| Read the Slots
Machine
Most people look at the vast array
of slot machines at the casino and think
they are all alike. They see a handle,
coin slot and flashing lights and figure
one is as good as another. What they
are missing is a lot of valuable information
that can help determine if and how they
play a certain slot machine. Not all
machines are the same and the way to
separate one machine from another is
to learn how to "Read" a machine
by looking at the pay out schedule on
the front. Lets take a look a typical
slot machine and see what information
can be found. First of all you will
find the denomination of the coin needed
to play that machine. I don't know how
many times I have seen a person drop
a quarter into a machine only to get
a confused look when the coin drops
through and back into the tray. Upon
closer observation they discover that
they tried to put a quarter in a dollar
machine. This is the first thing you
should look for.
There are several types of machines
that you need to be aware of:
MULTIPLIER
This machine has a pay out for a certain
symbol and the number of coins played
multiplies it. If the machine pays 5
coins for three lemons when you play
one coin, it would pay 10 for the second
coin and 15 for three coins played.
This machine does not penalize you for
not playing maximum coins. If you plan
to play only one coin at a time, this
is the type of machine you should look
for.
BONUS MULTIPLIER
This machine operates the same as the
multiplier except that it offers a bonus
when you play maximum coins and hit
the jackpot. Three 7's may pay 1,000
for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and
10,000 for maximum coins. You need to
decide if the bonus is worth playing
the extra coin.
MULTIPLE PAYLINE
These machines have more than one line
of play. Each coin activates a particular
line. If you hit a winner on a line
that is not activated, you will not
receive anything. The older machines
used to have three lines but the newer
video slots can have up to nine lines.
BUY-A-PAY
These are the most misunderstood machines
in the casino. Each coin activates a
different pay out. You need the maximum
coins to activate the largest jackpot.
One example is the "Sizzlin 7's"
machines. The machine will pay on cherries,
bars and sevens. The sevens pay 1,000
coins. If you play one coin you can
collect only on the cherries. If you
play two coins you can collect on cherries
and bars. You need three coins in to
collect on the Sizzlin 7's. If you hit
the jackpot with one coin in YOU WILL
NOT WIN ANYTHING!!! Do not play this
machine under any circumstances unless
you are playing the maximum coins.
PROGRESSIVE SLOTS
The progressive slots take a certain
percentage of the money played and add
it to a pool for the top jackpot. "Megabucks"
or "Quarter Mania" are examples
of machines from several casinos linked
together to offer a life changing jackpot.
Keep in mind that the percentage of
the payback on the lesser wins is lowered
to allow for the big prize. Some casinos
have machines linked together within
their own casino to offer mini-progressive
jackpots. NEVER PLAY A PROGRESSIVE WITH
LESS THAN MAXMIMUM COINS!! There is
a story circulating that a lady hit
the "Megabucks" when the jackpot
was 20 million but because she only
had one coin in she collected only $5,000.
While this is an "Urban Legend"
there are other cases of people losing
out on lesser progressive jackpots because
of short coin play.
All of the slot machines have the information
you need posted on the front. Before
you sit down to play, take a minute
to "Read" the machine. This
will make you a knowledgeable player
and help you determine which machine
is best suited for you.
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