While we’ve answered this elsewhere on the site, we get this question a lot, so we decided to answer it in its own post:
I would like to know if hitting the spin button during a bonus, i.e. on Dragon Link, affects the outcome of the bonus, or, is the outcome predetermined whether I hit the spin button during the bonus or let it play out?
Peggy
Since different manufacturers have different approaches for different things, there’s no way we can make a blanket statement about whether hitting the button makes a difference.
But we can speak to two of the most popular series of hold and spin bonuses, those of Lightning Link/Dragon Link and its siblings, and the Fire Link series.
We’ve spoken with the makers of both of those lines and confirmed that the press of the button does indeed make a difference – the determination of what happens that spin is locked in when you press that spin button.
We also know that when you play Wheel of Fortune and go to spin the wheel, the wheel’s stopping point is established when you press spin as well.
That’s not to say all bonuses with a wheel or a hold and spin work this way. There are manufacturers who prefer a “scripted” bonus, their term for a bonus whose outcome is established at the beginning of the spin that triggers the bonus. Effectively, the prize is decided first, and then the game takes whatever journey it needs to get you there – the reels, the bonus, etc.
Ultimately there’s no real difference in the long run to the player, because it’s mathematically balanced out one way or the other to ensure a house advantage to the casino. We can beat ourselves up over our picks but there’s nothing we could’ve done differently to pick better – it’s not like we have knowledge of what’s underneath everything so we know where to pick.
Conversely, it could be very satisfying to pick a grand, even if we know it was going to do it either way – it doesn’t take away from the excitement.
So ultimately it’s a pretty neutral thing, although we know players like to know, so we ask!
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Sorry, I just submitted this same question before I found this article. Thanks for the info!!
No problem Teleasa! We also recommend this article:
Bonuses: Predetermined vs. Free Pick