In a modern slot machine, the odds of hitting a particular symbol or combination of symbols depends on how the virtual reel is set up. As we saw in the last section, each stop on the actual reel may correspond to more than one stop on the virtual reel. Simply put, the odds of hitting a particular image on the actual reel depend on how many virtual stops correspond to the actual stop.
A person playing a slot machine can insert cash or, in 'ticket-in, ticket-out' machines, a paper ticket with a barcode, into a designated slot on the machine.The machine is then activated by means of a lever or button (either physical or on a touchscreen), which activates reels that spin and stop to reveal one or several symbols. Oct 03, 2016 How to WIN on Slot Machines!.SPECIAL EDITION. Interview with Steve Bourie, author of 'American Casino Guide' with questions posed by YOU! BUY HIS BOOK HER. The company is operated by experienced operators through real money slot machines on various gambling sports and accessed by all US players except DE, MD, NJ and NV states and worldwide except Australia, Canada, and some European countries. Slot machines don’t give player the opportunity to make multiple bets in combinations like craps or roulette, or to take advantage of ever-shifting odds as card counters do in blackjack. Nevertheless, slot machines players have tried systems play for generations. Ultimately, however, slot machine odds are unchanging, the same on every spin. How to Read a Slot Machine Multiplier: This machine has a payout for a certain symbol and the number. Bonus Multiplier: This machine operates like the multiplier but offers a bonus when you play maximum. Multiple Payline: These machines have more than one line of play. Buy-a-Pay: These are. Best place to play casinos for online slots real money. Play normal machines with super high bids or go with our fantastic penny slots. Risk little and gain a ton.
In a typical weighted slot machine, the top jackpot stop (the one with the highest-paying jackpot image) for each reel corresponds to only one virtual stop. This means that the chance of hitting the jackpot image on one reel is 1 in 64. If all of the reels are set up the same way, the chances of hitting the jackpot image on all three reels is 1 in 643, or 262,144. For machines with a bigger jackpot, the virtual reel may have many more stops. This decreases the odds of winning that jackpot considerably.
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The losing blank stops above and below the jackpot image may correspond to more virtual stops than other images. Consequently, a player is most likely to hit the blank stops right next to the winning stop. This creates the impression that they 'just missed' the jackpot, which encourages them to keep gambling, even though the proximity of the actual stops is inconsequential.
A machine's program is carefully designed and tested to achieve a certain payback percentage. The payback percentage is the percentage of the money that is put in that is eventually paid out to the player. With a payback percentage of 90, for example, the casino would take about 10 percent of all money put into the slot machine and give away the other 90 percent. With any payback percentage under a 100 (and they're all under 100), the casino wins over time.
In most gambling jurisdictions, the law requires that payback percentages be above a certain level (usually somewhere around 75 percent). The payback percentage in most casino machines is much higher than the minimum -- often in the 90- to 97-percent range. Casinos don't want their machines to be a lot tighter than their competitors' machines or the players will take their business elsewhere.
The odds for a particular slot machine are built into the program on the machine's computer chip. In most cases, the casino cannot change the odds on a machine without replacing this chip. Despite popular opinion, there is no way for the casino to instantly 'tighten up' a machine.
Machines don't loosen up on their own either. That is, they aren't more likely to pay the longer you play. Since the computer always pulls up new random numbers, you have exactly the same chance of hitting the jackpot every single time you pull the handle. The idea that a machine can be 'ready to pay' is all in the player's head, at least in the standard system.
When you hit the slot machines in a casino, you'll have dozens of gaming options. Machines come with varying numbers of reels, for example, and many have multiple pay lines.
Most machines with multiple pay lines let players choose how many lines to play. For the minimum bet, only the single line running straight across the reels counts. If the player puts more money in, he or she can play the additional horizontal lines above and below the main pay line or the diagonal lines running across the reels.
For machines with multiple bet options, whether they have multiple pay lines or not, players will usually be eligible for the maximum jackpot only when they make the maximum bet. For this reason, gambling experts suggest that players always bet the maximum.
There are several different payout schemes in modern slot machines. A standard flat top or straight slot machine has a set payout amount that never changes. The jackpot payout in a progressive machine, on the other hand, steadily increases as players put more money into it, until somebody wins it all and the jackpot is reset to a starting value. In one common progressive setup, multiple machines are linked together in one computer system. The money put into each machine contributes to the central jackpot. In some giant progressive games, machines are linked up from different casinos all across a city or even a state.
Some slot-machine variations are simply aesthetic. Video slots operate the same way as regular machines, but they have a video image rather than actual rotating reels. When these games first came out, players were very distrustful of them; without the spinning reels, it seemed like the games were rigged. Even though the reels and handles in modern machines are completely irrelevant to the outcome of the game, manufacturers usually include them just to give players the illusion of control.
These are only a few of today's popular slot variations. Game manufacturers continue to develop new sorts of machines with interesting twists on the classic game. A lot of these variations are built around particular themes. There are now slot games based on television shows, poker, craps and horse racing, just to name a few.
To learn more about modern slot machines, including strategies to increase your chances of winning, check out the links below.
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Wheel of Fortuneslot machines have been around casino floors so long they’re nearly impossible to miss. Any regular casino-goer has surely noticed the large, colorful, spinning wheels perched atop the otherwise normal slot machines.
Stemming from one of the most popular game shows of all time, Wheel of Fortune’s music, sound effects, and the wheel itself have become unmistakable in American culture. It’s these features of the show that create the basis for the Wheel of Fortune slot machines by IGT.
Wheel. of. Fortune!
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It doesn’t take much to sell a game based on another game already with millions of fans. Whether it’s the distinctive ding of a new letter being revealed, or the final bonus puzzle countdown music, or from the sight of the wheel itself, any Wheel of Fortune game show fan is certain to immediately recognize the slot machine on a casino floor.
And for any fans with dreams of spinning the wheel themselves, this game can provide at least a taste of what that might be like.
How To Read Casino Slot Machines
Wheel of Fortune slot machines are often standard three-reel machines with typical symbols and paylines. They’re differentiated by the obvious Wheel of Fortune game show theme and the even more obvious giant wheel.
As a novelty, Wheel of Fortune slots are attractive to slot experiencers. The allure of spinning the wheel and having it quite literally dictate their fortune could definitely be enough to sway an experiencer to play.
The Wheel
Earning spins on the wheel can be very valuable. Depending on the specific machine and stakes, a spot on the wheel is usually worth between 20 and 1000 credits. Earning spins is reasonably common, too.
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A standard three-reel WoF slot simply needs the “spin” symbol to appear on the payline of the third reel. This ensures players will likely get to experience the Wheel of Fortune aspect of the game. It also guarantees that each play on the slot machine is itself suspenseful. No matter what shows up on the first two reels, a potentially lucrative spin of the wheel may be approaching.
The best-known and most popular WoF slots work like this: they have three reels, a few standard paylines, and a large wheel above the machine. But the strong popularity of the WoF slots has created the opportunity for variations, most notably the three-wheeled, five-reeled Wheel of Fortune Triple Extreme Spin. This game provides more action and more winning combinations than the traditional WoF slots while also giving the player a more interactive experience with the bonus game wheels.
To start this bonus game, a player needs at least three spin symbols to appear among the five reels. Once the bonus game begins, the player will select an envelope, like the winning contestant on the WoF game show would do for their bonus game, for each spin symbol that appeared on their reels.
At least three envelopes will be selected every time the bonus game is played. This is because at least three spin symbols are required to start the game. Each envelope corresponds to getting a result on one of the three wheels — two of which having amounts to win and the other having multipliers.
Players can even attain special multipliers if more than three spin symbols are used to activate the game. In this way, players can win huge amounts of money by getting lucky and having large prizes supplemented by large multipliers.
How To Read Slot Machine Pay Tables
No matter the specific WoF slot, the potential to spin the big wheel(s) will always be one of the main draws. And it would likely be the biggest draw if it weren’t for one thing…
Progressive jackpots on Wheel of Fortune slots
WoF slot machines offer some of the largest progressive jackpot prizes anywhere. The 25-cent machines offer a jackpot that starts at $200,000 and steadily rises. The jackpot frequently reaches over $500,000 before being hit.
The $1 and $5 machines offer a jackpot that starts at $1 million. A WoF machine’s jackpot is linked to all other machines of the same stakes that offer the progressive jackpot in the state of Nevada. The amounts will be reset on all machines to their (still quite lofty) starting amounts whenever the jackpot is hit.
To be eligible for a progressive jackpot on these machines, players must play max credits on their spin. Max credits are three for the 25-cent machines and two for the $1 and $5 machines.
Not all WoF slots have this progressive jackpot, but the jackpot has undoubtedly become a staple of the brand.
With a unique money-making opportunity at a relatively low cost, the WoF progressive jackpots are certain to attract jackpot hunters. And when the jackpot amount swells to unusually high numbers, many seekers who don’t spend much of their time playing slots will make their way to the WoF machines in hopes of life-changing encounter.
What to expect from Wheel of Fortune slot games
With big money wheel opportunities and enormous progressive jackpots, the money swings on many WoF slots will also be substantial. Money will come and money will go. And perhaps it’ll come again, but it won’t be slow.
Players may well sit down at one of these machines with only 20 to 30 credits and go on a long dry streak. But if that luck does come, it’s entirely reasonable for $20 to become $500 within a matter of minutes. Either way, WoF slot machines are not for the faint of heart.
Hinged to a game show that has been successful for over 40 years, these slots don’t seem to have any end in sight. A solid game with potential for huge money, fun times, and the intrigue of a life-altering progressive jackpot will never have trouble finding players waiting to be the next winner.
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