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Reason #3 why the Wizard likes Bovada:

Excellent Odds

In my opinion many online casinos are too stingy when setting the odds on their games. They think they will make more money that way but I believe they are misguided, because when players lose too quickly it’s not fun, and those players might not come back.

Bovada is one of the few casinos that understands this. They offer generous odds to let you play longer and get you a better chance of winning. Among their generous offerings are Full-Pay Jacks or Better returning 99.54%, six other video poker games paying over 99%, single-zero roulette, and my favorite, Pick ’em Poker, returning 99.95%!

Kudos to Bovada for not being afraid to give their players a good gamble.

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Ask the Wizard: Slots - Internet Slots

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Your explanation of virtual versus physical slot machine reels was most informative.

  1. Given the random number generator stops on a virtual Cherry say, how does the machine make the physical reel stop on a visible cherry? I mean technically speaking.
  2. Does this explain how Pachislo machines from Japan can electronically alter payout percentages without altering the physical reel symbols?
  3. Suppose the machine decides its time for a BAR, the only BAR on the third reel, just as one passes the payline. Does it let the reel go one full turn and catch it on the next go-round?
  4. Suppose a physical reel stops on a paying combination by mistake, i.e. a symbol other than the virtual one pre-ordained. What happens then?

Thanks much.
— Larry Hatch from Redwood City, California

Let me answer each question individually.

  1. It is just programming code that dictates to the machine that if the virtual reel stops on a cherry to make the actual reel stop on a cherry. There are actual notches on the reels which may help the machine to stop in the right place. If you peer through the glass at and angle you can sometimes see these notches. However I am not an engineer and am not sure exactly how the machine knows to stop at just the right moment. It just take it for granted that it can.
  2. Theoretically the casino could change the payout on a slot machine with just a remote control. The remote control could tell the machine to use any previously programmed virtual reels. Practically speaking the major casinos need to get approval from the gaming authorities to change the payback of a machine. If they did get such authorization all a slot technician has to do is replace a chip inside the machine, known as an e-prom. This happens infrequently and would not warrant the expense of a remote control.
  3. I don’t think the machine ever fails on the first try to stop where it wants. If we can send a man to the moon we can get a machine to stop a spinning reel where desired.
  4. Again I don’t the machines ever make mistakes. However hypothetically speaking if it did accidently stop on paying symbols it would pay off. From what I understand it is the notches on the reels that actually indicate where the reels are and what the machine should pay.

 

Who has the best slot machine pay back rate on the net?
— Frank from Steubenville, USA

As I work through the various kinds of software for reviews in Casino Player magainze I am paying more attention to games I normally don’t play. At this point I can only report on three kinds of software as follows.

Microgaming: 95.67% (Based on actual returns at the Golden Palace while they used Microgaming software.)
Cryptologic: 92.42% (Based on actual returns at the Safari Casino. The Sands of the Caribbean and Inter Casino had similar returns.)
Real Time Gaming: 97.1% (Based on the theoretical return at Casino Merlin assuming maximum coins played. Other licensees may select from returns ranging from 95% to 98%.)

 

I’m looking for on-line slots that are nickels and dimes to play.
— Travis from Los Angeles, USA

Cryptologic casinos have one-cent minimums on their slots. Real Time Gaming casinos have a five cent minimum. Most other places are 25 cents.

 

What is your opinion of online progressive slots, such as the Dazzler at Unified Gaming casinos? The jackpot starts at $15,000. If the jackpot gets large (> $75,000), do you think the player has an edge?
— Mark from Allston, Massachusetts

I don’t have any information on the odds of that game so I can’t tell you at what point the meter is high enough to give the player an edge. However keeping an eye on the meter and only playing when it is high is a good idea.

 

Hi Wizard, I’m Andrés Varillas from Lima - Per?, South America, I begun to play just 6 years ago, and I loose 20 thousand dollars in this years, for me is too much, I’m really upset of this situation and I want your help, I offer you if you make me win I receive you here in Per? to take vacations, Per? is a beautiful country, and you enjoy Know it, in the Casino I play, there are many machines of IGT Co., like Catch a Wave, Cleopatra, The Monsters, Leopard, I really loose in 1 of 15 chances, I want to try back my money. Maybe you can give some secrets to win in these machines. I appreciate your help, and send you a big hug.
— Andrés from Lima, Peru

Sorry to hear about your misfortune. However that is the fate that awaits most who overplay their bankroll, especially in slots. There is no way to beat any of these games. I would recommend you quit gambling completely.

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