Las Vegas - MGM $200 in Slot Play – which Slots?

So …ummm…hypothetically say my friend has 200 in free slot play from MGM Grand. He/she doesn’t really care about slots, but wants the money.

He also doesn’t want to learn BS regarding VP.

Which slots should he play and at what max bet level ($1 dollar max bet – 3 credit) to theoretically get the most return out of the 200.

Thanks!

Wheel Of Fortune is a fun game to play.

Without a doubt,
the most awesome, fun, addictive slot (IMHO) is
Gold Fish (http://www.wms.com/game-detail.php?Category=00&Themes=398)

It is available in multi-line 5 cent / 10 cent variety (most common).
[Play around 10 lines at least 2 units per line]

I usually play around $3.00 per spin, but whatever you do --- DO NOT forget to do the fishfood bonus (since, that's one of the best parts).

The soundtrack and action is absolutely seductive; I played around 3 hours worth at the Taj and Caesars last weekend; and by far, it is my absolute favorite. [suggested beverage : champagne or kir royales]

Which slots should he play and at what max bet level ($1 dollar max bet – 3 credit) to theoretically get the most return out of the 200.

Best return are the highest denomination; basically, you can't go wrong with $5/$10/$25/$100 if you are just looking for the highest return. Of course, $200 in play is so small --- that it really doesn't matter, IMHO. Now, if you were looking to run $50K through the slots...... ;)

He/she doesn’t really care about slots, but wants the money.

Once he/she runs the $200 through the machine; he/she can basically cash out --- so, if he/she has a minor amount of luck, your friend should be able to cash out a significant portion of the $200.

Top Dollar is a good 3 reel slot.

Top Dollar is a good 3 reel slot.

OH GOODNESS!!!! I also love top dollar (specifically the 3 reel $1 version) --- won $700++ on one in July at Caesars AC.

I've alway wanted to try the $100 Top Dollar --- but haven't YET.... though, I have tried the $100 WoF; and that is definitely a rush. :D

2 X $100 Top Dollar. Won $3500 last time I was in LAS. Oh the feeling you get when the machine starts singing the Top Dollar bonus round on a $100 machine :).

In the spirit of FT, may I recommend the "Frequent Flyer" game?

I'm also addicted to Riches of the Amazon (http://www.wms.com/game-detail.php?Category=00&Themes=565#), which has a random Jackpot Party Bonus and a great bonus round.

Mike

In the spirit of FT, may I recommend the "Frequent Flyer" game?



:) I've played this game, did not care for it at all but it was amusing. At least the one I played was only a nickel machine.

For somebody looking to get as much of the $200 back as cash and doesn't care about how fun a game is, I would recommend that they select machines with low top jackpot prizes. The theory is that a machine is set to a certain lifetime percentage payback - say 90%. On machines with high top prizes, a larger chunk of that lifetime 90% is taken up with those top prizes, so that leaves less of the total pot for the lower prizes. With smaller top prizes, the lower prizes should hit more often. There is also a "cost per spin" of overhead for each machine which is pretty much constant from machine to machine, so the overhead is a smaller percentage of each spin on higher denomination machines, so you should see better average results the higher denomination the machine.

So my personal recommendation to your friend would be to play his $200 on say $1 machines with top jackpots for one coin under $800. That should give him better odds at getting more of the $200 comp play out of the machine at the end. But realize all of the above is based on the lifetime of the machine, so what happens over a set of 200 spins on a machine can vary widely from the lifetime averages.

.....so what happens over a set of 200 spins on a machine can vary widely from the lifetime averages.

Total spins for OP will be much less than 200 on a $1 machine with $200 in free play, as OP will be wagering Max Bet, ($2-$3), for optimum return. More like 66-100 spins. ;)

There are two video slots I love to wast time on-both are available in penny so I can play max coins.
One is All That Glitters-I once went all the way to the end of the last bonus round on that one.
The other is Gem Tiles.I have gotten to the end of the bonus rounds three times with that one.
I also like the Auction one-actually hit a top JP on that one once.
Cops and Doughnuts can be fun if you find the right machine.
Same with The Gone fishin ones.
Going to the Red Rock tommorow-I know where some good machines are there :D

I like All that Glitters, Gold Fish, Genie and the Sultan's Jewels and the Love Boat - all are fun. Jackpot Party is also good. Each has lots of fun bonus rounds.

Boring or not, find ones that advertise a 99% or 98% payback.

They have to pay that percentage back if they advertise it.

I like All that Glitters, Gold Fish, Genie and the Sultan's Jewels and the Love Boat - all are fun. Jackpot Party is also good. Each has lots of fun bonus rounds.

The only place I've managed to find Love Boat in LV is at the Westin. Have you seen it anywhere else?

Boring or not, find ones that advertise a 99% or 98% payback.

They have to pay that percentage back if they advertise it.

Not 100% true. If the sign is on a bank/carousel/cluster of slots, only 1 machine in that bank/carousel/cluster has to be a 98/99% machine. The others can be run of the mill crappy pay.

Going to the Red Rock tommorow-I know where some good machines are there :D

If you were management, wouldn't you rotate the "good ones" daily?

Technically, I would. Knowing the Fertittas, though, I doubt it. It boggles my mind how you can be at Station Casinos and none of them have SpikeTV... the station that broadcasts their OTHER company, the UFC.

That'd be one of the first things I'd do if I were management. It's free and certainly does no harm.

Boring or not, find ones that advertise a 99% or 98% payback.
They have to pay that percentage back if they advertise it.

If you read the signs carefully, you will see they say in tiny print "Up to 98% return" or "Up to 99% return". That says to me you are only guaranteed that you will not find machines with over 98% return. If all the machines had 60% return, they would be in compliance with the signs...

If you were management, wouldn't you rotate the "good ones" daily?

"good" or "hot" slot machines are a myth. Yes, some "casinos" have better overall payback --- but, you still won't be able to determine which machines those are "exactly." Exception being Video Poker, since the paytables are available for you to review at each machine.

Commons Myths about slot machines, from the Wizard of Odds :

Below are some of the biggest myths about slot machines.

Slot machines stop on any possible set of stops with equal probability
As explained above this is not true of modern three-reel slot machines. Some stops are much more likely than others.

Slot machines are programmed to go through a cycle of payoffs. Although the cycle can span thousands of spins once it reaches the end the outcomes will repeat themselves in exactly the same order as the last cycle.
This is not true at all. Every trial is random and independent of all past trials.

Slot machines are programmed to pay off a particular percentage of money bet. Thus after a jackpot is hit the machine will tighten up to get back in balance, and when a jackpot has not been hit for a long time it is overdue and more likely to hit.
The only part of this that is true is that they are designed to pay off a particular percentage. However the laws of probability dictate that the longer the machine is played the closer it will come to its target payoff, even with every trial being completely random. A jackpot is equally as likely to be hit on every spin, regardless of past outcomes.

Hot/cold coins are more likely to yield good returns.
The temperature of the coin does not matter. It also does not matter how long it has been since the coin was last played.

Machines pay more if a player card is not used.
The mechanism that determines the outcome of each play does not consider whether a card is used or not. Not considering cash back and comps the odds are the same with or without a player card.

If I use a slot card the casino will report my winnings to the IRS.
The use of a slot card will not change your tax liability. If you get back $1200 or more in a single spin (including the original wager) then the casino will report the win whether a slot card is used or not. The casino does not add up the smaller wins and report them to the IRS. Aside from the big wins, the player is on the honor system to report a net win over the entire year.

Commons Myths about slot machines, from the Wizard of Odds :Hot/cold coins are more likely to yield good returns.
The temperature of the coin does not matter. It also does not matter how long it has been since the coin was last played.


That's the first time I've heard of hot and cold coins. Heard of hot/cold machines but not the coins or maybe that is referencing the same thing? If the hot coins was true boy would my butt be hurting warming them up :D.

That's the first time I've heard of hot and cold coins. Heard of hot/cold machines but not the coins or maybe that is referencing the same thing? If the hot coins was true boy would my butt be hurting warming them up :D.

yeah, I heard that one a few years ago, ROFLMAO.

The ONLY HOT thing that I look for in a casino is a HOT Cocktail Waitress. ;)

"The only part of this that is true is that they are designed to pay off a particular percentage."
This is what makes a good machine in my book.Some machines are set for a higher payback percentage and are more "playful"

"The only part of this that is true is that they are designed to pay off a particular percentage."
This is what makes a good machine in my book.Some machines are set for a higher payback percentage and are more "playful"

Yes, BUT --- regarding regular SLOTS it is impossible to know which machines are set for the higher payback percentage. (Well, unless, maybe you are privy to super secret slot information at the various properties). Individual machines [pay back %] are never identified, and to identify a machine yourself you would have to play into the "long run" --- say, 50,000 to 100,000 spins... I don't have the time or the skrilla for that. :D

Personally I don't get real excited over a machine that advertises a high payback. Especially with just $200 where I wouldn't be looking for long term gain. Well... I wouldn't be looking for any serious gain with any gambling, especially slot machines. Maybe poker would be the exception. I would probably just find a slot machine that looked pretty fun and interesting. I personally like Star Wars, so I like playing the Star Wars slots even though I've never really done well with them. If I had $200 of someone elses money, I'd probably play a couple of hundred dollar pulls just to get some adrenaline going :D

Yes, BUT --- regarding regular SLOTS it is impossible to know which machines are set for the higher payback percentage. (Well, unless, maybe you are privy to super secret slot information at the various properties). Individual machines [pay back %] are never identified, and to identify a machine yourself you would have to play into the "long run" --- say, 50,000 to 100,000 spins... I don't have the time or the skrilla for that. :D

Not my experience at all.I find a playful machine and I stick with it.
If I have a little extra time I search other machines for playfulness.After $20
I can usually tell if a machine has been set with a good payback percentage.

Not my experience at all.I find a playful machine and I stick with it.
If I have a little extra time I search other machines for playfulness.After $20
I can usually tell if a machine has been set with a good payback percentage.

I don't really want to argue the point ;) but, what you are describing is short term luck. The machines work on a random number generator. Anything can happen in the short term. You absolutely, cannot determine the payback percentage of any [slot] machine after playing $20 (or even amounts substantially more than $20). You have been lucky, and that is great; but I would hate to mislead folks into actually thinking they can locate "hot" and "cold" machines.

I sometimes have the most fun when I hop between machines and just pop in $20 at a time. I also like to poach off of others, hopping on a machine after someone leaves. But as baccarat_king stated, it's just luck. One time I got on a machine, played $20 and left. 20 minutes later I'm roaming around and I saw that same machine had hit $10K.

Not 100% true. If the sign is on a bank/carousel/cluster of slots, only 1 machine in that bank/carousel/cluster has to be a 98/99% machine. The others can be run of the mill crappy pay.

If you read the signs carefully, you will see they say in tiny print "Up to 98% return" or "Up to 99% return". That says to me you are only guaranteed that you will not find machines with over 98% return. If all the machines had 60% return, they would be in compliance with the signs...

which is another reason I don't pay slots :D

I got my info from the Travel Channel which implied (since it was the Wizard of Odds himself, I hope he was correct) that if the slot bank is advertised at 99% payout, it must.

Then again, that 99% can be done when someone hits the mega-trillions jackpots.....

I don't really want to argue the point ;) but, what you are describing is short term luck. The machines work on a random number generator. Anything can happen in the short term. You absolutely, cannot determine the payback percentage of any [slot] machine after playing $20 (or even amounts substantially more than $20). You have been lucky, and that is great; but I would hate to mislead folks into actually thinking they can locate "hot" and "cold" machines.

Not looking to prove or disprove any point,I know about random accees generation-I also know that machines are set at a payback level within the buyers specs.My trip to casinos are pretty well spaced apart-and yet the same machines prove to be playful for me time after time-and I am saddened when they are removed from the casino floor.
As to the advertising of high paybacks-well that is all well and good but the trick is to set a win strategy as well as a loss limit.I often am up at least 100% of my initial feed.Setting a certain amount of winnings aside is a good way to stay ahead of losing(but incredibly fun)hobby.

Not looking to prove or disprove any point,I know about random accees generation-I also know that machines are set at a payback level within the buyers specs.My trip to casinos are pretty well spaced apart-and yet the same machines prove to be playful for me time after time-and I am saddened when they are removed from the casino floor.
As to the advertising of high paybacks-well that is all well and good but the trick is to set a win strategy as well as a loss limit.I often am up at least 100% of my initial feed.Setting a certain amount of winnings aside is a good way to stay ahead of losing(but incredibly fun)hobby.

Yes, that is called short term luck. Also "I often am up at least 100% of my initial feed" is a very confusing statement. I'm not trying to give you a hard time. But, generalities are just that, generalities. Yeah, I'm "often up" too --- but, what is the end result? Do you have exact win/loss records? In addition, yes, I agree, setting aside winnings is a good idea; but NO money management system will make the slots a "winner" over the long run. If you are up over the short term (due to luck), I strongly suggest you stop playing now, and you will then be able to retire a slot player with a winning record. ;)

Once again, I'm really replying to this to make sure that folks out there understand that there is NO system to slots. That you can not determine the "playfullness" or "payback" of a machine. And that it is all LUCK LUCK LUCK LUCK LUCK! --- I would hate for a Vegas newbie to get the idea that there is a way to "crack" the slots --- because there [legally] is NOT. Now, Video Poker, that is another story. ;)

Yes, that is called short term luck. Also "I often am up at least 100% of my initial feed" is a very confusing statement. I'm not trying to give you a hard time. But, generalities are just that, generalities..........

All sage advice as usual, my knowledgeable colleague. Mahalo!

Another way I've heard it described to further explain/de-mystify/clarify Las Vegas' often intentional double-entendred and misleading hype, is that when a slot machine or bank of slot machines advertise "99% payback", think of it as "Put a dollar in, get $0.99 back; put that $0.99 in, get $0.98 back; put that $0.98 in, get $0.97 back; put that $0.97 in, get $0.96 back; and so on and so on and so on 'til that "99% payout" machine has taken 100% of your money. ;)

Another famously intentionally misleading Las Vegas statement is printed in BIG letters on the Blackjack tables: "Dealer MUST hit on soft 17". The use of the word "MUST" is designed to intentionally mislead the player into thinking that the casino is "forcing" the dealer to do something that is not to their advantage: Au contraire!!! What is missing from the statement is "And So Should YOU!!!!", as EVERYBODY should hit a soft 17!!! (It would be to the players advantage if dealers were forced to STICK on soft 17's.) ;) But of course they're not.

And my favorite, most egregious violation of the English language in Las Vegas is when a Video Poker machine flashes "WINNER - Pay (original wager)" such as on a pair of Jacks or better, or 3-of-a-kind on "Deuces Wild": getting your original wager returned is a PUSH, my friends; a DRAW; a TIE. There is nothing "WINNER" about it! On a blackjack table they call it a "Push", but on a Video Poker machine they call it a "WINNER". And there is nothing winning about it!!!!

Good Luck and Have FUN!!!!!!!

One more slot fact: the random number generator stops (and the outcome is determined) when the first coin is dropped (or bet 1 credit button is hit). As you drop subsequent coins (or hit the bet 1 credit button) you only increase you win (if its a good outcome) or increase your loss (if its a bad outcome). Doesn't matter when you hit the spin button or pull the lever.

Bet max credit is more efficient. :)

which is another reason I don't pay slots :D

I got my info from the Travel Channel which implied (since it was the Wizard of Odds himself, I hope he was correct) that if the slot bank is advertised at 99% payout, it must.

Then again, that 99% can be done when someone hits the mega-trillions jackpots.....

"And second, even if a casino advertises 98% return over a bank of several slot machines, this does not necessarily mean that all the machines on that carrousel are set to pay off at those rates. To comply with advertising fair practice laws and gaming regulations, the casinos are only required to have one machine that is set to payback 98% of the drop. The rest of the machines can be set at 94%, or less. A few years ago one casino advertised 101% payback on its machines, but there were only two of these in the whole casino."

http://www.midwestgamingandtravel.com/Articles/articles_slots.htm