« SO THE MACHINE’S LOCATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE | | Playing Slots Tournaments Online »
PLAYING “MAXIMUM BET” RESULTS IN MORE WINS
I’ve heard countless tales of people who play their machine with a maximum bet, but when their credits run low they drop their bet down and almost immediately hit the (now much smaller) jackpot. It’s purely coincidence, and they forget all those times that they dropped their bet down and nothing happened. That’s why I recommend always playing the maximum bet you can comfortably afford.
No, it doesn’t affect the odds one way or another. But you don’t want to be kicking yourself if the jackpot hits.
Keep in mind that there are professional poker players and professional blackjack players, but there are no professional slot machine players. The system is so well designed by the casino industry that to win consistently is downright impossible. It’s a lot harder to find and exploit trends, as there’s no way of knowing just by looking at a machine what kind of payback it has. But to increase the odds of getting lucky, go with these tips:
• Play where there are lots of other casinos. If they’re the only game in town, what are the odds they’re going to have loose slot machines? Competition means that casinos must have machines that pay high enough to keep people from going next door. So stick with Vegas, Reno, Atlantic City, and other popular places with several nearby casinos.
• Stick with casinos, not airports. In places like Nevada, you’ll find slot machines at the airport and at every store. These machines are infamous for being tight to the extreme.
• Go with the highest denomination you can afford. If you can afford dollars but are playing pennies, then you’re ruining your chances of winning. The higher the denomination, the higher the return. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should play $25 slot machines if you’ve got only a hundred bucks. Be reasonable.
• Use your slot-club card whenever you play. The bonuses that you can get with your slot card include cash back, free meals, discounts at the gift shop, and even invitations to special casino events.
• Keep in mind that progressive slots have less frequent payouts, both big and small. You’re going for life-changing money when you play progressives. If you want your money to last a bit longer with more frequent but smaller wins, then stick with the regular slot machines.
