SLOTMACHINES

Slots and Slot Machines

The slot machine first caught the public's imagination in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. There are three to nine-reelers, crisscrosses, multiples, progressives and specialty machines such as Blackjack, Keno, and Video Horse Racing among many, many others.

Slots now incorporate state-of-the-art 'mechanical' technology, with computer microchips controlling the action, as well as innovative design technologies.

Play begins by placing one or more coins in the machine. Each machine, regardless of style, outlines its particular payout on an information panel above or below the play screen.

Multi-Line Machines offer a payout on more than the center line. Some offer payouts on the top, middle, and bottom rows. Others offer payout on the diagonal. Machines that accept more than one coin before the pull are call multipliers. Payouts increase proportionally with the number of coins played, so its in your best interest to play the maximum number of coins allowed.

Another product of the video revolution are specialty games. These are the machines on which you play other popular casino games, such as Blackjack, Keno and the increasingly popular video poker.

Progressive slot machines can literally change your life with one pull. They keep adding to the jackpots until they finally hit, with the latest Megabucks (as an example) jackpot at over $26 million (as of November 7, 1998). When playing progressives, you should always bet the maximum number of coins.

Slots are the casinos biggest money makers! They have hooked millions of players. Just like state lotteries, the slot's allure is a chance to instant fortunes for a relatively small investment.

There are no strategies to memorize, nevertheless, playing slots intelligently does require certain skills. Here are the basics of how to increase the likelihood of hitting a sizeable jackpot.

All slot machines work pretty much the same. In a physical casino you spin the reels by either pushing a button or pulling on a handle, at an online casino you use the mouse. Easy enough, but you need to know more, if you want to win..

On "straight" (or regular) slots the jackpot is part of the fixed pay schedule and never changes. The jackpot amount is clearly posted on the machine. Standard models generally offer more realistic odds with the trade-off being that you're playing for a much smaller top prize than what's dangled on the progressives.

As the name implies, the big jackpot on "progressive" machines grows larger and larger with every coin inserted. If you’re extremely lucky, you could win that huge jackpot.

As a rule, three-reel machines featuring bar symbols, with the traditional "7" denoting the top prize, are your best bet. The jackpot will be relatively modest, but so is the risk.

Four- or five-reel slots, featuring single, double and triple bars, sevens, or other emblems, usually offer a higher jackpot, but it’s harder to get.

Then there are the "progressives" dangling enormous jackpots. Remember that the odds on these machines are even higher. But then, huge jackpots are hit all the time . . . you never know, today could be your lucky day.

Before deciding how many coins to play, consider this: Most machines accept 2. 3, or 5 coins per spin. If the first coin returns a jackpot of 400 coins, the second 800, and the third 1,200, there isn't much advantage in playing multiple coins, unless you wouldn't be happy winning "only" 400 coins.

On some machines the jackpot is paid at a much higher multiplier on maximum coin play. Supposing, in the above example, three coins paid 2,500 coins instead of 1,200, then it would be foolish not to insert the maximum. Definitely play maximum coins if a bonus is offered.

To be a winner, you have to be a tough customer. If you're lucky enough to win an amount equal to your starting bankroll, quit! Don't get greedy -- continue playing and you WILL put it all back. You should know that from past experience! Now you're smarter!

As long as you’re not risking money that wasn’t meant for gambling, lots and lots of luck and have fun!