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Gaming Guru  Game-within-game and progressive slot machines15 October 2019
By Frank Scoblete Slot achines with games within games, usually called “bonus rounds,” are not paying back any more money than machines that are straight paying ones. Machines that give you bonus rounds when you hit certain symbols will have a slightly lower hit frequency during the regular rounds of play but that hit frequency zooms up during the bonus rounds, which makes these machines pay back somewhere within the normal averages for those denominations. As an example, take the Wheel of Fortune, an in-casino-progressive machine. When you hear the Wheel of Fortune song you know someone is about to watch the wheel spin and spin. To your eyes, it looks as if every possible bonus segment on the wheel has an equal chance of showing but that has nothing to do with the truth of the matter. The big hits are programmed to hit rarely, while the little wins will occur time after time. In almost all types of Wheel of Fortune slot machines you must bet full coin in order to be eligible for the bonus rounds. Such machines tend to have strong house edges – around 12%. I am going to be redundant – again! – and say these machines are just not worth playing. Looking to win the big one is almost always associated with substantial losses over time. “Zillion” line machines Some people find these machines hard to fathom. The more coins you dump in them, the more potential winning lines you have. The confused players can’t follow which lines are paying what and when. The players just play the maximum credits allowed and pray for the best. Of course, there is steep price for playing these multi-multi-line-machines. Penny machines can grab 25 to 50 cents per round. Nickel players can actually bet as much as five dollars per round. But the killer is this: The monster multi-line-machines only return the same percentage of what normal penny and nickel machines return; thus they keep much, much more of the players’ money than the normal quarter and dollar machines. You are probably looking at house edges hovering around the 15% mark. Said another way, these horrors are probably returning 85% – just not worth it. One caveat here: If you are only going to play a couple of pennies or nickels, then we aren’t talking about much of a long-term hit on your bankroll. But it will take tremendous discipline in the face of all those other lines showing winners, for you to just ignore them. I have seen players start off conservatively on these machines and in a short while play like deranged dervishes. These multi-multi-line machines are the Sirens of the Slot Aisles and are soaking players who believe they are getting a good game. Progressive machines There are three types of progressive machines in the casinos: • Inter-casino-linked progressives such as Megabucks where the jackpot can be hit at any casino using these machines. These machines will offer huge winning potential and they are the machines of which dreams are made. • In-house progressives such as Wheel of Fortune where the jackpot is strictly on the money played in the machine by players at that casino. The possible wins are nowhere near what the inter-casino-linked machines pay out but they are still life-changing amounts. • Single machines with progressive jackpots. These machines are within the realm of understanding as the jackpots are more pedestrian. Playing the inter-casino-linked progressives is a total waste of money as they can have edges approaching 17% (83% payback). Check out the example of the inter-casino-linked one-dollar slot machine such as Megabucks. The player must bet full coins or credits ($3) to be eligible to win the jackpot. Each session is one hour long. All the best in and out of the casinos! Visit Frank's website at www.frankscoblete.com. This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net. Two great comebacks8 October 2019
What’s one of the worst ways to begin a casino visit? I’d say it is losing right off the bat. Digging a hole for yourself, sometimes an extremely deep hole, which then takes the positive energy out of you — energy that you built up as the days passed getting to your visit. Veteran casino players know that one of the joys of playing the games is the waiting for your visit. ... (read more)
Why they like their games1 October 2019
Basically gambling writers express their opinions about which games to play and how to play them. Of course this is a biased representation and many of us just keep pounding away at our beliefs. So what do some players think about the games they play? Here are some expressing their ideas: BILLY: Give me roulette any day. ... (read more)
Paybacks on slots24 September 2019
There are some general traditions in the slot world. These aren’t laws of nature, but in the casino world they come somewhat close. Lower denomination machines keep a greater percentage of the players’ money. The lowest paybacks to the players are usually found on penny and nickel machines. You are ... (read more)
Ask Frank: Spanish 21 StrategyHello there, Living in Canada, I find that the rules are more liberal here than at other casino locales, such as the dealer standing on all 17s for Spanish Blackjack. In your book, Armada Strategies for Spanish 21, there is only a strategy for when the dealer hits soft 17. I w... (read more)Ask Frank (Playing Winning Craps)Dear Mr. Scoblete: In your book Forever Craps, you recommend to play one Don't Come bet per shooter without odds in order to reduce your exposure to the house. I usually play at casinos that count the spread and odds. If I play one ... (read more)Bad Ways to Play Good Casino GamesYou've met this guy before. He's cantankerous, witless, and loud. He knows everything about everything when it comes to casino games. He's a self-made expert who knows more than all writers and mathematicians combined, and as he doubles on his thirteen against the dealer's ... (read more)The Craps to English DictionaryCraps is another country, a kingdom with its own mores, legends, myths, rites, rituals, superstitions and government. It also has its own language, much of it easily misunderstood as sexual or scatological references. For those of you interested in journeying to this ... (read more)Craps Crap and Craps Gold - Part 1What do the following sayings have in common? "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." "Better late than never." "High fences make good neighbors." "Always play the Pass/Come and take full odds." Answer: The above statements are true. Yes, some people might quibble and say that you can eat as ... (read more)Frank Scoblete |
Frank Scoblete |
