Recreational Gambler

[Mr. Ed]

I didn’t think these people existed!

My new girlfriend is an actual Recreational Gambler. We go to the casino. She picks up her $10 gift card for Dunkin Donuts. She plays the slots until she wins $50 (or loses $100). And she is happy!

[Mr. Ed]

The sad part, is that she uses my Rewards Card, and the machine gives her a better payout. I don’t mind, but it’s really not fair.

[Mr. Ed]

Also, she gets a better payout when she plops in a $100 bill, rather than her usual $20 bill.

[Mr. Ed]

It got me thinking - are these machines designed to give a small immediate payout to entice people to play longer? She usually leaves immediately after she is ahead, then we go to Dunkin Donuts. Her win rate is higher than mine after six trips to the casino.

[21forme]

The sad part, is that she uses my Rewards Card, and the machine gives her a better payout. I don’t mind, but it’s really not fair.

Not true.

Also, she gets a better payout when she plops in a $100 bill, rather than her usual $20 bill.

Also, total BS. maybe Freightman is right and you are a sock of aceside.

[Mr. Ed]

So are slot machines “fair” meaning they give the same payout no matter what the buy-in or “level” of player card? I don’t really know. I have a sample size of 3, so I am fine either way. I do not understand the machines and I am not optimistic that there is a way to beat them.

All I know is it worked 3 out of 3 times. Kind of like if you closed your eyes and crossed the road 3 out of 3 times and didn’t get hit, you could assume you would never get hit.

[21forme]

Every pull on the slot machine is random. The house edge varies by the denomination chosen (i.e., dollar slots return more than penny slots), but whether you insert a $20 or $100 bill doesn't matter.

[Mr. Ed]

My girlfriend likes to play 50 cents on a 1 cent slot. Should she play 50 cents on a 50 cent machine? Is that a valid question?

[21forme]

I'm not an expert on slots. That said, I believe the return on the one cent machine is probably around 85%. On a 50 cent unit machine, it's probably in the low 90s.