I’m not just a good slot player – I’m a professional, haha! Slot machines don’t require a Ph.D, but that doesn’t mean I don’t get asked for advice to play them.
We are going to the casino. What do we do to play the pokies? We are taking cash. In detail, can you explain what we have to do?
John
For those who don’t know, slot machines are called “pokies,” short for “poker machines,” in Australia.
Slots do not generally require any sort of skill to play them. But we can go through it, step by step, for those who are new to this or are anxious about trying them without some guidance.
Only Bet What You Can Afford
Casinos are designed to make money for the casino. While you can in the short term potentially leave ahead, in the long run you are expected to lose. So make sure you’re bringing money you can afford to lose – I recommend a separate entertainment budget that isn’t earmarked for mission critical expenses like rent or food. If it’s money you would spend to go to the movies, it’s OK.
Don’t Bet Crazy
Your budget should help determine what you bet. If you have $20, betting $5 a spin is an easy way to lose your $20 and be done in a few seconds. But if you’re betting under a dollar a spin, that’s more chances to have a line hit, a big win or a bonus.
Factor into the equation how long you want to play. If your goal is to just take a swing, hey, maybe the $5 attempt is the right one for you! But if you’re looking to play for a while, adjusting your bet is often an easy way to adjust your ability to play longer.
Consider Simpler Games
A percentage of the casino floor will be dedicated to simpler slots – sometimes these may be three reel slots with mechanical reels (not digital screens). Many times these will have the various payouts shown right on the machine, as opposed to hidden inside a rules menu.
If the game is simple enough to show you how you can win right on it, it’s probably simple enough to get the hang of without much difficulty.
Insert Money and Push Spin
Slots are generally not like video poker or blackjack in that you need to learn a strategy first – generally speaking you’re able to walk up, put money in, choose your bet and spin the reels. There are some best practices we share across the site, but if you’re just looking to get started it’s hard to do much wrong here.
Remember, there is no skill, aside from knowing when to cash out. If you find yourself winning, perhaps give yourself a few more backup spins before cashing out a winner. Adversely, if you find yourself losing, maybe it’s time to try your luck elsewhere.
Watch Online Videos Before You Go
One of the reasons I started my channel was I was inspired by others – I watched videos before taking my first trip to Las Vegas, and it helped me get to know some of the slot machines I’d find there. In turn, many fans tell me they watch my videos in part to get to know the new slots before they play them at their casino.
Watching online videos can help you see how a slot works, and help you decide if it’s a type you’d want to try. But keep in mind not everyone posts all their play – some post just winning videos, which can skew how a game looks. But some channels, like mine, show both the wins and the losses, and that can help you see both sides of the story.
Takeaway
Most importantly, relax and have fun! Expect to spend the money you bring, and if you don’t, that’s an added bonus on top of the entertainment value and experience of going to the casino.
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Ok Brian. I have been a few times to place called The Mint in Williamsburg Ky close to me. While playing a certain machine the reels will roll for like 5 seconds ( I timed them) or longer after I hit spin button. It doesn’t do it every single time but often enough that it’s aggravating. What’s going on with those slots? FYI there are 6 that are about the same that do it. No one in casino can tell me why. Do you know?
Thanx you know I love you
Hi Susie! We recently posted an article specifically about Kentucky casinos, which likely will prove helpful here. In a nutshell, Kentucky doesn’t have slots, but instead something called Historic Horse Racing machines. Due to the way they work, they can play more slowly than slots can, since the outcome comes from outside the machine.