What Is The Trick To Slot Machines

  1. What Is The Trick To Slot Machines Made
  2. Best Slot Machines At Casinos
  3. What Is The Trick To Slot Machines Online
  4. How To Beat The Slots Every Time
  5. Slot Machine Tips And Secrets
  6. What Is The Slot Machines

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Slot machines offer a very entertaining experience. These games are full of animations, bonuses, unique symbols, and huge wins.

It’s fun taking a chance at big prizes. Even if you don’t win, slot machines are an exciting way to pass the time.

Unfortunately, game makers don’t just rely on large payouts and cool animations to keep you playing. They instead program slot machines in a way that tempts you to play more than you originally planned.

Losses disguised as wins (LDWs) and near wins are two of the biggest factors that casinos use to keep you spinning the reels. Both can cause you to gamble longer and lose more money.

Obviously, you don’t want to fall into this trap. That’s why I’m going to discuss what LDWs and near wins are, along with which one you should be more concerned about.

What Are Losses Disguised as Wins?

Classic slot machines have three reels and a single payline. You insert a quarter into these machines and get a single chance to win in every round.

The slots world was once filled with these classic games. However, the industry began changing rapidly in the late 1970s. Computer technology enabled developers to make video slot machines.

A video slot has far more capabilities than classic slots, which run on mechanical reels.

One of those capabilities involves featuring dozens of paylines.

Nowadays, most slots have anywhere from 20 to 100 lines. This setup makes for more excitement because you have multiple chances to win in each round.

But this is also where LDWs come into play. You can earn a small payout yet still lose money overall.

Here’s an example:

  • You bet $1 on a spin
  • You win a $0.15 payout
  • Lights and sound effects go off
  • You feel like a winner thanks to the theatrics
  • But you’ve actually lost $0.85 overall

It’s easy to see that this is a loss from a mathematical standpoint. However, developers make it harder to comprehend through the use of flashing lights and triumphant sounds.

What Are Near Wins?

A near win can be one of two things:

  • Close jackpot calls, such as landing four out of the necessary five symbols
  • Near payouts, such as getting two out of the required three symbols
The

Most people envision barely missing a jackpot when thinking of near wins. They get extremely excited when they’re 1-2 symbols away from winning the top prize. Even after missing the jackpot, they still collect a decent win (e.g., 500 credits).

Almost earning a small payout, on the other hand, doesn’t elicit the same excitement. Instead, gamblers are used to missing small prizes by one symbol.

It’s the close jackpot calls that keep people spinning the reels. What’s more is that some gamblers actually believe they have a better chance to win since they’re so close to the jackpot.

Here’s an example:

  • A slot offers a progressive jackpot worth $100,000 coins for five lions in a payline
  • You’re betting $0.01 per line
  • You get four out of the necessary five lions
  • You win 1,000 coins
  • 1,000 x 0.01 = $10 payout
  • You were so close to the jackpot that you decide to keep playing for hours in hopes of winning

It seems like you just barely missed out on a small fortune. However, the odds suggest a different story.

Most slot machines give you far better odds of earning a near-jackpot prize with four symbols versus getting all five required icons.

Logically speaking, you should take a close jackpot loss for what it is and move on. But many players make the mistake of believing that their chances have improved and will continue spinning.

Game developers know this, which is why they might make it slightly common to get 3-4 jackpot symbols (if payouts are much lower). Earning smaller prizes for the near-misses can make you more likely to keep playing.

Research Shows That Both LDWs and Near Wins Cause Bigger Losses

LDWs and near wins aren’t just myths created by gamblers to make themselves feel better about losing. These are instead real concepts that are backed by research.

In 2011, the University of Waterloo conducted a study on slots players. They wanted to see how gamblers treat real wins, LDWs, and complete losses (no prize on a spin).

Researchers measured heart rate changes and skin conductance response (SCR) amplitudes after each type of spin result.

Not surprisingly, complete losses produced low values for both SCR and heart rate changes. But LDWs, which are still overall losses, caused nearly the same excitement as real wins.

Research also shows that near wins make players feel like they’re more successful. A study revealed that both slot machines and social games (e.g., Candy Crush) use near wins to keep people playing.

These close calls are so powerful that some players may have the same response as they would to a jackpot. The major problem, though, is that they’re not getting anywhere near the same payout value.

My Take: LDWs Are Worse Than Near Wins

It’s hard to definitively say that near wins or LDWs are the greater evil. Both work in conjunction to keep gamblers playing more.

These aspects also create a risk-reward model, whereby players feel like they’re being rewarded for an LDW or near miss. This scenario leads gamblers to keep playing so that they can chase the rewarding feeling.

Again, it’s a close call on whether LDWs or near wins are worse. But I believe that losses disguised as wins are more powerful in tricking players.

LDWs have a number of aspects working in their corner, including a partial win, flashing lights, and triumphant sound effects. These factors create the perfect mix to make one feel like they’re winning — even when they’re having a terrible session.

I’m not suggesting that you don’t also have to watch out for near wins.

Studies show that this aspect can prolong sessions and cause further losses.

However, an LDW is an even stronger motivator to keep playing.

Losses disguised as wins can be further compounded by the dopamine spike you get from feeling like a winner. Dopamine is the brain chemical that’s responsible for many pleasurable feelings, such as winning money.

This neurotransmitter is a powerful motivator that can convince us to keep doing certain activities, even when we know they have bad long-term consequences. Playing slot machines longer and losing more money falls under this classification.

LDWs create consistent dopamine spikes because they happen more often than near wins. Therefore, you really must worry about those nickel and dime payouts on a $1 spin.

What Is The Trick To Slot Machines Made

Other Pitfalls to Watch for With Slot Machines

Identifying LDWs and near wins is a big step towards being a responsible slots player. However, these aren’t the only mind tricks you need to be mindful of.

Slot machines and casinos in general include other addictive qualities. Be on the lookout for the following traps.

Falling Into the Slot Machine Zone

Players can fall into a trance-like state while playing slot machines. This situation is what researchers refer to as the “slot machine zone.” Anybody in the slots zone ignores their surroundings and mindlessly spins the reels.

A University of Bergen (Norway) study found that the flashing lights and sounds also encourage gamblers to play faster. The slot machine zone causing both mindless play and quicker betting is a double whammy.

The University of British Columbia (UBC) discovered that problem gamblers are more likely to fall into slots trances than recreational players. Their research required participants to play slot machines and simultaneously watch a white circle on the side.

They were supposed to push a button when the white circle turned into a red square. The problem gamblers missed the red square more than the recreational players because they were so focused on the games.

Compounding matters is that the problem players also lost track of time. Therefore, a slots trance can last for countless hours.

Believing You Can Beat Skill-Based Slot Machines

The casino industry has recently begun rolling out skill-based slot machines. These differ from regular slots by offering bonus rounds that require some degree of skill.

Here’s an example:

  • You’re playing a slot based on gladiators
  • You trigger the bonus round
  • You fight other gladiators using a joystick and buttons
  • The number of gladiators that you defeat determines your score

One big reason why the industry is experimenting with skill-based games is that they want to draw more millennials. This generation isn’t as entertained by slot machines as older generations.

Game developers have responded with skill-based slots. The name suggests that a player may have a stronger chance to win with these games.

However, the truth is that the bonus rounds only play a small role in return to player (RTP). These bonuses normally impact the RTP by just 4-5%.

The main benefit to skill-based slots is that they offer more interactivity. Rather than a random bonus, you actually have the opportunity to control your odds of winning.

Being a skilled player may give you a stronger chance to win. However, you’re still going to be at the mercy of the house edge.

Thinking That Casino Bonuses and Rewards Are “Free”

Internet and land-based casinos give you comps as a way to reward your loyalty. Online casinos offer cashback and free spins, while brick-and-mortar venues give free drinks, hotel stays, meals, and more.

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It can feel like comps are true freebies. You may even want to gamble longer more just to pick up additional comps. However, the reality is that casinos price these offerings into their bottom line.

You may have heard that nothing is free in the casino. It’s true because these rewards don’t come close to equaling your theoretical losses.

Much of the reason why is because comp rates are low. Gambling establishments normally only reward your slots play at 0.1% of total bets.

Considering that slot machines can feature high house edges, you’re not getting much of a deal. Here’s an example to explain:

  • You’re playing a slot machine with a 5% house edge (95% RTP)
  • You bet $3,000 throughout the session
  • 3,000 x 0.05 = $150 in losses
  • You’re comped at a 0.1% rate
  • 3,000 x 0.001 = $3 in rewards
  • 150 / 3 = $50
  • Your losses are 50x greater than the comps

Again, it’s always nice to receive freebies based on your play. But you can clearly see that it’s not worth playing more just to pick up comps.

Another type of offer you can get is online casino deposit bonuses. These deals allow you to earn an amount of money based on a percentage of your deposit.

You might see a 100% match bonus worth up to $100. Depositing $100 under this deal would give you the chance to earn a matching cash bonus.

Again, though, casinos never give anything away for free. You need to earn these bonuses by meeting terms and conditions.

Wagering requirements (a.k.a. rollover) are especially important here. The rollover is normally set in a way that you’ll end up losing more money on average when chasing these deals.

I’ve illustrated that below:

  • A casino is offering a 100% match bonus up to $500
  • You deposit $250, thus qualifying yourself for a matching bonus
  • Wagering requirements are 40x the bonus amount
  • 250 x 40 = $10,000 total must be wagered
  • You play a slot with a 5% house edge
  • 10,000 x 0.05 = $500 in theoretical losses
  • 500 – 250 = $250 in total losses

Earning a $250 chunk of cash is great. However, you’ll theoretically lose $250 overall to meet the wagering requirements.

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The logical move is to look for the highest-paying slots and other casino games. Playing games with higher RTP means that you’ll lose less when meeting rollover.

But casinos have this covered in their terms and conditions. They reduce the amount that high-paying slot machines (e.g., 97% and above) and table games contribute to rollover.

A slot with 98% RTP might only contribute 20% towards the wagering requirements. You’re better off playing a game with 95% RTP in this instance when the bonus is included.

Long story short, don’t be duped into thinking that comps and online bonuses are free money. Just let these rewards come naturally and enjoy yourself while playing.

Conclusion

Near wins and LDWs make slot machines seem nefarious. Going further, it seems best to stay away from these games when considering how they’re programmed.

However, you don’t have to let LDWs and near wins scare you away. You instead just need to be aware of them and know how to play responsibly.

The first thing to realize is that partial wins aren’t real wins. Do the math after each payout and decide whether you’ve truly won or lost.

I’m not saying that you have to stop play each time and obsess over the matter, but it’s good to acknowledge that a $0.50 payout on a $1 spin is a loss.

It’s also important to know that near wins aren’t as close as you think. Additionally, getting four jackpot symbols doesn’t make you any more likely to win the top prize next time.

Simply being aware of LDWs and near wins is usually enough to combat their psychological effect. You can better stop at a reasonable point if you’ve had a losing session.

Other mind traps to avoid include chasing comps/bonuses, falling into the slot machine zone, and overvaluing skill-based slots. These are also cases where you can avoid the downsides just by knowing the possible problems.

In summary, slot machines are supposed to be good sources of entertainment. Make sure to keep them this way by not getting duped by their potentially addictive design.

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Casinos have more slot machines than all of the other games combined. But unlike many casino games, the slots still have some secrets.

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Here’s a list of 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don’t want you to know about.

1. Slot placement isn’t random

Although casinos would like you to think that everything on the floor is placed in a completely random way for ease of access and aesthetics, this certainly isn’t the case.

Every square foot of the casino is analyzed, measured, and reported on by the casino gaming department. Traffic patterns are monitored and value is placed on certain areas of the casino to determine which slots or games to place in that area.

Usually, the highest yield slots are placed in the most popular locations in the casino. On top of this, the most popular slots are also placed in these areas to attract players into the casino to play.

So now you know that those slots that are most prominent and visible are the ones that make the most money for the casino, which means they’re also the most disadvantageous for the player. Head towards the back of the casino next time you want to play slot machines to find a better value.

2. Some slots pay out more than others

Not all slot machines are created equal, and this means they all don’t pay out at the same rate.

Generally speaking, video slots pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because reel slots are cheaper to run and maintain, and aren’t as appealing to the player as the video slot.

Video slots are now extravagant and have pop-culture themes, which attracts more players. Because of this, the casinos can dial down the payout rate.

Alternatively, the classic slots aren’t as popular or appealing anymore so the casinos will dial up the payout rate to attract more players, and subsequently keep you at the slot longer. I suggest you do a bit of searching on the internet about slot payout rates as this information is widely available, particularly for popular gaming locations.

3. The slots club doesn’t exist to reward you

This is one of the biggest cons in the gambling industry. You know how the casinos promote themselves as giving back to the player and rewarding you for your play? This is all a lie.

Now, I’m not saying you won’t get some free play credits, access to promotions, and other comps for being a part of the slot or player’s club, but this isn’t why it exists. It exists to provide the casino marketing department with player data so that they can attract and retain you as a customer.

Yes, that’s right, all the free money and comps you get out of the casino are from the marketing department. They will analyze your play, movement, likes, dislikes, and betting patterns to determine how best to market themselves to you so that you return.

The slots club is a powerful marketing tool, and while it’s always a good idea to join and use your card whenever you play, don’t fool yourself into thinking that this is all done to reward you.

4. You can’t win at slots in the long run

People do win at slots all the time. They have big wins and small wins; the problem is that on a long enough timeline it’s impossible to win.

Slots are manufactured and programmed in a way to ensure that they only pay back a certain percentage of the money that’s placed into them by players. Usually, this is in the range of 70-90% but it can be far worse or better depending on where you’re playing.

No one would ever play if you didn’t win from time to time, so this is also built into the machines. Some casinos don’t want you to know this and in some US states, they don’t even have to tell you what the payout rate is. Fortunately, there are many states that do provide it to players, and I highly recommend taking advantage of that information.

Although it’s pretty common these days for players to know that you can’t win in the long run, some still don’t know, and those that are oblivious to this fact are loved by casinos.

5. Max betting is the best option

This one may seem counter-intuitive but it’s true. On most slots, max betting activates all the bonuses and jackpots and increases your odds of getting lucky and winning, which makes it the best option for players.

What

Although it doesn’t make too much of a difference, it still creates more favorable conditions for the player. The casinos don’t want you to know this because they want you to bet small and more often at a worse payout rate, which makes them more money in the long run.

One thing you certainly don’t want to do though is max-bet above your bankroll and burn through more money than you intended to. Playing more than you can afford to lose is playing right into the casino’s hands. If you can’t afford the max bet on a slot then drop down in denominations or move to a machine where the max bet is smaller and works within your bankroll.

6. Class 2 slots aren’t really slots at all

Sometimes you’ll come across slot machines that are classified as class 2 slots. These are usually found on native Indian reservations or racinos in the United States.

These aren’t traditional slots like what you would find in Las Vegas. Vegas slots are Class 3 slots and are proper slot machine games.

Class 2 slots are actually pre-programmed bingo games which present a slot face for entertainment purposes. Class 3 slots are usually illegal in the jurisdictions that have these slots bingo games, so game manufacturers and casinos combined their forces to come up with this alternative.

Sometimes you’ll see a small bingo card on the bottom corner of the screen which will straight away tell you that this is a class 2 slot machine. So, be warned, these machines are not slots at all and you’ll be effectively playing computer bingo when you start spinning on these.

7. Video slots pay out less than classic slots

Big fancy video slots will almost always pay out less than classic reel slots. This is because of the fact they’re more entertaining, draw more players and action, and cost the casinos a lot more to run and maintain.

These big machines often take up two to three times the amount of space compared to classic slots and tend to cost the casinos a lot more to keep them running. In order to maximize profits, the casinos will then dial down the payout rate on these machines so they still make enough money on them.

Immersive video slots are a huge moneymaker for the casino, so don’t go in thinking you have the same chance of winning on these compared to traditional old school slots. If you’re looking for better chances to win on slot machines, then stick to the classic slots.

8. Slots are completely random

Casinos don’t want you to know this, but slot machines are completely random in nature. Although they are weighted to pay out at a certain rate, this is still in line with the randomness of results that a slot will produce.

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Each spin is completely independent of the previous spin. As an example, if you were to win the jackpot on one spin, then the likelihood of winning the jackpot on the next spin is exactly the same. No previous events impact future events. This isn’t how they work.

Casinos don’t want you to know this because they want you to think slots are “hot” or “cold”, because that will cloud your judgment in respect to how much you play and gamble. This works out better for them in the long run so they are happy for these myths to grow and spread.

9. All of your play is tracked

From the moment you sit down at a slot and enter your player card and cash, every movement you make is tracked automatically by the casino. Slot machines are now networked and have sophisticated hardware and software to track everything you do.

This information is collected, analyzed, and insight reports are developed and delivered to the casino marketing department so they can work out the best possible way to market their casino and slots to you so that you keep coming back and play more. If you don’t want your play tracked then simply don’t use your player’s card, but then you won’t get any casino comps.

In the near future, if it’s not being used already, casino marketing departments will start using security infrastructure to monitor and track your play irrespective of whether you use your card or not. Facial recognition programs will detect you, associate you with a player’s card or create a new player account and track everything you do on a video feed.

This is a bit scary and it shows the lengths casinos will go to. If you play online, everything is tracked under your player account, so it’s easier for online casinos to monitor what you do in this respect.

10. Payout tickets are more likely to be put back into a machine

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Over the past 20 years, casinos have slowly phased out cash payouts at slots. These days you’ll likely receive a ticket when you cash out, which you then must take to a cash-out machine or the cage to exchange for cash.

While the casinos will claim this is for your convenience, one of the main reasons they’ve made this change is to disassociate you from the fact you’re holding money. This is similar to what they do with chips on table games.

Psychological studies have proven that people are far more likely to gamble more with a ticket or chips, as opposed to cash. So don’t be fooled into placing your ticket into another slot on the way to cashing out, they’ve done this on purpose. I’d recommend that you always cash the tickets out for cash every time, instead of keeping it for play later.

11. Slot arms don’t exist as much anymore because they slow down play

Back in the day, pretty much every slot machine had an arm, or lever, that you pull to activate the spin. These days it’s much harder to find machines that have these.

While there are a few reasons for this, the main reason and the one the casinos don’t want you to know is because using a lever is much slower when compared to pressing a button. Casinos want you to be playing as quickly as possible when it comes to slots because the more you spin the more the odds move in their favor.

So by having buttons instead of levers the game moves a lot faster. Some may even say they’ve removed the lever so people don’t refer to slot machines as one-armed bandits anymore, but that may just be here-say.

12. Games are designed to be played as fast as possible

As we touched on in the previous secret, casinos want you to play whatever game you’re on as quickly as possible. While one of the main measurements on a slot is the time spent playing, they also want you to play as quickly as possible.

This increases the yield on the machine for the casino, meaning they make more money. Consider this, if you have a bank of widely popular slots which many people want to play, and it takes 20 seconds per spin, that’s quite a lot of time.

If a spin takes five seconds then you’re getting four times the amount of play on that machine which results in much more money passing through. So, all the time the casinos are trying to think of ways to make games happen much faster. They don’t want you playing slowly, so make sure you take your time next time you sit down at a slot. After all, the more time you play the more entertainment value you get.

13. Slot sounds and graphics are designed to make you feel happy

One thing that casinos certainly don’t want you to know about is the fact that slot machine manufacturers have teams of psychologists and researchers that provide advice on what sounds, colors, movements and graphics to use in games in order to make the player feel as happy as possible.

This is both good and bad. Firstly, it’s good if you’re playing for entertainment’s sake and know your limits when it comes to how much money you’re willing to play with. If this is the case then why not play a game that’s designed to make you feel happy.

Secondly, it’s bad when it comes to problem gamblers who don’t know when to stop and are chasing that happy feeling that the games give them. So this is a two-way street; that’s for sure. Casinos probably don’t want you to know this because it isn’t a great look.

14. Sometimes a win isn’t a win

One recent trend on slots is to play a jingle and show an animation showing that a player has had a win; this used to be a good thing and it meant you were making a profit, but not so much these days.

Much to the ire of lawmakers and the regulators, slot machines now play this jingle and imply a win, even when the spin results in less money won than you actually wagered on that spin in the first place. So this is essentially a loss and it’s trying to trick the player into thinking that they won.

Regulators are trying to have this outlawed but it will take some time. So, next time you’re playing don’t be fooled by the animation and sounds and the on-screen advice that says you’ve had a win. Make sure you check how much you ‘won’ when compared to how much you bet, before you celebrate.

15. Major progressive jackpots are played across multiple venues

Have you ever walked past a progressive jackpot slot machine and stared in awe at the huge jackpot which is currently available and is running into the millions of dollars?

If so, then you may not be aware that these slots are actually linked nationwide and the jackpot is played across thousands and thousands of machines and the casinos actually have no part in this prize.

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Casinos don’t want you to know this of course; they want you to think that it’s just that machine so that you sit down and play and spin away thinking that you’re the only person who could possibly win that prize at that time.

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These major progressive jackpot machines actually take a small cut from each bet you make and divert it to the major jackpot. So you should never play on one of these unless your ultimate goal is to win the life-changing money, and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that.

Conclusion

Casinos are designed to make money just like any business. The slot machines are a big piece of the profit puzzle so the casinos do everything they can to make them more profitable.

Now that you know these 15 slot machine secrets the casinos don’t want you to know you can gamble as an informed player. If you love slots there’s no reason to stop playing, but you should know these secrets before you play again.