SLOTS INFO

Playing Slots

In every casino, whether online or offline, Slots are a major (if not dominant) part of the business. There are two reasons for that. Firstly, playing a slot machine is the easiest and simplest form of gambling that exists. You just drop in your money, press a button and wait for the result. Secondly, casinos get most of their profits (over 60%) from 'electronic gambling machines' such as Slots. This is called the 'Hold'. Land-based casinos average a 7% to 10% hold, while online casinos average a 3% to 5% hold. This generous house advantage is why you see slot machines everywhere.

Historical note
The history of Slots goes back to the late 1800's in San Francisco when Charles Fey invented the first slot machine in 1887. He made them in his basement and then later rented them out to local casinos in the area. He used fruit symbols for the payout lines, which is why these machines are often called 'fruit machines' today.

Chances of success
Slot machines make money because they always pay out less money than they collect. There is a term called the 'payout percentage' which varies from one casino to another. You can check what this is. If the payout is 95%, then the casino keeps 5 cents of every dollar played. The statistics are that if you play a Slot machine over a long time, you will eventually lose all your money, because you will be losing 5% or so every time. Each machine is fitted with a computer chip called the Random Number Generator (RNG). This controls the payback percentage.

Types of Slots
The basic game, as mentioned above is very simply. You just drop in your money, press a button, wait for the dials to line up and see if you win. Your strategy involves knowing what the payline is and how much money you need to insert into the machine. Many casinos have 'static' slots, where there is a preset jackpot which does not change.

Some slots games have 'multi-line' features, meaning that they have 3, 5 or even 7 paylines. They can also be called 'multi-denominational', meaning that they accept different coin denominations.

Many casinos offer 'progressive jackpots', which increase the size of the payout as more people play the machines. The first person to hit the winning combination (often 777) wins the total jackpot.

Size of bets
You can bet any amount ranging from 25 cents up to $100. However you should take care how you spend your betting money. If your total bankroll is $50, then playing $5 a shot will consume your money in 10 goes. Instead, play the 25 cent slots and work your way up as you become more confident.

Slot machines have a 'payback cycle', where they pay out relative to the amount of money paid in. This is why one person can spend two hours on a machine and get nothing while another person can get the jackpot on the first or second try.