Advantage plays in slot machines

I've broached on this in other threads, but I think it deserves its own thread. So, I'm rewriting my book, Gambling 102. Not just an update, but a complete rewrite. I am giving owners of the first edition a reason to buy the new one.

In my slot machine chapter I have a section on advantage plays in slots. These are things I don't actually do, so am going off of things I've heard here and there. That said, I welcome the AP's on the forum to give their comments, for which I'll be thankful for.

Quote: Gambling 102 -- Slot Machine chapter -- Advantage Plays sub-heading

• Some slot machines have "must hit by" jackpots. For example, a jackpot that must hit by $500. If you play these games only when they are very close to the maximum jackpot, the odds should be in your favor. However, some makers gaff their machines to usually hit when near the maximum value, so don't be tempted to play at game where the jackpot is 97% of the way to the top, when it may be programmed to rarely hit until it reaches 99%. For example, AGS machines with a "must hit by $5,000 jackpot" seem to rarely hit below $4,990*.
  
  * Editorial note: I will endeavor to confirm this shortly.
• Some machines guarantee a bonus when some kind of meter is full. Green Stamps is a good, although dated, example. In that game, the player earns green stamps as he plays. When 1,200 stamps are accumulated, he wins five free games. He can hoard books for up to five bonuses. If a player leaves with stamps in his books, then they remain on the machine for the next player. So, it is possible to find machines with over 1,200 stamps, ready to pay out a free bonus. Even if the stamps in the first book are close enough to 1,200, the odds would swing to the player's favor. There are other more modern games that are based on the same principle. However, I'm sworn to secrecy on which specific games, sorry.
• Skill based slots also offer a possible advantage for "skilled" players. These games have a skill-based bonus. The prize pools available in these bonuses will depend in part on the skill of the previous players who played. If they didn't do well at the bonus, it leaves more in the bonus bank for you to win. There should be some sort of meter on the game showing the maximum win and what you have to do to get it. In my limited experience, I find the skill level required in these games to be pretty low, so there usually isn't enough money in the bonus bank to be worth playing. However, with a lot of patience and time, there are ripe games to be found.
• In any form of gambling, comps can be a function of play and/or how much you lose. There are various ways of tricking casinos into thinking you've lost more than you really did, some of which could be considered cheating, at least ethically, depending on the reason and method. With slots, if you know you are near a point where a bonus is triggered, because some meter is nearly full, then pull your player card out until you trigger and play the bonus. This way, you'll be playing the bonus off the radar and it will look to the marketing department that you lost more or won less than you really did.

"For with much wisdom comes much sorrow." -- Ecclesiastes 1:18 (NIV)

why not do a chapter on pumping oxygen into the casinos....
I've heard that here and there also.

Its either authoritative or its not.

Quote: FleaStiff

why not do a chapter on pumping oxygen into the casinos....
I've heard that here and there also.

Its either authoritative or its not.

I've been saying for years that this is an urban legend. However, I had a cab driver after the Cher concert on Friday that put me to shame with Vegas trivia. This Vegas old-timer knew everything. Anyway, he swore casinos used to pump oxygen. He seemed to indicate that had something to do with how fast the MGM fire spread. Then again, Vegas cab drivers are probably not the best source to quote.

Quote: Wizard

I've been saying for years that this is an urban legend.

Of course it is nonsense and always was nonsense.
My point was that your slot machine chapter should be based on
some sort of proof, facts, odds, or something other than you've heard
that meter slows down.

Quote: FleaStiff

My point was that your slot machine chapter should be based on
some sort of proof, facts, odds, or something other than you've heard
that meter slows down.

I mean to confirm the comment about AGS "must hit by" jackpots. Thus the editorial note.

Quote: FleaStiff

why not do a chapter on pumping oxygen into the casinos....
I've heard that here and there also.

Its either authoritative or its not.

I had a friend who stayed up all night in Indian casinos when she didn't have the money to rent a room. She showed me some oxygen vents on the floor...where she would stand to help stay awake.

I don't know about Vegas.

What's skill based slots, any examples?
If you download the free play, pull the card out, then play through the free play, does it trick the marketing department?

Quote: mamat

I had a friend who stayed up all night in Indian casinos when she didn't have the money to rent a room. She showed me some oxygen vents on the floor...where she would stand to help stay awake.

I don't know about Vegas.

Lol. What makes them oxygen vents as compared to air vents. Many new casinos have air vents all over the floor to blow smoke up and away.


ZCore13

Quote: Zcore13

Lol. What makes them oxygen vents as compared to air vents. Many new casinos have air vents all over the floor to blow smoke up and away.


ZCore13

Of course there is oxygen coming from those vents. Also nitrogen and some other stuff. A little bit of pocket lint and some tobacco residue.

Quote: WalterW

What's skill based slots, any examples?
If you download the free play, pull the card out, then play through the free play, does it trick the marketing department?

Nothing changes unless you go past the free play. Then you don't earn any points. It makes no sense to do that.

Even though this seems to have gone off the deep end, the OP does have a point... For instance the Aristrocrat "must by" jackpots, normally $50 and $500 on the penny denomination can be +EV at close to hit points... Usually it's about $3 per penny in the meter, and I wouldn't start until 49.00 on the 50 for instance to make a quick hit and run.

As for advantage spots, there are several currently in casino machines depending of what the other person left can be in a +EV game. Not all machines reset to a dead position, so you do have to look for them but they are possible. AND BEFORE YOU GO THERE, No I dont mean the chinese themed games with the pots, those are for show and are DEFINITELY NOT indicative of how close to a progressive pick.

There are also a few, not many anymore unfortunately, but still a few if your willing to look for them in the VP space. Most of these are play one hand and done type situations if/when you find them, however.