Slot Machines Suck

I don't play slot machines very often, and never voluntarily. I only play if I'm offered Free Slot Play ($5, $10, etc.). After I lose it, I go play real casino games.

In all the times I've ever gotten Free slot play, I've never won anything. And by "never won anything", I mean: I've never won a single SPIN. I've never gotten ONE PENNY. I don't see how this is even possible!

Granted, I don't know jack about slot machines. I know they're colorful, and women like to play them. And I play Max Lines, because I think that's what you're supposed to do, but beyond that, I don't know what the hell I'm doing. Its going to make me sound like an old fogey (even though I'm not), but I don't understand the pay tables for these new machines, and figuring out all the lines, and $$ amounts to bet, and all this crap. I hate these friggin' machines. I just don't see the appeal...

Anyway, aside from the pointless complaining, I have a question. I have $50 free slot play (yay....) at the Borgata that I need to use by the end of the month. Can someone recommend a slot machine that I should play to try to win something? I'm not really interested in the "entertainment value" of the slot machine because they all bore me to death. Just something that you think can net me some kind of money that can be extracted from the machine so I can go on to other activities.

Your best bet in terms of EV is the $5 machines. Try to find one where max bet is 2, so that you don't end up with any odd credits. But you'll probably walk away empty-handed.

If you're just sick of walking away empty-handed, go for the penny or nickel slots, all lines. It may or may not be in your interest to bet max credits per line - usually only if there's a progressive. Bet a credit per line, and by the time you're through the $50, you'll have won something.

Or check if you can put it on video poker or VBJ. I've never found it not allowed, but I've never been to the Borgata.

Quote: 24Bingo

Or check if you can put it on video poker or VBJ. I've never found it not allowed, but I've never been to the Borgata.

I never thought to ask whether or not the credit can be used on VBJ or Video Poker. If I can use the credit on VBJ, I can definitely tolerate that....

I'm no expert at Video Poker, unfortunately. If Video Poker is allowed with the Free Slot Play, do you think it is still in my best interests to play it, even if I don't know the perfect strategy, or is it better to just stick with a slot machine like the ones you suggested?

In SoCal and Vegas, pretty much every place lets you use FP on VP.

I generally do nickels up to 25$FP and quarters above that; in almost every case so far, I've come out with upwards of 80% of my FP. (I had one ludicrously horrible run at the Strat where I spent 30$@DW without a single win-- followed by 2222, so I called it good.)

As long as you don't do anything too weird, you should be able to come out with most of your cash. (One of my friends was convinced her DW was a JoB, so she kept throwing out her 2s...)

I might try looking at Ainsworth dollar slots playing 1 line hoping to win a minor or major if they're high. There really isn't much planning you can really do besides making sure you don't walk away from unused FP.

If you hate machines that much and get free-play often sell the free play to some AP for half the amount. sound like a win,win situation.

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Quote: JVIPER88

I never thought to ask whether or not the credit can be used on VBJ or Video Poker. If I can use the credit on VBJ, I can definitely tolerate that....

It's what I do. (In fact, it was the subject of my first post.) You're almost certainly better off than any slot machine (although most VP machines will give better returns with proper strategy), you already know at least a passable strategy, and (unlike VP) you have next to no chance of losing everything. However, for that reason, I've heard some places (none I've ever encountered) insist free slot play means free slot play - I don't know whether the Borgata is one of those places.

Quote: Venthus

I generally do nickels up to 25$FP and quarters above that; in almost every case so far, I've come out with upwards of 80% of my FP.]

I'll do quarters on anything above $10 in FP and dollars on anything more than a couple hundred. JoB exclusively; It's better for me to get $99.54 out of $100 than $99.72 for the lower variance.

It's all about what variance you're looking for. When I was with the Wizard and he had $50 or so FP, true to his philosophy he played it on the $5 game with the best return!

Quote: 24Bingo

It's what I do. (In fact, it was the subject of my first post.) You're almost certainly better off than any slot machine (although most VP machines will give better returns with proper strategy), you already know at least a passable strategy, and (unlike VP) you have next to no chance of losing everything. However, for that reason, I've heard some places (none I've ever encountered) insist free slot play means free slot play - I don't know whether the Borgata is one of those places.

I called the Borgata twice to try to get an answer regarding the Free Slot Play options. The first representative told me that Video Poker and any other electronic machine are off limits, and that it was Slots only. The second time I called, I was told that I CAN play the Video Poker machines with the Free Slot Play. So now, I'm really not sure what the story is.

Before I drive over there, I'd like to get the correct answer, otherwise I'll be spending a lot of money on gas just to hit a button on a stupid slot machine for a few minutes. That doesn't seem worth it at all.

I recently was checking an old email address I used to use and found a $50 slot off for Borgata. I went there Sunday 8-18 and used it on a VP machine. I played a 1$ machine, max bet and turned it into $220.