 
How To Read a Slot
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.
Until
next time, remember:
"Luck comes and goes...Knowledge
stays forever."
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