Dear Mark, Today¹s machines
seem so complicated. Lines going everywhere, coin amounts needed to insert confusing,
and of course, try figuring out the payoffs. Most confusing though is multipliers
and multiple paylines machines. Help! Also, is there any consistent way to
win at playing these new machines? Helen G
Slots, Helen, like burnt
toast, haven¹t really changed that much over the years. They all work the
same way; you kiss a coin a fond farewell, insert it, pull the handle, and fish
through pocket or purse for more money. If, by some weird brain short circuits,
you think you have any chance of winning consistently, not a chance. The only
consistent winners at slots are the casino owners. Both the slots of old and today¹s
cybernetic one-armed bandits, are machines designed by wizards not, wherefore,
you should never, ever, think you can beat these gambling marvels with regularity
As
to multipliers and multiple payline machines, here¹s the skinny. A multiplier
is a machine that has a given payout for a certain symbol, and the number of coins
you play multiplies it. For example, If the machine pays five coins for three
bars when you play one coin, it would pay 10 for the second coin and 15 for three
coins played. What I like about this machine is that it does not penalize
you for NOT playing maximum coins. If you are the type of player who typically
plays one coin at a time, this is the type of machine you should look for. However,
Helen, if you tend to play the maximum amount, look for a Bonus Multiplier machine.
This machine operates like the multiplier except that it offers a bonus when you
play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three treasure chests may pay 1,000
for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and 10,000 for maximum coins. As plain as day,
the bonus makes it clearly worth going for the max. As for a Multiple Payline
machines, they have more than one line of play, and each coin inserted activates
a particular line. If you hit a winner on an activated line, whoopee!, but winning
on a non-activated line gets you nothing. All of the slot machines, Helen,
have the information you need posted somewhere on the front. Before you sit down
to play, I recommend taking a moment and studying the machine. True, some of the
older machines had but three lines and some of the newer slots have lines criss-crossing
in every direction, but if you just take the time to educate yourself on any machine
you¹re tempted to play, you will become a smarter player (Now, there¹s
an oxymoron to treasure: a smart slot player.) and this will help you pick the
machine that is best for you.
