Are Slot Jackpots Harder to Hit?
Wednesday May 13, 2009
I have been getting quite a few e-mails from readers who have complained that it is harder to hit a jackpot on the slot machines these days. Many of them said that they have hit fewer jackpots over $1,200 that requires the casino to issue a W2-G tax form in the last year than they have in the past. They are wondering if the casinos have tightened the slot machines due to the economy to making it harder for them to win.
It is quite possible that some casinos are lowering the payback percentage on their slot machines but I heard another theory that also makes sense, Many of the new machines have a higher hit frequency giving the players more smaller jackpots than the larger ones. This means that you will win more times per spin but each win will be less money. There will be fewer wins that require a hand paid jackpot. What do you think?
Comments
Hi Bill,
Absolutey they are tighter. I play video keno on a regular basis.Sometimes we play the bonus keno,which gives you a bonus spin or multiplies your winnings.They even have lowered the amount of numbers to hit. But I have played the regular keno with no bonuses or spins, and haven’t hit a tax slip since i lived out here in 2 1/2 yrs. Normally i would say its just a string of bad luck. But this day and age, i say its because they have indeed tighten up the machines. I’ve said that for the last 5 yrs.And again, its just not me. Everyone i have talked to says the same.I even believe that the Gaming Board are favoring the casinos over the protection of gaming laws.I would like to see just how many tax slips are turned in,compared to 5 years ago.I think you would see the whole story right there. I enjoy gaming, but I have realized that those days are gone for hitting anything worth while. And I can also see why people do not play as much due to this fact.I think its a no win situation. Now i have heard of a way they can control the percentages by a computer. Now hows that fair? That this concept they can pick and choose who’s gonna hit and where? I do believe it all boils down to Gaming rules, and how the percentages are set up. And you know as well as i do , your not going to get the whole story from the Gaming Boards. I have heard from alot of folks who said the casino’s ran so much better by the mobs.They treated you very well,as far as employees.And they knew that in order to keep people coming back,they spread out the money.Instead of looking into building gigantic resorts, and giving out insane bonuses for profit made to CEO’S. People are spending less, and will continue,due to this fact. I sure have.
Thanks for letting me vent my view again. I enjoy your articles. Keep up the good work!
Hey Dave,
I hear you loud and clear on that…I could give you more reason and proof to keep you hard earned money in your pocket.I don’t know if you read my post regarding Harrah’s? If not, e-mail me at imppala67@yahoo.com.Have nothing to hide here.Also look forward to my upcoming video on You Tube.Thanks Dave and thank you Bill Burton.
We moved here in 2003. We play at the Rampart in Summerlin. I play mostly one game and it is on the Game King machine. I don’t play “heavy” so I don’t get the big jackpots. I have noticed that when they put in a new machine, it will pay good for about a week or two. Then, nothing. If you watch for new machines, you can win a bit. And as I have noticed, these “1 cent” machines are all-$4.40…$5.00 machines. So if you want to hit the jackpot, you have to play full to hit anything good. Put in a $5.00 bill and you get 4 plays. Boy, that’s alot of fun.
We are both retired and if we can get a few hours enjoyment at a casino, so be it. I just can’t afford to play any of the new machines. Just watch for the new machines. You can win some.
Hi Bill,
I agree with all the coments.
Also not menchioned is the casinos are slowly
taking our comps away. They will not join husband and wife accounts and now they stopped
comping our meals. Next I expect them to stop comping our rooms.
Regarding the Tighter Slots @ Casinos? I understand that these machines can’t be tighten or losssened … can someone varify this from the slot machine manufacture? If Casinos are allowed to tighten up these machines doesn’t the Gamming Board have to approve it? Doesn’t the payoff percentage for every slot machine need to be available to the public? Isn’t it a law for them not to be tampering with the percent payoff? and if and when they do don’t they need to make some kind of public announcement?