Slots Articles

Slots Game Overview

Slots is a game of pure and total luck. You don’t get to pick any cards, numbers, or even roll your own dice. With the game of Slots, you simply input the amount that you are willing to wager, possibly pick how many rows or lines you wish to bet on, and pull the lever or hit the spin button. After that, your fate depends on where the wheel stops. If certain images line up in certain spots, then you are a winner!

In every casino there are many different versions of the game of Slots. Some have TV show themes, some are princess and dragon themed, and some are even natural disaster themed. Regardless of their themes, they are all usually played in the same manner with a few minor variations. For example, some may include bonuses or a chance at a bonus wheel if you line up a particular image.

In the way of playing strategy, there is little to be had when it comes to the game of Slots. However, some players like to hunt for a machine until they feel they have spotted a lucky one. This is not a proven method, but many still enjoy the thrill anyway.

Unlike Blackjack, Roulette, and Poker, if you are into cheap gambling then you can still enjoy the game of Slots. That is the one major advantage that the game of Slots has over all other casino games. Although Slot machines are purely luck based, they can be accessible to anyone no matter how broke they are.

First, pick a machine in the casino that is available. If a coat is on the seat, or a change cup on the handle, assume the machine is taken. A general rule for picking a slots game is to study the pay charts and their various payoffs. Choose the best value based on the amount of money needed for each turn, or play, and the number of pay lines.

Next, choose a slots game with a monetary denomination relevant to the total amount of money you have for gambling. A casino will have machines that take nickels, quarters, dollar bills, and more. Some machines allow you to put in $5 to $20, and play off “credits.” If you put a five-dollar bill into a nickel machine, you will be given 100 credits. Each pay line will cost you one credit.

Finally, to play the slots game, insert the number of coins you wish to play, keeping the number of available pay lines in mind. Multiple coins will activate multiple pay lines. When playing off credits, choose the number of credits for each play. Then, pull the lever or push the play button, make a winning combination on one or more pay lines, and you win!

Slot Machine Tips

The objective of playing slots is to bet coins or credit and spin the machine's "reels" so that symbols line up on the machine's "paylines", as described in the machine's "payout" schedule. Players can choose how many coins or how much credit to bet per payline and how many paylines to bet on.

The payout schedule displays the machines winning combinations and the values for each combination. These values vary according to the credit bet with each spin.

Some machines give players the opportunity to win even more credit, by allowing them to bet their winnings and original bet using a secondary betting system.

There are two types of slot machines: "straight" and "progressive". Both types seem generally the same. One major difference is that straight slots pay a predetermined value, as described in their payout schedule. Progressive slots are usually linked to other slot machines. The other slots may reside in the same building, state, or even globally, as seems to be the case with some Internet based slots. These "progressive" machines share a "jackpot" that increases each time a player deposits bets at one of the linked machines. As a result, the jackpot can grow to astronomical proportions.

HOW MUCH DO SLOT MACHINES PAY?
Slot machines are generally programmed to pay a percentage of their winnings. This percentage tends to be between 85% and 98%, depending on the machine, it's location and usage. The higher the percentage, the more the machine tends to payout.

TIPS

Play machines that advertise a higher payout percentage (between 95% & 99%). These machines may be dollar or higher denomination machines.

Ensure you understand the payout schedule prior to deciding how much to bet per payline and how many paylines to bet on. It would be unfortunate to produce a winning then realize it could have been significantly higher had the bet been slightly higher.

Some progressive slots will only award a jackpot win to a player betting the maximum amount. Not betting the maximum amount means you could produce the required combination for a jackpot win but miss out because you did not bet the required amount. Make sure you understand the payout schedule and if necessary, ask a machine attendant to clarify it for you.

The amount of credit bet is not related to the likelihood of spinning a winning combination.

Generally, it seems more beneficial to bet the maximum amount of credit per payline. The problem, however, is that this has the potential to quickly exhaust your wallet. With this in mind, find a machine that best suits your budget. A quarter machine may suit your budget more so than a dollar machine, for example.

Recognize when a jackpot (large value) has been won. Some machines will ask you to call an attendant who will organize payment to you. Never handle or walk away from a machine that has just produced a jackpot winning. Call the attendant or have someone call him/her for you while you wait at the machine.

If you play slots regularly, take a note of which machines tend to be paying out significantly. If a machine seems to be paying out significantly, and often, it may be worthwhile giving this machine a try sometime. You may find that casinos place their most liberal machines in places where they are likely to attract attention.

Consider trying the machine next to you if your machine isn't paying off.

Find out if the venue you intend to play at offers other incentives, such as points, meals, accommodation, etc., that goes with your game play. This however doesn't mean that you should play purely for these secondary benefits.

Try to recognize when your luck may have changed. There are many examples of people winning significantly then "getting greedy", so to speak, and losing everything.

Make sure you empty the machine of your credit prior to leaving it. Each year, people accidentally abandon machines that still have their credit inside.

Assign a budget for the day's play. If the budget is lost, you will know when to leave the casino.

Don't bet more than you can afford to lose.

Remember to always have fun :)

The Advantages Of Playing Slots Online

If you have a love of gambling, playing slots online is sure to give you a thrill. Though a trip to a casino can be exciting and fun, online gambling holds many advantages. From quality games to better odds, online slots have much to offer the casual player, as well as the serious gambler.

A top advantage of playing slots online is the location. You can enjoy your games in the privacy and peace of your own home. When you play online slots, you have the joy of controlling the noise level. This means you can play your game while blaring your favorite music or in serene silence. Furthermore, you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your machine when you gamble at an online casino.

Another advantage of playing slots online is that the odds of winning are a bit better than those at regular casinos. This is due to the fact that the operating costs involved in running an online casino are typically less than those involved in running a brick and mortar casino. Many online casinos choose to pass a portion of their overhead savings along to their patrons, by offering better game odds and attractive bonuses. Additionally, heavy competition in the online casino industry helps to promote higher payouts and better gambling incentives.

The lack of travel expense is another big advantage to playing slots online. For many, traveling to a regular casino requires the purchase of an airline or bus ticket, as well as the cost of a hotel stay. When you choose to play slots online, you can enjoy gambling 24 hours a day, every day of the year, without ever leaving the comfort of your home.

History of Slots

Slots are a gambling game played on a machine in a casino. Slots are also known as 'one-armed bandits' because of the large lever held at the side of the machine. Pitt and Sittman developed the first slots during 1891 in Brooklyn.

Initially the game was created as another way to play poker. Accordingly, the machine was made up of five drums comprising of 50 playing cards, and a lever was used to spin the cards around. The gambling player would hope that when the machine stopped revolving a good poker hand would be displayed. However, in those days there were no large payouts, often all that was won was a free drink or cigar.

In 1895 Charles Fey created an even simpler mechanism. This eventually learned how to 'read' a winning hand and Fey produced a machine that gave an automatic payout. Fey's game consisted of only three revolving drums, and as an alternative to the playing cards, his machine displayed five symbols of a Liberty bell, horseshoe, spades, hearts and diamonds. The largest payout went to the gambling player who achieved a row of three bells.

In the United States the slots game is allowed to be played in a casino (only in a casino) and some states even restrict which type of slots can be played. However, slots without restrictions can be found in a casino at Las Vegas or Atlantic City and are commonly known as 'Vegas-style slots'. Undoubtedly, slots have become a popular casino game for most gambling players.