Rules
and Strategies
Rules
How to play slots
by Chuck Greene
14 Mar 2000
Slots
is the easiest casino game to learn and play. It's also one of
the most fun and most popular.
First
you place your bet. Typically you can bet one, two or three coins.
Some machines may let you bet up to five or more coins. Depending
on the machine, the coins may be $.25, $1, $5 or other values.
So if you bet three coins on a $1 machine, your bet is three dollars.
Easy.
Next
you click a button to start the wheels spinning. This is the same
as pulling the arm on a real slot machine. Now all you do is wait
and see if you win!
Where
the wheels stop determines if you win and how much. The goal is
to get the symbols (cherries, numbers and so on) to line up on
the payline in one of the winning combinations listed on the pay
table. Each game will have its own pay table. For example, three
bars in a row may pay 20 to 1. Three cherries in a row may pay
3 to 1. Some machines have three or five paylines, or pay on the
diagonal. Check the casino rules for details. To get this information,
you usually just click a "help" button.
Some
online casinos offer what are called "progressive jackpots".
That means that a jackpot builds as more and more players play
the casino's progressive machines. The first person to hit the
winning combination (often 777) wins the total jackpot. To be
eligible for the jackpot you usually have to play the maximum
number of coins. Then the jackpot resets to a lower value and
starts to increase again as more people play.
Good
luck!
Strategies
Winning slots strategies
by Chuck Greene
14 Mar 2000
The
odds
The result of each spin of the wheels is determined by a computer
program that generates random results. This is true for both online
slots games and slot machines found in hotel casinos. The machines
can easily be set by the casino to generate whatever payout they
choose. For example, they may set it to 95%. That means for every
100 dollars bet, the machine will, on average, pay out 95 dollars.
The other five dollars goes to the casino and that's how they
make their profit. Of course, that’s just on average. It’s
possible, if Lady Luck is on your side, to make hundreds or even
thousands of dollars with just one spin.
Common
myths
It’s a common myth that slot machines are the worst gamble
in a casino. The truth is that making bad bets at the craps table
or blackjack table can give far worse odds than any slot machine.
In fact, the odds you get when playing slots are similar to those
for roulette.
Another
commonly held belief is that a slot machine that just gave a big
payout won’t pay out again for a while. Actually, statistically
speaking, the odds are the same for every spin and every spin
is completely random and independent of all past spins. So there’s
no way to predict the next spin and a jackpot is just as likely
to be hit right after the last one was hit as it is after a thousand
dry spins.
Winning
strategies
Most slot machines reward you for playing the maximum number of
coins. For example the jackpot may pay 2000 coins with 2 coins
played, but 4000 coins when 3 coins are played. If you don't feel
comfortable playing the maximum coins you might consider moving
down to a machine that accepts lower-value coins so you can play
the maximum. For example instead of playing one coin at a dollar
machine, play the maximum number of coins at a quarter machine.
Some online casinos let you play for nickels. I've even played
online slots on penny machines (at Kenny Rogers Casino).
Play
at casinos that advertise the best payback percentages. These
casinos are eager for your business are willing to reward you
with better payouts.
If
you’re playing a progressive machine, remember that you'll
probably have to bet the maximum number of coins to be eligible
to win the big jackpot.
