Understanding Probability in Slot Machine Games

Let’s be honest – when you’re playing slots at O'Town Casino online, math and probability are probably the furthest things from your mind. You’re here to kick back, have a drink and enjoy the gaming experience, and possibly win the big jackpot at the slot machines.

But it’s probably worthwhile to stop and think for a second about how probability affects your slots results. Sure you want to have a nice leisurely time playing casino games, but you also don’t want to lose all your money in a hurry. If you take a moment to get a better understanding of slot machine games and the mathematical principles governing them, it might do you – and your real-money account balance some good.

What’s an Average Payout Anyway?

Typically, when you sit down to play at a slot machine either online or in a physical casino, the game advertises an average payout of 90-something percent. Most people glance at that number, note that it’s mighty close to 100, and that’s good enough for them. But what does it really mean?

Another, less euphemistic, way of putting it is that for every $1 you put into these slot machines, you’ll get 90-something cents back out. That said, it’s not a cut-and-dry equation – you don’t put in $100 and cash out $90 or so every time you play; we’re just talking overall probabilities. There’s variance in the game. Sometimes you get lucky and hit the big jackpot right away, sometimes you slowly build up to double your initial stake, and sometimes you hit a rough patch and nickel-and-dime yourself to a big loss. Whenever you gamble, you should be willing to accept losing. Don’t risk your money if you’re not prepared for a bad beat.

Finding Your Strategy

Every time you sit down to play a slot machine – for example, your favorite halloween-themed slot game at O'Town Casino – you should think about how much money you have and how far it’ll take you. Assess the size of your bankroll and ask yourself – how many spins will it buy?

Let’s take the example of a land-based casino where you’re playing nickel slot machines with $10 in change. Theoretically, if you bet all 200 nickels in your roll, you should come out with $9 or so on average, according to the math. Then if you bet that $9 again, you would come away with $8.10. Bet it again and you’ll trend toward $7.30, then $6.60 and downward. Gradually, your bankroll will begin to slip away, but hey – at least you’re still in the game (unless of course you get lucky and have a great winning spin or trigger a bonus round to send some extra cash your way).

Before you begin playing a slot game, you can do a quick calculation about how long you can theoretically play with a given bankroll. If you want your money to last longer, maybe you should play for lower stakes, whereas if you’re OK with spending it quickly, in the hopes of a bigger payout, it might be fine to bet bigger. It depends whether you’re in the mood for a full evening of entertainment at the casino or just a quick game or two in the hopes of catching lightning in a bottle.

Playing slot machines like Halloween Fortune slots may not be a sure-fire route to great riches, but it’s an enjoyable way to pass an afternoon or an evening. If you possess an understanding of slot machine games and the probability of payouts, you can optimize your gaming experience. Bet big or bet small – play fast or play slow. Whatever style of play works best for you, you can find in an online casino like O'Town Casino.

What You Need to Know About Slot Machines

In a casino, there are different varieties of slot machines that people can play on. The two most common classifications are 1) straight slot machines (non-progressive) and 2) progressive slot machines. Straight slot machines have a predetermined schedule that will always pay out the same amount for every winning spin.

Progressive machines, on the other hand, are more interesting. You’ll recognize these machines by the display at their tops, showing the accumulated jackpot. As the name suggests, the jackpot is progressive – meaning that the amount steadily increases as more and more people play the the machine. The jackpot’s prize is directly proportional to the number of bets made by players.

What to Wager

Most people will say that a maximum bet will increase your chances of hitting a winning combination. A huge percentage of slot machine guides on the Internet can attest to that. But remember, a maximum bet is not always the best bet. Keep in mind that slot machines are different from each other. Playing a maximum bet on some machines CAN give you higher chances on winning

For example, on progressive machines it is better to bet a maximum amount. Should you hit the jackpot and had bet lesser than the maximum, you will not get the progressive accumulated total. Instead, you will be given with a sum corresponding to the payout chart, which is lesser.

But this is not always the case. Most of the time, machines do not differentiate between maximum and minimum bets. Player get equal chances on hitting the jackpot no matter what amount they choose to wager.

If you can afford it, try to bet on all the paylines of the machine, especially on progressive slots. More paylines = more chances of getting a winning combination in each spin.

Knowing Your Game

The best way to win at slot machines is to study the slot machine that you are playing. What kind of machine is it? Non-progressive or progressive? Study the payout percentage and hit frequency. Determine the pros and cons of every machine you’ll play. And be aware of some slots’ “bonus features” like wild cards or an extra game.

Maximizing Your Money

Knowing the limitations of your wallet and financial patience will surely be beneficial in any type of situation, especially in games where the chances of losing money are high.

If possible, play lower-cost machines. It may have a lesser jackpot but it will allow you to maximize the amount of coins that you will play each time.