Bonus Features on Slots

Dear Frank:

I have read your book on slots [Break the One-Armed Bandits!] and it made me happy to know I was already employing some of your suggestions in my slot play.

I am interested in understanding how the Reel Power Amazing Money Machine (AC casinos) bonus feature is calculated. It seems that, like myself, others will sit there for a long time, addicted to waiting for the bonus game, which hardly ever comes up regardless of the amount of you play. Although this game is fun, because it is different, I thought the point of the these nickel videos was the frequency of the bonus games. This machine only has one. Any help would be appreciated.

Johan

Dear Johan:

The point of nickel videos is to suck as much money from you as the casino can possibly do without alienating you. The payback on these machines is usually in the 85 to 89 percent range. Nickel machines are programmed with low payback percentages to make money with playing volume. The bonus feature hits infrequently since a bonus sucks a lot of money from the machine. The reason you don't get too many bonus rounds is due to this. You will find the losing is much greater per 100 spins on these machines in order to be able to pay those bonuses, infrequent though they are. I do not know the percent of the time the bonus round hits but your experience seems to be common.

My advice is to jump to quarter machines and play one quarter in a stand-alone, non-bonus, non-progressive machine.

All the best in and out of the casinos!

Frank Scoblete