The Casino Answer Man

Q. Last week I was looking for a quarter machine, and a couple of times sat down at dollar games by mistake. On one, the denomination was on the video screen, and it was so small I just didn't see it until I sat down. On the other, I actually put a $20 bill into the reader and was surprised when only 20 credits came up. I had to spend extra time going to the cashier's cage -- I'm just not budgeted to play dollars.

Why don't casinos have bigger signs to show where the quarter games are, where the dollars are and so on?

Monopoly Mike

A. Some casinos do have large signs over banks of machines, saying "Dollars" or "Quarters" or "Nickels." But even if they don't, there is a fast way of telling denominations without having to get close up to the machine.

All you need is to know the color code. On top of each slot machine or video poker game, there is a two-tiered light called a "candle." The top light is white. It's usually off. It lights up if you push the "change" button on the machine to signal an attendant, or it flashes on and off if you hit a jackpot that must be paid by hand or if you have a coin jam when cashing out.

The bottom portion of the light is color-coded. The bottom light is red on nickel machines, yellow on quarters and blue on dollars. Look for the colored lights, and you can find the quarter games from clear across the casino.

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