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Ask The Slot Expert

6 December 2001

Are the paybacks the same on each machine in a carousel of machines that are linked together to share the same progressive jackpot?

Thanks.

Good question. The best answer I can give is: Maybe.

I would guess that in most cases they are, but there's no reason why some machines can't have higher or lower long-term paybacks than the others. In fact, I know one slot manager who had a carousel of non-progressive machines (I think they were 5-Times Pay), and he lowered the paybacks on two of them. The customers, of course, never knew the two machines were stingier than the others and those machines got just as much play as the others. The difference though is that the casino made a few extra bucks off the stingy machines.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

John,

Last time I wrote it was to voice frustration on not filling any of the 5 chances I had to get a royal having been dealt 4 to the royal. Well, yeaterday I finally got my first royal after playing for 2 1/2 years. We only go to the casino 6 to 8 times a year and I probably play 4 hours at 500 hands per hour..that's 40,000 hands which is just about right. I needed the lift. Today is my last day at a job I had for 17 years. This boosts my spirits. Thanks for all the information and the encouragement over the years.

You always remember your first...

bill

Dear Bill,

Congratulations on hitting your first royal! I'm sure it's just the first of many.

Yes, you will always remember your first--and second and third and... After that, they sort of blend together.

It sounds like it was not your idea to leave your job. I know what that's like. I was laid off from Pan Am a number of years ago when it began the final year of its existence as an international airline.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John


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


For more information about slots and video poker, we recommend:

The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots by John Robison
Break the One-Armed Bandits! by Frank Scoblete
Victory at Video Poker and Video Craps, Keno and Blackjack! by Frank Scoblete
Slot Conquest Audio Cassette Tape (60 minutes) with Frank Scoblete
Winning Strategies at Slots & Video Poker! Video tape hosted by Academy Award Winner James Coburn, Written by Frank Scoblete
The Slot Machine Answer Book by John Grochowski
The Video Poker Answer Book by John Grochowski
John Robison

John Robison is an expert on slot machines and how to play them. John is a slot and video poker columnist and has written for many of gaming’s leading publications. He holds a master's degree in computer science from the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology.

You may hear John give his slot and video poker tips live on The Good Times Show, hosted by Rudi Schiffer and Mike Schiffer, which is broadcast from Memphis on KXIQ 1180AM Friday afternoon from from 2PM to 5PM Central Time. John is on the show from 4:30 to 5. You can listen to archives of the show on the web anytime.

Books by John Robison:

The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots
John Robison
John Robison is an expert on slot machines and how to play them. John is a slot and video poker columnist and has written for many of gaming’s leading publications. He holds a master's degree in computer science from the prestigious Stevens Institute of Technology.

You may hear John give his slot and video poker tips live on The Good Times Show, hosted by Rudi Schiffer and Mike Schiffer, which is broadcast from Memphis on KXIQ 1180AM Friday afternoon from from 2PM to 5PM Central Time. John is on the show from 4:30 to 5. You can listen to archives of the show on the web anytime.

Books by John Robison:

The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots