Slot Machine Expected Return

Slot Machine Expected Return Calculator

Introduction to Win, Walk Away, Return Later

The point of the RTP percentage is to give a player an idea of their expected return. If two slot machines sit next to one another and one has an RTP of 93% and the other an RTP of 95% (and both have similar.

The winning slots strategy of Win, Walk Away, Return Later has been my mainstay. I’ve depended on it when earning the most taxable jackpots. As with other winning strategies, it isn’t about how lucky you are. Instead, why it works is based on how a specific casino has set up their operating system to run their slot machines.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, I cannot give you more luck. Luck is completely random. Luck isn’t something either you or me have control over. I can’t make you luckier by wishing it were so. However, what I can provide is an edge by explaining the actions casinos get to choose from when setting up their system of slot machines.

As previously discussed, casinos have a selection of possible setups thanks to their new casino operating systems. These rather expensive new systems, which includes a central computer to which every slot machine is connected and controlled, provide casinos with three financial advantages:

Being able to handle larger and larger casino crowds.
Having the opportunity to tune their financial performance metrics daily or multiple times per day.
Reducing their slot mechanic workforce who’d previously changed slot machine odds of winning by opening and physically adjusting each machine, one-by-one.

With Win, Walk Away, Return Later, I will discuss the winning pattern I recognized and used extensively at one casino set up to allow observant slots players to win more often than otherwise.

This article has the following sections:

Introduction to Win, Walk Away, Return Later
My Most Successful Strategy
What Might You Accomplish with this Winning Strategy?
How to Implement Win, Walk Away, Return Later
Why Does This Strategy Work at All?
Finding a Slot Machine with Improved Odds of Winning
Known Disadvantages of Win, Walk Away, Return Later
Does this Strategy Work at Your Casino?
Summary of Win, Walk Away, Return Later

Keep Reading … or Listen Instead!

My Most Successful Strategy

My Win, Walk Away, Return Later winning strategy has been, with regards to my slots gambling, my most successful strategy. It’s what I’ve employed to gain the most number of jackpots if not the most amount of profit.

With it, I cycled bankrolls, again and again, to earn more players club points to advance in tier levels to top-tier. Twice.

Because this was my most used personal winning strategy, I need to tell you what my own gambling goals were at the time. Now, of course, my gambling goal is centered around being of service to you. Now, I gamble to learn and, then, explain.

But, back when I was using Win, Walk Away, Return Later, my gambling goal was three-fold. Yes, from almost the beginning, I wanted to learn. If I could learn enough to be useful, I’d still have to figure out how to explain it to someone else. Maybe a lot of someone else’s.

My other gambling goals at the time also started with wanting to make money, a profit. Not much later, I added wanting to maximize complimentary gifts. So, my gambling goals of the day were:

Learning
Making money
Earning comps

To accomplish these three equal goals, all I did was play high limit slot machines. These were typically 2-credit, $10-denomination and 3- or 5-credit, $5-denomination slot machines. I usually played only a few specific slot machines, as its easier to apply this winning strategy to a limited number of slot machines – as I’ll explain momentarily.

The slot machine game theme I played the most was a row of Wheel of Fortune slot machines from IGT. I wish I could be more specific about which WOF slot machines I was playing.

It would be months before I uncovered just how many different WOF games existed. For example, IGT has a webpage showing 53 different versions of their WOF game theme. Of those machines I played, I only remember credits, denominations, and how many reels they had. It also has a big wheel on top. Again, that’s not very specific.

Win, Walk Away, Return Later was my most successful winning strategy where winning meant I was learning while earning both a profit and players club reward points for all the best comps.

What Might You Accomplish with this Winning Strategy?

Why is this important? Specifically, why are my gambling goals vital to you? Because, now, you have a better idea of what I was trying to accomplish. To make take-home money, I decided I needed taxable jackpots from high limit slot machines.

To earn players rewards credits, and thereby earn an assortment of food, travel, event, and hand-carry gifts, I needed to be able to cycle bankrolls.

It’s been a while since I’ve mentioned this, but there’s more than one kind of winning slot machine. Sometimes, it’s more evident than others. It’s typically apparent when someone wins a taxable jackpot, but it’s not obvious if the player is making a profit.

For clarity, I’ll state this observation another way. When playing one slot machine for a long period, it is noticeable if that slot machine has relatively high odds of winning within the time he or she is playing.

What is less obvious is whether someone spending a long time playing a single slot machine is cycling bankrolls. Not while interspersed with also winning taxable jackpots.

But, a series of jackpots under the $1,200 taxable limit can also go relatively unnoticed by most observers if the player immediately cancels the distinct sequence of lights and sounds from a jackpot roll-up.

To not draw undue attention, I always canceled the roll-up. Do you? I know it’s fun to let the lights and sounds play. It’s very gratifying, in its way. But, for me, it wasted time. I’d have preferred to be gambling while the playing was excellent.

With this winning strategy, winning for me meant a combination of taxable jackpots as well as cycling bankrolls. It also meant both if I could have both at once. Having both at once, which did happen, was an especially winning slot machine. But, having either one alone was, too.

For you to use this winning strategy, you’ll need to know your own gambling goals. If you want taxable jackpots, then you want a slot machine that provides them. If you wish comps, then you only need a slot machine that cycles bankrolls.

High-limit slot machines are not necessary when implementing this winning strategy. Not at all. Don’t feel like you need to place bets on high-limit slots because I did. I’ve only mentioned them here as this is primarily where my experience lies when implementing it for myself.

How to Implement Win, Walk Away, Return Later

When implementing Win, Walk Away, Return Later, I had three gambling goals. I’ve already mentioned making money and earning comps. But what about my learning goal?

This goal is to learn what works, how it works, and then explain it to others in the most transparent and concise manner I can manage. And, that learning goal all started with Win, Walk Away, Return Later.

While I’ve mentioned this winning strategy is the last in this series, I learned it first. As such, I decided from the very beginning that, of all the winning strategies I might learn, this is the one I would give away for free. And, so I have – from the beginning.

When anyone asked how I was a top tier status player, how I’d gotten that free comp, why I was on that cruise, or how I was winning so many jackpots during a single session, I would tell them exactly what I was doing as my best slot machine gambling advice.

Here it is.

After winning a decent-sized jackpot, go home. Go home, then come back one week later to play the exact same machine starting about five to ten minutes before the time when the prior jackpot was initially won the week before.

Be aware that this advice doesn’t necessarily apply on days of special events, such as holidays or other special casino events. Examples when this strategy might not perform well include:

Banking holidays
Major sporting events
Significant promotional casino events

On those less-than-usual days at a casino, I’d instead recommend you consider implementing either Winning Strategy 4: Special Events Winning Advantages or Winning Strategy 5: Reliable Holiday Patterns.

However, this gambling “rule” does apply for events exactly one week apart. For example, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, from the point-of-view of implementing Win, Walk Away, Return Later, are very similar. Relatively similar casino conditions, an overall level of activity, tends to exist on both days.

For that specific winning slot machine and for whatever reason in fact exists for it to be a winner, that time of day on that day of the week had a higher than usual odds of winning a jackpot – so play it again at that time on that day of the week, to see if the reason it was happening in the first instance is still in effect.

Why Does This Strategy Work at All?

A good question to ask is why this strategy works at all. Here’s my reasoning for why.

As we know now occurs at newer casinos, their owners have installed an operating system which includes a central computer to control the odds of winning on each slot machines.

The intent of this central computer is to adjust the odds as needed to meet the casino’s financial performance metrics, some legally required within their gaming jurisdiction.

And, that’s it. That’s my reasoning. Casino operators are adjusting the odds on their slots depending on how their day is going, financially.

As interesting as it may be from an academic point-of-view, we don’t need to know what exactly they are adjusting for or even how they are doing financially for the day.

Knowing that the slot machines are indeed adjusted so often means our task is, instead, to go out and find those specific slot machines adjusted to have the best odds of winning at specific times of day on specific days of the week.

This winning strategy is, using a higher-level explanation, all about rhythm. It takes advantage of the casino’s rhythm. As most gamblers know, every day of the week has a different feel at casinos.

Monday’s at a casino are a little bit different from Tuesdays. And Tuesdays are a little bit different from Wednesdays. But, Fridays are different from all other weekdays. And Saturdays are not like Sundays, yet both are different from any weekday.

What you are feeling each day is real. Casinos have an operating rhythm, based on many events we don’t have to understand. This winning strategy works to sync your slots gambling sessions into that rhythm. It attempts to exploit it, to anticipate seeing it recur the next week at the same time on the same slot machine.

Finding a Slot Machine with Improved Odds of Winning

So, how do we go about doing that? Here are a few ways to find the specific day(s) and time(s) when a specific slot machine has improved odds of winning.

Since many of the gamblers I speak with often have decades more gambling experience than I currently have, I get straight to the heart of what I have to offer during get-to-know-you conversations with accomplished gamblers.

I explain that, yes, I have one thing to say that I share during conversations like this, which is this winning strategy 7. I also say that I should probably find something else to share that isn’t quite so powerful a gambling strategy.

These are gamblers who already understand the process for winning jackpots resulting in a W-2G tax form. So, I tell them to look at their jackpot receipts for the slot machine serial number along with the date and time of the jackpot they received.

What I am telling them is that the day of the week and the time of that jackpot for that slot machine is a good time to play that machine with improved odds of winning.

Most of the time, to repeat for emphasis, the cause of that specific time being a good time period doesn’t really matter – it just is – and your gambling records show it is an excellent time and place.

So, I say, use your information!

Another way to determine which specific slot machine has a specific day and time where it has improved odds of winning is to win a jackpot. You may already be doing this right now.

Since you’re playing it, you already like that machine. And, you’re available to be at the casino at that time and day of the week. So, why wouldn’t you make an effort to play it again one week after winning a jackpot, perhaps starting 5-10 minutes earlier?

When winning a jackpot, whether it is taxable or not, make a note of the date, time, and serial number to know when to return to play that same machine a week later.

The intent here is to play through the same time of day, on the same day of the week and same slot machine, as when you’re previously won – but perhaps starting a few minutes earlier.

However, if you don’t have a history of playing at a particular casino, how might you go about implementing it? How do you find those slot machines paying out jackpots?

Remember, you’re looking for slot machines having either relatively large winnings or a bankroll cycling. Slot machines with many small non-taxable jackpots let their players maintain a near-constant balance for long periods of time.

How do you find a slot machine with improved odds of winning? Well, take a seat and watch. Frankly, the precise times and specific slot machines that are showing a winning jackpot don’t have to be yours.

I’ve always wondered if, after one of my many recorded jackpots, I would return to find someone familiar sitting at that slot machine and playing it through the “good” time period I’d uncovered – and, perhaps foolishly, previously told them about.

This was of especial concern to me since this was the one strategy I’d shared in many conversations with my fellow gamblers. However, I never saw it happen, perhaps because of my habit of gambling at odd times of the day.

Known Disadvantages of Win, Walk Away, Return Later

First off, I don’t want you to get into trouble. I don’t want you to get in trouble financially or, well, legally. As always, don’t ever take any money to a casino which you are not able to easily afford to lose. That’s still my number one gambling rule.

Second, this winning strategy can be problematic. It cannot work if you’re not at that casino a week later. Maybe you were vacationing. Perhaps you were traveling for business.

Whatever the case may be, sometimes you won’t be around a week later. As I found out for myself, so much for trying this winning strategy during your annual, four-day, Seven Stars complimentary trip to Las Vegas.

Slot Machine Expected Return Calculator

A subtle potential issue to be very, very careful about is this. A requirement of Win, Walk Away, Return Later is to record possibly many specific times, days, and slot machines into some calendar.

If you are going to be doing this at a casino, you’ll need to use a pen or pencil along with a piece of paper for this. DON’T USE YOUR SMARTPHONE TO TAKE NOTES WHILE IN A CASINO!

Using an electronic device as a gambling tool, which is what you’d be being doing if you use your smartphone to record these times, days, and slot machine on one while you’re at a casino. In most states, using an electronic device as a gambling tool is a felony.

Please take this concern very seriously. Casinos don’t mess around with what they and their state gaming regulations consider cheating. For example, in the news lately, Charles Oakley formerly a Knick’s team member, was arrested for cheating.

Never give a casino a reason, whether it seems reasonable or not, to think you are a cheater. I really should make this my gambling rule number 2.

Another less serious disadvantage of this strategy is that it also applies to smaller jackpots, but these are more difficult to record efficiently. Most of the time, these lower limit slot machines don’t pay out taxable jackpots.

Instead, any winnings tend to be smaller. It’s more likely a low-limit winning slot machine will be cycling bankrolls when the bankroll used never get depleted – sometimes for hours on end.

If a player’s gambling goal is to increase players club points, then picking times, days and specific slot machines when bankroll cycling has occurred a week or two before is useful.

Players can accumulate those points for complimentary gifts. Or, to eventually advance to the next player tier with that tier’s own set of complimentary gifts now available to the player for having advanced.

You know when your bankroll is cycling. But, initially finding a winning slot machine is not exactly what this winning strategy is about. It’s mostly about what to do when you have found a winning slot machine.

To start, let’s discuss finding a winning slot machine when you don’t know of any. You can visit the high limit slots area, and wait for a slot attendant to service a taxable jackpot. But, finding a winning slot machine which is also low-limit can be a little more complicated.

For low limit slot machines, you’ll need to be more observant than really needed in a high limit area. First, find the area of the casino with slot machine denominations for which you are comfortable having a bankroll for.

Next, watch for any player not immediately canceling their roll-up. A roll-up is the sequence of lights and sounds which automatically occur after any jackpot. A player can quickly cancel the roll-up if they press another button on the machine’s console.

That’s potentially a low limit slot machine with improved odds of winning. I’d recommend watching it for a while to see if that one roll-up was a singular event, or if it’s one of many. If it was one of many, you can decide for yourself if coming back to it a week later would be worthwhile.

If you know to watch for it, but only if you know to watch for it, someone who always immediately cancels their roll-up is rather obvious. At least, I always thought it was apparent whenever I did it. You’ll have to watch the reels, of course, or you may miss seeing the jackpot.

Plus, it can be hard to stop the roll-up instantaneously. By mistake, sometimes, the first little Bing sound or light flash can be heard or seen. Listen and watch for that, too.

Does this Strategy Work at Your Casino?

To touch again on the reason for “good” or “bad” periods to play a specific slot machine, in this instance in a somewhat deeper manner, there are several possibilities.

Some likely reasons have been discussed in detail, such as during and the morning after special events, including:

Various holidays
Giveaways
Local sporting events

Other reasons for these “good” and “bad” times are based on the casino operators being in near full control of their financial returns, with the possible exception of having immediate, to the second, real-time knowledge.

Such reasons can sometimes be discerned by a savvy gambler that spends hours of time several days of the week at a casino. Other reasons, however, are not a matter of public knowledge, i.e., company proprietary to the corporate officers of the casino operator.

Is attendance less than usual? If so, that’s cause for the casino operator to set up more “bad” time periods. Similarly, the reverse is true regarding higher than typical attendance.

Summary of Win, Walk Away, Return Later

This approach to playing slot machines is the last winning strategy planned in this series of seven winning methods. With it, savvy slots enthusiasts such as yourself can take advantage of casinos that have set up their slot machines to perform this way.

Naturally, a casino wouldn’t knowingly set up their slot machines to be winners, but my best understanding is that this winning strategy is invisible to them.

Why? Because it’s a less-than-obvious consequence of their using new casino operating systems to automate slot machines odds of winning to, in part, meet their daily performance metrics.

Will casinos ever notice this winning strategy, and take steps to eliminate it? Maybe. Perhaps not. Casinos get substantial financial advantages from using these operating systems that, from a business perspective, it would be a tough financial advantage to give up. It might well be impossible for them to do so.

But, it doesn’t have to be deliberate stoppage of our winning with this strategy. What I’ve found is, at my local casino where I once extensively used this strategy, it disappeared overnight when that casino underwent a significant ownership change.

So, as usual with all my winning strategies, observe first. Look for what works. Don’t spend any more than you were going to spend anyway. And, if you find something that works, tell me. I’m kidding! But we’d all like to know about it. Tell me and I’ll share it with all of us!

Seriously, if you find something that works, keep a close eye on it. Ride it while it lasts, but expect change to happen eventually. Too many of my friends, fellow high limit slots players, weren’t able to adjust their play when overall circumstances changed.

Winning at slots is not entirely about luck anymore. Yes, it’s still a part of the experience. But, now, so is casino-wide, automated operating systems. Learn to make the most of them, if or when a legal advantage is (for a while) possible.

Omgsiam