First off, there is no sure way of winning every time. Otherwise I would never leave the casino and just keep winning. But there are steps to take in order to get the best bang for your buck!
Higher Denomination Machines
In my previous blog What are Payback Percentages, we discussed that the higher denomination a machine, the higher the payout percentage! So if you’re going to bet $5/spin you may as well play that on a 10c denomination machine or $1 machine rather than a penny machine. In the long run, you could win more. Notice I use the word ‘could’, because of course there will be that guy who bets 88cents and wins $10,000 – but probability is against him.
Avoid Progressive Machines
When a machine has a large progressive machine with a Grand of $10,000 or more, a large portion of each bet goes to pay out that one person. And if it’s a wide area progressive jackpot (like Wheel of Fortune or Mega Bucks with jackpots in the millions), then your odds of winning and your payout percentage drops a further 5%. There is one exception…
Must Pay By
Some Slot Machines have progressives that must be paid by a certain amount. Don’t be fooled though, if it must be paid by $500 and it’s at $490 – it could still take another $5,000 in bets for it to actually go off (based on it going up 1 cent for every $5 bet which is not uncommon). Knowing how close it actually is and how much those amounts go up per spin may actually give you the best odds of winning if you can figure it out mathematically in your favor!
Age Before Beauty
Older Casinos have to compete with newer prettier ones, so they may up their payout percentages to attract players. Old Vegas has slightly higher odds than the strip, and outside of there on the Boulder Strip, it’s even higher. Those large fountains and chandeliers don’t just pay for themselves!
Under the same category, older machines will often have bigger payout percentages. I’ve often heard that the exact same game that is 15 years older will payout more. Why? They were manufactured back when payout percentages were higher (a rumor I’ve heard from an actual slot manufacturer).
Leave While You’re Ahead
I know, I know, easier said than done. BUT, remembering my blog last week – if a slot machine is designed to payout 89% and you’re up 110% – RUN!!! Take those winnings because you have already beaten the system. Sure, you’re only up $20 – but if you keep playing you risk losing that $20 and the rest of your ticket!
Use Cash, Not Tickets
When I get home from a casino, I ALWAYS remember the biggest losing machines and I ask myself “WHY did I keep playing??”. Often times it’s because I stuck a large ticket in the machine. It’s as if it holds a lower value than cash. If I stick in a hundred, I’ll lose a hundred. If I put in a ticket for $379.34, I’m going to lose that just the same! File those tickets away and use cash.
Better SAFE Than Sorry
When you have a collection of tickets, cash them out. Take some of the profits from the games and put them in your pocket safe, the Winners Bank! At only $26, it’s the best investment you’ll ever make, and it will pay for itself the first time you use it.
Play with Friends
I have good friends and I have baaaaaad ones. The bad ones will encourage me to keep playing while the others (usually the ones who don’t gamble as much….Marco….) will tell me to RUN more. Best to listen to the Marco’s of the world!
READ the Payouts
This is definitely one thing I do NOT do. However, it is important, especially if playing video poker. Side by Side poker machines may payout different! My game is Jacks or Better, and you’ll only see me sitting down if it’s set to 9/6 (9to1 payout on full house, 6to1 payout on flush). Some casinos have 9/5 or 8/5 or even worse!
Watch Me Play!
Be informed. Watch from my mistakes and see what works for me and what doesn’t. I don’t have all the answers, but I sure as heck have thousands of hours of proof on my channel.
Line it up,
Awesome info thanks Brian
Thanks for stopping by and reading, Matilda!
Thanks for the great information Brian.
Absolutely Beth – we hope it helps you on your next trip!
I would love to read all this info in hardback.any chance of a book in future
Hey Terry! Thanks for the question. We don’t have plans for a book at this time, but we’ll definitely keep this in mind for future projects!