Why do people play slots?
I have a question. Why do you play slots. What do you get out of it? Is it exciting? Have you ever won big, IE won more in a month than you lost in a month? I ask this question because to me any game other than blackjack, with the exception of poker, seems a waste of time and money. I personally don't play poker because I don't know how to play but I know skilled players who can make good money playing. My most recent casino visit I tried to play slots to understand why people play agame that will guarantee leave you walking out of the casino a loser, but I left not able to understand. I played like 20$ on various machines and decided I would haverather bought 20 1$ scratch off tickets. So please enlighten me why you play.
Add in that anyone can play if you are smart enough to insert bills and press a button and you have a game many people like.
Quote: MalcomDMy most recent casino visit I tried to play slots to understand why people play agame that will guarantee leave you walking out of the casino a loser, but I left not able to understand.
Every game in the casino has a way of making money for the house. Poker has a rake and all of the games have HA. Slots have a payback %.
What game does anyone play in a casino that guarantees that they will walk out a winner?
Yes, slots have a higer edge for the house than most games (but not all bets--some craps bets are high HA also), but you can win some days. This weekend I played craps and lost. I played 3 card poker and lost. I played Mississippi Stud and lost. I played roulette and lost.
I played slots and had an overall win on them.
Slots don't offer as good of a bet as other games but you can leave a winner. You can also leave a loser.
Quote: MalcomDHi Hardcore Slot Players,
I have a question. Why do you play slots. What do you get out of it? Is it exciting? Have you ever won big, IE won more in a month than you lost in a month? I ask this question because to me any game other than blackjack, with the exception of poker, seems a waste of time and money. I personally don't play poker because I don't know how to play but I know skilled players who can make good money playing. My most recent casino visit I tried to play slots to understand why people play agame that will guarantee leave you walking out of the casino a loser, but I left not able to understand. I played like 20$ on various machines and decided I would haverather bought 20 1$ scratch off tickets. So please enlighten me why you play.
1.) I play Slots because they are fun, it is amusing to try to figure out what aspects of a slot machine, "Hook," a player, whether it be near-misses, high hit rate, frequent Free Games, or a set Jackpot amount that automatically goes off when the Progressive amount is reached...such as the recently discussed G+ games.
Further, while it may seem oxymoronical, it is possible to play slots at an advantage. This usually involves a Progressive machine of one kind or another where the Progressive(s) have reached such an amount that combined with the Odds of hitting for the Progressive(s), every spin you take is done at an advantage. It is apparent that the Odds of hitting the Jackpot(s) still aren't great, but if you have a VP machine that pays out 100.0001%, then you play that at an advantage, inclusive to the Royal Flush, which is also an unlikely result.
2.) I have had two Jackpots, $1,250 and $4,088.xx, respectively.
3.) I have won more in my life than I have lost. It is unlikely that will remain the case forever.
4.) Most people go to the casino to waste time and money. The vast majority of people go there for the possibiity, not the expectation, of winning. I would suggest that the draw for the slot player is the potentiality of turning an inconsequential sum of money into a consequential, or even very consequential, sum of money. It only takes one pull. One time.
5.) If Slots GUARANTEED that you would walk out of thee casino a loser, then nobody would play them. Besides, if you are there for fun, and you have fun, then you have not lost. Do you, "Lose," money going to a concert if you have fun there?
The point when it comes to Slots is, the winners are just as important to the casino as the losers.
6.) The ER of scratch-off tickets is far worse than Slots. The odds of a winning ticket usually hover around 1:4, including break-even pays...a shitload of break-even pays. That which plays quicker, pays quicker. Then you have the cost of printing/distribution of the tickets, the vendor gets a cut, it's a terrible buy from an ER standpoint. You talk about the probability of hitting for $100 on a $2 ticket vs. a $2 slot pull, I suggest the pull is a better bet. I was playing QuickHits Progressives fairly exclusively one night at Max $1.50/pull, hit for $100 or more five times in one night, left nearly $700 ahead on the session. I probably played $2,000 or more in total pulls. I just don't think that's happening if you buy $2,000 in lottery scratch-offs with the same frequency. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
7.) I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that $20 didn't get you any really good pulls or, "Good looks," when it comes to a big pay. It happens sometimes, you either missed the draw or the draw just doesn't appeal to you. Slots are not for everyone. Blackjack AP play is slow and methodical, the most you can win going Split-Split Double-Double-Double and winning all is 6x the Base Bet with 6x Base Bet at risk. It's pretty unlikely that you end up with such a hand, anyway. Slots are for people who like the variance, as is Video Poker, but VP generally pays better overall. Either way, you either want to approach it methodically by winning small amounts (relative to the bet) at a higher than expected rate, or card-counting AP play, or you want to take a shot at getting it the, "Quick and Dirty," way with VP and Slots. I like both, but Slots have the edge, probably because Lady Variance has been more attracted to me than she has most people. When I lose the 5K+ for life that I am ahead (my session amounts are low, so it would take many losing sessions) I might decide I'm not especially attracted to the hard and fast variance anymore, who knows?
Quote: RonCEvery game in the casino has a way of making money for the house. Poker has a rake and all of the games have HA. Slots have a payback %.
What game does anyone play in a casino that guarantees that they will walk out a winner?
Yes, slots have a higer edge for the house than most games (but not all bets--some craps bets are high HA also), but you can win some days. This weekend I played craps and lost. I played 3 card poker and lost. I played Mississippi Stud and lost. I played roulette and lost.
I played slots and had an overall win on them.
Slots don't offer as good of a bet as other games but you can leave a winner. You can also leave a loser.
I understand that all games are exposed to the house edge, but slots with their high house edge couples with the fast rate of play means you will lose your money faster than anything else. Poker, Blackjack and Baccarat are games of skill with an element of chance. Slots is a pure random game of chance, it is really the best example of the adage gambling is a tax on stupidity yet so many people play slots and I don't understand why.
Quote: MalcomDI understand that all games are exposed to the house edge, but slots with their high house edge couples with the fast rate of play means you will lose your money faster than anything else. Poker, Blackjack and Baccarat are games of skill with an element of chance. Slots is a pure random game of chance, it is really the best example of the adage gambling is a tax on stupidity yet so many people play slots and I don't understand why.
Since when is Baccarat a game of skill?
Quote: Mission1461.) I play Slots because they are fun, it is amusing to try to figure out what aspects of a slot machine, "Hook," a player, whether it be near-misses, high hit rate, frequent Free Games, or a set Jackpot amount that automatically goes off when the Progressive amount is reached...such as the recently discussed G+ games.
Further, while it may seem oxymoronical, it is possible to play slots at an advantage. This usually involves a Progressive machine of one kind or another where the Progressive(s) have reached such an amount that combined with the Odds of hitting for the Progressive(s), every spin you take is done at an advantage. It is apparent that the Odds of hitting the Jackpot(s) still aren't great, but if you have a VP machine that pays out 100.0001%, then you play that at an advantage, inclusive to the Royal Flush, which is also an unlikely result.
2.) I have had two Jackpots, $1,250 and $4,088.xx, respectively.
3.) I have won more in my life than I have lost. It is unlikely that will remain the case forever.
4.) Most people go to the casino to waste time and money. The vast majority of people go there for the possibiity, not the expectation, of winning. I would suggest that the draw for the slot player is the potentiality of turning an inconsequential sum of money into a consequential, or even very consequential, sum of money. It only takes one pull. One time.
5.) If Slots GUARANTEED that you would walk out of thee casino a loser, then nobody would play them. Besides, if you are there for fun, and you have fun, then you have not lost. Do you, "Lose," money going to a concert if you have fun there?
The point when it comes to Slots is, the winners are just as important to the casino as the losers.
6.) The ER of scratch-off tickets is far worse than Slots. The odds of a winning ticket usually hover around 1:4, including break-even pays...a shitload of break-even pays. That which plays quicker, pays quicker. Then you have the cost of printing/distribution of the tickets, the vendor gets a cut, it's a terrible buy from an ER standpoint. You talk about the probability of hitting for $100 on a $2 ticket vs. a $2 slot pull, I suggest the pull is a better bet. I was playing QuickHits Progressives fairly exclusively one night at Max $1.50/pull, hit for $100 or more five times in one night, left nearly $700 ahead on the session. I probably played $2,000 or more in total pulls. I just don't think that's happening if you buy $2,000 in lottery scratch-offs with the same frequency. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.
7.) I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that $20 didn't get you any really good pulls or, "Good looks," when it comes to a big pay. It happens sometimes, you either missed the draw or the draw just doesn't appeal to you. Slots are not for everyone. Blackjack AP play is slow and methodical, the most you can win going Split-Split Double-Double-Double and winning all is 6x the Base Bet with 6x Base Bet at risk. It's pretty unlikely that you end up with such a hand, anyway. Slots are for people who like the variance, as is Video Poker, but VP generally pays better overall. Either way, you either want to approach it methodically by winning small amounts (relative to the bet) at a higher than expected rate, or card-counting AP play, or you want to take a shot at getting it the, "Quick and Dirty," way with VP and Slots. I like both, but Slots have the edge, probably because Lady Variance has been more attracted to me than she has most people. When I lose the 5K+ for life that I am ahead (my session amounts are low, so it would take many losing sessions) I might decide I'm not especially attracted to the hard and fast variance anymore, who knows?
This was a great answer and pretty much what I was looking for. I'm not saying that I would buy scratch off lotto tickets and win but to me the slots didn't do anything for me. I won a few pulls, the lights flashed and music played but I'm not an animal that can be conditioned to continue gambling just because lights go off and music plays, I found that to be insulting.While I was playing I was asking other slot players if they ever won money, and alot of them gave stories similar to what you said. They had won jackpots and won more in a lifetime than lost, but that isn't really winning. If you won a 1000$ jackpot 5 years ago, but lost 600 in the past few months than you are actually losing.Good answer though, thanks!
Quote: MalcomDThis was a great answer and pretty much what I was looking for. I'm not saying that I would buy scratch off lotto tickets and win but to me the slots didn't do anything for me. I won a few pulls, the lights flashed and music played but I'm not an animal that can be conditioned to continue gambling just because lights go off and music plays, I found that to be insulting.While I was playing I was asking other slot players if they ever won money, and alot of them gave stories similar to what you said. They had won jackpots and won more in a lifetime than lost, but that isn't really winning. If you won a 1000$ jackpot 5 years ago, but lost 600 in the past few months than you are actually losing.Good answer though, thanks!
1.) I understand your point, as stated, it's not for everyone, though I would be hesitant to reduce those who play Slots to animals. It's pretty simple, if someone (and my win goal is less) says, "I will walk when I am ahead $500," then they would simply rather have a shot at that sitting down with $50 in the Slot Machine rather than taking $50 to the Blackjack Table to be lost in two hands (or maybe even one) betting Green, or to try to grind it out betting straight Red, or Red&Press at certain amounts. Other than AP Side Bets, I've always felt that the Side Bet players are Slots/VP players in disguise, they see that Big Time pay...and they want it.
Most people see that Fire Bet, know it's a bad bet, and toss a Red or a White(s) at it, why? They want that big pay. They're essentially playing a Slot Machine, except it is at the table and the bet takes longer to resolve, while they are playing Craps. Other than the mechanics of the bet itself (Reels v. Dice, One Pull c. Multi-Roll) tell me what the difference is? There isn't one.
2.) I disagree with your second statement in its entirety. There's an AP BJ player here that got absolutely slaughtered for six months out of one year and still pulled out in the high five-figures for a year. You ask someone a question about life, they say, "I'm ahead," you say, "No, you're really behind," how are they behind? You can break it up into one hour, one day, one week, one month, one year or life. You're either ahead or behind that period. If you're ahead for life, you're ahead for life, there are no two ways about it. If you're ahead for a week, you're still ahead for the week, even if you lost your last spin. Are you losing for the week at BJ when you lose one hand, but are ahead $500?
Quote: MalcomDI understand that all games are exposed to the house edge, but slots with their high house edge couples with the fast rate of play means you will lose your money faster than anything else. Poker, Blackjack and Baccarat are games of skill with an element of chance. Slots is a pure random game of chance, it is really the best example of the adage gambling is a tax on stupidity yet so many people play slots and I don't understand why.
$25 blackjack at 100 hands/hour and the average 1.5% edge of a normal player earns the casino $37.50/hour. Multi-line slots at 25 lines, 5 coins/line ($1.25/wager) at 400 pulls/hour at 6% hold earns the casino $30/hour. Single-line quarter slots at .75/pull at 400 pulls/hour at 8% earns $24/hour. There are a lot of factors that go into house win rates and it's certainly not true that machines always win faster than tables.
Everything in a casino has a chance of losing. Making specious distinctions between blackjack and slots on the basis of how much you win or how much your skill impacts your average results is just rationalization. If it makes you feel superior or intelligent to play blackjack and not slots, go for it. The casino is there to provide entertainment, and feeling superior is highly entertaining for certain people.
But going to a casino is not the way to achieve a guaranteed income, regardless of what you play. And if you're not having fun gambling (whatever "fun" means to you) then you shouldn't be gambling either -- again, regardless of what you play. Your value judgments elevate blackjack (and baccarat?) above slots, which is fine, but that's not an objective metric. They're just different forms of gambling, and all ultimately house-favorable games. If you want guaranteed income, spend more time at work. Patronizing a casino is not supposed to be work, it's supposed to be the entire opposite of work.
I have a question. Why do you play slots. What do you get out of it? Is it exciting? Have you ever won big, IE won more in a month than you lost in a month?
Gee Wiz, why do you play blackjack ? My wife calls it GRIND and that is exactly what it is, especially for the miniscule number of
people who are long term winners. Why do most people play poker ? The vast majority of them are losers. Why do people
bet on horse races with a 15% rake? After years of complaining they could beat the races, if only the rake was lower,
those same punters now think the answer is exotics bets. With a rake from 23-30 %.
Why do people go to Opera's or sit and read a book at home ? Because it gives them pleasure. In gambling, there is the added anticipation of being a winner. And gambling highs can produce those funny little chemicals inside the brain that relieve depression and anxiety. Many people suffering from mental illness actually self medicate at casinos. Many other can escape from the trouble of the world for a few hours by gambling. Just because you don't like slots, does not mean BJ or Poker is a better alternative for most people.
The number of slot machines are increasing, while table games are decreasing. Revenues from table games versus slots have gone from 70-30% in favor of table games to the exact opposite. And electronic versus of table games are indeed the future. One not need be Kreskin to see that is the future. Kids are growing up on video games, Roku, mp3 players , tablets, etc. On several large universities, the library has no books. Combine these facts with labor's ever increasing cost, and live table game in the future will be relics like coin dropper slots.
Yes, there will be live table games, but not for low limits. and not in large numbers. Especially if a smaller market like Blackhawk is any indication. Sure, the table games like Craps are Roulette are packed on weekends at Ameristar and the Lodge. But at the Isle,
there is more action at Rapid Roulette and Electronic craps than at the live tables. And a much younger crowd playing the unmanned
versions. I have monitored Roulette play at the Mardi Gras, while checking out SWITCH, for over 8 hours on Thursday and Friday
nights. I have yet to see a Roulette player. For a least 8 hours visiting Canyon and other smaller casino's, I have yet to see a Roulette player.
And at those smaller casino, the staff always outnumbered the players at crap table. Casino's can not pay people to stand at those empty tables much longer.
Back to the question : Why do people play slots? I read a poll a few years back, where for the first time people answered entertainment over 50% as the reason they went to casino's. About 10 years ago my daughter was only 19 and could not go into a casino to play. But looking at electronic slots through the window, she said to me. " OH, it's video games for adults. "
That is a pretty good analysis of slots today.
Penny slots are now the crack cocaine of problem gamblers. If you don't have that addiction, please repeat " There but for the grace of God, goes me. " Gambling addiction affects people from all walks of life. Here are two examples I personally know of !
Mrs. Irving. I knew her first name once upon a time , but have forgot. A really nice lady, dignified, married to Irv who ran a poker room
in the late 1980's. His daughter also dealt there. His wife dressed very classy, late 40's, and a stone ROCK at poker.
She only played in the noon tournaments, just to get to at least 2 tables. I worked 4 to midnight, so noon tournaments were a good schedule for me. When Mrs. Irv called, I usually laid my hand down. And if she raised, BYE BE for sure. Then in 1990
Colorado legalized gambling. Part of that legislation was if you had a misdemeanor conviction , you could not get a gaming license.
Irv was out of business and could not get a job in gaming. I saw Irv a few times in Blackhawk that next year,and he said his daughter had moved to Vegas. Then Irv was gone. I later found he had moved to Vegas. Well, good for him I thought.
Almost another year passed before I ran into one of Irv's dealers. I always tipped good, so when I asked how Irv was doing in Vegas, he told me. Irv had lost his house in Denver, owed over $30, 00 in credit card debt, Truck and car repossessed, etc.
Moved to Vegas with Mrs. Irv to live in his daughter house. WHY ? Because Mrs. Irv had a gambling problem. She had always handled the bills, saving accounts, taxes, etc. Video poker machines got it all. For years video poker was the game most women became addicted to. Now it is "penny " slots
Ivan A. : Really nice guy. Comm tech at AT&T. I first knew Ivan had a problem when wife and I picked him up at his car wash. He had bought it a few years before, when we were both racking up overtime. I thought at the time he was doing maintenance.
I now believe he was emptying the dollar changer. He proceed to lose over $200 that night at the dog track, while telling me he was down $25 after the last race.
A year before AT&T closed the Denver office, we were down to 5 techs on Evenings. I was in-charge and let Ivan go to GA meetings on Wednesday at a local church. That is, until I later found out after a few meetings, he was playing poker instead.
The last 4 weeks , you could come to work at 8am , tag up, say you were looking for new employment, and leave. Just sign in, no documentation needed. Or stick around and attend job skill classes. Easiest $800 a week you could ever earn. Ivan went to management, everybody liked Ivan, they cut his check 4 weeks early. DAMN. He gave up $3200 to get the cash a month early.His wife knew the score and insisted he put half in
a saving account in her name, one quarter in the kids college fund, and he could keep the rest. The car wash was already gone.
The buyout was in excess of $140,000 before taxes. I ran into Ivan a few years later in Blackhawk, where he girlfriend works. He had 2 heart attacks in the meantime, blew his money and as co-signer blew the kids college money. No idea if he is alive or dead now, but if alive, he is definitely still gambling.
Quote: MathExtremist$25 blackjack at 100 hands/hour and the average 1.5% edge of a normal player earns the casino $37.50/hour. Multi-line slots at 25 lines, 5 coins/line ($1.25/wager) at 400 pulls/hour at 6% 12% hold earns the casino $30/hour $60/hour. Single-line quarter slots at .75/pull at 400 pulls/hour at 8% earns $24/hour. There are a lot of factors that go into house win rates and it's certainly not true that machines always win faster than tables.
FYP
Also for slots, 400 spins/hr might be a conservative estimate for some players. Depends on the game, and whether they "stop" their spins.
MathExtremist, you are singing my song. I make far, far more at work than I could ever make playing games in a casino. My goal in the casino is to enjoy myself. As far as speed of loss, I've lost money at craps so fast I got dizzy. The dice didn't seem to know that the odds were close to even.
These are all $2 bets, and all occurred within an hour or so. They're not in any order. I cashed out $450 on $100 in.
Quote: MalcomDHi Hardcore Slot Players,I have a question. Why do you play slots. What do you get out of it?
The comment I hear most from slot players is they can't imagine playing a game like blackjack that has no jackpot. As far as they are concerned a game where your win/loss goes up and down by one unit (or one and a half unit) is dull.
I also like the freedom of being able to move around from machine to machine when I get bored, and yes, I do get bored with slots every once in a while.
I don't gamble necessarily for the money so I don't keep track of lifetime win/loss figures. The most I've ever won on a single spin was $3,600.
Going to the casino is my idea of a vacation, and by going once a month for an overnight I get 12 vacations a year. I stay in a nice hotel for free, get free meals, and relax and enjoy myself, which is what a vacation is supposed to be, and there's always the chance I can come home with more money than I started with.
I don't think I get any more enjoyment or less enjoyment from the games I play than the games anyone else chooses to play. I used to play blackjack and craps and I've been playing poker since I was 7 years old, and I enjoyed each one equally and never thought one was "better" than another. My choice of games has changed over the years, that's all.
\
Because I can't get my wife to wear a cocktail waitress outfit and bring me free drinks.
Quote: MangoJHow people rationalize their play amazes me.
I believe I can safely speak for the majority of slot players by stating that I just answered the question presented, here. I don't need to, "Rationalize," anything with a statement other than, "It's my money and I will do with it as I wish."
When I got there I'd join him and look for machines with low maximums like 90 cents but high progressives, like $42,000, then get bored with that and try out some of the new games I wanted to experience, then go play table games, but never blackjack. The grind bores me and other players can be real jerks. I play the social games to have fun even though they have a higher house edge. But I'm not a hardcore ANYTHING player, let alone slots.
Plus, slot comps rack up quickly.
at BJ, just to remind herself there are bigger jerks than the one she married.
Quote: pacomartinThe comment I hear most from slot players is they can't imagine playing a game like blackjack that has no jackpot. As far as they are concerned a game where your win/loss goes up and down by one unit (or one and a half unit) is dull.
that's the best answer in my opinion.
Quote: pokerfacethat's the best answer in my opinion.
That opinion is gonna cost me $120, for sure LOL
With slots, you have control over the pace of the game. Although many players play at breakneck speed, you don't have to hit the button right away, you can wait 15 seconds between spins if you want to. In fact, that's how I play the big dollar slots, the $5 WoF and such. I'll spin, then sit there for about half a minute, then spin again. (What I'm doing is trying to get in the groove with the RNG, getting all Zen about it. But that's another story. Shut your eyes and go, "Ommmmmmm.")
Another advantage of slots is that you can sit in front of a machine and get all the things you like, the lights and the colors and the sounds and the action, for a pittance. LOTS of slot players play at the minimum bet/maximum line level. I'll lose $500 at the tables, Mrs Mosca loses $80 at the slots during the same time period. She made a hell of a lot more bets. Who had the better action? It depends on who you ask, I would think.
Society seems to be moving towards circumstances that limit live contact with other people. It is scary to me, but that is the way it is going. We text and e-mail to communicate and update people on our social lives via Facebook.
I still like the social aspect of gambling. It is the reason I like the craps table the most in a casino. But one experience with someone yelling at you for "mentioning 7" and having the dice 7 out or sitting at a BJ table and being berated by some idiot that says you took the dealer's bust card or playing with dealers that seem to hate what they are doing and are taking it out on you (not all of them are as good as PaigowDan)......people get done with playing live games pretty easily.
A slot machine is never in a bad mood, the guy/gal next to you never says "You idiot....you pushed that button on the wrong side and lost me a jackpot" and you have the chance to win some big money. Nothing wrong with that proposition for most people.....wait, and the cocktail waitress comes by and gives you a a free drink! This is a good way to spend some time & dollars relaxing.
My biggest problem with slots these days is figuring them out. Where are the blessed pay tables these days (I know, you can find them via some menu choices)? And I am clearly not capable of seeing all 45 pay lines at once so it is hard for me to know that I won until the machine tells me. but I digress.....slots work for a lot of folks and it makes sense to me, just not my preference.
And then there are those time when you get to spin that Wheel of Fortune. Or go to the PARTY. Or any other bonus round. The ultimate dream come true. Just sit back and win. No more playing credits, and surely this time the wheel will stop on !,000 times or whatever.
Bj comes close , splits all those hands , double down and get those 19's and 20's, and that silly dealers has a 6 up. No way he will pull a 21. No way. But then, his badge says 'DAN" OMG I am so screwed. LOL
Sept 2011 (Ballys AC). I could never have done this late at night at a game where I needed to be sharp.
I know, I should've had that 3rd coin in, but like the lady sitting next to me said "you wouldn't have gotten the jackpot if you had all 3 in".
Quote: IbeatyouracesQuote: NickyDimWhere else can you get free drinks, get sloshed, and still have a chance at
Sept 2011 (Ballys AC). I could never have done this late at night at a game where I needed to be sharp.
I know, I should've had that 3rd coin in, but like the lady sitting next to me said "you wouldn't have gotten the jackpot if you had all 3 in".
Only 2 credit?????
I don't have a problem with that. I only play 1 credit on any VP except triple play.
Then I play 3 vcedits.
Quote: MalcomDHi Hardcore Slot Players,
I have a question. Why do you play slots. What do you get out of it? Is it exciting? Have you ever won big, IE won more in a month than you lost in a month? I ask this question because to me any game other than blackjack, with the exception of poker, seems a waste of time and money. I personally don't play poker because I don't know how to play but I know skilled players who can make good money playing. My most recent casino visit I tried to play slots to understand why people play agame that will guarantee leave you walking out of the casino a loser, but I left not able to understand. I played like 20$ on various machines and decided I would haverather bought 20 1$ scratch off tickets. So please enlighten me why you play.
Many slot machines can be extremely entertaining! Most new machines have a "bonus round" which when triggered, gives both entertainment and an increased chance for a "big win". With machines, you can play at your own pace and can many times control your losses per hour by choosing machines with a low-denomination and floating around. I can do this in-between the times I hit the tables, which I tend to play for higher amounts that I don't play for an extended period of time.
I've won jackpots of $5000 a few times and a number below that but above the $1200 mark. There have been years where I've been up on slots, but generally I use them as entertainment between table sessions.
Quote: Mosca
With slots, you have control over the pace of the game. Although many players play at breakneck speed, you don't have to hit the button right away, you can wait 15 seconds between spins if you want to. In fact, that's how I play the big dollar slots, the $5 WoF and such. I'll spin, then sit there for about half a minute, then spin again. (What I'm doing is trying to get in the groove with the RNG, getting all Zen about it. But that's another story. Shut your eyes and go, "Ommmmmmm.")
There is no such thing as getting in-tune with the RNG.
.........and I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who tries to do that.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if it doesn't hurt your ER, try anything you want!!!
Quote: Mission146There is no such thing as getting in-tune with the RNG.
.........and I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who tries to do that.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if it doesn't hurt your ER, try anything you want!!!
Yep. One way of doing it is getting up and circling the seat, clockwise. If that doesn't work, circle it counterclockwise. Some RNGs are lefthanded, some are righthanded.
For me video poker is boring. I know the house edge but its like the worst of blackjack and the worst of regular slots combined. There are not a lot of decent medium size wins to hope for (even full houses feel small) and it has the money sucking nature of regular slots (unless you play long enough to get a royal). Also unlike regular slots, you are just staring at some blocky poker cards on a hideous blue background with an 8 bit sound system.
Regular slots can be fun if you are honest about your bankroll. Chasing losses on slots is even worse than chasing losses on tables in my experience, but as long as you are playing at a credit size that you are really comfortable walking away from busting on, it can be a nice break from the more intense games like blackjack. It's probably because I am somewhat anti-social, but after 2 hours at a blackjack table, I still want to gamble but I don't want to talk to anyone or have anyone notice me for a bit. Slots fill that need perfectly.
Also I think a large part of the allure of casinos is how they are primal and less about rational thought. In your life you have to be politically correct and thoughtful. Casinos are kind of the pressure release valve for that. People smoke like its the 1940s, women are objectified, everyone is drinking, missing sleep is a badge of honor, and people are gambling money that they should be saving. In that context I think analyzing the pros and cons of slot play and belittling the appeal of the lights and sounds they make is misguided.
Quote: IbeatyouracesThere are many reason why people play slots. Some people don't want to learn strategies for table games or video poker. Some like the smaller minimum bets. Some are intimidated by table games. They like to be left alone to play any way they want to. And that offbeat chance at winning something big for a small bet. Plus the fact that most take no skill at all.
I personally dont see why anyone plays any negative expectation game in a casino when you can play the exact same games at home for free.
The feeling of winning/losing money is a factor.
Quote: NickyDimSept 2011 (Ballys AC). I could never have done this late at night at a game where I needed to be sharp.
I know, I should've had that 3rd coin in, but like the lady sitting next to me said "you wouldn't have gotten the jackpot if you had all 3 in".
I've very shocked the lady told you that. Most slot players would disagree with that statement. The cost in return isn't too bad though, and at least you didn't have to pay a W-2 for that.
Quote: buzzpaff
I don't have a problem with that. I only play 1 credit on any VP except triple play.
I'll do this for quarter machines at the bar if I get comped drinks and floor waitresses are slow. Much better than paying $7 for a Sierra Nevada draft at Paris casino, for example. Or if the paytable difference is so severe that it is better to play 1 quarter than 5 nickels. I'll be ticked if I ever do hit a royal while doing that though. :)
Quote: kulinWhat qualifies as hardcore? I probably spend around 10% of my time gambling on video poker and another 10% on typical slots.
For me video poker is boring. I know the house edge but its like the worst of blackjack and the worst of regular slots combined. There are not a lot of decent medium size wins to hope for (even full houses feel small) and it has the money sucking nature of regular slots (unless you play long enough to get a royal). Also unlike regular slots, you are just staring at some blocky poker cards on a hideous blue background with an 8 bit sound system.
I guess you don't play Super Times Pay, MultiStrike Poker, or Ultimate X then? Also what you're describing is why no one plays Jacks or Better anymore. It's almost always Double Double Bonus, often with Super Times Pay attached.
Quote: MalcomDI understand that all games are exposed to the house edge, but slots with their high house edge couples with the fast rate of play means you will lose your money faster than anything else. Poker, Blackjack and Baccarat are games of skill with an element of chance. Slots is a pure random game of chance, it is really the best example of the adage gambling is a tax on stupidity yet so many people play slots and I don't understand why.
No, it does not mean that you will lose your money faster on slots than at other games. Join me at the craps table and let's see how it goes. $5 on the line. Shooter rolls a "2". Crap. $5 on the line again. Shooter rolls a "12". Darn!! Now I have put $15 in the game when I place the next $5 chip on the line. Ten!! Odds placed for $25 and $6 8 and 8 placed. $10 lost already and $42 on the table. Seven out, take the line... Holy crap!! 4 rolls of the dice in about two minutes and I am out $52.
The same thing happens for about four shooters and you are down $200 before you know it.
Yes, you will "on average" lose more money on slots over time...but none of us are "the average" so ALL of our experiences will be different.
Variance...
I played one machine with $10 this weekend (Empire...something about a monkey climbing a building) and went down to my last max bet and then built to $175...cashing out at $150 or so.
A lady stood next to me and turned $20 into $519 in an hour or so on the craps table. I joined at the end of her run and caught a few wins but then ended up losing $100 pretty quickly.
Quote: kulin
For me video poker is boring. I know the house edge but its like the worst of blackjack and the worst of regular slots combined. There are not a lot of decent medium size wins to hope for (even full houses feel small) and it has the money sucking nature of regular slots (unless you play long enough to get a royal). Also unlike regular slots, you are just staring at some blocky poker cards on a hideous blue background with an 8 bit sound system.
Thank god, I thought it was just me who felt this way.
-B
Quote: MalcomDSo basically what I'm hearing is that the free drink and ease of play. Most slot players don't except to win big. I only go to okay blackjack that is it. Sometimes just to relax after winning the big six wheel. One of these days I'm going to play baccarat but that's it.thanks for enlightening me. I still think slots are exploitative.
No, I think what you're hearing is that people like them, and like the chance to win big.
Slots can be confusing as hell. Typical exchange, while bells are ringing and lights are flashing: "What'd ya hit?" "I dunno."
The free drinks aren't an issue, but not having to get up for a drink might be.
An exchange freely entered into cannot be exploitative. Almost all slot players know the bargain and readily accept it.
Quote: MoscaAn exchange freely entered into cannot be exploitative. Almost all slot players know the bargain and readily accept it.
I do think casinos skirt the edge with this. All table games and video poker can have the HE and probabilities calculated based on the pay tables. Regular slots have no such available information. For it to be a honest enterprise I think the full pay table, along with associated probabilities should be made available upon request for every machine on the floor.
Well, I had an excuse to play to see what wacky bonus comes up on new slots, but now I see you can find other people's video of the bonus, so I really can't make that excuse.
Some reasons.
- 1. So... when you're tired, you can fall on the button and not worry about making a worse bet than you already have.
- 2. Hit on old ladies and crack whores as you please while you poke the button a few times.
- 3. Usually easy to find another slot if someone annoys you at the one you're at (tired of old ladies and crack whores)
- 4. Make a silent bet to yourself on how many times you're gonna push the spin button, before the fucking thing pays something again.
- 5. Enjoy hitting the progressive bonus that the last person who was playing it, who ran out of money and is standing somewhere behind you and watching you.
- 6. Enjoy the surround system when the jazzy music starts playing during a free spin bonus.
- 7. Might as well, can't get on any of your favorite Positive EV VP machine as some machine hog appears glued to the seat.
- 8 Can't play anything else now, as I blew tonight's stake on slots.
I do believe kulin has a point, but I still also believe that slot players generally know what to expect. Having the odds available hasn't seemed to affected roulette, or the Big 6, or field bets.
Here is the excel file of the slot/table game breakdown for July:
http://www.mgc.dps.mo.gov/2013_fin/FY13_FinReport/detail0712.XLW
