Gaming Gurus: Latest From Our Strategy Experts

Ask the Slot Expert: The RNG does not directly determine how much is won

Question: Something interesting always pops up with the questions you get. I just wanted to add my opinion to what you answered [last week]. If the screens the questioner showed you were losers, then out of the many possible screen combos that show losers, there are probably many more ways for the RNG to declare a loser, so a particular screen can certainly be what is mapped by more than one random number. Also likely, if it was a winner, but not a big winner, the same thing could be said about multiple screens, There could be many 5 coin payouts and the same screen could make that payout...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Slot machine synchronicity

Question: Attached is a picture of two Wolf Run Wild Moon slots, identical machines next to each other on the same bank. My husband was playing the machine on the left; I was playing on the right. I cashed out a winning ticket of over $400, then put in another $20...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Where have all the gurus gone?

Question: I really enjoy reading your articles. Your style of writing makes me feel that I am playing the games you are describing in your columns. I've noticed lately that the other columnists' articles are reruns from many years ago...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: A good problem to have

In last week's column, I was playing NSU and hit 4 deuces. I was still playing with money I had won from other sets of deuces I had hit in the past few sessions. That set of deuces raised my credit meter to $2800. After I got that hand, I thought, I would have a problem if I hit more high-paying hands. At the end of last week's column, I asked what problem I would have? It's a good problem, not a bad problem...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Red-letter day in my video poker history

May 28, 2026 is a red-letter day in my video poker playing history. On this day, I finally had received the expected number of 4-deuces hands playing Not So Ugly Deuces given the number of hands I had played and the probability of hitting the hand. I had a particularly good run of luck in May, hitting the deuces three times in just over 5000 hands instead of once as expected by the probability...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Another video poker machine malfunction

Question: I enjoy reading your articles, especially the ones you have been posting recently about machine malfunctions. I have a story for you from Atlantic City back in the day when coins and buckets were still being used. My wife loves to play video poker, while I love the live version...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: My Spin Poker machine froze in the middle of a hand

Question: Thank you for your great insight into slot/poker machines! I just read the column about malfunctioning machines. Here’s my story. I wasn’t playing high stakes poker so the final “win” doesn’t matter. It’s the principle of the matter. Here’s the hand that I was dealt when the machine froze...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Does a slot machine malfunction when it is not configured properly?

I received an email from a paralegal asking if I would speak with her about a denied jackpot case in which her attorney was representing the person who was denied the jackpot. We set up a time for her to call me. The appointed time came and went with no call from her...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Another slot machine malfunction with a happy ending

Question: I just read your article about slot machines malfunctioning. I have a story to tell you. I don’t know every detail but I still think you’ll find it interesting. My friend was in a bonus round on an Aristocrat machine. I don’t know which one...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Getting data from slots before they talked

Slot machine malfunctions are extraordinarily rare. That rarity, I think, makes them newsworthy when they happen, though perhaps only when there is a disputed jackpot. I once played a machine that unequivocally malfunctioned. It was a Quick Hit Blitz machine...read more