Ask the Slot Expert

Where might we find Yukon Gold online slots to play for fun in between visits to Harrah's AC?

Greatly appreciate your reply.

Best Regards,
Dave

Dear Dave,

Sorry, I don't know of any online casino that offers the Yukon Gold slot.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Hello,

My question is: What do you think about the casinos in Delaware? The two I know of and frequent are Dover Down slots and Midway slots.

Sorry, I've never been to any of Delaware's casinos. I did have an opportunity to hear the slot director at Dover Downs speak about expanding the property at a seminar a few years ago and it seemed like a very nice property.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

Hi,

Is there a place on the computer that a person can get the name of the casinos in Atlantic City and Las Vegas that show the pay out percentage of all games? I have been unable to find any type of books around here that has them.

Thank you,
pj

Dear pj,

Nevada does not release numbers by casino, so I don't think you'll be able to find payback percentages anywhere for casinos in Las Vegas. Strictly Slots and Casino Player publish the numbers for Atlantic City's casinos each month, but I didn't see those tables online at their sites.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

John,

Can you explain what I have noticed in Riverboat Casino's in the midwest? On standalone Blazing 7s Progressive machines ($.25) over the period of 2 weeks, certain machines have consistently hit the jackpot when the amount reaches a certain dollar amount, while others hit at different amounts each time.

For instance, a machine hit at $387.47, $387.67, and $387. 92 on one day, and $387.14, $387.38 on the next day, and $387.xx every day I was there in the past 2 weeks (5 of those jackpots by me). In the same stretch, an identical machine hit at 389.xx, 424.xx, 424.xx, 410.xx, and 412.xx. Of the 8 machines arranged in a carousel, 3 seem to always hit at a preset jackpot and 5 vary the jackpot amounts, but all have a reset jackpot amount of $375.00 after a jackpot is hit. It appears that the jackpot amount is pre-selected and remains at that level until changed (either daily, weekly, or after every one). Is this by design?

Thank you,
Chris

Dear Chris,

I believe what you have seen is "mean waiting time" in action.

Let's say the probability of hitting the jackpot is 1/10. That means the probability of not hitting the jackpot is 9/10 or 0.90. The probability of not hitting the jackpot on two consecutive spins is (9/10)(9/10) or 81/100 or 0.81. If we keep doing this, we see that probability of not having hit the jackpot is 0.5 somewhere between six and seven spins. This jackpot will tend to hit every six or seven spins.

The probability of hitting the Blazing 7s must be such that the mean waiting time is around when the progressive meter is about $387. That's why you see it tend to hit at about that amount. You also saw it hit above that amount and, if you watched long enough, you'd also see it hit below that amount too.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

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