One of the broader pieces of advice we’ve shared on Flip The Switch since launch is that, in general, playing higher denomination slot machines will provide a bit higher payback, over time, than lower denomination games. How does that advice transfer to other games, and multi-denomination games?
I have a question re: your suggestion: “… play higher denomination games that have better long-term payback percentages than lower ones”. What if you’re playing a multi-denomination game? Are the higher denoms on these type of games also associated with higher payback percentages? Specifically, I’d like to know about this in relation to multi-denom machines like Game Kings that include video keno (my fave) as an option. I play four-card and multi-card video keno almost exclusively. If I play the $1 version instead of the 50 cents version, is that a wiser choice from a payback percentage standpoint? TY.
Jo
There’s a few questions in there. We’ve covered the multi-denomination slots here a bit already, along with Video Poker, so we’ll link to that and focus on your other question about games like Video Keno.
One thing about those games is the payback schedule is shown on screen. Since the odds of Keno are well established thanks to the predictable structure of 80 numbers, 20 being drawn, and the number of spots you’re picking, you can actually compare the pay tables of each denomination, simply by pulling each one up one at a time.
As a rule, casinos often do step up the payouts as you increase in denomination. Similar to slots, they may not make an adjustment for every single step – oftentimes 25 cent and 50 cent denomination choices will have the same pay table, with a step up happening at the 1 dollar denomination. Similarly, 1 cent and 2 cent denominations on multi-denomination slot machines may be set the same, with a step up at nickel denomination.
The beauty though with Video Keno, as with Video Poker, Blackjack, and some other non-slot games, is you simply have more information about the payouts, and with that information you can review where the changes happen. With Blackjack, you might see 3:2 Blackjack payouts on a $25 table but the lower 6:5 Blackjack payouts on a $15 table. This can help you make the decision on which you wish to play.
So you can check $1 and 50 cents, and if the payout tables are the same, so is the payback percentage, and there’s no difference. If they are different, you can run each through a payback calculator like that found at The Wizard of Odds and see which pays better, and favor that presuming it works for your budget.
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In Ontario we have OLG for online betting. I like to play the slots and would like to know if the same rules apply as live slot machines. For example is all about “timing”?
Hi Catherine – the Play Smart website built for Ontario players confirms the use of an RNG for their online slots, just like the ones in physical casinos:
https://www.playsmart.ca/social-hub/slot-machines-randomness/
Regulated online slots are similar to their in-casino counterparts in terms of that structure. Online slots tend to have a higher payback percentage, though.