Slot Machine Random Number Generator VS. Bet Size

Quote: Wizard

On some IGT machines you can tell when they do this when the last outcome displayed on the screen changes. Slots do not change the reel stripping based on the number of coins bet. That is why you're generally better off betting a small number of large coins, than a large number of small coins.

I performed an expensive "test" on an IGT Mystical Mermaid machine in a bank with "must-hit-by" progressives of $25, $100, $1000, $5000 in Wendover, NV. Line options on this machine were 1, 5, 9, 15, and 20, but I only played 20. Multiplier options were 1, 2, 10, 15, 20. Denominations were $0.01, $0.02, $0.05, and $0.10. Every penny bet on the bank of machines has an equal chance of triggering a progressive.

Although records of hands played were not kept, I am convinced that play at maximum bet (20 lines, 20x, $0.10) was no higher than the minimum payback required by Gaming. Apparently, the casino sees a patron who bets big to win the progessive as someone to extract maximum revenue from.

At low bets, this machine and similar machines were much better than at maximum. From my perception, play at 20 lines, 1x, $0.01 was more loose than at 20 lines, 20x, $0.01. From my perception, play at 20 lines, 20x, $0.01 had roughly the same payback as 20 lines, 2x, $0.10.

I obviously don't know where the changes in payback were, but I believe that the bet amount was the determining factor, not the bet denomination. If I am right, maybe I learned something from my ridiculous loss.