Gaming Gurus: Latest From Our Strategy Experts

Ask the Slot Expert: My favorite aspect of Diamond Quick Hit Link

A few weeks ago, I wrote two columns about the dark side of Quick Hit slots (The dark side of Quick Hit slots, A better example of the dark side of Quick Hit). I've been playing the Diamond Quick Hit Link machine that I wrote about recently (Is my slot machine malfunctioning?) each visit for a while now...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Slot machine malfunction headlines lack context

Headline writers have a limited number of words in which to tell what an article is about and tell it in such a way as to get the reader to read the article. Context is frequently a victim to the hype. A recent example. An article in Forbes: Why Bad Bunny Won't Get Paid For The Super Bowl Halftime Show. The article was first published on January 30, so denying him a payday can't be a reaction to his comments at The Grammy Awards on February 1...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Is my slot machine malfunctioning?

The computing world overflows with acronyms. One used in User Support is PICNIC. It stands for Problem In Chair Not In Computer. A synonymous acronym is PEBCAK: Problem Exists Between Chair And Keyboard. In other words, user error. Whenever players tell me that they think their machine has malfunctioned, my first thought is, Probably not...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Ignorance can be bliss

It was the next-to-last point-multiplier day of the year. I still had to earn a few thousand tier points to re-qualify for a VIP parking pass. My original plan was to play until it was dinnertime and then return on the last point-multiplier day to earn the remaining points I needed...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Phony jackpots?

I started 2026 off with a bang. I hit a Royal Flush on 1/3. When the slot attendant came, she looked at my screen and said, "Oh, this is a real jackpot." "There are phony jackpots?" I asked. "Yeah. We don't have to give tax forms for jackpots under $2000 now," she said. I had heard that the threshold might be changed...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: My two cents on how eliminating pennies will affect slots

My grocery store had a sign at the entrance. It said they had a shortage of pennies. I don't remember what they wanted customers to do. The shortage wasn't going to affect me. I can't remember the last time I used cash in a supermarket. For that matter, I can't remember the last time I used cash to pay for anything...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Deuces Wild doesn't pay enough

In 1933, The Mills Company introduced the Mills Mystery slot machine. I don't know what was so mysterious about this machine. I do know that it broke tradition for paytables of the era. From the brochure: For 30 years all manufacturers have agreed that Bell rewards should be 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20. The Mills Mystery machine broke with that standard by paying 3 and 5 coins, respectively, for two cherries and two cherries with a bell, instead of the industry standard 2 and 4...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Slot machines don't need no stinking paylines

As I wrote in my column on December 10, 2026, a change in the number of paylines is something to look out for when you change denominations on a slot machine. I decided that I would bet $1.50 per spin on a Ramosis' Treasures machine. I had multiple ways I could make that bet...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Rooting against a progressive?

It's that time of year again. I don't mean the holidays. I mean time to re-qualify for upper tiers in slot clubs. Because I let re-qualifying go to the last minute, instead of playing mostly video poker to re-qualify, I'm also playing a bit more slots than I usually do because I earn three times the tier points per dollar played through a slot than through a video poker...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Should I increase the line bet or increase the denomination?

Modern life has many age-old questions. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Is it live or is it Memorex? What was the best thing before sliced bread? When does it stop being partly cloudy and start being partly sunny? Is it better to increase the line bet or increase the denomination? As usual, I let things go to the last minute and now I'm scrambling to re-qualify for an upper tier at one of my slot clubs...read more