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\deflang1033\pard\plain\f2\fs20 The dictionary defines the following: 
\par Myth: A popular belief that has grown around something. A traditional story to explain a practice, belief or natural phenomenon.
\par Misconception: Something interpreted incorrectly. 
\par Both of these words are interchangeable when discussing the beliefs some people have about slot machines. Most people don't understand the inner working of the slots so it is easy to explain a loss or a win with some false logic. Like any other "wives tales" these are passed from person to person until they become gospel. Most of these myths and misconceptions are harmless but they can add to your frustration and take away some of the enjoyment from your casino visit. Lets take a look at a few of the most popular myths and the truth behind them.
\par  
\par If someone hits a jackpot on the machine you just left, you would have gotten that jackpot if you kept playing. 
\par False. The slot machines have a computer chip inside that runs the Random Number Generator (RNG). The RNG is continuously cycling through numbers even when the machine is not being played. These numbers correspond to the stops on the wheel that display the winning or losing symbols you see when the reels stop. When you hit the spin button or pull the handle, the RNG picks the combination at that given microsecond. If you had stayed at the machine it is highly unlikely that you would have stopped the RNG at the exact nano second to display that combination of numbers. In the time it takes to talk with a friend or sip your drink the RNG has cycled through thousands of combinations. 
\par Casinos can loosen or tighten the slot machines with the flip of a switch.
\par 
\par The slot machines have a computer chip in them that determines the pay back percentage. These are preset at the factory. In order for a casino to change the pay back, they would have to change the chip. In most jurisdictions there is paper work that has to be filled and submitted to the Casino Control Commission for each machine if the chip is changed. It is time consuming and the chips are very expensive. For this reason, it is more economical to decide on the pay back percentages before purchasing the machines and having the factory ship them with the proper chip. 
\par A machine that has not been paying is due to hit.
\par There is no truth that a machine is due to hit. Each spin is a random occurrence and has no bearing on what has happened previously. Don't ever play more than you should because of this myth. It will be devastating to your bankroll if you do. 
\par The temperature of the coins played will affect the way a machine pays. 
\par The machine is not affected by temperature. It doesn't matter if you play hot, cold, old or new coins. The coin slot is a mechanical device and has no feeling. There is one potential danger with this myth. I once saw a fellow burn his fingers while trying to heat up a coin with a lighter. 
\par If you use your slot club card the machine will pay back less. 
\par In my opinion, this is the most damaging myth of them all. There is no link between the card reader and the RNG. By not using you player's card you are denying yourself valuable comps and sometimes cash back from the casino. I will discuss slot club benefits in a future article. 
\par Until next time, remember: 
\par "Luck comes and goes...Knowledge stays forever." 
\par 
\par The Slot Machine:What Casinos Dont Want You to Know
\par The casino slot floor area is a battleground. It's the slot player against the casino. Knowing how to play is half the battle. Knowing what the casino doesn't want you to know is the other half. If you play the slots, here are ten casino tricks and the simple steps you can take to avoid them.
\par TRICK 1. Casinos promote the fiction that they're places of fun and entertainment. "So bring the kiddies. There's something for everyone in today's family friendly casinos." But not much. There's really little else to do in a casino but gamble. It's the sole purpose of its existence. But the casino industry avoids the use of the word gambling. It's now called entertainment.
\par Except a casino isn't in the entertainment business. It's in the business of making money. And as in every other business, someone has to pay for employee salaries, operating expenses, stockholders, etc.
\par It's hard to believe that people really think of losing money as fun. The next time you're in a casino, take a good look around. Are those the happy, smiling faces of people having fun? Or are they more like the grim determination of a Kamikaze pilot? There are cheaper and better ways of having fun than pressing a button or pulling a handle.
\par TRICK 2. Casinos mold many slot players into the "jackpot mentality," meaning that they don't want the player to be satisfied with a small win -- just the 'big one!" a This is an all-or-nothing attitude that guarantees the player stays glued to a slot, betting down to the last dollar. It's the casino's way of setting the player' s win goal.
\par TRICK 3. Many casinos use "comps" (short for complimentary) to entice people to stay and play exclusively at their casino. When you insert the casino's slot club card into a slot's card reader, a central computer records the amount of your play, which determines the kind and amount of casino freebies you are entitled to: free meals, show tickets, reduced room rates, etc.
\par The comp is one of the biggest lures the casinos use to get a crack at your money. So don't just play for comps. They could end up costing you more than they're worth.
\par Really big winners get the best comps of all: free suites, clothing, jewelry, gifts -- whatever it takes to keep them in the casino. Down deep, casinos are sore losers. And they don't like to see lucky winners walking out the door with their money!
\par TRICK 4. The goal of the casino is to empty your pocket as quickly and as painlessly as possible. But psychologically, they don't want you to know how much you're losing. So they program their slots to give you back a little now and then. Just enough to keep your hopes alive.
\par What they're actually doing is conditioning you to accept losing. They want you to go home believing you got good entertainment value for your money. In casino lingo ... a happy loser.
\par TRICK 5. Another fiction pushed by the casinos is the "winning attitude." Which means they want you to go into the casino expecting you'll win big. But a "winning attitude" is nothing but wishful thinking. A passport to poverty. The slot is a computer-driven machine. It doesn't care about your attitude. To believe otherwise is pure superstition.
\par TRICK 6. Most casinos set aside a slot area with a huge sign touting "Up to 97.4% payback." Note the "up to." In reality, there may be only one or two of these higher-paying machines mixed in with many lower-paying ones.
\par Since there's no way to tell which is which, it might help to ask the change person, carousel attendant or cocktail waitress for advice on what slots to play. They'll usually be glad to point out what slots they've seen hitting on their shift, but there's no guarantee that they'll hit for you.
\par Just don't tip up front for any advice proffered. Tip only after a win. And only if you want to. You don't have to.
\par TRICK 7. Unless you hit a really big jackpot, the casinos pay off slot wins in cash. They don't like to issue checks. But some do if asked. Paying you in cash is another way they have of getting back some (or all) of the money they lost.
\par TRICK 8. Some casinos have introduced slots that let you play with your VISA or Master Card. You simply insert your card into the machine and charge your play to the outstanding balance. Casinos say that this is a convenience for the player. But guess who's really getting convenienced.
\par TRICK 9. To attract customers, some casinos advertise THE LOOSEST SLOTS IN TOWN, implying that the player has a better chance of winning. But the term "loose" has no real meaning. It's mostly casino hype. It doesn't guarantee you'll walk out a winner.
\par TRICK 10. Another way casinos have to camouflage your losing is by encouraging you to play with credits. That's why most of today' s slots come with bill acceptors ($1 to $100). But when you play with credits, money loses all meaning. You don't think of those little figures in the CREDIT meter as real money. Somehow losing 400 credit's on a quarter slot doesn't seem so bad a~ losing $100.
\par Casinos know that there's a 99% chance that the credit player will play down to the last credit. So here's a good tip: if you play with credits, put a mental dollar sign before the figure in the credit meter. And set a loss-limit figure. When you reach it, hit the CASH-OUT button and walk away.
\par You can, however, use the bill acceptor as a quick way to get change. After inserting your bill and getting the appropriate number of credits, hit the CASH-OUT button. Then play with the coins that drop into the tray.
\par It may be tiring to hand-feed coins into a slot, and few players do. But it slows down your game and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-s your playing time. It's a good way to keep control of your bankroll.
\par 
\par Slot Machines Introduction \tab 
\par 
\par  \tab  In my experience slot machines are the most misunderstood form of gambling in the casinos. Not only do most players misunderstand how they work so do the writers of most books on slots machines. Consider yourself lucky to have stumbled upon this page for you are about to learn the secrets behind the reels.  How They Work Before I explain how modern slot machines work let me explain how they don't work. Many books on slot machines incorrectly say that each reel is equally likely to stop on each position, or stop. They reason that if a slot machine has 20 stops on each reel and one jackpot symbol on each reel, then the probability of hitting the jackpot is 1 in 203 = 1/8000. This was true of the early days of slot machines before they become electronic. Today this is patently untrue.  Modern electromechanical slot machines are governed by random numbers and microchips. Based on evidence from a variety of sources including program specifications for specific slot machines I offer the following explanation of the steps that a three reel slot machines goes through on a typical play.  Player initiates a new play by inserting a coin, pulling the handle, or hitting the 'spin' button.  The machine selects three random numbers. These are chosen from a random number generator that is constantly drawing random numbers at a rate of thousands per second. The numbers chosen at the moment the play is initiated are the ones used to determine the final outcome. It is my understanding that the random numbers range from 1 to 231 = 2,147,483,648. The random numbers are drawn in a cycle, to insure that each number is chosen once per cycle, but to the player this would not matter since thousands of random numbers are drawn between plays.  The three random numbers chosen will be divided by a fixed number. This fixed number is often 32 but for IGT slot machines with large progressive jackpots it can be 64, 128, 256, or 512. After dividing the remainders will be retained. If the divisor were 128 the machine would have three remainders that would range from 0 to 127.  It is common terminology to think of the remainders as stops on "virtual reels." If the divisor were 128 then the virtual reels would each have 128 stops with each stop being equally likely. Each stop on the virtual reel will be mapped to a stop on an actual reel. Obviously there are more stops on a virtual reel than a typical 22 stop actual reel. Many different stops on the virtual reel can be mapped to one stop on an actual reel. In general there will be a lot more virtual stops mapped to non-paying blank stops than to jackpot symbols. It is also true in general that a disproportionate number of virtual stops will be mapped to the blanks directly above and below a jackpot symbol. In an another effort to build suspense, the first reels to stop will be more likely to stop on paying symbols than the latter stops.  With the final outcome predetermined the reels will actually stop where the virtual reels dictate they stop.  Notches in the reels are used to verify the outcome and payment is made if due.  To see an example of how the return for a slot machine is calculated see my slot machine appendix. For more information on how slot machines work visit the following page provided by the NetGambler Newsletter .  \tab 
\par \tab Myths Below are some of the biggest myths about slot machines.  Slot machines stop on any possible set of stops with equal probability  As explained above this is not true of modern slot machines. Some stops are much more likely than others.  Slot machines are programmed to go through a cycle of payoffs. Although the cycle can span thousands of spins once it reaches the end the outcomes will repeat themselves in exactly the same order as the last cycle.  This is not true at all. Every trial is random and independent of all past trials.  Slot machines are programmed to pay off a particular percentage of money bet. Thus after a jackpot is hit the machine will tighten up to get back in balance, and when a jackpot has not been hit for a long time it is overdue and more likely to hit.  The only part of this that is true is that they are designed to pay off a particular percentage. However the laws of probability dictate that the longer the machine is played the closer it will come to its target payoff, even with every trial being completely random. A jackpot is equally as likely to be hit right after the last one and if it has been fifty million spins since the last one.  The casinos place the loosest slot machines close to the front doors and at the edge of aisles.  This may have been true at one time but no longer is. Now the casinos like to mix their loosest slot machines somewhat randomly about the casino. It is said that loose machines are likely to be in highly visible areas as opposed to being tucked away in corners. The philosophy behind slot machine placement is that the casino wants as many other slot players to notice a big win as possible, giving them more hope for themselves. Slot machines close in places where people are killing time like buffet lines and the airport are usually tight.  Hot/cold coins are more likely to yield good returns.  The temperature of the coin does not matter. This just a superstition.  A recently vacated machine is likely to hit within several spins.  It is said that a lot of old ladies lurk about the slot machines waiting for someone to leave and then they will grab that machine and play it several times, often with great success. While I do not deny that little old ladies are doing this they do not have any better chances of winning than the player who just left. Selective memory and/or a small sample size of observations of this happening are how I account for this misperception.  Other Tips Here are some other miscellaneous tips to help you cut down the house edge.  Most machines reward you for playing the maximum coins. For example the jackpot may pay 2000 coins with 2 coins played, but 4000 with 3 coins played. In most cases it is advisible to play the maximum coins.  Never leave or play a machine that owes you money. Sometimes a machine will run out of money before it is finished paying you off. If you get up someone else can sit at your machine and claim they hit your jackpot. If you put another coin you may lose the evidence so don't touch anything until you are paid off.  The looseness of a machine will have a lot to do with its location. Read my remarks above about slot machine placement.  Look for who is advertising loose slots and quoting specific payback percentages. These casinos are eager for your business and are willing to reward you with a looser machine for coming in.  Even in the same aisle two identical looking machines can be set to different average returns. If your machine is tight it would not be a bad idea to switch to another one.  
\par 
\par TIP#1 - Serious slot players must seek out the highest paying machines within the casino. Most slot machines pay out between 83% and 99% of the coins/tokens they take in. That doesn't seem to be an extremely wide variation, but it IS. Whenever possible, seek out the machines in the 96-99% range and "hit" them hard. As you might imagine, the number of casino slots that pay out at this level are relatively few when compared to the total number of slot machines in a given casino. IT'S YOUR JOB TO FIND THESE "LOOSE" SLOT MACHINES. TOP 6 LOCATIONS WHERE "LOOSE" MACHINES MAY BE FOUND
\par (presented in no particular order)
\par Near the change booths - casinos want other players who are waiting in line to receive change to hear the unmistakable sounds and sights of players hitting mid-level and top jackpots. This will, supposedly, motivate other players to get more change and play more machines. It works.
\par 
\par On elevated carousels - high payoff machines that are visible from nearly any angle from the gaming floor also serve to motivate other players to put more money into THEIR chosen machines. It works.
\par 
\par Near the coffee shop/cafe/snack bar - casinos frequently place their best machines in these locations to motivate players to eat quickly and get back to the gaming floor as soon as possible. When a player takes a "time out" for food or drink it's time spent not playing the machines. No play = no revenue for the casino.
\par 
\par Slot aisles known as "crosswalks" - crosswalks are areas that players must walk through to get to other slot aisles. Again, the same principle applies: the casinos want slot players to witness frequent jackpot (mid-level or top) payouts.
\par 
\par Passers-by using these carefully planned pathways are more likely to be drawn into the main slot aisles, where the mid-range and tight machines are waiting to fleece them.
\par 
\par Locations highly visible from other slot aisles - same philosophy, same reasons as cited above.
\par 
\par Round or rectangular, free-standing kiosks within the main casino - nearly all casinos sublet space to the manufacturers of slot machines (Bally's is a prime example). These free-standing kiosks are not strictly bound by the individual casino's marketing principles, and may have a larger percentage of "loose machines.
\par 
\par 
\par Does this mean that every machine in these top 6 locations is "loose?" Of course not. It simply means that the highest concentration of loose machines can be found within these areas. How can you tell which slot machines may be the better ones? Observation, my friends. It is always your best tactical weapon in the search for the casinos' best machines. You must be able to observe how the machines are playing at the exact moment you stand and face them.
\par Now that you know where the BEST machines may be located within ANY casino, you need to also know where the MID-RANGE and TIGHT machines are ... so that you may AVOID them. Use the Site Navigator below to learn more. Knowledge is power, after all.
\par 
\par 
\par 
\par TIP#2 - Wait....Watch....Learn. Sounds easy. It's not. Gamers, such as you and I, like to play. The hardest thing for any slot machine player to do is watch others having fun on the slots. However, if you can manage to wait and watch (even for a few minutes), you will quickly learn which slot machines have more frequent - and larger - pay-outs.
\par TIP#3 - Talk to casino employees and fellow slot machine players. General casino employees are not trusted with the exact placement of the best slot machines. And, they wouldn't steer you to a particular slot machine even if they did know (since it's against casino policy). However, they usually do notice which machines seem to be paying out on a fairly regular basis. They will most likely not share this information with you unless you ask (especially if you tip them for the information). So, ASK! If you get a tip on a hot slot machine ... unclench your fist and tip back to that employee a dollar or two, and if you win based upon what they tell you, tip them 5-8% of your winnings. This will likely ensure more tips on great slot machines in the future.
\par 
\par Fellow slot hounds are also an excellent source for getting great slot machine tips. "Regulars" to any casino can be most helpful in locating "loose" slots. The fact is, most slot players love to tell others of their successes. Listen to what they tell you!
\par TIP#4 - Stay away from the giant, progressive slot machines -- those that are linked to other progressive machines in other casinos such as "Quartermania." The odds are incredibly low that you will hit a jackpot on these types of machines. Quite possibly, the odds of you winning your state lottery are better than the odds you'll get playing the giant, linked progressives.
\par TIP#5 - Do NOT pick slot machines randomly. This is a sure-fire way to exhaust your bankroll in short order. The casinos will LOVE you, but your wallet will NOT!
\par TIP#6 - Play within your comfort zone. That is to say, if slamming coins/tokens into a $5 slot machine makes you nervous, then try a $1 machine instead. If pumping your hard-earned money into a $1 slot machine makes you break out in hives ... go to a quarter machine, etc.
\par TIP#7 - Gamble in "sessions." Set a time limit or a spending limit (or both) and STICK TO IT!! I know, I know!!! More easily said than done. But, if you are EVER going to win playing casino slot machines, you MUST develop some self-discipline. You may play as many sessions as you wish. If it were me, I'd break up the sessions with a show, a drink at the bar, or dinner ... and then begin a new session on a new slot machine I had discovered, or perhaps even try a different casino altogether. It's entirely up to you. Let your bankroll be your guide.
\par TIP#8 - Always insert maximum coins whenever possible for best pay-outs. If your slot machine has a maximum play of 5 coins at a time for a single pull ... put in 5. If it's 3 ... play 3 ... and so forth. If you find yourself depleting your bankroll at an alarming rate, find a good machine with decent pay-outs that has a 2-coin maximum input for each pull of the handle.
\par TIP#9 - Find slot machines that have substantial mid-level pay-outs as opposed to a large jackpot. Your odds for hitting the mid-level jackpots are MUCH better!
\par TIP#10 - Experiment with different playing strategies. There are several excellent slot machine playing strategies available to you. Click on the "strategy" link below to see what they are.
\par TIP#11 - All reel-type slot machines contain variant programming. This programming allows the machine to pay out several percentage points both above and below its baseline payout percentage. For example, if a machine is programmed with a pay out percentage of 96%, there will be times when it pays at 93% and other times it pays at 98%. This may help you understand why a machine that treated you very well on one trip to the casino totally destroyed your bankroll on your next visit.
\par TIP#12 - Given tip #11, take nothing for granted when playing reel slots. Don't make assumptions based on past experiences. Test every machine you play by adopting a "personal pull-rule" which is within your own comfort zone. In other words, play a certain number of pulls or spins and gauge how the machine is responding. After you have played the chosen number of pulls/spins, stop and tally what the machine has paid out. If you are, at least, breaking even - repeat your personal pull-rule. If you are NOT breaking even (or better), move on.
\par 
\par How many pulls/spins should you adopt for this? Each player must make that decision for themselves. Some use 3; some 5; some 10; others 15 or 20. Whatever your decision is, just make sure it's within your own comfort zone because playing slots is also supposed to be FUN!
\par TIP#13 - All slot machines "dump" from time to time. Dumping occurs when a given machine has been paying out below its programmed percentage payout for an extended period of time. Dumping is its way of returning to its baseline percentage. This phenomenon can occur anywhere on the gaming floor, and you need to take full advantage of it when it happens. Ok, HOW?
\par 
\par If you were to observe two slot machines side-by-side, and one was a legitimate 99%er while the other one was a 90%er (tight) machine dumping - you wouldn't be able to tell them apart. And, the best part is: it doesn't matter! Using your personal pull-rule, you would play the machine(s) fast and hard. When they stop paying, MOVE ON.
\par TIP#14 - "Loose" is a relative term as it applies to casino slot machines. It varies from casino-to-casino, and from player-to-player. If YOUR definition is significantly different from that of the casino you are about to enter, you may be in for a disasterous session.
\par 
\par On the newer slots, there are a series of small windows on the side of the machine. One window says "coins in." Another says "coins out," or similar terms. These windows are primarily for the slot technicians' use, but you may also be able to use them to your own advantage.
\par 
\par Divide the number of coins out by the number of coins in. Mulitply the result by 100. If it yields 96 or higher, it may fit the general definition of "loose."
\par 
\par There is also a third window that says "bills in," but if the first calculation yields less than 96(%), the number of "bills in" becomes moot since most serious players won't play a machine that is less than 96%.
\par 
\par If, on the other hand, the first calculation yields 96 or higher, then factoring in the number of bills in will give you a pretty good idea of the machines' payout percentage. Assuming the "bills" were twenty-dollar bills is sound since the most common bill used by slot players is the twenty. Just don't forget to convert the bills correctly according to the denomination of the machine.
\par TIP#15 - According to industry sources, the casinos NEVER place two loose machines next to each other. If you are CERTAIN that you are playing a loose machine, it would be wise to keep this in mind. If you're uncertain as to whether your machine is loose, it may not hurt to try the machines on either side of you. Just use extreme caution, and keep your personal pull-rule in mind!
\par 
\par  
\par 
\par TIP#16 - Statistical research data indicate that $5 or higher machines have the highest percentage payout range. The range starts at 93.7% and goes up to 98.5%. Remember - these are ranges and averages, not absolute values. The next highest payouts come from $1 machines followed by 50-cent machines, 25-cent machines, and 5-cent machines.
\par TIP#17 - By and large, the main slot banks contain mostly mid-range and tight machines with a few loose machines scattered among them. How many loose machines can be found there? It depends on the overall size of the space allocation, and loose machines can be found as close together as every 4th machine, up to a distance of every 12th machine. Total available square footage is the main determining factor.
\par TIP#18 - Joining the casino's Slot Club may seem like a no-brainer, but many players do not take advantage of "comps." The reasons given range from, "I didn't want to take the time to register" to "I'm afraid they'll report my winnings to the I.R.S." to "If I use a Slot Club Card, the casino will 'tweak' my machine if I win too much." Other reasons were also given, but let's address these three.
\par 
\par First, NOT taking the time to join a Slot Club deprives you of some great benefits such as discounts on meals and rooms and other special offerings. In fact, the comps you receive may mean the difference between a winning or losing session. Comps can significantly reduce your overall expenditures when factored in.
\par 
\par Second, the casinos do NOT report your winnings to the I.R.S. unless the amount in question meets I.R.S. regulations and guidelines. How will you know when this occurs? The casino will present you - on the spot - with I.R.S. Form W-2G (for gambling winnings) which must be reported by you on your federal income tax return. If the casino doesn't present you with Form W-2G, the I.R.S. has no idea what you've won, and they don't care since your winnings do not meet their reporting criteria. Believe it.
\par 
\par Third, the casinos DO track your play. In effect, when you insert your card into the machine, you are "logging on," but there is nothing untoward going on. The casinos can't award comps if they don't know how much you've spent. And, comps accrue whether you play your own money or THEIRS - doesn't matter. Casino security also tracks play through the Slot Club cards, but what they are looking for are potential cheaters; people who are doing extraordinarily well for extremely long periods of time with no downward trend in their winnings. They also keep an eye on people who are losing BIG because of the possibility of a negative emotional reaction from the player.
\par 
\par As already mentioned above: They DO NOT loosen and tighten machines at will by remote control, or by any other method. They don't NEED to. The machines perform exactly as the casinos WANT them to - straight from the manufacturers.
\par TIP#19 - Contrary to popular belief, the casinos do not "hide" or move their best machines simply because people find and play them. The casinos WANT them to be played. That's the reason they exist! When slot machine players see and hear someone hitting a jackpot, it motivates them to pump more money into their own machine in hopes of hitting their own jackpot. It also draws other players into the general location of the jackpot where tighter machines wait to take their money. How many times have you seen players begin to play machines on either side of someone who has just hit a jackpot? Enough said.
\par TIP#20 - When all is said and done, you need to develop the "Eye of the Tiger regarding casino slot machines. You need to ascertain how the machines are playing comparatively before you decide which to play as you stand and face them - for what you observe today will change on your next visit. And whatever you do, DO NOT fall into the "my machine" syndrome based upon your good fortune in time past. Approach every machine with fresh eyes; like you are seeing it for the first time. Develop a plan and stick with it, and make sure you don't choose a machine that will overpower your bankroll.
\par \pard\qc\plain\f4\fs24\cf1 TOP 6 LOCATIONS WHERE "TIGHT" MACHINES MAY BE FOUND\plain\f4\fs24 
\par \plain\f4\fs20 (presented in no particular order)\plain\f4\fs24 
\par \pard\li720\fi-360{\*\pn\pnlvlblt\pnf1\pnindent360{\pntxtb\'b7}}\plain\f4\fs24 {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}Near casino entrances - At one time, the casinos placed some of their best machines here in an attempt to lure players in off the street, and into the main casino, where the tighter slots were located. This plan backfired as patrons who began playing at the entrances stayed at the entrances. They never ventured any further into the casino. And, why should they? They did just fine right where they were! The casinos have now moved mid-range and tight machines into the entrance areas.
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}Around or near the sports book/racing areas - Casinos do not want their sports book patrons to be distracted by the clanking of tokens hitting the slot trays. Sports book players spend vast amounts of money, betting on all kinds of action, and would probably not play slot machines themselves - so placing a high-payout machine there would be waste of time, and may even cause the sports book players to leave the area.
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}Near the ticket/show lines - People waiting in line for show tickets or to see a show have already taken off their "gambling hat" for the time being. Their interests lie elsewhere than in playing slot machines. Placing a loose machine there probably would not motivate those folks to play since they must take the time to FIND it first.
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}Surrounding the gaming table areas - Slot machines that are near the gaming tables are almost always tight machines with a few mid-range machines thrown in for good measure. The same principle that applies to sports book players applies to table game patrons: the casinos do not want slot players to distract the table players in any way. They fear that the sound of slot machines paying off, and slot players scurrying through, in, and around the table game areas might cause these "high-rollers" to become irritated and quit placing bets.
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}Aisles that table game players use to get out of the pit area - Same philosophy; same reasons as cited above. As the table players leave the area, they \plain\f4\fs24\i might\plain\f4\fs24  drop a few coins or tokens into a slot machine as they pass by it, but they are NOT slot players. They probably wouldn't continue to play even if they DID hit a decent payout. It's just not where their interests lie.
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}
\par {\pntext\f1\'b7\tab}Areas that are highly visible/audible from the pit area - Generally speaking, table game players care next to nothing about a slot player hitting a mid-range or even a top jackpot on a machine. It simply doesn't interest them since they, themselves, are not slot players and have no interest at all in becoming one. They may become upset at the distraction, however, and quit playing the tables. If they become extremely upset, they may even go to another casino that will treat them better.
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\par Does this mean that every machine in these locations is "tight?" Of course not. It simply means that the \plain\f4\fs24\ul highest concentration of the worst machines the casino has to offer\plain\f4\fs24  can be found within these areas. How can you tell which slot machines may be the tighter ones? Observation, my friends. It is \plain\f4\fs24\i always\plain\f4\fs24  your best tactical weapon in the search for the casinos' worst machines - so that they may be \plain\f4\fs24\i avoided\plain\f4\fs24 . You \plain\f4\fs24\ul must\plain\f4\fs24  be able to observe how the machines are playing \plain\f4\fs24\b\i at the exact moment you stand and face them\plain\f4\fs24  for scattered among the tight machines, you will discover some very good ones.
\par Now that you know where the WORST machines may be located within ANY casino, you need to also know where the BEST machines are ... so that you may enjoy an increased chance of leaving the casinos a winner. Use the Site Navigator below to learn more. Knowledge is power, after all.
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