Spin and hold slots

I would like someone to explain me (and others on site) how to find optimal strategy for spin and hold slots like Goblin's Cave by Playtech (Ugga Bugga also and few more)because they are supposed to have low house edge of about 1% which would allow us to get nice +EV from slots only bonuses. I would help in any way you need if you would explain me how is optimal strategy even calculated for casino games?

regards, Milos

Do these games tell you the exact number of symbols that are on each reel? I've seen similar games for land-based games in North Dakota (I think), and those were required to list the probability that each symbol would show up on a reel.

Given that information, it is possible to calculate the optimal hold for any game. If there are 3 reels, you need to calculate the expected return for all 8 possible hold patterns: xxx hxx xhx xxh hhx hxh xhh hhh. Then, just pick the best hold out of those 8 possibilities.

I know this is very generalized, but if you can post some specific details about a game, I can provide more information.

Ok thx so I only need probability that each symbol shows on reel?
Any idea how to get that from online casino?

Quote: CrystalMath

I've seen similar games for land-based games in North Dakota (I think), and those were required to list the probability that each symbol would show up on a reel.

It was most likely North Carolina - specifically, Harrah's Cherokee casino. I actually went there recently. Here is everything needed to analyze one such game:





I calculate a long-term return of 84.68% or 86.54%, depending on whether two wild symbols with a blank is worth 0 or 200 times the bet (the prize for 2 cherries multiplied by 100) respectively, which the wording is vague about.

Ah yes, it is the North Carolina Raffle jurisdiction.

I'm certain that two wilds and a blank will pay nothing. The wild will only match other symbols that are on the payline.

Crystal Math is correct about that, it multiplies the pay only for a winning combination, and no winning combination can involve a blank on this machine. It works like most other, "Ten Times Pay," machines in this regard. I believe there are some, "Five Times Pay," machines where three blanks will return your bet, but those...if I am not mistaken...have a listed payout for two, "Five Times Pay," or any one, "Five Times Pay," symbol absent other symbols, or with only one other symbol, whichever the case may be.

I'll have to remember to look next time I am over there, I actually haven't been for awhile.

It seems like a terrible game, in more ways than one. Hitting 2 wilds and a blank is a 1-in-21,563 event on the "deal" spin, and somewhat more frequent after the "draw" spin of course. How awful to make the near-jackpot combination pay nothing.

The wording "10x matches any other symbol on payline" is ambiguous. It could be interpreted as either:

"10x matches (any other symbol on payline)"

or

"(10x matches any other symbol) on payline"

The cynic in me says that for such a small boost in an already-lousy return, the least they could do is treat 2 wilds and a blank as the prize for 2 cherries x 100.

In any event, there were many non-skill-based games at the casino. I would surmise that the skill requirement for gambling games went out the window when North Carolina started offering lottery tickets. I'll be posting a review of Harrah's Cherokee in the near future.

Quote: Mikica28

Ok thx so I only need probability that each symbol shows on reel?
Any idea how to get that from online casino?

You would need to play 1,000,000 rounds in the game with real money and record the number of times each symbol appears to get the frequency of each symbol. You also need to assume that post-hold frequencies are equal to pre-hold frequencies which you don't know for sure. So in short: not easy.

Quote: Mikica28

Ok thx so I only need probability that each symbol shows on reel?
Any idea how to get that from online casino?

Try the help screen. If it is not listed, then this is not a skill game.