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SO THE MACHINE’S LOCATION MAKES A DIFFERENCE

There was a time (back when all slot machines were boring three-wheeled cherries, lemons, and candy bars) when casinos would put the loose machines by the door and other high-traffic areas. Some authors have even perpetuated that myth today; if that’s still the case, it’s a rare exception and most definitely not the rule. With all the fancy bells and whistles and bonus games and video playback etc., etc., etc., people will play slots pretty much no matter where you put them.

A slot manager these days is most concerned with aesthetics - having the layout of the slot floor look good, having the machines easily accessible, and putting machines where people will want to play them.
Far more important in slot payback is the denomination: Dollars pay better than quarters, which pay better than nickels, which pay much better than pennies.

The Amount Of Time From The Last Jackpot Makes A Difference

It’s true that some machines seem to be just paying out like there’s no tomorrow, or as some say, “on a pay cycle.” However, there’s no computer program that prevents or promotes a slot machine from paying more or less than normal. If it just hit a big jackpot, it’s just as likely to hit (or not hit) again on the very next pull. These decisions are made by the random number generator; they are random.

In the casino where I’m currently working, we just installed a slot machine whose jackpot is supposed to be hit only once every 100,000 pulls, on average. But this machine hit three times before it went through its first 50,000 pulls. You just never know.
Casinos Penalize Players Who Use Their Lot-club Cards

What possible reason would the casino have to punish you for inserting your slot-club card? Even in my most paranoid moments, I can’t think of any reason. The slot-card equipment is not connected to the hardware of the slot machine; all it does is keep track of your play so you can earn the proper credit. Casinos want the customers to win sometimes; otherwise they won’t come back and neither will their friends.