Slot machine question

[mbrother11]

I understand how slot machines use the RNG to determine what the reels will show, and that the advantage to the house lies in the fact that each spin result pays out less than what the true odds would be of hitting that spin result. My question concerns machines that allow you to play either 1, 2 or 3 coins (I don't know the name of the machine I was playing, but the top jackpot was paid out when all three reels showed a bag of popcorn.) Since no one knows how many coins will be played, how can just paying out less than true odds make the machine return an expected percentage? The best way I can explain my question is this: If a thousand people sat and played just 2 coins and never hit the jackpot reels, but then one person plays 3 coins and hits the jackpot on their first try -- getting the multiplier on their winnings -- doesn't make it likely the machine will pay out MORE than the expected percentage?

I guess what I'm really asking is should I play just 2 or coins? (I never play the 1-coin option as it won't pay the jackpot at all).

[SteveBourieOLD]

Re: Slot machine question

I am not familiar with the game you mention. It sounds like it might be a "buy a pay" machine where you are not eligible for certain winning combinations, unless you bet more money to unlock those wins. Blazing 7's is a machine that usually has that feature. If that is the case, then it is usually to your benefit to bet maximum coins because you are achieving a greater overall payback percentage when you do so. If you never bet max coins then that machine will always pay back less than its optimal payout.

We did a video on when you should bet max coins on a slot machine and you can see it here - https://youtu.be/s3jIVLyWdVs

[mbrother11]

Re: Slot machine question

I am not familiar with the game you mention. It sounds like it might be a "buy a pay" machine where you are not eligible for certain winning combinations, unless you bet more money to unlock those wins. Blazing 7's is a machine that usually has that feature. If that is the case, then it is usually to your benefit to bet maximum coins because you are achieving a greater overall payback percentage when you do so. If you never bet max coins then that machine will always pay back less than its optimal payout.

We did a video on when you should bet max coins on a slot machine and you can see it here - https://youtu.be/s3jIVLyWdVs

The game is called Sizzling Sevens. You can see its payout schedule on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU8Qtzi4hrY

I did view your video on playing max coins, and I get that I should try to optimal payout versus risk. What I dont get is how a machine can be programmed to yield a certain percentage return when it can't predict how many people will play minimum coins versus maximum. As I said in my original post, if a huge preponderance of people play only two coins, followed by a single player hitting the jackpot playing three coins, wouldn't the math dictate that the machine would pay out too great a percentage? If so, that negates the "theory" that machines are totally random and hit their expected percentage by paying less than true odds.

[SteveBourieOLD]

Re: Slot machine question

The game is called Sizzling Sevens. You can see its payout schedule on youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU8Qtzi4hrY

I did view your video on playing max coins, and I get that I should try to optimal payout versus risk. What I dont get is how a machine can be programmed to yield a certain percentage return when it can't predict how many people will play minimum coins versus maximum. As I said in my original post, if a huge preponderance of people play only two coins, followed by a single player hitting the jackpot playing three coins, wouldn't the math dictate that the machine would pay out too great a percentage? If so, that negates the "theory" that machines are totally random and hit their expected percentage by paying less than true odds.

Sizzling sevens is the IGT version of Bally's Blazing Sevens. Both of those games are "buy a pay" machines. I believe that each coin bet has its own payback percentage and, yes, the machine could pay out at too great a percentage, if players got lucky. However, in realty, any slot machine can pay out too much if players get lucky. In the long run the machine will hold what it is supposed to and the casino will make money. The long run, I believe, is usually considered 10 million pulls.

If you look at payback percentages for high denomination machines, say $100, you may see several months where the machines pay out more than they take in. But, most of the time they make money and, in the long run, the machines will make what they are programmed to do.