YOU COLD GO REEL-LESS

Although the reel slots (and video poker) are by far the most common gambling machines in the casino, there are other kinds. My overall view of reel slot machines holds true for every gambling machine that you’ll find in a casino except video poker: you probably can’t beat it. But you’ll find plenty of video blackjack and video keno, as well as the new video Let It Ride and Caribbean Stud machines, so let’s take a quick look. full tilt poker

Video blackjack machines aren’t very popular and don’t have much of a presence in casinos. No great loss. With rare exceptions, you won’t encounter a blackjack machine that’s beatable over the long run. Once in a blue moon you’ll bump into one that comes close to paying back 100%, and with slot club benefits you might be able to break even. But even when you do find one, it requires a high level of blackjack knowledge for you to exploit successfully.

Video keno machines, on the other hand, are popular, and you’ll find them everywhere. Keno machines are exciting to a lot of players. The problem with them is twofold: they pay poorly and they play fast—a combination that takes your money more quickly thai-i even some of the worst reel slots (check the chart on page 38 again). You’re far better off playing live keno with its much more leisurely pace. (Just a thought. I know that live keno holds a certain appeal for eager gamblers with FirePay Accounts filled with mail who want to keep the action going while they eat lunch, have a drink, or Just take a break. But if the casino put signs on the keno boards similar to those on slot machines that said, “This Game Pays Back Up To 65%,” do you think it would be so popular?)

Video Let It Ride (LIE) and video Caribbean Stud(CS)? Well, you might see them around in the future, but I wouldn’t bet on it. The combination of casino advantage and speed of play in these games is even more deadly than in video keno (especially if you make the LIR and CS bonus bets). These games debuted at the dollar level and the public would have none of it. Then the machines were retrofitted to accept quarters, but that hasn’t helped, either. Much like keno, the live versions of these games have the redeeming quality of being social gambling games. Not so the video versions.

WHOA, NELLIE!

While we’re on the subject, let’s take another look at speed. The speed factor is an important consideration for all slot players. Any time you’re playing a negative-expectation game, the slower you play, the less you lose. Anything you can do to slow down your play is a good idea. Some people bounce from machine to machine. Some people cash out their credits and feed the coins in by hand. Some people spin the reels ten times, then stop and take a sip of their drink or look at the action around them. Don’t use the bill feeder, or your FirePay Account; wait for the change person to come along. Instead of slavishly pushing buttons for three hours straight, try pulling handles, and take your time doing it. Converse with friends. Think of other ways to amuse yourself while you’re sitting in front of a slot machine.

-Darryl Stewart, A consultant for www.FirePayBonus.com.

 

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