If
you're looking to maximize potential and minimize
risk, your best bet is to play one coin at a time
on what's called a "straight multiplier."
By popping in just one coin on these machines,
you're playing at the maximum payback and hit
frequency with the lowest risk per spin.
A
"straight multiplier" or "equal
distribution" machine, usually has one pay
line and pays according to the number of coins
you play. For instance, if you hit the jackpot
having played one coin, the machine will pay 250
coins, but if you were to play two coins, you'll
win 500 coins, three coins, 750, four 1,000 and
five coins, 1,250.
Playing the full coin amount on machines of this
type is an unnecessary expenditure, because the
average return never changes, based on the number
of coins played. Progressives, Dan, shake you
down on the smaller payoffs, whereas playing a
straight multiplier keeps you in play longer by
doling out more low-end jackpots.
Although
your question requests an answer regarding maximize
potential/minimize risk, don't get confused with
a "bonus multiplier" machine. A bonus
multiplier simply tacks on an additional amount
of money (a bonus) to the jackpot if you've played
the maximum number of coins. Using the example
above, let's say the maximum number of coins is
three. If you can win 250 coins with one coin,
500 coins with 2 coins, the bonus jackpot - if
you play with the maximum 3 coins - would be 4,000
coins, a much larger amount than a straight multiple.
The bonus, Dan, is in the bonus.
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Columns By Mark Pilarski
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