I moved to Vegas two weeks ago and I have already submerged myself into the gambling scene. I've been lucky enough to be on the plus side of the ledger up until this point but I know how fast that can change. I had only visited Vegas one time before moving here (5 years ago), and as hard as it may be to believe I had never touched a slot machine before two weeks ago. I had dabbled with online sportsbooks before Bush and Co. screwed that up for everybody, and had won big ($1000) and lost big ($1500) on single game point lines. In order to keep costs low, I've been playing a lot of electronic blackjack for relatively low bet totals; mainly just for fun and in part because I can't afford to lose too much money. What is the most you've won on any given slot machine from the time you fed the machine money to the time you cashed out?
First time I was ever in a casino, I played one dollar machine and won $300 off of $5. I played for about 30 minutes, then I cashed out and watched my friends loose hundreds while I drank free beer.
The most I have ever won is $40 on quarter slots. I try to never play slots, worst odds in the house I've been told.
I usually play $1 machines because I usually cash out if I hit a decent line (more than $20) or so. It keeps me honest and its enough to feel like I actually won something. I always get a little frustrated if I hit a decent line on a quarter machine, cash out, then realize I've won $7.50. Anyways, I've hit $400 or so before, probably hit between $200-300 a couple other times. I've never hit a "jackpot". I usually only drop $50 or so in slots when I'm in Vegas because I prefer table games.
Your odds on slots are not going to be good. It is just a matter of time before you are on the down side. The machine never pay out more than it takes. I am not sure but I think machines pay out something like 60% ? The most I have won is 50 on quarters, it did spit out a bunch that time.
$150 on the Alien penny slots. I plugged in $20, and made it to the bonus stage and finally took out the Queen.
I put $100 in a slot machine, won $600 and walked away. But that was many years ago. I was never much of a gambler and I don't gamble at all now.
I've been in Vegas almost two years now and can honestly (and happily) say that my total slot losses have been around $200. Now with blackjack, I'm probably ahead quite a bit. I hate losing...so I don't bet much.
Yes, black jack gives you better odds than slots. I think blackjack is almost exactly 50-50 maybe 51-49 for the house.
I won $62.75 on my first spin the other night when I put a one dollar bill into the 25 cent Wheel of Fortune machine and pushed "Max Bet". I cashed out and went home. It's amazing how winning such a small amount of money can make you feel like your night out was a success...
I was dealt a royal flush on a $3.00 poker machine and won $2500. I have hit a few $1000 royal flushes on quarter machines.
$50 from $1. It was my last dollar of the night. Put it in a machine as I walked out of the place (Horseshoe in Shreveport, I think) and won my money back for the night.
By law, the Nevada gaming commision requires slots to have at least an 85% payback. Usually the higher the denomination, the higher the payback percentage. Also, if a slot machine bank advertises a percentage payback, its required by law to be the payback advertised. Most Indian gaming casinos have no such regulation and can set their paybacks at whatever they want. I think the house advantage on blackjack is usually the lowest for table games if the basic strategy is stuck to. Also, the highest odds game is video poker for the player. Basically 50/50 since the deck shuffle is required to have no advantage to any one card (like a real deck of cards).
my good friend was up $900 at the end of his Vegas trip and was drunk and decided to play the $100 slots. Stuck all $900 in and after 7 pulls won $30,000 Must be nice.
It doesn't matter how long it takes. your expected return on a dollar put into the slot is 85 cents according to that law. Not great, but better than 60% or 40% like in some places.
