Playing nickel machines
with small stakes
31 March 2000
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark,
I hate to ask this question because so many
people consider keno machines to be losers.
However, I do not do all that bad playing keno.
Although I play table blackjack and slot
machines (very selective), I still love video
keno. I can sit at a nickel keno machine through
an afternoon and evening. I pocket my winnings
and continue to play with my original bankroll.
Knowing your interests and that readers probably
concentrate on table games, what are your
thoughts on 5¢ keno? Vicki C.
Understand, Vicki, that nickel slots are a tough
beat because of their high casino hold.
Consequently, they profit the house more than
higher denomination machines. Table games and
selected casino wagers, played intelligently,
offer the greatest hope for the player whose
sole purpose is walking out of the casino with
the casino's loot.
But I give credence to the "entertainment
factor" of gambling, especially with games
(nickel machines) that are enjoyable to play on
a modest bankroll (under $20). I have never been
one to be critical of any player who limits his
or her gambling to nickel machines. By playing
solely nickels, you are in total control of your
bankroll, plus you can enjoy casino gambling
while limiting your cash outlay.
Also, Vicki, given a choice, it is better to
play video keno versus regular keno. Besides
being inexpensive to play at 5¢ a pop, video
keno does not give as large an edge to casinos.
Dear Mark,
When I applied for my slot club card at a
casino, the slot host told me that all points
were based on "coin-in" machines. What was she
talking about? Karen K.
When you insert your slot club card into a slot
machine, the magnetic strip enables the casino
to know exactly how much money you are actually
betting. "Coin-in" machines count the total
amount of your coins inserted, then fund your
slot club card with comp points without
distinguishing between remaining credits played
or coins inserted.
Dear Mark,
I loved to play this one particular machine at
my favorite casino in Reno. The best way I can
describe it is that it has a frog on the front
of it. I called it my "little froggie." On my
last trip the machine was no longer there. When
I inquired what happened to the machine, I was
told by someone in the slot department that the
machine was not performing up to expectations.
What did he mean? Beverly K.
From the casino's point of view, your beloved
froggie didn't hop, skip or jump all the way to
the bank.
All machines, Beverly, need to show reasonable
results or their replacement is inevitable. A
gaming machine's performance is measured by two
factors: the amount of coins wagered daily
("coin in") and the amount collected daily by
the casino ("win"). If a machine's performance
falters ever so slightly, a slot manager could
decide a change is needed in the slot mix,
meaning the placement and positioning of
machines on the casino floor.
Dear Mark,
Next month I'm going to London, England. I've
planned a few hours of relaxation and would like
to try my luck at the slot machines in their
casinos. Any recommendations? Calvin R.
Realize, Calvin, that by being a punter across
the pond you will need a special membership to
enter London casinos. The waiting period for a
membership is 24 hours. Another shortcoming is
that all casinos in London are limited by law to
just six slot machines. Plan on waiting, and
waiting and waiting to lose your money.
Furthermore, Calvin, your slot strategy
shouldn't blueprint breaking the bank. The
maximum jackpot is limited to 300 pounds of
sterling, or $450.
|
