machine in Blackhawk, Colorado.
    The secret is speed. When the machine is cold, you play slow and bet small. There are 15 hot seconds spurts on the machine; lift your bets then and play quickly. I always win.

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  29. Ike
    Ike
    October 21, 2016
    16:36 pm

    Another problem I'm noticing is that when a person is playing the minimum say 25c on a machine where the max bet is 4$ the premium symbols have a tendency to show up and payout a thousand times the bet. It's a great hit for the amount they put in but it rarely happens for max bet... This happens on a regular as small bettors play next to my favorite machine. Every time the alarm goes off for big win I look down and see there only playing 40 cents

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  30. karl seel
    karl seel
    October 24, 2016
    22:01 pm


    ONE
    My understanding is on Class III Slots, and the RNG, once you hit 'SPIN', you awarded amount is already decided... The wheels that spin are just for your entertainment...
    is this correct?
    TWO
    On the QHits Bonus round where you get 5, 7, 10, 11, 15, 20 and maybe +5 bonus,
    THAT has already been decided before you select your first Square.
    is this correct?

    THREE
    Once you are awarded, for example, 20 spins, You can play as fast as you can, hit enter so the points rack up immediately
    or
    You can let each spin at its own pace..
    HOWEVER,
    ALL those spins you receive and 'extra' spins, The amount you win, the GRAND total for that bonus round has already been determined,
    Correct?



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    2. Jaz
      Jaz
      October 27, 2016
      15:57 pm

      @karl seel Hi,

      Assuming you meant class 2 slot machines, you are correct on all accounts. In an unregulated casino there is no guarantee a slot machine is not behaving the way you just described.

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  31. Bob
    Bob
    October 27, 2016
    20:34 pm

    I was just reading my original post and realized that I said multiply by 100 and play that many spins. To clarify, if you play any amount, say $40.00 at .40, you spin 100 times and only 100 spins. If I get free spins, I write down the spin number I was on and wait until the free spins are finished and then continue where I left off. Don't count the free spins as part of the 100. $50.00 at .50, etc. I put in $40.00 at .40 and really lucked out at around $200.00. That time I didn't need to play all 100 spins, Just invested another $40.00 and started over. Doesn't happen all the time but I never lose all my investment.

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  32. Rick
    Rick
    January 14, 2017
    21:39 pm

    Most of the casinos in Oklahoma run by Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasha, Creek, Osage also have class III slots. There may be more tribes that do as well. As long as the have Open the Vault I'm good. (It's the only slot I've ever felt like playing)

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  33. jack
    jack
    January 19, 2017
    01:40 am

    Potowatomi is the tightest casino in the Midwest and maybe the country. How can one find casino ratings to prove this? ive seen in the paper they made 400mil last year alone

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  34. Tweetygirl74
    Tweetygirl74
    March 11, 2017
    23:13 pm

    I recently was playing on a penny slot machine with a minimum bet of .50 and discovered if I wanted to raise my bet that I had two options of doing so. One being to chose from .50 to max and second choice is to change denominator from .01 to .02 or higher. The cost of the $1 to max bet is the same no matter which denominator you chose. why is this and which one should I be taking advantage of? I did notice when the bet was set to the .02 denominator that the mini jackpot was higher but also seemed like my machine wasn't hitting once I switched to it. I play at Detroit casinos and have noticed this on a few different machines

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  35. BRK
    BRK
    April 1, 2017
    16:31 pm

    Do tribal casinos have certain month's they have loser slots I gone every different days and times of the day feels like toward end of the month bells ring more and times are either mid evening just couple hours then mid afternoon most days if only toward the end of the month

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  36. Clancy
    Clancy
    May 2, 2017
    00:15 am

    I played Black Jack for years. Then fell in love with slots. Too much so at first. 1st lesson learned? FILL UP YOUR GAS TANK BEFORE YOU GET TO THE CASINO. After that experience (actually learned from it) I started watching more than playing. What you have put out for all to read...DEAD ON! I just wanted to thank you for not being like so many others who post things just to see how many hits they can get. You explained it in a way that people will at least take a minute or two to look around & think about it. I especially like the breaking your experience into time limited sessions. The best advice I've seen in a while. Again, thank you for being real.

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  37. CHRISTIAN B. ROBERTS
    CHRISTIAN B. ROBERTS
    December 15, 2021
    23:07 pm

    Been up to the Cherokee Casino in Murphy NC several times. I follow your advise and take a set amount to gamble with. Usually play the slots moving around to various machines. If I win anything above $50.00 I cash out, put the ticket in my pocket and take another $20.00 out to gamble with. This strategy seems to work. Last time there in Nov.2021 I played a penny slot on my way out the door, put in $5.00 betting $.81 cents a pull and and won $ 1500.00 . Going back in Jan.2022 and playing on their money.
    Thanks for the insights.

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