Next there is the multiple payline. This is a great option for players because instead of having one payline, there are multiple lines. This increases your chances of wins. Each coin activates a particular line. If you hit a winner on a line that is not activated, you will not receive anything. The older machines used to have three lines but the newer video slots can have up to nine lines, fifteen or even fifty paylines to work off of. Of course you have to activate the additional paylines, but overall it is a good way to maximize your payout.

Then there is the buy-a-pay. These are some of the most tricky machines to comprehend. Each coin you put into the machine activates a different pay out.You need the maximum coins to receive the largest jackpot. One example is the “Sizzlin 7’s” machines. The machine will pay on cherries, bars and sevens. The sevens pay 1,000 coins. If you play one coin you can collect only on the cherries. If you play two coins you can collect on cherries and bars. You need three coins in to collect on the Sizzlin 7’s. If you hit the jackpot with one coin in will win some cash, but not the big jackpot.

Next progressive slots have grown in popularity over the years. These are the ones that have the big payouts and are popular for that reason. Remember that the perentage of the payback on the lesser wins is lowered to allow for the big prize. Some casinos have machines linked together within their own casino to offer mini-progressive jackpots.  It is not wise to play a progressive machine with less than maximum coins.  You may have heard the story of the lady that hit the million-dollar jackpot by playing only a penny. This could be true, but most likely it’s a story concocted by a casino to get more people in. Remember that to make yourself eligible for the big payout, you have to play the maximum number of lines. Be sure to understand how the game works and then enjoy the big potential payout.

Though slot machines are known to be the easiest games on a casino floor to just jump into, there are still some things to be aware of. Not all machines are created equally. Sure there are the handles, coin slots, the symbols, the reels and the flashing lights on all of them, but the way they work can be considerably varied. It’s good to learn how to understand a machine and the pay schedule. Here are some of the most popular slots games and what to remember when playing each one of them.

The first thing to watch out for is the denomination of coin needed to play the machine. This is important because most gamblers have some kind of bankroll that they are working with. Once that bankroll is depleted, most gamblers are done playing. If you have a smaller bankroll but want to extend your game time, it’s best to play the smaller denomination games. On the other hand, if you have a bigger bank roll and want to test your luck at a bigger payout, then games with larger denomination coinage may work for you. Be sure to understand what your goal is for your gaming session and then pick the right game for your needs accordingly.

There are also machine terminology to be aware of. First of all there is the multiplier. Landing a certain symbol and the number of coins played multiplies it is how you achieve a positive pay out. If the machine pays 5 coins for three lemons when you play one coin, it would pay 10 for the second coin and 15 for three coins played. This machine does not penalize you for not playing maximum coins. If you plan to play only one coin at a time, this is the type of machine you should look for.

There is also the bonus multiplier. This is a lot like the multiplier, but it offers an even  bigger bonus when you play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three 7’s may pay 1,100 for one coin, 2,200 for two coins and 5,000 for maximum coins. You need to decide if the bonus is worth playing the extra coin.

Part two coming next.

Something interesting happened in the 1980s: slot machines became the most popular casino games. They surpassed the popularity of table games like craps, poker and blackjack and took over. It was a surprising time because until then slot machine held their own, but hardly were huge moneymakers for casinos. Now, just thirty years later, slot machines account for more than 70% of the casino’s total take. Why the surge in popularity? Simple: Bigger jackpots. With computerized virtual reels it’s harder to hit the top jackpot, and since the jackpot will be hit less frequently the casino can make the jackpot amount bigger.

Even when playing with machines that look mechanical and have physical spinning reels, this is true. The reality is that the slots game is controlled by a computer that tells the reels where to stop. These days there are no more purely mechanical slots. Slots offer the potential to invest low and win big. If you put $5 on a blackjack table the most you can win is $7.50. But $3 in a slot machine could win you thousands or millions. It’s a great payback and that is the reason why the game has gained popularity so quickly over the past few years. There is also an economic element to the change. Due to the recession many Americans were unable to continue gamblng, but with slots, the cost is so low on some of them that even hard-pressed consumers were able to find games that fit into their budgets.

There are still a few things slots can’t compete with compared to table games. First, the casinos usually don’t disclose the odds on individual machines, so you can’t really be an informed player. Second, whatever those undisclosed odds are, they’re usually bad — far worse than table games like craps, baccarat, and blackjack. And finally, slot machines are usually played much faster than table games, so they can eat away at your bankroll quicker. If you are looking to start playing slots, join each casinos slot club.  Joining the slot club is free, easy and fast.  Although, you may not see much as far as cashback rewards and point earnings, you will have promos such as free dinners and discounts other areas of the casino such as the hotel. It’s a great way to gain more of a payback on your gaming sessions.

For anyone wanting to play slots but still save, there are ways of making it happen. First of all, you should play the machines with the lowest denominations possible. Sure these machines can be less attractive because of their lowered odds, but you lose less money overall. They are a great way to have fun playing, but not lose your entire wallet. For example, a 90% 5-coin nickel machine loses $18.75/hr. on average, while a 98% 2-coin dollar machine loses $30/hr.

Another good tip is to play machines that are advertised with the biggest payback over a high percentage. Some casinos will be precise with how much their slots pay out, and others won’t. For example, the Stratosphere and Riviera have a 98% dollar slots while Circus Circus has 97.4% dollar slots. Fitzgeralds in Reno has a section of about 50 dollar slots whose average payback is 97.4%. If you’re playing dollar slots, I recommend that you play only at these casinos, or other casinos which advertise a high payback.

You also want to be aware of ‘wording.’ Just like on the cans of food that say “fat free” but scientists have proven aren’t really fat free, you have to watch what casinos advertise. Terms like “loosest slots” or “high paybacks” mean nothing– remember that it is all relative with advertising. If a casino says “Up to 98% of our slots players walk away with a win!” All that means is that less than 98% of people win– that could mean only 90%, 80% or even 1%– watch the wording!

Another tip is to limit your play on progressive slots. Sure these are the machines that traditionally pay out a lot more, but they also require a higher initial bet throughout the game. Typically pay out 2-7% less than standard machines, so you should play them sparingly, if at all. If you must play them, remember to play a two-coin machine instead of a three-coin machine, and look for a $0.05 or $0.25 machine instead of a $1.00 machine. Limit your bet any way you can. When playing slots to save money, avoid video reels. These machines typically pay back a percentage point or two less than their mechanical counterparts. Also, the ability to play five coins on each of nine lines ($1.45/spin) could seduce you into betting a lot more than you should.

Lastly, to save money at a slot parlor, remember to join the VIP or bonus program. Most online and land-based casinos have these today. You can find out about them right away and start accruing points to add to your wagers and to your payback. It’s not hard to keep your cash when playing slots, but you have to be wise. Remember these tips for a fun time without losing your entire bankroll.

• Payline. The payline is the flat horizontal line that the reels fall on. It’s what you watch for a potential win. This is interesting today because as advancements have been made in the field of slots gaming, more and more paylines have been added to slot machines. There used to be one payline to work off of, but now you can find games with as many at 50 paylines. You have to put in a certain number of coins to activate the paylines, but it’s a great way to maximize your chances of a big win. In the past th epayline was the one main line horizontally in front of you as you play, but now paylines go vertical, diagonal and in a wide variety of configurations. It all helps to add to your possible wins.
• Pay Table. The pay table is a chart that shows you what wins you can earn via a certain combinations of symbols. If you are going up to a machine, you should at least read a little about the pay table and understand what the payout for your machine is. Remember how varied they can be and you want to make sure you are playing machines that give you the best chances of a big win.
• Candle. The candle is the flashing bulb that alerts the casino operators that a slot machine is malfunctioning. It’s a good way for casinos to keep track of what machines are having problems so they can shut them down quickly and get them repaired, or replaced. It’s just like the light cashiers have in a large department store. When the light flashes, the managers know that help is needed.
• Hand pay. This is when a winning payment is made by hand. If the payout is above a certain amount, the machine can’t pay it out. You’ll need a slot machine operator to come and do it manually. A short pay, or partial payment, may be paid by the machine and then a hand payout is required to pay the entire win. Machines only hold a certain amount of coins and if you get lucky, they need supplemental cash to pay the big win.

For anyone who wants to get into playing slots, it’s important to understand the terms. Though sltos are straightforward, there are still some small nuances for everyone to understand. Here are some importand terms to cover before you start pulling the reels.

• Reel. The most basic concept is understanding the reel. That is the cylinder that spins and has various symbols on it. It is what is going to show you what your outcome is and hopefully align the right way for a payout.
• Symbols. The symbols are some of the best features of a slot game. This is where the developer can really customize the game to whatever theme it is built around. For example, if a slot machine is Egyptian-themed, expect the reels to have symbols like pyramids, Tutankhamen, pharaohs, gold figures, etc. Whereas if the slots game is centered on luxury, expect the symbols to reflect that with pictures of money, gold, jewelry, sports cars, mansions,etc.
• Low Level/slant top. This is a term that means the game comes with a stool to sit on while players enjoy gaming.
• Upright/stand up. This is just the opposite of the low leve/slant top. This is where you stand at the machine and play. Often times it is used for mechanical slot games.
• Carousel. A carousel is a specific row or line of slots. Machines are normally segregated based on wager requirement. So one carousel will be machines that are penny-machines and another carousel will have machines that are $10-machines.
• Tight slots. A tight slot machine is a machine that gives away only a small percentage of the winnings to the player.
• Loose slots. On the other hand, there is the loose slot machines. These are machines that give out a higher percentage of winnings to the players.
• RNG/Random Number Generator. The RNG is what dictates where the reels stop. Inside every machine there is a RNG and based on what numbers are chosen, the reels stop and expose the symbols. This is where anyone who wants to dupe or influence a machiine realizes that it is impossible. Everything about a slot machine is based on randomness and the player can’t do anything to change it.

Part two coming next.

If you play slot machines you have no doubt seen the “payout schedule.” It may look confusing, but it really just comes down to simple math. Straight slot machines have a payout schedule that tells you how much you can win based on the number of coins you bet. The jackpot for a one coin bet may payout 800 coins, while a two coin bet pays 1,600 coins and a three coin bet pays a jackpot of 2,400 coins. Depending on what the value of the coin size is, the actual payout will vary.  For the above payout scale, if the coin size was fifty cents, a three coin bet would payout $1,200 (.50 x 2,400), while a coin size of $1 would payout $2,400 (1 x 2,400) for a three coin bet.  On a straight slot machine, these payouts will always be the same. That is why these machines are popular—they are straight forward and easy to jump into using.

Always remember when looking at payout schedules that the winning payouts vary widely among machines. A fixed payout schedule will give you important information. It will show you the maximum payout for a certain number of coins. For example, if you play the “Red, White and Blue” slot game, you’ll see the payout schedule for maximum bets is 10,000 coins on a 3-coin bet. For a 2-coin bet, the maximum payout is 4,000 and a single wager can bring you 2,000 coins. Obviously, the more coins you bet, the better your odds are of a win.

It’ always a good idea to take a look at the pay schedule and understand the details. The worst thing to do is to just start betting without knowing what needs to be done for the big win. In particular with progressive slots, many people make the mistake of not betting the maximum amount. If you do get the right combination on the reels, you won’t win the big payout because you didn’t bet as much as possible. It’s a startling result to get considerably less than the payout you were hoping for. Be sure you understand how a machine pays out to give yourself the biggest and best chance of walking away with a big win.

• Tip 4: When playing a progressive slot machine always play the maximum bet (max coins and max paylines).  This will insure that you get the highest possible payout (the full progressive jackpot) and not something far less for hitting the same winning symbol combo. If you bankroll cannot afford it, look for a progressive machine with smaller stakes and paylines.
• Tip 5: Be sure to join the Rewards Club at the casino.  It is free to join casinos Rewards Club, which will entitle you to free comps and promotions even if you do not win.  This way, you will insure you get back something of financial value for your time spent gambling.
• Tip 6: Machines that have bigger payouts, have them for a reason. These are normally the games that require a bigger bet amount. They are lucrative, but larger payout machines normally payout much less frequently than moderate pay machines. Getting back to your bankroll– be sure to be mindful of it when venturing to the higher-stakes slot machines on a casino floor.
• Tip 7: Always portion out you bankroll.  This means if you are planning on staying in Atlantic City for three days, and plan to gamble for two of those days on a $900 bankroll, allow yourself $450 for each gambling day. Again- don’t let yourself get caught up in betting due to excitement. Be strict with yourself and always remember that the “house always wins.”
• Tip 8: Always start off at the more conservative slot games. Those are the ones that will help you build up your bankroll. And you won’t break your bank playing them from the start.
• Tip 9: If you find yourself frustrated due to not winning, walk away. Move to another machine. Never wait for a machine’s luck to change or yours! It won’t happen. Instead, try your luck at a new machine and see how you do there. Never waste money on a bad machine. The good thing is that there is enough of a selection at any casino to pick a new machine.
• Tip 10: Learn to move around. It’s always good to take advantage of the wide variety of machines and test your luck at as many as possible. It’s the best way to increase your chances of a win.

Anyone who has played slots for any length of time has come across those “sure fire” slots tips. They may come in the form of a book or a DVD or even an online eCourse, but how valuable are they really? Well—the reality of slots is that they are random and there is absolutely, positively NO skill involved. Then why are their resources available that say differently? One word: money. People looking for a quick dime put these “tools” out and get slots aficionados to buy. The truth is they are all a waste of money.

Some ask, “Why do poker games come with tips if you say slots tips are useless?” The reason is because poker is not solely a game of chance. Poker can be taught and learned. There is even a class that teaches poker at Harvard and other Ivy League schools. Many industries are realizing that poker is a valuable tool that can teach strategy and using it in the market. On the other hand, slots are not teachable. They are run by a RNG, random number generator, and that is it.

Though they are not teachable or predictable, there are still some tips to playing slots. Here are the main ones to keep in mind:

• Tip 1: Always read the payout schedule because they can vary greatly from machine to machine. Choose the machine with the best payout. Though there doesn’t seem to be a big difference between 95% and 96%, that small percentage point can mean the difference between a big payout and a small one.
• Tip 2: Start with a bankroll limit. Make sure it is only as much as you can afford to lose. Once you reach that limit, make sure you stop playing. This is where many players get into trouble. They keep playing because of the excitement and get caught up in the hype. Don’t lose more than you can afford. Walk away.
• Tip 3: If you play slots with the money from your initial bankroll, not from any credits you may have earned along the way, you will always walk away from the machines with some money in your pocket. Do so in conjunction with a set limit on losses.

Part two coming next.

You have slightly better odds when playing on a progressive slot machine.  For instance, a progressive machine with a fixed bet of $.50 and ten pay-lines would have a max bet of $5 for each spin (.50 x 10).  Players must be sure they can afford to bet this much over an extended length of time, if they have are shooting to walk away with the progressive jackpot.  If not, they should find a machine with a lower max bet.  Just keep in mind that each pay-line offers a chance to win.  In other words, betting on multiple pay-lines simply gets in more bets on a single spin of the reels. When it comes to progressive slot machines, the thing to remember is that players have to bet on the maximum number of paylines to be eligible for the big win. Otherwise, they are just paying into the progressive jackpot but never giving themselves a chance to win it.

As with any game, when players go to a casino they should read the specific instructions to the game. The rules can vary widely and you want to make sure that you are setting yourself up for a win of the biggest payout if that is what you are playing for. That may sound odd, but some slots players just want to play for fun or as a pastime. There are many players who set their bankroll and then play off it until it is gone. For example, they will bring $250 and play $50 on five different slots games. Once one $50 session is over, they move to the next machine.Their point isn’t necessarily to win big, but rather to just have fun by extending their gaming session as long as they possibly can.

Regardless of what type of slot machine you want to try be sure to understand what your limits are. In particular the progressive slot machines can add up in pay quickly due to the required maximum bet per spin. This can add up quickly– especially if you are having a notably unlucky day! Read the instructions on the individual machine you want to play, understand the rules and the odds and then have fun.