One of the more durable beliefs among slot players is slots pay less over time, or only are allowed to pay so much out in total. Today’s question is a great example of this, and where knowledge of return to player, or RTP, can make or break a player’s understanding of what’s going on:
From what I understand the machine is set to pay out a certain amount. Not based on denomination. So the machine is set to pay out, say, $1000 in the high limit room. For instance, and you’re playing $5 a spin, as opposed to $25 a spin. Does that depend on when the bonuses come out? When I’m playing penny denomination I can get 6 Minis on one hold and spin. But if I’m playing a dollar denomination, I don’t get any minis on that hold and spin bonus.
Priscilla F.
Let’s start with the overall concept of slots and return to player (RTP). It’s calculated as a percentage over time, and so the more a slot is played, the more it will also naturally pay out because the percentage is the same, but the input is more.
If a slot designed to pay 90% over time gets $1,000 in wagers, it will, on average, pay out $900. But if it takes in $100,000, it will, on average, pay out $90,000. Both numbers grow.
So the amount you bet is not really a concern, except for the fact that denominations can play a part because casinos can set return to player to be different for each denomination. And generally speaking, that return to player setting will be higher on bigger denominations than smaller ones, because the bet sizes and total amount bet are expected to be higher, and the per-spin win amount is taken into account.
Now around those minis (which we presume you’re talking about the various Lightning Link/Dragon Link games based on your description), you should just think about the difference between the Mini at 1 cent denomination and $1 denomination. At a 1 cent denomination, that Mini is worth $10, or 2x a $5 bet. When you land balls on the hold and spin, it’s not unusual to land one or more 2x balls. The game can choose to display it as 1000 credits or a Mini, but it’s the same prize.
Now think about how much that Mini is worth on a $1 denomination – now you’re looking at a $1,000 Mini – 100x more! Even if you’re betting $25, that’s a 40x prize relative to your bet, vs. a 2x prize, so your chances of seeing it are going to be lower. You’ll still probably get some 2x prizes, but they can’t be labeled Mini because the Mini is so much higher.
This is a psychological trick – they want players to get excited about winning Minis and Minors, but in terms of the payout of the slot Minis and Minors as static prizes don’t have any actual function other than alternative labels for the credit prizes that can already appear as part of the hold and spin bonus.
One some of the newer variations with the doubles and triples, a bit more weight has been put on their importance, but still it’s just another way to label a credit prize. So you might not be seeing more Minis on larger bets when you increase your denomination, but that largely comes down to your bet size vs. the credit prize it represents, and not so much how a slot is paying out over the long run.
