Blog Posts

Slot Machine Odds of Winning

16:30 UTC February 26, 2010 by chris

Slot machines are notorious for having pre-determined payout levels for all customers at a casino, and learning how to leverage these to your advantage whenever possible can be the key to long-term gambling success at these machines. When looking at how to utilize the odds of slot machines for yourself there are three key concepts to bear in mind at all times moderation, discipline and bankroll management.

Moderation

When looking at most slot machines that have substantial payouts remember that the actual likelihood of you actually hitting that major payout is less than the probability of you actually winning the lottery. Still, unlike the lottery, slot machines can have a much better return on investment and can in some cases give you up to 97% returns on your money over a long period of time (though only at select machines in some casinos as this is far from the norm). Knowing this in order to better increase your odds at winning big at a machine and keep yourself playing regularly go for moderation and progressive winnings rather than wagering everything you have on one spin. While slots with smaller denominations may seem less interesting due to the fact that payouts may be slightly lower they can also help you stay in a game longer and thus make it much more likely you’ll see any money coming back to you at all in the near future rather than simply run your bankroll dry.

Discipline

Once you win even a small jackpot be sure to withdraw the money immediately from the machine. Slot machines count on people feeling “lucky” and wanting to keep going at the game in order to make themselves more money off of some small earnings in order to give the casino a better chance at getting money that is paid out back into their own pockets. Proper discipline of a player in order to know when to call it quits after a win is the difference most of the time between actually seeing some sort of return to your own coffers rather than simply dishing out money day after day. If it helps take frequent breaks as necessary in order to cool your mind and, of course, don’t get carried away in the rush if you do ever happen to hit it big, as you’re more likely to simply lose everything instead.

Bankroll Management

With the two other concepts in mind always remember that more is better when it comes to your bankroll. That means more lines and bigger wagers on a slot machine for the same money you would spend for less lines or less wagering power at another. Five lines at a nickel slot would be worth more than one line at a quarter slots, while a max bet of 25 coins at a penny slot should be viewed in the same way. Look for the machines that offer you the most “bang for your buck” and leverage them accordingly in order to best use your money where it is needed and can give you the greatest likelihood of winning. After all, slots are dependent upon pre-calculated odds, so using these as much as you can in your favor is necessary for true long-term success.

Online Slots Tournaments

16:29 UTC February 24, 2010 by chris

Online slots tournaments are a fun variation of the offline variety that allow players to enter in for anywhere from free to a small fee and compete with each other online to see who can win the greatest amount in the shortest time possible. Cash prizes are typically the incentive for attracting players to slots tournaments and can range anywhere from a few dollars to even $100,000 in the World Series of Slots, with many other prizes being awarded to participants other than the #1 winner. These games can be fun and exciting as they can keep any monetary loss to the player at a minimum as all players generally enter into a slots tournament off of a set minimum fee and offer a quick final decision as to who is the overall champion of the slot machines and who…well…isn’t….after only 5 to 10 minutes of play.

Different casinos offer different types of slots tournaments to players as each casino competes with one another to offer the most competitive, best tournament available that can bring in more players daily for fun competition against one another. For some slot enthusiasts this can even be a fun free competition as many gambling sites offer free tournaments and award sign-up incentives to players for participating.

When looking at how to play in a slots tournament there are two main strategies to abide by: play hard, and play fast. This generally means keeping your bets at the absolute maximum at all times in order to maximize your winning potential during the game. Since most slots tournaments are typically only 5-10 minutes long this also means that you need to make the most out of the time given to you to wager as much as you can before the timer runs out. As online slots tournaments generally utilize two separate bins of counters – one for your “play” coins that tracks how many spins you can play and one for your winnings – that are not connected at all you don’t need to worry about wagering too much and risking your winnings. As you wager more, only your assigned “play” coins will be deducted and your winnings will always be safe, so keep your bets to the max at all times.

Be sure to be quick about your spins as well. Some slots tournaments offer a large number of “play” coins to keep participants in the game for a long time and in order to successfully go through all of the coins in the set amount of time you will be required to not move from your computer or take any small break whatsoever as you may not have enough time to fully play what you are given and utilize all opportunities that are available to you. Keep your eyes on the wheel and your finger on the mouse button in order to keep your machine rolling and money coming in so that you can help ensure that you are in the paying bubble when the timer runs out and the final winners are called.

Payout and Odds of a Slot Machine

17:12 UTC February 19, 2010 by chris

Slot machines are notorious gambling devices that can be both entertaining and profitable for a lucky few, though as all players tend to know, these machines will always be in favor of the house taking home most of the winnings, regardless of what you may try to do in your own favor. That stated, slot machines do offer different payouts and odds depending on the machine played and the money up for grabs and, if played properly, can generally return most of your money over time so long as you make your plays right and gamble accordingly.

One of the key factors to consider when looking at a slot machine’s odds is, naturally, the actual set payout rate. Many times high-paying slot machines with up to a 98% return rate are advertised by casinos in order to attract customers, and these machines should naturally be your own primary target when you enter into an establishment advertising them. If you cannot find them on your own, then feel free to ask any of the local slot machine attendants to assist you, as it is their duty to ensure that all customers find what they seek and are satisfied with their stay at the casino.

Further, bear in mind that virtually all modern slot machines are controlled by a random number generator set to provide randomized results based off of a set algorithm to pay out spins at complete random, without any other input. This means that any strategy you have for strategically betting more at times and less at others is effectively useless, as it will have no impact upon the actual randomly generated figures. Your only chance is to focus instead on maximizing the profitability of each spin, in order to take advantage of the successful results that are generated from time to time in whatever variation there may be. As most modern slot machines typically play up to 25 different lines at once, this means a payout in your favor could occur in any one of those lines at any time, so be sure not to miss out on a chance to cash in on what may come your way.

Maximum bets also offer the highest payout potential along with the highest risk. Given the fact that even major slot machines with the largest jackpots pay out some sort of return over time, the maximum bet whenever you play may be well worth your while. It is also the only way you can guarantee that you have a chance at successfully obtaining the major jackpot prize. While lesser bets may seem safer and allow you to play longer on a smaller bankroll, they will also offer less of a major payout potential, due to their limited overall value. Therefore, you should opt for the top bets whenever possible, in order to increase your chances of winning big. Just remember not to overdo it and go beyond your capabilities because if you keep playing, slot machines will, in the end, take back more than what you put into them. Always bear this in mind, and stop when appropriate no matter whether you are ahead or behind.

Slot Machine Etiquette

17:12 UTC February 17, 2010 by chris

It is a given truth that every pastime undertaken in a social setting will have its own set of rules-whether formal or informal-and this certainly also applies to casino games. The first thing you might need to think about is whether or not the casino you are visiting has a dress code. If so, not adhering to it will render all else irrelevant! In some casinos, especially in Europe, it is important to bear in mind that you can also be ejected from a casino for bad language, so if your game isn’t going too well, remember that it’s only a game and keep a lid on your frustration and disappointment.

In terms of playing slot machines, one thing to bear in mind is that although slot machines can be used singularly, players are discouraged from using several machines at once in the hope of winning more money. It is widely held that players may use up to two machines at any one time, as long as the casino is not too full, but you should ensure that you are able to watch over the machines you are using in case the casino begins to fill and also to prevent yourself from being ripped off. There is a surprisingly good living that is unscrupulously made by snatching the winnings accumulated at unattended slot machines.

Also, whilst playing the slots, keep an eye out for the sight of a cup on the seat of a machine where you are thinking of playing, as, in general slot machine etiquette, this  means that the machine in question is taken already, and the player that owns the cup has either taken a short break or visited the bathroom. One of the biggest possible faux pas you can possibly make is to sit at a marked slot machine. If you do so, you will incur the anger of the player, and maybe of others, which will spoil the evening unnecessarily. In addition, if you are the player with a cup on a seat, it is considered good form to get back as soon as you can. You can ask an attendant to look after the machine while you are absent.

Another general rule of etiquette related to decency and manners, is that players refrain from kicking or hitting the machine in any way. Such acts are deeply frowned upon, and will most likely result in the player being ejected from the casino. In addition, just as screaming and cursing is against good form when one loses; it is also highly discouraged when players win. This can be different at jackpot wins, as euphoric yelps are different and are also good for casino business, as they like other punters to see other punters winning. It encourages further gambling! In general play, however, it is considered polite for players to talk quietly amongst themselves.

Lastly, it is certainly considered good etiquette to tip the slot machine host after winning a decent amount. If you bear all of these points in mind, a good and hopefully successful evening can be enjoyed by all.

Betting on bwin

10:24 UTC November 25, 2009 by Carl

I must confess that before I started working with bwin, I was unaware as to how big and just how varied their markets really were. Coming to the site is worth it just for the extensive football betting and bwin live betting and streaming service by itself. If all that doesn’t grab your attention then you can get yourself across to their poker room which is one of the best on the net and with some great bonuses to boot.

You can also get access to some great poker material as well on the poker blog section with some great features and news. I think for me personally one of the outstanding features that any gambling site can have is variety and daily content. But there are millions of people who are turning to the online casino experience these days.

In fact I was only having this exact same conversation with a professional colleague of mine the other day. We discussed how land based casinos were starting to veer down the electronic gaming avenue. This is certainly the case in the UK. We have electronic blackjack, electronic roulette and all the rest of the electronic games that are sprouting up like mushrooms.

They are entering dangerous ground in my opinion because what they are starting to offer in a gaming sense is starting to merge with what online casinos offer. So in future, where will the incentive be for punters to leave their own home to gamble on blackjack or roulette etc when everything can all be got from their very own computer? There are always those who fear cyber crime of course by these days sites like bwin employ some of the best experts in the world to thwart these people.

In my mind the threat is no more real than getting mugged outside a casino (which almost happened to me once). I can also say that numerous people have had their cars broken in to whilst being inside a land based casino and I have even heard of big winners being followed home and then robbed at home. Land based casinos are also a haven for thieves and pick pockets so if you think by avoiding online casinos that you are safer then you had better think again.

I really do think that you are safer both physically and financially playing online casino gambling and this is from someone who has done both on numerous occasions.

see you soon

Carl

Wish I knew this

09:27 UTC September 10, 2009 by Carl

For ages and ages, I have always known that there are ways to beat fruit machines and slots. But this is about all I know because I have never been able to figure out the secret. Back in the days when the sophistication was primitive, I knew people who knew techniques that could confuse the machine and make it pay out. In fact I have seen it with my own eyes.

This isnt conspiracy theory rubbish, I can relate you a story of a Chinese man who used to frequent the casino where I used to work. We had five fruit machines where I worked that had £250 jackpots at that time. One afternoon he came in early just after we had opened and he ended up playing all five machines at the same time. He got all 5 on an automatic spin and he then went for a stroll around as all five machines played themselves. It was the first time I had ever seen anything like this and my eyes were glued to the readouts that showed the totals.

They were up and down but seemed to be gradually going up……one by one the jackpots went in and he ended up taking £1250 in coin to cash desk. I can still see the cashier now counting out all those coins and then the manager had to refill several of the machines afterwards.

I would like to say that this was a flukey one off event but it wasnt. This guy knew something of that I have no doubt. It is probably one of those things that if you know then you dont tell……its that simple. Our casino used to switch machines every so often and I know why, it may have been to maximise the payouts but I think it was to confuse people who knew how to beat them.

I have tried in vain to get hold of this knowledge and seeing as my casino and gambling contacts are extensive then not to be able to do that after all these years just shows what a closely guarded secret it is. Maybe its something simple, maybe its complicated,maybe you have to work in that industry……either way……sure wish I knew :-)

see you soon

Carl


Security & Trust