While talking about slot machine volatility, here’s a question that a player was curious about:
Do you think it makes a difference to pull out your winnings and start over with fresh money?
Beth H.
This is not the first time we’ve seen this question, and the theory goes that by cashing out and starting with fresh money, it “resets” the slot machine into thinking it’s a new session. If you don’t cash out, it will start to claw back the money to balance out the session.
The answer is no – there is no difference to a slot machine if you keep playing or cash out and put new money in.
This is because of how the slot works, as past performance does not perfect future results. The Random Number Generator is always generating new numbers, which correlate to outcomes within the range designed by the game maker.
Because any outcome is possible with the press of that spin button, you could win back to back jackpots! You could have a lot of losing spins in a row. Often, but not necessarily every time, you’ll have something in between.
However, we do like the concept of cashing out a big win and putting in a fresh amount, but as the concept of a bankroll management idea. If you leave a big amount in the machine, it can be tempting to keep playing, and potentially even spend through the entire amount.
We like the idea of not having too much cash in the machine because it forces the occasional decision. Do I want to keep playing or move on? Do I want to put more money in this machine?
Some players have the discipline to say “I’m cashing out at $X,” but it’s very easy to then say “ehh… $20 more” when that money is already in there, certainly easier than when you have to reach into your wallet or purse for more money.
So while it doesn’t impact the machine in any way, it could impact what you do with the money once you’ve won it, so we recommend cashing it out as a way to lock in some wins, even if you want to play a bit more by putting in some fresh money.
We have a bankroll model where we put in $20 and anytime that bet exceeds $24, we cash out and keep that ticket and start a new $20. At the end of the day/night, we cash out all tickets and leave.
That way we are limited to the cash we came with and often leave with that same amount plus or minus, while still having fun
We love a good bankroll management process. While it won’t reset a slot, it can help ensure you leave with a portion of your money each trip, and so we think that’s great!