Casinos have more slot machines than all of the other games combined. But unlike many casino games, the slots still have some secrets.

Stopping A Slot Machine Does It Help

• How to overcome slot machine addiction is for someone else to say. But I can tell you this. A) I love the thrill of going to the casino and playing slot machines. B) I know over time I am going to lose money, I’ve proved to my own satisfaction its.
• Many experienced players brag about their ability to spot the patterns of the slot machine and stop the reels on the winning combination. “It comes with experience” they say. On the other hand, there are those players that say that stopping the reels will prevent you from winning.

I noticed on some multi-line video slot machines that you can stop the spin. Does stopping the spin affect the outcome? Or is the outcome predetermined? Dear Chet, The outcome is determined by numbers polled from the RNG. Stopping the spin only decreases the length of time that the reels spin. It has no effect on the outcome.

Looking to play slots online? Check out one of the sites above!

Here’s a list of 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don’t want you to know about.

1. Slot placement isn’t random

Although casinos would like you to think that everything on the floor is placed in a completely random way for ease of access and aesthetics, this certainly isn’t the case.

Every square foot of the casino is analyzed, measured, and reported on by the casino gaming department. Traffic patterns are monitored and value is placed on certain areas of the casino to determine which slots or games to place in that area.

Usually, the highest yield slots are placed in the most popular locations in the casino. On top of this, the most popular slots are also placed in these areas to attract players into the casino to play.

So now you know that those slots that are most prominent and visible are the ones that make the most money for the casino, which means they’re also the most disadvantageous for the player. Head towards the back of the casino next time you want to play slot machines to find a better value.

2. Some slots pay out more than others

Not all slot machines are created equal, and this means they all don’t pay out at the same rate.

Generally speaking, video slots pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because reel slots are cheaper to run and maintain, and aren’t as appealing to the player as the video slot.

Video slots are now extravagant and have pop-culture themes, which attracts more players. Because of this, the casinos can dial down the payout rate.

Alternatively, the classic slots aren’t as popular or appealing anymore so the casinos will dial up the payout rate to attract more players, and subsequently keep you at the slot longer. I suggest you do a bit of searching on the internet about slot payout rates as this information is widely available, particularly for popular gaming locations.

3. The slots club doesn’t exist to reward you

This is one of the biggest cons in the gambling industry. You know how the casinos promote themselves as giving back to the player and rewarding you for your play? This is all a lie.

Now, I’m not saying you won’t get some free play credits, access to promotions, and other comps for being a part of the slot or player’s club, but this isn’t why it exists. It exists to provide the casino marketing department with player data so that they can attract and retain you as a customer.

Yes, that’s right, all the free money and comps you get out of the casino are from the marketing department. They will analyze your play, movement, likes, dislikes, and betting patterns to determine how best to market themselves to you so that you return.

The slots club is a powerful marketing tool, and while it’s always a good idea to join and use your card whenever you play, don’t fool yourself into thinking that this is all done to reward you.

4. You can’t win at slots in the long run

People do win at slots all the time. They have big wins and small wins; the problem is that on a long enough timeline it’s impossible to win.

Slots are manufactured and programmed in a way to ensure that they only pay back a certain percentage of the money that’s placed into them by players. Usually, this is in the range of 70-90% but it can be far worse or better depending on where you’re playing.

No one would ever play if you didn’t win from time to time, so this is also built into the machines. Some casinos don’t want you to know this and in some US states, they don’t even have to tell you what the payout rate is. Fortunately, there are many states that do provide it to players, and I highly recommend taking advantage of that information.

Although it’s pretty common these days for players to know that you can’t win in the long run, some still don’t know, and those that are oblivious to this fact are loved by casinos.

5. Max betting is the best option

This one may seem counter-intuitive but it’s true. On most slots, max betting activates all the bonuses and jackpots and increases your odds of getting lucky and winning, which makes it the best option for players.

Although it doesn’t make too much of a difference, it still creates more favorable conditions for the player. The casinos don’t want you to know this because they want you to bet small and more often at a worse payout rate, which makes them more money in the long run.

One thing you certainly don’t want to do though is max-bet above your bankroll and burn through more money than you intended to. Playing more than you can afford to lose is playing right into the casino’s hands. If you can’t afford the max bet on a slot then drop down in denominations or move to a machine where the max bet is smaller and works within your bankroll.

6. Class 2 slots aren’t really slots at all

Sometimes you’ll come across slot machines that are classified as class 2 slots. These are usually found on native Indian reservations or racinos in the United States.

These aren’t traditional slots like what you would find in Las Vegas. Vegas slots are Class 3 slots and are proper slot machine games.

Class 2 slots are actually pre-programmed bingo games which present a slot face for entertainment purposes. Class 3 slots are usually illegal in the jurisdictions that have these slots bingo games, so game manufacturers and casinos combined their forces to come up with this alternative.

Sometimes you’ll see a small bingo card on the bottom corner of the screen which will straight away tell you that this is a class 2 slot machine. So, be warned, these machines are not slots at all and you’ll be effectively playing computer bingo when you start spinning on these.

7. Video slots pay out less than classic slots

Big fancy video slots will almost always pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because of the fact they’re more entertaining, draw more players and action, and cost the casinos a lot more to run and maintain.

These big machines often take up two to three times the amount of space compared to classic slots and tend to cost the casinos a lot more to keep them running. In order to maximize profits, the casinos will then dial down the payout rate on these machines so they still make enough money on them.

Immersive video slots are a huge moneymaker for the casino, so don’t go in thinking you have the same chance of winning on these compared to traditional old school slots. If you’re looking for better chances to win on slot machines, then stick to the classic slots.

8. Slots are completely random

Casinos don’t want you to know this, but slot machines are completely random in nature. Although they are weighted to pay out at a certain rate, this is still in line with the randomness of results that a slot will produce.

Each spin is completely independent of the previous spin. As an example, if you were to win the jackpot on one spin, then the likelihood of winning the jackpot on the next spin is exactly the same. No previous events impact future events. This isn’t how they work.

Casinos don’t want you to know this because they want you to think slots are “hot” or “cold”, because that will cloud your judgment in respect to how much you play and gamble. This works out better for them in the long run so they are happy for these myths to grow and spread.

9. All of your play is tracked

From the moment you sit down at a slot and enter your player card and cash, every movement you make is tracked automatically by the casino. Slot machines are now networked and have sophisticated hardware and software to track everything you do.

This information is collected, analyzed, and insight reports are developed and delivered to the casino marketing department so they can work out the best possible way to market their casino and slots to you so that you keep coming back and play more. If you don’t want your play tracked then simply don’t use your player’s card, but then you won’t get any casino comps.

In the near future, if it’s not being used already, casino marketing departments will start using security infrastructure to monitor and track your play irrespective of whether you use your card or not. Facial recognition programs will detect you, associate you with a player’s card or create a new player account and track everything you do on a video feed.

This is a bit scary and it shows the lengths casinos will go to. If you play online, everything is tracked under your player account, so it’s easier for online casinos to monitor what you do in this respect.

10. Payout tickets are more likely to be put back into a machine

Over the past 20 years, casinos have slowly phased out cash payouts at slots. These days you’ll likely receive a ticket when you cash out, which you then must take to a cash-out machine or the cage to exchange for cash.

While the casinos will claim this is for your convenience, one of the main reasons they’ve made this change is to disassociate you from the fact you’re holding money. This is similar to what they do with chips on table games.

Psychological studies have proven that people are far more likely to gamble more with a ticket or chips, as opposed to cash. So don’t be fooled into placing your ticket into another slot on the way to cashing out, they’ve done this on purpose. I’d recommend that you always cash the tickets out for cash every time, instead of keeping it for play later.

11. Slot arms don’t exist as much anymore because they slow down play

Back in the day, pretty much every slot machine had an arm, or lever, that you pull to activate the spin. These days it’s much harder to find machines that have these.

While there are a few reasons for this, the main reason and the one the casinos don’t want you to know is because using a lever is much slower when compared to pressing a button. Casinos want you to be playing as quickly as possible when it comes to slots because the more you spin the more the odds move in their favor.

So by having buttons instead of levers the game moves a lot faster. Some may even say they’ve removed the lever so people don’t refer to slot machines as one-armed bandits anymore, but that may just be here-say.

12. Games are designed to be played as fast as possible

As we touched on in the previous secret, casinos want you to play whatever game you’re on as quickly as possible. While one of the main measurements on a slot is the time spent playing, they also want you to play as quickly as possible.

This increases the yield on the machine for the casino, meaning they make more money. Consider this, if you have a bank of widely popular slots which many people want to play, and it takes 20 seconds per spin, that’s quite a lot of time.

If a spin takes five seconds then you’re getting four times the amount of play on that machine which results in much more money passing through. So, all the time the casinos are trying to think of ways to make games happen much faster. They don’t want you playing slowly, so make sure you take your time next time you sit down at a slot. After all, the more time you play the more entertainment value you get.

13. Slot sounds and graphics are designed to make you feel happy

One thing that casinos certainly don’t want you to know about is the fact that slot machine manufacturers have teams of psychologists and researchers that provide advice on what sounds, colors, movements and graphics to use in games in order to make the player feel as happy as possible.

This is both good and bad. Firstly, it’s good if you’re playing for entertainment’s sake and know your limits when it comes to how much money you’re willing to play with. If this is the case then why not play a game that’s designed to make you feel happy.

Secondly, it’s bad when it comes to problem gamblers who don’t know when to stop and are chasing that happy feeling that the games give them. So this is a two-way street; that’s for sure. Casinos probably don’t want you to know this because it isn’t a great look.

14. Sometimes a win isn’t a win

One recent trend on slots is to play a jingle and show an animation showing that a player has had a win; this used to be a good thing and it meant you were making a profit, but not so much these days.

Much to the ire of lawmakers and the regulators, slot machines now play this jingle and imply a win, even when the spin results in less money won than you actually wagered on that spin in the first place. So this is essentially a loss and it’s trying to trick the player into thinking that they won.

Regulators are trying to have this outlawed but it will take some time. So, next time you’re playing don’t be fooled by the animation and sounds and the on-screen advice that says you’ve had a win. Make sure you check how much you ‘won’ when compared to how much you bet, before you celebrate.

15. Major progressive jackpots are played across multiple venues

Have you ever walked past a progressive jackpot slot machine and stared in awe at the huge jackpot which is currently available and is running into the millions of dollars?

If so, then you may not be aware that these slots are actually linked nationwide and the jackpot is played across thousands and thousands of machines and the casinos actually have no part in this prize.

Casinos don’t want you to know this of course; they want you to think that it’s just that machine so that you sit down and play and spin away thinking that you’re the only person who could possibly win that prize at that time.

These major progressive jackpot machines actually take a small cut from each bet you make and divert it to the major jackpot. So you should never play on one of these unless your ultimate goal is to win the life-changing money, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

Conclusion

Casinos are designed to make money just like any business. The slot machines are a big piece of the profit puzzle so the casinos do everything they can to make them more profitable.

Now that you know these 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don’t want you to know you can gamble as an informed player. If you love slots there’s no reason to stop playing, but you should know these secrets before you play again.

The phrase “slot machine strategy” causes the eyes of some
players to light up with visions of untold riches. For others,
it makes about as much sense as “skydiving without a parachute
strategy.”

This polarizing topic has long been the subject of debate
among gamblers. Some insist that employing various strategies
can give the player a long-term advantage, while others dismiss
the notion as nonsense.

No matter which side of the fence you’re on, we hope this
article is able to shed more light on the subject. We’ll be
examining a number of slots strategies, as well as explaining
how modern games work and dispelling some of the more popular
myths.

How a Slot Machine Works

Before you can even begin to think about applying a strategy,
it helps to know how a slot machine works. In this section,
we’ll offer a basic rundown on the inner workings of the games
once known as “one-armed bandits.”

The main element of any modern slot machine is the random
number generator. If we want to be entirely accurate, the random
number generator is actually the function, while the chip
installed in every slot is known as an EPROM (or “erasable
programmable read-only memory”). For the sake of simplicity,
however, most refer to the EPROM as the random number generator,
which is what we’ll be doing for the remainder of this article.

What Is a Random Number Generator?

The RNG is constantly selecting a series of numbers, and the
result can range from miniscule up to several billion. This
function takes place whether or not the machine is being played,
which means every unattended slot machine on the casino floor is
generating a flurry of numbers every millisecond.

It should also be noted that the generated numbers are in no
way determined by the size of a potential jackpot, the number of
credits deposited, or whether or not a slots club card is used.
No matter the circumstances, the computer spits out its numbers
with pure impartiality.

Once a number has been generated, it’s divided up using a
formula that’s been programmed into the heart of the slot
machine. The resulting number corresponds to a “stop” on the
reel of the machine.

What’s a Stop?

As the name would imply, a stop is a stopping point on the
reel. This could be a cherry symbol, a blank space, or the face
of some popular movie character on a licensed game.

Older slots had a smaller number of stop, often around 10 per
reel. That’s changed significantly in the last several decades,
and now anywhere from 25 to 50 stops is commonplace. The reason
for this is because old-school slots had fixed images on their
reels, while video slots can produce virtual icons as needed.

When a game is created at the factory, some symbols are
programmed to show up more often than others. This process is
known as “weighing,” and it’s the main reason why slots aren’t
paying out massive sums of money every few spins. Let’s say, for
example, that you need three “Jackpot” symbols to get a big
payday, but each of these icons only appears (on average) every
100 spins. While the odds of getting one aren’t great, the odds
of getting all three would be one in one-million.

How Do Slots Work?

The actual gameplay of a slot occurs differently than what
most players would imagine. Since the game is constantly
generating numbers, pressing the spin button simply selects the
most recent string of numbers to be randomly produced. Once this
has occurred, the reels spin and eventually stop to display the
icons that correspond with those numbers.

The real outcome of a spin takes place the moment the
customer presses the button, as a randomly generated number is
selected. These numbers correspond to various stops on the
reels, and some icons are weighted to show up more often than
others.

Common Myths (When Slots Strategies Go Wrong)

myth /a widely held but false idea or belief.

While most associate the word myth with tales of ancient gods
and epic heroes, you’d better believe that the world of gambling
has its fair share of myths and legends.

In this section, we’ll be looking at some of the most popular
and/or persistent slots myths. To make your life easier, we’ll
also verify or debunk their credibility, although anyone hoping
for the former is likely to come away disappointed.

Myth #1

At land-based casinos, loose slots are always placed
by the doors and heavy traffic areas to attract more customers.

This is inaccurate. A number of third-party studies have been
conducted about the placement of slot machines, and no evidence
has been found to suggest that casinos engage in this sort of
practice. People are already coming to the casino to gamble, so
resorting to such tricks would just be a waste of time.

Myth #2

You’re more likely to win on a slot machine by
pulling the lever instead of pressing the spin button.

Also inaccurate. Most slots no longer have a lever on the
side. Those that do, however, offer no advantage to the player
who chooses it over the spin button. All the winning
combinations are being generated internally by the RNG, so it
doesn’t matter which method you decide to use.

Myth #3

The looseness or tightness of a slot machine varies
by the hour of the day and the day of the week.

Not true! In order to ensure repeat business, casinos must
find a balance between making money and paying out a certain
amount to players. If they were to somehow tighten up their
slots during the busy times of the day or week, they would
likely notice a significant drop-off in their business. In
addition, somehow magically adjusting all the machines on the
casino floor would be a major pain in the rear.

Does Stopping A Slot Machine Help Wanted

Myth #4

In a land-based casino, employees have the inside
scoop on the loose slots.

False. The average cocktail waitress has no clue about the
payout percentage of the slots. We’ve heard of some customers
offering employees a cut of their winnings if they direct them
to the loose machines, but we would certainly advise against
this. Not only do they not have the answers you’re looking for,
but some might still play along in the hopes that you’ll win and
give them a cut of the profits.

Myth #5

Using a player card reduces the potential payout of
a slot.

Don’t let this garbage trick you into skipping the slots
club. The only purpose of the player card is to keep track of
player spending for the purpose of awarding complimentary items
such as meals and show tickets. If slots actually tightened up
when club cards were used, the casinos would render these items
useless and send comp hunters to the competition.

Myth #6

If a slot machine hasn’t paid out a big win in a
while, then it’s due to hit. Conversely, a slot that just
delivered a winner is going to be cold for a while.

A slot machine’s random number generator ensures that each
spin is independent of the last one. While the odds are stacked
against getting multiple top jackpots on the same machine within
a short span of time, there’s no special internal program
designed to prevent such a thing. Ultimately, blame it on the
math.

Myth #7

The casino can remotely alter the payout percentage
of a slot.

This myth is dangerous because it is based on fact. There are
certain slots that now allow their payout percentage to be
altered remotely, but these are in the vast minority. In most
states, they don’t exist at all. But even in a market like Las
Vegas where such devices are being tested on a limited basis,
the state laws regarding a minimum payout percentage still
apply.

Myth #8

Warm coins increase your chance of winning.

False. There’s an old belief that rubbing your fingers
against a coin makes it more likely to produce a winner. This is
one of the more ridiculous slot machine myths out there,
especially since most players no longer even use coins. If you
buy into this one, you’ll just wind up looking like an imbecile.

Myth #9

Slot payoffs are produced on a predictable cycle.

False. While each slot is programmed to pay back a certain
percentage of money over the long haul, this takes place during
millions of spins. There’s also no pattern to predict, as the
RNG ensures that each spin is completely self-contained and
unrelated to what’s come before.

Myth #10

If you use a player card at a land-based casino, it
enables the establishment to report your winnings to the
Internal Revenue Service.

The casino monitors your winnings when you go to the window
to cash out. If your payout is larger than a certain amount
($1,200 in Las Vegas on slots and bingo), then the casino fills
out a W-2G form and sends it along to the IRS, along with the
size of your winnings and personal information. There’s no
escaping the tax man.

There are a significant number of myths surrounding slot
machines. Falling prey to these false beliefs can result in
everything from players looking foolish to losing money. Your
best bet is to pick a machine that looks like fun, insert your
money, and ignore the superstitious ramblings of fellow
gamblers.

Simple Slots Strategies that Work

The outcome of a slot machine is impossible to predict. In
addition, a number of the suggested ways to win are nothing more
than ridiculous myths. When these facts are combined, it might
seem as though no successful strategy can be applied to slots.
Luckily, that’s only half true.

There’s no magical way to “beat” a slot machine. Casinos and
game developers have spent a considerable amount of time and
money making sure that these games can’t be overcome on a
consistent basis. There are, however, steps that can be taken to
give yourself the best possible chance of winning.

If you prefer real-world practicality to pipe dreams, we
suggest committing the following slots strategies to memory and
utilizing them each time you set foot in the casino or log into
a virtual establishment. Even though your win/loss ratio may not
increase immediately, you’re bound to be better off in the long
term.

Watch for High Advertised Payback Percentages

In an effort to attract business, some casinos may advertise
slots with a specific payback percentage such as 98% or 97.5%.
These are always a wise decision, as the casino has just
revealed the long-term expected payout (such information is
usually closely guarded). Always watch for deceptive practices,
though, as “up to 99% return” is not the same as a guaranteed
99% return.

Manage Your Bankroll

Before you start playing at a casino, take careful stock of
your finances and determine how much money you can afford to
lose. If you can’t afford to lose any, then you shouldn’t be
playing in the first place. If you have a certain amount of
disposable income, set a number and never play beyond that
figure. This can mean the difference between a losing session
and a session that forces you to borrow money or miss a car
payment.

Always Take the Game’s Advice

An increasing number of slots are beginning to include skill
features, and it’s commonplace for these machines to offer some
basic advice on how to succeed at such in-game elements. Unless
you designed the game and know some special trick, it’s always a
good idea to follow such advice.

Play a Table Game Instead

While slots can be a lot of fun, they’re also one of the
biggest bankroll killers in the casino. They rely almost
exclusively on the element of chance, and a machine can
sometimes go years without delivering its top jackpot.
Meanwhile, table games offer better odds and interaction with
other players.

Remember Your Ticket

After you’ve hit a jackpot, the machine prints a ticket that
can be redeemed at the cashout window. While it’s natural to get
excited after a big win, don’t walk away and forget to grab your
ticket. If you do, then someone else may wind up snatching the
ticket and walking out of the casino with your winnings.

Get a Player Card and Use It

Player cards are used by the casino to keep track of how much
you’re betting at their establishment. If you’re a frequent
player, you can expect to be rewarded for your patronage in the
form of comps, which often include free meals, rooms, or tickets
to a show. Since you’re not paying for these items, comps can
turn an otherwise losing session at the casino into a profitable
gaming excursion.

Play Physical Reels

Games with actual reels are quickly becoming a thing of the
past. If you can find one, though, you’d be smart to play it.
That’s because these games almost always offer a higher payout
percentage than their virtual counterparts. That’s because fancy
video slots take longer to play, which means the casino has to
make up for this lost time by siphoning off more of your money.

Slow and Steady

By adopting a slow rate of play, you can satisfy your craving
for gambling while also limiting the amount of your losses. This
might not seem like much of a strategy, but we’ve seen people
blow their whole bankroll at a slot within five minutes of
sitting down. Don’t be that person.

Simple Games Have Better Odds

While massive games with spinning wheels and impressive video
displays are popular, they’re often not the most profitable
machines. That’s because casinos know that these games are going
to attract customers regardless, so they can get away with
setting the payback percentage lower. The more basic machines,
meanwhile, offer better odds to make up for their more
straightforward presentation.

Avoid Statewide Progressives

Sure, it would be nice to hit the Megabucks statewide
progressive in Nevada and become a multi-millionaire. The odds
are against it, however, and you’re likely to receive far fewer
payout while fishing for that top jackpot. That’s because
twenty-one cents of every dollar wagered goes toward either the
jackpot or the casino’s profits. That doesn’t leave a lot of
money to return to the player on smaller wins.

Higher Denominations Have Better Odds

Since a game with a higher denomination is ultimately making
more money from players, it can afford to offer higher payouts.
Use this to your advantage by sticking to games with a larger
minimum bet. For example, playing one coin per line on a nickel
game offers you better odds than playing five coins per line on
a penny slot (even though you’re spending the same amount of
money on both).

Summary

Does Stopping A Slot Machine Help Free

Anyone seeking a foolproof way to beat slot machines is going
to be disappointed, as these games are consistently the biggest
revenue generators for any casino. However, by utilizing tactics
such as playing slowly and signing up for a free player card,
you can increase your chances of winning. Considering how much
the odds are stacked against you, this is about the best you can
hope for over the life of your gaming career.