Ask the Slot Expert: More wild symbols means more excitement

John:

Your info about reel strips was interesting, but you forgot one important point. Slot machine players want to get excited playing slots, even if they do not win. It's hard to get excited playing a machine with just one wild symbol in each reel, regardless what the virtual reel comes up with. This is the reason why nearly everyone plays the triple double machines with a triple and double symbol on each reel. I have a triple double-diamond machine and S+ triple diamond nine-line machine with only one wild symbol on each reel and five single bars on each reel. I'm getting rid of the lousy triple-diamond machine since I only see a wild symbol every eight to nine spins. Not much fun playing it. In addition, nearly everyone is now playing the nine-line triple double 90- or 180-coin machines. I'm now in the process of replacing my triple diamond with a triple double dollar nine-line 180-coin machine and cannot wait to have fun playing it. The bottom line is that I want to see a lot of wild symbols -- win or lose.

It's important to remember that what you see on the reel strips has no bearing on a machine's long-term payback. It may be more exciting to see more wild symbols go by, but what counts is how often they land on the payline.

Having more wild symbols on the reel strips can also increase the number of near misses above and below the payline with the wild symbol. Again, these near-misses tell you nothing about the machine. What counts is how often they land on the payline.

Jackpots for all,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.