Though states all over the US are now embracing slots gambling, some experts are warning legislators to be cautious. The biggest issue is whether or not games are going to perform for the long-run. States are for the most part enamored with the games. Legislators realized quickly that they were on to something when the games started performing well. Las Vegas operators were the ones who realized the power of slots when they did the math on them and came up with a huge portion of revenue thanks to slots. In fact, they noted that slots easily bring in about sixty- percent of their overall gaming revenue. That means that the games are finding a huge market in the US and people love them. Legislators love them too because they realize that the more money a casino makes, the more money they are privy to thanks to tax revenue dollars. The gambling market right now is ripe and ready for growth but for how long? There is a question on how long the game are going to perform at the level they do when they first come into a market and how much legislators are hanging on their performance. Sure the games can bring in a few million within the first few weeks of operations but in two years will they be performing at the same level? Or, will the games have a huge appeal at first, but then allow the market to fall back and ease up on them?

The biggest problem is that a lot of legislators are already earmarking funds from slots gambling for certain areas of their budgets. They are relying on having the same millions to dedicate to things like expansion and education or road repair and municipal growth. The problem comes in when they start projecting money coming in for future budgetary planning. For example, if they project that January of 2012 will bring in $3-million and they earmark $500,000 to education, $500,000 to expansion, $1.5-million to new buildings and the additional $500,000 to new salaries, what happens if they don’t make $3-million? What if the city or state only brings in $1.8-million that month? What does the city do then? This is a major concern that some gambling experts are trying to get city and state officials to visit. They believe officials are too confident in slots performance and reliability.

The economy is changing and that includes the gambling market. There was a time when if you wanted a huge payout all you had to do was to venture to the local casino and immediately have access to top dollar rewards. Those days are not completely over, but they are drastically diminished though. If you look at casinos today, they are cutting back in a lot of different ways. Casinos are having a lot of problems today with their budgets and people are feeling the effects. In Pennsylvania for example, it is the state that is regulating payouts now. It is no secret that if a state wants big dollars all they have to do is offer legalized gambling. It is a great way to bring in millions of dollars every month to any state budget. Slots games, along with other table games, are highly popular in the market. People love the games and are showing more interest in them than ever. This is why legislator are so impressed with the slots performance and trying to incorporate it into their own state management. Pennsylvania officials however decided that they are going to try to maximize their own wins. The state has decided to regulate the payouts that casinos offer to winners. A recent study has proven that overall payouts have come down over the past three years and people are not sitting well for the change. They are voicing their opinion on why the state and the casinos get to keep so much of their revenue, rather than turn it around and offer the money to the very people handing over the money in the first place.

This is posing a difficult problem for Pennsylvania. If the people who are wagering there are not happy there are still enough alternative for them to wager. New Jersey for example is a neighboring state that has a highly established gambling market already. People could easily return to that market for the bigger payouts if Pennsylvanian officials and casino owners insist on being greedy with their own payouts. The bottom line is that there are enough options in the world of gambling today that casino-goers have the right to be picky and choosy about where they wager.

A lot of people who have limited budgets head over to the free slots. You aren’t going to be at a loss when it comes to these games. They are all over the market and you can find them in any number of places. Some are still attached to a monetary win if the casino has a random bonus. At these casinos all you have to do is keep on wagering and you are eligible to win the extra cash bonus. Although these games can be fun, what do you do if you want to wager, but just wager smaller amounts? The penny slots are the perfect solution to this problem. Penny slots are just that—they require a penny per line to spin the reels. These are highly affordable games but still offer great payouts if you are in the market for a good win. Remember that the payouts in slots are completely random, so you have just as good a chance of winning at a penny slot as you do at a $50 per spin slots game.

One of the aftereffects of the recession was a market that is more limited than ever. If you wager, then most likely you have been looking for ways to monitor your overall wagers. More and more people have had to cut back on their wagering dollars due to limited discretionary funds for their bankrolls. This is an issue, but penny slots are a viable solution for those who are limited. If you are going to play a penny slots game, your best bet is to wager at a casino that still offers a good bonus structure. If you can get additional free money upon sign up that is to your advantage and if you can combine that with a good VIP bonus, you are going to be maximizing your winning potential. Just because a slots game is a “penny slot” doesn’t mean that you won’t have hours of fun either. Any penny slots game you find still has all the fun of a slots game and you should have hours of fun with it. Just test a few out and you are going to most likely love them.

There are many changes going on in the world of gambling and not all are necessarily good. For example, if you ventured to the Lucky Dog casino in Washington Las year, you would have been surprised to see that it was closed down. Not a permanent closing, but a closing for the season. This is highly unusual in the world of gambling. Normally casinos stay open all year long to maximize their revenue and this is one of the first instances of a casino closing during an entire season. The Lucky Dog casino is owned by the Skokimish Tribe and is located in Mason County of the state. The reason for the closing was the recession. It affected gaming on many different levels and that means that its affects are still hard hitting. Lucky Dog’s closing was the last decision after strong fights to stay alive. The operators cut over one-hundred jobs in an effort to keep the casino open. They also made major cutbacks to try to keep the casino open year round. Unfortunately their problems were not solved by the cutbacks. They ended up having to close down for the winter.

Operators of Lucky Dog casino have noted the closing as a thing of the past, but confirm that it was unavoidable. Not only was the recession difficult on the casino market, but also the competition is weighing heavily on Lucky Dog. Now that there are more tribal casinos in Thurston county and Mason County, it is even more difficult to sustain a market share. The gamers in the market are being spread thinly and that is cutting down on everyone’s revenue stream. It is a difficult time to be in the slots market but casinos are rallying. Their operators are working to come up with various gaming choices that are going to increase the draw of their casinos. Lucky Dog is one of those casinos that is working hard. It reopened, but it still is cautious about its revenue consistency. It is going to take some time to regulate and find out whether or not the market is ready to continue them again, but hopefully Lucky Dog will find a returned market and a sustainable customer base.

Slots gambling legalization is a number one priority on the minds of legislators everywhere. They know how much money could be brought in if managed properly. Gambling is a billion-dollar business and slots are a huge part of that. If you love slots gaming, then you are going to be excited because of the expansion it is making in the general market. One of the biggest pushes for bringing slots gambling into the market is the money and what it can help to fund in the future for legislators. The recession helped to create huge budgetary shortfalls for cities and counties throughout the country. Now budgets are huge and the deficits are equally as scary. Without some viable way of bringing in millions of dollars, cities have few options to maintain their future plans for public works programs, education, municipal expansion and other budget items. They may have to cut the projects altogether if they don’t find viable ways of funding them in the future. Slots gambling is one option that could help to save these projects from the cutting board.

Luzerne County officials are basking in the revenue that recently came in due to the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino. The state just received their share of slots revenue from the casino and it was $12.8 million. That is a huge amount of revenue and it was portioned out to fund various other projects on the docket for coming months. So far it is going to help to fund the following:

• $500,000 goes to continue developing the Pittston Riverfront project
• $1 million will go to expansion of Health Sciences Center at LCCC
• $1 million will go to the East Side Landfill Development project
• $2.4 million will go to improving the highways in Pittston and Jenkins
• $680,000 will help to renovate the First National Bank Building
• $1.3 will fund expansion of the Dallas downtown blueprint project
• $500,000 will be put into the Luzerne County Community College’s culinary program

This is just some of the huge projects that can now be tackled by the area due to slots gambling. Other jurisdictions throughout the country are looking to use slots revenue for the same purposes of changing the market. They hope to portion out the revenue into a wide range of developments and expansions.

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.

The slot machine industry is celebrating a victory. Both Ohio and Illinois are jumping into the debate over slots and making notable strides in bringing the hobby to the general public. Governors in the two states approved legislation that will add an estimated 40,000 to 75,000 new slot machines in the combined markets and this may trigger expansions in other states as well. “Annually there are approx. 25,000 slots replaced each year which means an increase in slot machine production. In Illinois, Governor Pat Quinn approved a public works plan that will allow bars and taverns throughout the state to add video poker and video blackjack machines. Each location would be allowed three machines and analysts believe anywhere from 25,000 to 50,000 games could be added by next year.

In Ohio, Governor Ted Strickland signed an agreement allowing the state’s seven racetracks to each add up to 2,500 video lottery terminals for a total of 17,500 machines. Analysts suspect the games could be in place by next summer. This is a win for slot makers who will see a direct effect in their bottom line. “I would say it was a pleasant surprise because we did not fully anticipate the way this came down,” said Chuck Brooke, senior vice president of government affairs for International Game Technology. What is unsure is how other states will respond to the expansion. It’s no secret that the world of gambling is highly competitive and now that more and more states are opening their doors to gambling, everyone wants a piece of the millions of dollars to be had.  

Kentucky legislators who did not approve a push for racetrack slot machines earlier this year, may revisit the issue in the fall. Kentucky tracks will have to compete with Indiana and Ohio tracks, which will have slot machines. Meanwhile, analysts thought casino operators in neighboring states would be forced to update their slot machine floors to deal with the expansion. Overall slots are a highly lucrative addition to any state and almost every US state is looking to somehow incorporate slots into their budgets. The games have proven their worth over the years and no one wants to walk away from the millions in tax-revenue dollars that are available.

Kentucky is a state that is debating slots gambling at race tracks. According to a new study, however, more people are in support of the move than were a few short months ago. The study is showing that one of every six voters is now in favor of legalizing slot machines at race tracks. In addition, those voters believe that the final decision should be theirs. The General Assembly was formerly tasked with making the decision, but the people have spoken. The current height of support for legalizing slot machines at race tracks in Kentucky has never been as high as it is now. It could mean a decision to make the move towards legalization is going to happen soon.

One respondent who agreed to be interviewed said that she believes the state is losing significant money to nearby states that allow gambling, such as Indiana. The debate is going strong, but the bottom line is coming down to money. Legislators know that there are millions of dollars to be had when it comes to slot machines. With deficits high and budgets falling short it could be money pushes the issue over the top and makes it a reality in the state.

Governor Steve Beshear has proposed slots at the tracks as a way to aid Kentucky’s struggling horse racing industry and boost state revenue. Legislators are facing a $1.4 billion budget shortfall in the next two fiscal years.  He included revenue from expanded gambling in his proposed budget for 2010-12 to hold off budget cutbacks and the elimination of various programs for the public.But legislative leaders have said a bill allowing slots at the tracks lacks enough support to pass this session. And House members are considering budget scenarios that do not rely on new revenue from gambling.  Beshear said that he would not support a constitutional amendment to expand gambling, which requires voter approval, because it would take too long to get money to the state’s treasury.  “I think the need for speed is real,” he said.  Beshear said expanded gambling’s prospects could improve once the legislature understands the cuts that will have to be made without it.

Maryland has decided to implement the slot machine monitoring system that was proposed recently. The Board of Public Works voted to approve the contract and it could reach a total price of $38.9 million. Comptroller Peter Franchot was the only one who was not in support of the bill. His main argument was that legislators shouldn’t be able to sign a contract with a company that hasn’t performed their duty yet. Slot machines aren’t even in the state yet and the Board is making moves to monitor it…and spending money in the process.

Slots machines are up for debate within the state. Like other states that are still weighing out the options, its coming down to two sides. One side believes that slots are the only way to bring in the much needed money the state requires to make the 2010 budget. On the other hand, the more ethically-based side believes that bringing slots into the state will only add to addictions, crime and corruption.

Regarding the move to monitor slots, both Governor Martin O’Malley and Treasurer Nancy Kopp both voted for it. They came under criticism though because people argued that if they don’t yet have slots, what is the purpose of setting up a monitoring system for them? Where is the money going to come from? And, how wise is it to make the move to bring in a high-priced monitoring system when the things it is set to monitor aren’t even in the state yet?

Franchot has long argued the above questions and has a good group of supporters. They believe that the new Public Work’s deal is premature. They also wonder about the hefty cost to implement it and if it is the wisest decision since the state is struggling so much after the recession. The recession left all states at a disadvantage when it comes to funding. Most states are being forced to cut back on various budget items like public works programs, infrastructure revamping and education. There are little options when it comes to funding for 2010 and slot machines are almost everyone’s hope when it comes to meeting the budget needs.

Ohio was one of the many states that received stimulus money. That money was a great find and helped it through the recession, but there was a catch. The stimulus money cannot be used to replace other Ohio funds. Though that sounds relatively simple, the state is having difficulties sticking to it. To qualify for the stimulus money, Ohio must spend at least what it spend three years ago on the K-12 education system in the upcoming two years. Without the $851 million from slot machine earnings, however, the state may not be able to qualify for receiving the additional federally-funded money.

On Septenber 29th, Governor Ted Stickland said that school districts in the state could see 10.3% cuts in budget aid this school year and almost 16% cuts in budget funding in 2010. The reason for the cuts would be if the state would not find another way to revive the slot machine funding plan.  Dayton Public Schools is at risk of losing $34 million in the next two years, according to a study by the Ohio Department of Education. Ohio could petition for a federal waiver to spend more for 2009 but it is not clear whether that would be approved. An adverse decision from the Ohio state Supreme Court cast a shadow on whether the slots plan of Governor Strickland to install 17,500 slot machines at 7 horse racing tracks by May 2010 will push forward.

The Supreme Court said that the slots plan is subject to a state voter referendum in November 2010. Strickland cannot re-allocate money into the K-12 budget from elsewhere without approval from the legislature. Governor Strickland, Senate President Bill Harris and House Speaker Armond Budish are scheduled to meet to talk about the issue. Strickland’s Press Secretary Amanda Wurst said that the governor has yet to decide on his next step. It’s a difficult time for the state and its legislators. If they are unable to come up with a plan, then funding could be in jeopardy and the state could have to cut back drastically on various programs and education could be in trouble. The state has already fallen to many budget cuts regarding education and the system is looking for answers. With the next school year coming quickly upon the state, it is imperative that they find answers soon.