SURVIVING AT CASINO SLOTS Copyright Notice - This document is Copyright (c) 1995 by Mark S. Pilarski, all rights reserved. Permission for non-commercial distribution is hereby granted, provided that the copyright notice and complete text are kept intact. Please feel free to distribute this document on BBS's, commercial networks (AOL, CompuServe, Genie, ect.), and/or internet locations. Slots are the easiest game to play in the casino. Walk up, insert a coin, pull the handle, then reach into your pocket for more money. Unfortunately when the house has such a high edge against you, that is what normally happens. But that does not mean you cannot have some fun and at least close the gap on the edge the casino holds against us. So below are some of my favorite slot tips to help you overcome this huge house advantage. You will find these plus many other casino tips, techniques, and playing strategies on my audio cassette tapes, "Hooked on Winning," but for now let us concentrate exclusively on the most popular of all casino games, SLOTS. These tips will not guarantee you that you are going to be a winner, because it's tough to beat a house edge that is generally well over 10%, but it also does not have to be so tough on your bankroll, and that is where these tips will really help. So let's get started. First, Progressive machines offer the opportunity to compare and shop around for the best value. One 25 cent "slot machine carousel" can have a progressive payout of $2600 and another at $1900 standing right next to it. You should always be looking for the best gaming opportunity possible. 2. Casinos will advertise machines that have a 98.5% payback. Now on the positive side this would definitely be a great machine to play. WOW!!! A casino game holding just a percent and a half, and a slot machine no less. This would be a better bet than most of the other casino action you would find. Now the downside. If you look closely at the advertisement, it will probably say, "On select machines." Also it most likely will not be posted on the machine itself, and probably limited to a single bank of machines, so it becomes your responsibility to find them. Easiest way: ask a slot employee, and if they don't know, have them ask their direct supervisor. 3. Las Vegas gives away over one half billion dollars worth of comps each year and as a slot player you deserve your share. Casinos now offer you the ability to "comp yourself" by using one of their slot cards. You might not be comfortable with this advanced technology but it is a proven way of getting your fair share of comps. What's important is to find out the value of your slot play with your favorite casino. How, well it's generally based on the number of coins you cycle through a machine. Might as well get points for all those quarters you're inserting, so find out how much their worth. 4. You always want to treat comps as profit but you never want to gamble just to receive them. It is much better to play 98% plus payback machines and increase your winning opportunities than play poor return machines. Remember you're there to WIN not get a free buffet. 5. If you cannot afford to play the maximum amount of coins, you should not be playing that denomination of machine. If you are playing a dollar slot and 5 dollars is to rich for your blood, drop down to a quarter machine. It is always better value to play five quarters versus one dollar and five nickels instead of one quarter. 6. Never play back credits. The problem with playing them back is that it is too easy to play them all before you realize your total is zero. 7. Avoid restaurants, bars, supermarkets and airport slot machines. They are the tightest of them all. 8. Before you walk away from a machine, make sure you have not left any money in the slot in the form of credits. Millions are lost each year by gamblers who walk away from a machine leaving their winnings. When you are done playing, don't forget to cash out. 9. It is your responsibility if you hit a jackpot that you receive full payment. Some jackpots will only deliver partial payment in the tray and the remainder will be paid by a slot attendant. If you were to insert more coins and pull the handle, bad news, the remainder of your jackpot is lost forever. 10. You are in a casino and you just cannot decide which type of slot machine to play. If you are going to choose between video poker and slots, play video poker. Even poor play on a video poker machine will have a better payback than most "reel" slot machines. 11. Read all the posted material on the machine you are playing. You must fully understand all printed information concerning the number of lines lit, prizes or awards. 99 times out of a hundred when someone calls over a slot attendant and complains the machine just ripped them off, that person generally did not read the pay schedule correctly. 12. When you insert coins, do not assume all the coins registered before pulling the handle, because casinos will not pay you the big jackpot if the total amount of coins did not register. Played five but only four registered, SORRY. Again it is your responsibility. 14. Avoid machines that use video representations of symbols. There is absolutely no way to figure out the payoff percentage of that machine. For all you know you could be playing a 256 stop machine. We spend plenty of time on our tapes explaining "stops" and all other aspects on how slot machines really work. 15. It is easy to reserve your favorite slot machine. Most casinos will hold a slot for you while you go to the restroom, take a short 15 minute break, or even go to lunch, and it is pretty simple to do. Just have a slot supervisor reserve your machine, but remember, give them a specific time when you will return. 16. Do not chain yourself to a cold machine. Why? Because the longer you stay at any machine the more time the machines built in advantage has to work on you. "Learn to leave a losing machine." Four or five no return pulls, walk away. 17. Even if you are just playing slots, you still need to set your bankroll for the trip and your gaming session. Discipline yourself and stick to it. 18. Play where the local gamble because locals generally will not play 83% return machines. And where do they play? Just walk up and ask a few employees where the locals find the best slot value. Even if they are not players themselves, they at least know where their friends like to gamble. 19. Leave your credit and bank teller cards at home so you will not be tempted with the easy convenience of getting cash. Also, never gamble above your means or with money you cannot afford to lose. Finally, try to play at a casino that gives you the best return on slots. Generally a downtown Las Vegas casino will return a higher percentage back to you the customer than a Vegas Strip casino would. Also play at casinos that advertise those 98% plus machines, but don't forget, once you are there, ask a slot employee which machines those are, because generally, they are not advertised. Mark Pilarski has spent the last fifteen years on the wrong side of the table, working for the casinos extracting your money. That's the bad news. The good news is that he has created a gaming product that will give you all the information you need to know to win, and finally let you start "gambling without tears." It's called "Hooked on Winning," and includes 2 one hour audio cassette tapes and three take anywhere colorful laminated cards. Total investment, $14.95. That's less than 5 minutes of Saturday night casino action. Mark Pilarski has a saying, a creed if you will, and it goes like this. "The smarter you play, the luckier you'll be." Why don't you give Mark the opportunity to be your personal gaming instructor and take advantage of this superb product. You have nothing to lose because he'll back it up with an unconditional money back guarantee. Now that's a bet you "can" afford to lose!!!