Reason #2 why the Wizard likes Bovada:

No-hassle practice games

Most online casinos spend more effort trying to separate you from your money than they do trying to give you a good experience. They have all kinds of popup windows, they usually make you download their software, and if they do offer play-in-browser games then you have to register an account before you can play. And if you register they start sending you emails trying to get you to deposit real money.

But Bovada is different. They have no popup windows at all, and their practice games play right in your browser, with no download, and no registration required. You don’t even have to give up your email address. It couldn’t be simpler: just one click and you’re playing the game.

I wish all online casinos showed this much respect for their players. Other casinos practically ask for your first born child to play for free. Meanwhile Bovada is patient and does not twist anybody’s arm to play for real money. You can play as long as you like for free with no obligation. The real-money games are available if that’s your preference, but if not, you can play the free practice games for as long as you like without hassle.

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Ask the Wizard: Slots - Tipping

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» Tipping

Are you supposed to tip the person who pays you if you hit a slot machine for an amount not paid by the machine itself? I heard that this is proper etiquette. This seems absurd if I were to win say $375 on a machine after putting in approximately the same amount beforehand. I am certainly not against tipping, but it’s not like this person is a dealer who I actually have some sort of contact with. Thank you,
— Sal Vetro from Miller Place, New York

If you just hit a jackpot over $1200 requiring a hand pay then it is proper etiquette to tip. Even if you lost more than that in your sitting you still should tip. The reason is the slot personnel perform a service not just bringing you your win (and W2G form) but also making change and refilling machines. Losing is not a valid reason to avoid saying "thank you" with your money. That goes for table games too.

It is another matter when you hit "cash out" and your machine runs out of coins before it can finish paying you. Although I haven’t seen this addressed elsewhere I will go out on a limb and say that tipping in this situation is not necessary. The reason is that it is partially the casino’s fault for letting the machine run low on coins, and that if anything the casino should tip you for the inconvenience of waiting for the hopper fill. Personally I welcome the advance of coinless slots, and with them the elimination of hopper fills.