Video Poker Forum

I'm curious what the expert stats crowd can tell me about increasing your chance of winning on reel slots whether you are playing one credit or two?   Does it make a difference?   Someone I know waits around the $5 and $10 machines watching for people who only play one credit and then he jumps in when they are done and plays two credits and claims because he maxes the machine that he is more likely to win.
 
I believe this may be true on those 20-100 line arcade penny and nickel games but I don't believe it has any bearing on the regular slot machines.
What do you think?

Just as with max credits on Video Poker machines and the Royal Bonus, many of the "reel slots" only pay the large jackpot bonus if you are playing max credits.  I believe that to be the only reason to play max credits on a slot machine.  But that is merely conjecture since I never play the slots.

Agree with MikeA on all points including not playing them.   But you sometimes might be better playing a 1-coin $1 machine rather than 2 coins at 50-cent machine (for example) because I believe casinos have a lower hold on the higher denomination machines.  I don't know how you would ever know for certain whether the extra return was worth it, though, unless you had that inside info. 

Slot machines use RNGs just like VP machines. The big difference is that the chances of any symbol combination is predetermined when the machine is put out on the floor. Therefore, the overall payback over time is also predetermined. It makes no difference to the RNG algorithm how much is bet. This is simply another silly gambling myth.
 
It is also true that higher denomination machines typically are set up with higher payback %s. However, you really have no way of knowing for sure as it is not required and simply a casino decision.

  Shadow, I read an article stating that the house edge decreases(very little!) as the denomination increases. You're likely to have more winners playing 3 coins $1 machine versus 30 lines 10 pennies per line. Same amount yet different denoms thus the machine is programmed to hold more on the penny machine vs. the dollar machine. Not sure if the same is true with VP but I can't imagine why not because everything is based on coin-in/denomination. The less is more thing doesn't apply to slots.

I'm curious what the expert stats crowd can tell me about increasing your chance of winning on reel slots whether you are playing one credit or two?   Does it make a difference?   Someone I know waits around the $5 and $10 machines watching for people who only play one credit and then he jumps in when they are done and plays two credits and claims because he maxes the machine that he is more likely to win.
 
I believe this may be true on those 20-100 line arcade penny and nickel games but I don't believe it has any bearing on the regular slot machines.
What do you think?
 
You are quite right, the RNG doesn't know if you played 1,2 or more coins. It only selects a number corresponding to a reel display when you push the spin button.
 

As has been stated multiple times, both Slots and Video Poker are ruled by the RNG.  However, there is a higher power than the RNG in both cases.  With Video Poker, there are two higher powers than the RNG.  With RNG in the third position, the next higher power is the accuracy of the person playing.  But even higher than that is the pay table which is out front for God and Everybody to see.  With Slots, that ruling power is in hidden.  No way to discern what decision management has elected to employ in determining (within the State's laws and regulations of course) what percentage of coin-in to claim as profit over life of the slot machine!  That "decision by management" supersedes even the RNG! At least with Video Poker, you can see from the pay tables which machines the Casino Management have chosen to screw you with and you can avoid playing them.  With Slots, you can't do that!  The best I've seen is an occasional sign above a bank of slots indicating a high percentage payback but even then, you will not know for certain that ALL machines in that bank have that guaranteed payback.I like to have a little control over my own destiny so when playing in casinos, I stick to either Blackjack or Video Poker where I and my skills can influence the outcomes.  I just stay away from slots (and 6:5 Blackjack tables!)

I also don't play slots but I just did not think this person's assumptions were correct...thanks for all the verification gentlemen.
 
If slot machine payback is predetermined then it would possibly validate my observations that some of the same machines win at a much greater % than others.  I'm only basing this on the ones I see paid out from the video poker area where I'm playing.

I also don't play slots but I just did not think this person's assumptions were correct...thanks for all the verification gentlemen.
 
If slot machine payback is predetermined then it would possibly validate my observations that some of the same machines win at a much greater % than others.  I'm only basing this on the ones I see paid out from the video poker area where I'm playing.
 
Side by side identical machines can and usually do have different payback %s.  Depending on the different state laws that spread on a typical $1 machine could be from 85% to 94%. Nothing on the glass gives a clue. It would be nice if Slot machines had a label on them with the payback %.  I'm sure that would happen when Pigs fly.
 

  I really don't see the harm in playing slots once in awhile. They're cheap entertainment and can pay every so often. Just with VP, you have more control over your overall payback.