CASINO SCENE: Slot players deserve a fighting chance

Slot machine play has changed so dramatically that new technology has given the gaming industry the ability to manipulate the way we play slots.

Slot machines are big business for the casinos. Statistics reveal not only increases in the number of units on casino floors but also a disproportionate increase in casino win. Collectively, slot players are betting more and winning less.

The main reason casinos are making more money from slots is because of the proliferation of multi-coin/multi-line low denomination games, which pack a higher hold percentage. Penny games are back, but in illusionary form. In many cases it takes dollars per spin to play them.

Abolishing coins and tokens reduced expenses for the casinos. Vouchers can and should be a more efficient currency medium for slot players as well. One way to achieve this objective is to never insert a voucher that is worth more than the amount with which you are comfortable starting a slot session.

If you usually play in increments of $20, make it a point to cash in that $100 voucher and get five twenties for five different slot rounds. Putting $100 in the machine increases the temptation to bet more money and play longer on any one machine than you normally would.

Begin looking at vouchers as a convenient way to preserve profits. Maybe even devise a plan to collect them, such as cashing out when you've doubled your money on any one machine instead of chasing "the big one". Turning $20 into $40, cashing out and moving on to another machine with another twenty is one method of attack.

Also, never "throw away" credits remaining on your voucher. If you are playing, for example, 25 credits per spin and you're down to 10 credits, either put in more money or cash out and move on. You never want to risk losing a bonus round or a hefty line pay.

Always play the maximum lines on a multi-line game, but chose the number of coins per line in accordance with your budget. There's no sense in disqualifying yourself from opportunities to win.

Before you sit down at a machine and play, study the pay table. If you're not comfortable betting max coins when that is the only way to be eligible for the top awards or multi-level progressives, move on to another machine.

Finally, always play the highest denomination your budget will allow. Avoid playing, for example, 20 lines at three credits per line ($1.20) on a two-cent machine if you normally play 25 lines and one credit per line ($1.25) on a nickel machine. The "hold" on the two-centers is normally higher than on the nickel units.

The opinions expressed are solely the writer's. Reach him at jbrokopp@comcast.net. John Brokopp's Beat the Odds tips air Sundays at 8:20 a.m., 2:50 p.m. and 10:42 p.m. on WBBM Newsradio 780.