Slot Tournament Strategy

So they recently lined up a big bank of slot machines at the Rio in the hallway to the WSOP. Two of my friends saw the crowd just mashing the buttons as fast as they could and commented on it. We started discussing these, and I have a couple questions:

Are these slots just regular slot machines or are they set to be + tournament credits EV?

If they're not set to be +TCEV, isn't the best strategy to just not spin at all? Obviously people will "get lucky" and beat the starting stack most of the time, but in a -TCEV game, wouldn't not playing have an advantage, since I would think all 99 other people would lose money in a -EV game more than 1/100 times?

Thanks,

Tournament Slots are all the same design, and are not merely positive expectation, but set to 'pay' well over 100%.

So, yeah, the typical 'strategy' is to mindlessly whack the spin button.

Personally, I think the 'correct' strategy is to stop whacking once the reels start spinning, then start again after the second reel stops. That will keep you from getting tired too soon, so maybe you'll be able to get in more spins....

Quote: ChipsAhoya

If they're not set to be +TCEV, isn't the best strategy to just not spin at all? Obviously people will "get lucky" and beat the starting stack most of the time, but in a -TCEV game, wouldn't not playing have an advantage, since I would think all 99 other people would lose money in a -EV game more than 1/100 times?

Thanks,

I agree with the above poster, they usually are machines that pay over 100% on tournament mode. Also, most tournaments I've seen determine a winner by win amount, not bankroll amount. In other words, in a tournament it costs 0 to spin. So for these types of tournaments, your question is moot. The best strategy is to squeeze in as many spins as you can, if there is a timer, otherwise, just spin out all your credits at your own pace.

But, in the case of a tournament where it is the bankroll that counts, you might find yourself playing on machines that pay back less than 100%. If you consider only expected values, then you would be correct in saying that the best EV strategy would be to not spin at all. And this would be a great strategy if you were competing against a small number of people. However, for your average, 100+ participant tournament, you give yourself almost no chance of winning if you don't spin. Even with machines that payback 80%, with 100 participants, the odds of you winning by spinning is much more than the odds of everyone else falling below their initial starting bankroll amount.

Would it be legal to put a home-made button-pushing rig on the machine? You could play on several at one time ;)

Quote: cardshark

they usually are machines that pay over 100% on tournament mode.

So where can I find a machine that was inadvertently left in tournament mode?

Quote: Nareed

Would it be legal to put a home-made button-pushing rig on the machine? You could play on several at one time ;)

They're not that dumb. One person, one machine, no devices.

Quote: FleaStiff

So where can I find a machine that was inadvertently left in tournament mode?

Ditto. They're not that dumb. The machines would be in a back room, under wraps, until the next tourney.

I don't think they even have a bill or coin acceptor mechanism.

Quote: DJTeddyBear

They're not that dumb. One person, one machine, no devices.

Ok. But it would also spare you from repetitive stress injuries to the wrist and shoulder.

Perhaps we can get someone with arthritis to sue? :P

Quote: Nareed

Would it be legal to put a home-made button-pushing rig on the machine? You could play on several at one time ;)

I once saw some people who had jimmied a book of matches in the spin button on the slot, so the machine just kept spinning on its own after each spin completed. It was quite humorous to watch. When the machine ran out of credits they would load more cash in and start over again.

I'm not a slots player. My mom's boyfriend is, and has been in several tournaments. The only "strategy" that he talks about is the timing of pushing the button. I guess knowing when to push the button is the key. If you mindlessly mash the button, then you could be theoretically missing the "prime" moment of when you should be pushing the button (by pushing it right before the moment, and then pushing it again right after.)

To me, it doesn't really sound like it would make that much of a difference. But I don't particularly like or understand slot machines, so it doesn't surprise me that I don't understand it. :)

The flip side is that my mom took 2nd place in a video poker tournament, and won some money in a slot tournament, and she doesn't really understand that prime moment of pushing the button either. She uses that fact to make fun of her boyfriend and his "prime" understanding.

Jam a matchbook in to hold the button down? That may work on the floor, with cash machines, but tournament machines require individual button presses.

Quote: konceptum

The only "strategy" that he talks about is the timing of pushing the button.

The "prime" moment is the instant that it will recognize that it's been hit. In this way, you can get more spins than other players. That's the key.

Your mom did better than him? Good for her. She was also playing VP, where you have to stop and think, and not mindlessly press the button at the 'prime moment'.