Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
want to play (from pennies to $500 a spin in the high roller areas), and how many
coins you want to bet each time. And when you're done, you simply hit the “Cash
Out” button (if there's any cash left) and take your ticket. Tickets have replaced
coins, as most machines are now “paper only,” meaning bills go in and paper
comes out. The ticket can then be exchanged for cash or put into another
machine to keep playing. Gone are the days of the winnings clanging on the
metallic trays below (though there's often a simulated version of that sound played
when you do cash out). It may seem like a convenience not to have to wait for all
of the coins to be dispensed, but the casinos just aren't that concerned with help-
ing make your life easier. They like it because this method is much quicker than
the former, resulting in bonus time for-you guessed it—more gambling.
How do the machines work?
Slot machines are all computerized, and the outcome of each spin depends on
what's called a Random Number Generator (RNG), which selects a different
series of numbers that translate to the machine the moment you've pushed the
“Spin” button whether you've won or lost. In the few seconds before you push
“Spin” again, that random generator has already gone through thousands of com-
binations, one of which could have been a jackpot. Or will that come on your
next spin? There lies the enticement.
That said, one thing to note is that each number is independently generated.
Despite players' superstitions, strategies, and theories, there's no “hot” machine or
machine operating on a streak. It's all a matter of timing on the part of your finger.
While the table games have set odds, meaning you know the house advantage
before you play, slot machines are variable, depending on the casino, the denomi-
nation, maybe even the location of the machine. Generally, the house has an
advantage of somewhere between 3% and 15%, meaning that over time, on aver-
age, $100 played in a machine will pay back $85 to $97. But that's over the long
haul. Short-term play can be far better or far worse (see www.wizardofodds.com
for specific casino average pays), and quarter and dollar machines tend to have
better records than nickel machines.
Nevada law requires that slots pay back at least 75 percent. If you pick up pub-
lications such as
Casino Player
or talk to any seasoned gambler, you'll find that
payback percentages are higher in Downtown and in locals' casinos than they are
on the Strip. But to further break it down, frequent players on the Strip will tell
you that the smaller casinos there have higher paybacks (and better comps) than
do the large properties. Of course, that's on average. Because we're dealing with
random numbers here, you could be just about anywhere and, thanks to perfect
timing, hit it big.
Some people, however, insist that the machines in heavily trafficked areas, such
as near the showroom or at the entrance to the casino, are looser (meaning the
player is likely to win more). The theory goes that this method enables the casino
to entice passers-by who might not have gambled to stay and play. It's likely true,
but management at different casinos have different policies, and there's no defini-
tive proof for or against it. Some gamblers think they can psychically detect a
machine that's about to win. That's simply not the case. A machine doesn't have
a “set” jackpot it's going to pay out after a player has invested a certain amount of
money. And if you do win the jackpot, that doesn't preclude the machine from
