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John Robison Gaming Guru - Page 68  Ask the Slot Expert: Shutting down a slot machine30 October 2013
We were recently at a casino in Nevada and my husband watched a slot tech go to someone to "help" them. He turned the machine off that the person was playing and the player went off to eat or to the bathroom or whatever. About 15 minutes later the player came back and the tech turned their machine back on. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Skill in a slot tournament23 October 2013
Is there any skill at all for winning a slot tournament? Or is it all luck?
The good news (or bad news) is that winning a slot tournament is 99.99 percent luck. There are a couple of things you can do, though, to improve your chances.
One thing you can do is to keep the reels moving by constantly hitting the Spin button. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Parallel versus serial deal in video poker16 October 2013
Regarding your answer on why the casinos want you to
play another spin after winning a jackpot:
You might also consider that the casinos want to remove
the big win from the screen before someone else comes
along and says that they won the jackpot that shows on the screen and tries to claim the ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Computing a slot machine's long-term payback9 October 2013
How is slot payback computed?
I know it is 90 percent, but 90 percent of what?
Can the casino lose money on slots, or is it guaranteed a profit?
A slot machine's long-term payback is calculated by taking the value of all the winning combinations and dividing by the total number of combinations possible. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Why was I asked to play off a slot jackpot?2 October 2013
I recently hit a jackpot, which was hand-paid. After I was paid, the guard and attendant said I had to play once in front of them. Why?
Congratulations on your jackpot.
Many (most? all?) slot players are superstitious. Some believe that a machine that has recently hit a jackpot will not hit another one soon, so they won't play a machine that has a jackpot showing on its reels. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Should I use a different strategy in a video poker tournament?25 September 2013
Love your stuff... don't ever stop!
I travel to Las Vegas 4-5 times per year, normally to participate in Double Double Bonus (DDB) Video Poker tournaments. These are on an invitational basis, with no entry fee, and have nice prizes, starting with $25K first prize and going down to $100. It's pretty hard NOT to win at least $100.
... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Are fewer slot players hitting jackpots today?18 September 2013
John,
I greatly enjoy your column.
I go to Vegas maybe once a year, learned to be a session gambler, and collect Silver Strike coins (Sam's Town, 4 Queens, and some others still have them).
Like John who wrote you on your 14 November 2012 column (Are slots tighter today?), I miss the good old days, ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Why do slot machines hit jackpots less frequently today?11 September 2013
I usually play only reel slots. I have been going to Las Vegas since 1979, when you could win several jackpots per trip. The demise began when the reel slots changed from mechanical to computerized. Since then I can count on a couple of hands the times that I have hit or came close to hitting a jackpot. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Are slot machines 'controlled'?4 September 2013
I just read the letter from Barbara about the "controlled" machines.
I am a computer programmer, mathematician and a games player.
I have programmed many games of chance and understand probability, statistics and game theory.
Now, to Barbara's letter.
First, ALL MACHINES ARE CONTROLLED. ... (read more)
Ask the Slot Expert: Advice for playing Class II slot machines28 August 2013
Dear John,
I've been reading your column, and some things you say are very interesting, however,
there is a huge "Ponzi Scheme" going on at a New York Casino. The machines are
definitely being influenced and controlled by someone.
There are too many complaints, and it's no joke, people are ... (read more)
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