"He doesn't know how to Play"

A phrase that is often shouted in Atlantic City Casinos when fresh faced 21 year olds enter the arena and plop down $20 hoping to strike it rich! Usually it occurs at a Blackjack table when a newbie does something against basic strategy like hitting hard 15 vs dealer 5.

But for the first time in my life, I was told this while playing Penny Slots by an old lady! I never knew there was a "right way" to play them, I always thought you spin and hope to win. Most here would say the right way is not to play them at all. However, I had $40 in free play to use and nearly all the machines were full.

This utterance occurred when I got a bonus game awarded and had to choose between 8 spins with 60 wilds added, 16 spins with 40 wilds added or 25 spins with 20 wilds added. No sooner than the bell rang on my machine indicating I won the free bonus trigger, the little old lady jumped from her chair and ordered me to choose 8 spins! I looked at her sideways and said "Nah, I'll go for 16 spins." And she starts telling everyone "He doesn't know how to play"

I just shook my head and enjoyed my $45 win. While she kept spinning her machine at 50c a pop.
Gotta love the irony of a minimum bettor telling others how to play their money!

Quote: BedWetterBetter

A phrase that is often shouted in Atlantic City Casinos when fresh faced 21 year olds enter the arena and plop down $20 hoping to strike it rich! Usually it occurs at a Blackjack table when a newbie does something against basic strategy like hitting hard 15 vs dealer 5.

But for the first time in my life, I was told this while playing Penny Slots by an old lady! I never knew there was a "right way" to play them, I always thought you spin and hope to win. Most here would say the right way is not to play them at all. However, I had $40 in free play to use and nearly all the machines were full.

This utterance occurred when I got a bonus game awarded and had to choose between 8 spins with 60 wilds added, 16 spins with 40 wilds added or 25 spins with 20 wilds added. No sooner than the bell rang on my machine indicating I won the free bonus trigger, the little old lady jumped from her chair and ordered me to choose 8 spins! I looked at her sideways and said "Nah, I'll go for 16 spins." And she starts telling everyone "He doesn't know how to play"

I just shook my head and enjoyed my $45 win. While she kept spinning her machine at 50c a pop.
Gotta love the irony of a minimum bettor telling others how to play their money!

My experience from looking at many PAR sheets indicates that usually playing the least spins is the best return percentage.

Quote: DRich

My experience from looking at many PAR sheets indicates that usually playing the least spins is the best return percentage.

So the free spins are independent?

I thought the amount of your win including any free games bonus was decided the moment you originally pushed the initial spin.

Choosing how the free games are played just presents different animations but resolves with the same amount won in either case

Correct me if I am wrong

For example on linked progressive machines with the winning amount determined by a wheel spin, the other machines will reset before the wheel is even spun because it know I already won regardless of the bonus

I assumed they all worked that way

Quote: darkoz

So the free spins are independent?

I thought the amount of your win including any free games bonus was decided the moment you originally pushed the initial spin.

Choosing how the free games are played just presents different animations but resolves with the same amount won in either case

Correct me if I am wrong

For example on linked progressive machines with the winning amount determined by a wheel spin, the other machines will reset before the wheel is even spun because it know I already won regardless of the bonus

I assumed they all worked that way

I always believed on a Class III machine that each spin was independent and determined at the time you hit the button for that spin. Not in advance over all x bonus spins. That programming would be waaay too difficult. They know the expected value of a bonus spin, so they can just calculate into the RTP that the bonus is worth X spins at $y per spin and let the math take it from there.

I don't believe your bonus win is pre determined regardless of how many free spins you get 5-10-15-20 etc.

Perhaps, but there is no right way to play a bonus round. I've been burned many times choosing the low spins with more wilds option winning pitiful amounts like $28, $24, $16, and the worst was $9 on a Max bet of $2.50. So I prefer to get the middle option of twice as many spins with the 2nd highest amount of wilds.

This woman has no business telling me how to play my money, no matter what her intentions are.

I recently had an elderly gentleman instruct me to play $5 minimum on the match the dealer bet in BJ. I politely told him "No thanks" and he flipped out. Telling the dealer, "He's not playing the match? Why even play the game if you're not gonna play match, that's where the money is!"

After I cashed out $230 ahead, I glanced over at his dwindling pile and said to the dealer "I thought the money was on the match? Looks like I found out the house secret...but don't tell that guy, you might crush his little world!"

This is something that will always be annoying. I notice it more than anything if I'm at a UTH table. "You've got to play the trips." "You aren't playing the light? That's the only way to win!" Whatever. If everyone just let everyone play or bet how they wanted things would be so much better.

Quote: darkoz

So the free spins are independent?

I thought the amount of your win including any free games bonus was decided the moment you originally pushed the initial spin.

Choosing how the free games are played just presents different animations but resolves with the same amount won in either case

Correct me if I am wrong

For example on linked progressive machines with the winning amount determined by a wheel spin, the other machines will reset before the wheel is even spun because it know I already won regardless of the bonus

I assumed they all worked that way

Yes, the spins are independent on Class III games. The bonus awards are not predefined for the free spins.

Quote: Minty

This is something that will always be annoying. I notice it more than anything if I'm at a UTH table. "You've got to play the trips." "You aren't playing the light? That's the only way to win!" Whatever. If everyone just let everyone play or bet how they wanted things would be so much better.

There are other players at the table? I never noticed.

Back seat gamblers.

Not their money, not their buisness.

It is worse on BJ, when you are playing basic strategy and people say "never hit 12"... countless other BJ examples.... I just ignore...

Quote: Minty

This is something that will always be annoying. I notice it more than anything if I'm at a UTH table. "You've got to play the trips." "You aren't playing the light? That's the only way to win!" Whatever. If everyone just let everyone play or bet how they wanted things would be so much better.

Tell them to play their own game...you'll play yours. Nothing worse than a "know it all" trying to lecture or tell someone how to play....or worse, how they should play.

Whenever I play 3CP, PGP, UTH, TX Holdem Bonus or any table game, I never play any of those BONUS bets.

The dealer asks if I want to play them. I answer them by replying "Do you think those BONUS bets are there for my benefit or for the casinos benefit?" There is usually no answer from the dealer.

Quote: FatGeezus

Whenever I play 3CP, PGP, UTH, TX Holdem Bonus or any table game, I never play any of those BONUS bets.

The dealer asks if I want to play them. I answer them by replying "Do you think those BONUS bets are there for my benefit or for the casinos benefit?" There is usually no answer from the dealer.

I'm not familiar with poker bonus bets....blackjack and craps bonus bets can be worse than slots. The fire bet in craps I believe can have a whopping 25% house edge. Even the ATS at the 150 and 30 payouts is around 17%. Sucker bets at those levels.

The one that always gets me is how, when I'm playing blackjack, the guy on my left mumbles about how I "ate his card." Funny, but he never remembers the rounds when I hit and took away his bust card.

I stick to basic but in the end it's my money and I'll play however I please.

Quote: Lovecomps

The one that always gets me is how, when I'm playing blackjack, the guy on my left mumbles about how I "ate his card." Funny, but he never remembers the rounds when I hit and took away his bust card.

I stick to basic but in the end it's my money and I'll play however I please.

Yeah, but he knows he is delusional. Ask him for $1 to coach your moves and he won't pay.

Quote: Lovecomps

The one that always gets me is how, when I'm playing blackjack, the guy on my left mumbles about how I "ate his card." Funny, but he never remembers the rounds when I hit and took away his bust card.

I stick to basic but in the end it's my money and I'll play however I please.

Yep. They conveniently forget the card you took to help him but will always point out the card you took that hurt him. I haven't played in a while...but stuck to basic strategy. There was no decision. It was already made.

Quote: Lovecomps

The one that always gets me is how, when I'm playing blackjack, the guy on my left mumbles about how I "ate his card." Funny, but he never remembers the rounds when I hit and took away his bust card.

I stick to basic but in the end it's my money and I'll play however I please.

Those are classic, had this last week at Resorts. I hit soft 17 vs dealer 7 and get an 8, then hit again and get a 4. The guy to my left stares at me like I have 2 heads and hits his 12 only to get another 4 and then explodes at me "Why'd you hit 17? You took MY 8!!!

I retorted "I didn't see your name on it." He stalls trying to think of a comeback and waves off his hard 16, only for dealer to flip a 10 for 17. He says "See you woulda pushed and I'd win"

He leaves in a huff and tells his buddy "He don't know how to play, I can't sit here"
I reply, "Don't let the door hit ya on the way out"

Quote: BedWetterBetter

Those are classic, had this last week at Resorts. I hit soft 17 vs dealer 7 and get an 8, then hit again and get a 4. The guy to my left stares at me like I have 2 heads and hits his 12 only to get another 4 and then explodes at me "Why'd you hit 17? You took MY 8!!!

I retorted "I didn't see your name on it." He stalls trying to think of a comeback and waves off his hard 16, only for dealer to flip a 10 for 17. He says "See you woulda pushed and I'd win"

He leaves in a huff and tells his buddy "He don't know how to play, I can't sit here"
I reply, "Don't let the door hit ya on the way out"

So, you played correctly and won, and the other guy left the table? Sounds like a win-win to me!

Years ago, I was at a table with my Dad. A guy sits down and says, " I just came from that other table. This guy was splitting 10's!!! I just can't play at a table where someone splits his 10's!" So, what did Dad do on his next 20? Yup, he split his 10's! And true to his word, the guy left! Small price to pay to keep the table enjoyable!

Hello All,

Not sure if this would be the correct thread to place this on but this made me think of a slot i occasionally play while in Vegas and what the optimal play was for bonus free spins.

I will work on getting the name and uploading a screen shot, but part of the bonus is a free spin segment, with player choosing the free spin amount and potential bonus. I am not sure what the best play would be. My thoughts are similar to the original poster, as i would typically choose for middle ground on number of spins and potential bonus.

Bonus Example:

25 Free spins- Potential bonus of 2x,3x, or 5x
20 Free spins- Potential bonus of 3x,5x, or 8x
15 Free spins- Potential bonus of 5x,8x, or 10x
13 Free spins- Potential bonus of 8x,10x, or 15x
10 Free spins- Potential bonus of 10x,15x, or 30x
6 Free spins- Potential bonus of 15x,30x, or 40x

Of course i did not document properly, but the last 4 times this was initiated, it seemed like the higher bonus was never awarded.

1-20 Spin (3x)
2- 15 Spin (1 @ 5x, 1 @ 8x)
1-10 Spin (15x)

Out of all of these, the 10 spin with 15x odds ranked 3rd out of 4 with regards to profit from free spins.

Thanks for any input.

Quote: Simpson74

Hello All,

Not sure if this would be the correct thread to place this on but this made me think of a slot i occasionally play while in Vegas and what the optimal play was for bonus free spins.

I will work on getting the name and uploading a screen shot, but part of the bonus is a free spin segment, with player choosing the free spin amount and potential bonus. I am not sure what the best play would be. My thoughts are similar to the original poster, as i would typically choose for middle ground on number of spins and potential bonus.

Bonus Example:

25 Free spins- Potential bonus of 2x,3x, or 5x
20 Free spins- Potential bonus of 3x,5x, or 8x
15 Free spins- Potential bonus of 5x,8x, or 10x
13 Free spins- Potential bonus of 8x,10x, or 15x
10 Free spins- Potential bonus of 10x,15x, or 30x
6 Free spins- Potential bonus of 15x,30x, or 40x

Of course i did not document properly, but the last 4 times this was initiated, it seemed like the higher bonus was never awarded.

1-20 Spin (3x)
2- 15 Spin (1 @ 5x, 1 @ 8x)
1-10 Spin (15x)

Out of all of these, the 10 spin with 15x odds ranked 3rd out of 4 with regards to profit from free spins.

Thanks for any input.

I believe it’s all random. There will be times the 25 spins pay more or less than the 6 spins.

There’s no science to this as far as I know.

Pretty recently I was playing with a dealer who teased me for surrendering some hands. Saying that I was just giving up money and the casino wouldn't let you do it if it wasn't in their benefit. I asked, "why can we double down then?" He replied with "well that's different." It became a running joke of ours and I told him every time I won a double down that I just got some more surrender money.

From what I've read, casinos tried doing away with doubles in the 1960s but players boycotted.