How to Play Slot Machines

By eHow Hobbies, Games & Toys Editor

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It takes strategy to get lucky with a slot machine. Keep an eye out for "advantageous" machines and you might just hit the jackpot. Play in person at your local casino, in Vegas, or at a trusted Online Casino.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

  • Comfortable Shoes

The Slot Card

Step1
Go to the promotions booth at the casino you decide to play in.
Step2
Fill out and turn in an application for a player's card.
Step3
Pick up the card.
Step4
Insert the card in the card reader whenever you play at a machine.
Step5
Request a host to record your play if the card reader is broken or malfunctioning.

Play of the Machine

Step1
Memorize which machines are advantageous and how many credits the machines must have in order for you to play them.
Step2
Look for machines that have been vacated recently and left in this advantageous condition.
Step3
Read the instructions on the machines. This may be difficult, because the casinos place the instructions out of the line of sight to discourage you from reading them.
Step4
Insert money into the bill acceptor on the machine instead of hand feeding coins individually.
Step5
Use a reasonably sized bill for the machine you are playing. Inserting a $100 bill into a nickel machine is not a good idea.
Step6
Hit the spin button or pull the handle.
Step7
Play the machine as fast as you can. If the machine has a speed button and you can play at a high speed without making mistakes, do so.
Step8
Check to make sure the machine does not underpay you when you cash out. Call the change person over by hitting the change button on the slot machine, and the attendant will come to rectify the underpayment.

Tips & Warnings

  • You will acquire comp points for casino play. The more you bet, the more comps you are entitled to.
  • Comps are the complimentary, or free, items given to a player by the casino as an incentive to remain in the casino and continue playing. Comps are usually rooms, meals, show tickets or transportation.
  • Don't hesitate to ask for a free meal if you have been playing for some time. Remember that you are in a casino.
  • Don't play machines you can't win just to get free stuff. It's cheaper to pay for the things you want.
  • You can have a slot attendant put a "hold" on a slot machine for up to 2 hours.
  • Notice that there are other people lurking around these advantageous machines. They are your competition.
  • When choosing an online casino, stick to the reputable casinos that have been in business for several years such as Casino-on-Net / 888.com or Golden Palace

Comments

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jerome21 said

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on 5/22/2007 what is zig zag method? please write back at jerome_rock@sbcglobal.net

sr9004 said

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on 1/12/2007 * STEP 1: There is no such thing as an "advantageous" machine. Machines do not pay in cycles. No matter how much it is played, there is no such thing as a machine that is READY to hit.
* STEP 2: See Step 1
* STEP 3: Casinos don't care if you read the instructions as slot machines ALWAYS have a house edge.
* STEP 4: The machine doesn't care what you do, if you want to feed coins to make your play last longer, do so.
* STEP 5: Use any denomination you wish
* STEP 6: Duh
* STEP 7: Why would you do this?!?
* STEP 8: This does sometimes happen, but not as much anymore with a lot of machine paying in tickets instead of coin.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 7/3/2006 If you can't afford to bet the maximum amount of coins at a machine, move to one with a lower denomination. It is better to bet the max on a nickle machine than to bet one at a quarter machine. Try finding a site where you can play slots online in a no-download, no registration game version.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 If the winning combination exceeds the machine's hopper limit, a light will flash and the machine will play a song and display what your winning credit is. Stay with the machine and take a breather. An attendant will come over to congratulate you!

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