Ask The Slot Expert

Hello John,

Thanks for the great tips.

My wife and I just returned from a weekend in Las Vegas. We tried something which seems to work. We played two-coin, .25 non-progressive slots with low top lines and payout schedules that only doubled with second coin play. We started with one coin play and jumped up to two coins if and when the credits hit a certain level. Most of our play was on Double Diamonds Deluxe.

We tried this approach in three different Fremont Street Casinos and had the same results in each. The winnings are meager but consistent. More importantly, they are winnings and when added to the slot club benefits, our hotel was paid for.

My question is this: Is there a difference in the machine's characteristics from one coin play or full coin play with regards to its programming? We'd like to try this on $1.00 machines next month.

Thanks again!
Bill and Debra

Dear Bill and Debra,

Congratulations on your success in Las Vegas!

For Straight Multipliers like the machine you played, Double Diamond Deluxe, the characteristics of the machine are the same regardless of the number of coins you play. The hit frequency and long-term payback are the same when you play one coin and when you play two coins. Also, the Random Number Generator in the machine doesn't care how many coins you played when it chooses the outcome of a spin.

Best of luck in the casinos!
John Robison
Slot Expert

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@home.com.

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