Playing slots is one of the most exciting, fun games you can play at a casino. But, is there really a method to tell if a slot machine is hot? We take a look

• Which Slot Machines Payout The Best Buy
• Which Slot Machines Payout The Best Stocks
• What Slot Machines Payout The Best
• Slot Machine Payouts By Casino
• Which Slot Machines Payout The Best Way

If you would like to read this article, or get unlimited access to The Times and The Sunday Times, find out more about our special 12 week offer here. According to the terms of the compact between the state and the tribes, however, the minimum and maximum payouts are regulated as follows: video poker and video blackjack - 83% to 98%, slot machines - 80% to 95%, keno - 75% to 95%. Husker QBs are turnover slot machines. Scott Frost has a plan to reduce the payout. “We’re going to call the play that gives us the best chance to win, and I’d be doing the whole team a.

How Slot Machines & Coin Slots Work. Slot machines are the most popular games in any casino, but a lot of people don’t have a clear understanding of how they work. In fact, some people have an out-and-out misunderstanding of how they work, while others are more than willing to take advantage of the gambling public’s ignorance in such matters. Our Best Payout Slots directory counts 422 titles which managed to establish themselves as the highest paying, from all the real money online slot machines available worldwide. In order to obtain this ranking, we take the Return To Player - or slot payback percentages - from all the pokies on our website (which can be found not only here, but on their individual review pages as well), and use.

It’s without a doubt, one of the most popular questions between slot players. But is there really a way to see which machine is due to hit? Do you know which machines are the best to play? Can you really tell when a slot machine is due? We take a closer look at ways to increase your chances of finding a loose slot and understand how slot machines work.

Slot machines are undoubtedly one of the most popular games among gamblers globally. Players can play for real money or just for fun, depending on how they are feeling.

Many people enjoy hitting the Las Vegas slots when visiting the gambling mecca, with the numerous casinos on the strip offering a massive variety of slot machines. One of the most commonly asked questions among slot players who play for real money is: How to tell when a slot machine is about to hit?

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Questions such as these are typically asked in land-based casinos across the country. The fact is, it is impossible to predict if a specific slot machine is going to pay out at a particular moment. If players knew precisely when a slot machine is about to hit the jackpot, casinos everywhere would be losing significant amounts of money. Players would be getting big wins at both land-based casinos and online casino sites all the time, and we all know that doesn’t happen.

However, that does not mean that it is impossible to generate some serious money from slot machines with the right strategy or greatly increase your chances of winning. Most players familiar with slot machines will know that the odds around these games are calculated on mathematical probability. Consequently, if you get an understanding of how these odds work, you could use this knowledge to your advantage and make some profit.

If you have a well-rounded slot machine strategy in place and a good understanding of noticing when a slot game is about to pay out, you can increase your chances of winning. We have carried out detailed research looking at numerous slot machine hints and tips to answer questions such as: When do slot machines pay out? Or how do slot machines payout? This online slot machine guide provides information on the most useful strategies you can use to turn the random odds of slot games in your favor.

Choosing a Winning Slot Machine for Consistent Wins

The first thing to consider if you want to make some money playing slots is to choose a slot machine. Typically, playing your favorite slot game will give you a decent chance of winning. Seasoned gamblers and gambling experts will confirm the notion that becoming familiar with a particular game improves your chances of claiming some big wins.

There are several slot games, such as quick hit slot machine odds, that players can play. Additionally, there are free versions of these games available. If you are still getting to grips with how to play slot machines, playing the free version would be an excellent starting point until you gain enough confidence to put a strategy to the test in a real money scenario. Understanding slot machine timing is also vital to finding out if a slot machine is about to hit.

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Play Slots With the Biggest Payouts

This may seem like the most obvious thing to do, whether playing slots at a physical casino or online slot machines at online casinos. If you have played slots before, you will be aware of the term ‘house edge’. If you have not come across this phrase before, we will explain what it means.

The ‘house edge‘ refers to the odds being in favor of the ‘house,’ which could be a physical casino or an online casino. This advantage, the house has means that a guaranteed percentage will be returned to the online casino over time. Essentially, this means that casinos will always beat the player in the long run because the odds are heavily stacked in their favor. Everybody will have come across phrases such as ‘you don’t see a poor bookmaker’ or ‘the house always wins.’ In this instance, the house is the casino.

However, although the odds may be against you, it is still possible to be a winner. Every slot machine has a return to player based on statistics, which is aptly named the RTP (Return to Player). Keep in mind the average RTP for most slot machines is around 90-96%. So, if you come across a slot game that has an RTP over 96%, that is a fantastic option. It may seem insignificant if the difference is only a few percentage points; however, this makes a big difference over thousands of spins. This is why it is beneficial to observe before you play to give you a better chance to hit the jackpot.

Of course, playing online is different from visiting a casino in person. There are now a lot of NJ online casinos and PA casinos online that offer slots to players within state borders.

Where Can You Find the RTP?

As long as you are willing to do a little research, finding the RTP of a particular slot game is straightforward. Check out some of our online casino reviews, which detail the casino games available, including slots and their respective RTP’s. Whether you are playing slot games at a physical casino or any online casino, you have a better chance of getting a big payout by choosing the games with a higher RTP. This also applies when you are playing through bonus spins.

Measuring Volatility & Variances of Slots

This aspect is as crucial if you are going to hit as choosing an online slot machine with a high RTP. Volatility, also referred to as variance, in slot games measures how much and often you can expect to win when you play.

High volatility means the probability of winning is low, but you might get the occasional big win. As the payouts are significantly higher with high volatility slots, the danger is you will be hitting the spin button non-stop as your bankroll decreases before your eyes. However, if the stars align and you get lucky, you could hit the jackpot!

Conversely, the low volatility games mean that the probability of winning is high, but the payouts are smaller. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that you can still net a big win with these games. However, when they do occur, they are not as high as with the high volatility games.

The choice here boils down to player preference. If you would feel more comfortable playing games where you can win small amounts often, choose the low volatility games. Alternatively, if you are going online intending to win big and are willing to take the necessary risks, then the high volatility games are for you.

Online casinos are reluctant to give out information about the game’s volatility, but you can notice what they are after playing for a certain amount of time. Again, we must stress there is no right or wrong here, just player preference.

Use Bonuses & Free Spins To Your Advantage

One of the most effective ways to overcome the house edge is to use any casino bonuses to your advantage. Most online casinos offer welcome bonuses that offer free money, free bets, or free spins on slot machines. Additionally, these free spins have no wagering requirements for numerous jackpot jump slot machines. These bonuses can turn the odds in favor of the player.

Make sure you read the terms and conditions of any bonus offer, as it is likely they will have an expiration date. While they are active, make sure you make the most of them and use them to give your bankroll a nice boost. It is in your interest to have a look at various casino sites to find the best bonus available.

Finding A Loose Slot Machine

A loose slot machine increases your chance of winning and helps if you want to know when a slot machine is close to hitting the jackpot. Below you will find a list of things to look out for when determining if you have found a loose slot machine.

Machine Cycles

If you are wondering how to tell if a slot machine is ready to pay out? One thing you can do is observe the cycles of the machine and the games. At some point, the machine will release the jackpot, don’t leave at that point, as you can continue to observe.

Game Popularity

Play slot machines that are popular with other gamblers at a casino.

Don’t Hang Around

Once you have exerted enough profit from a slot machine, remove yourself from the action before you see those winnings dwindle.

Go For High Limit Slot Machine

Use a high limit slots strategy by betting big on the machines to get some high limit jackpots. The payouts are high, and there is a chance of hitting the jackpot on a slot machine. These games are more suitable for high rollers in a casino.

Which Slot Machines Payout The Best Buy

The above list contains some valuable information when looking for a loose slot machine.

Jackpot Slot Machines

High limit slot machine jackpots are different from traditional slot games. Some of these difference include:

Paylines: Slot machines have numerous paylines triggered by the bet placed.

Progressive Jackpot Slots: Progressive jackpot slots work by collecting some of the money staked and putting it towards a huge jackpot prize.

Multipliers And Bonus Multipliers: The multiplier uses the symbols found in the game. For each amount wagered, it then comes into action.

Slot Machines FAQs

Is a slot machine random?

Yes, slot machines in casinos work by using the RNG (Random Number Generator). This random number generator is a computer-run program that randomly chooses numbers. A trustworthy random number generator produces numbers that are not connected to each other in any way, which ensures your games are entirely random. So if you are wondering, should I go to the casino tonight and play some slot games, but are worried about being tricked, don’t be.

Which Slot Machines Payout The Best Stocks

Is there a strategy for playing slot machines?

Before you begin spinning the reels, make sure you find out the payout percentage of the selected slot machine. We would recommend avoiding any slot machine that has an RTP of below 95%. If you want some big wins, choose the high volatile games and go after the big jackpot. Finally, make the most of any casino bonus offered to you, including free spins on any slot machine.

What Slot Machines Payout The Best

by Steve Bourie

The Seminole Tribe of Florida has six casinos in the state: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino-Tampa; Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino-Hollywood; Seminole Casino-Coconut Creek; SeminoleClassic Casino-Hollywood; Seminole Casino-Brighton; and Seminole Casino-Immokalee.

All of their casinos offer slot machines and five of them also offer blackjack, as well as other kinds of house-banked card games. According to the Miami Herald, it was estimated those casinosgenerated about $2.3 billion in profits in 2016 http://www.miamiherald.com/entertainment/article166085722.html. Since the average U.S. casino generates about 65% of its profits from its electronic gaming machines, it would be fair toestimate that the Tribe’s machines earn about $1.5 billion a year for them.

The only other competition for the Tribe’s casinos are the eight local pari-mutuels in Miami-Dade and Broward Counties which all offer slot machines, but are not allowed to offer live tablegames, such as blackjack. All of these pari-mutuel casinos, also known as racinos, are in competition with the Seminole’s three Broward county casinos, but the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel& Casino in Hollywood alone generates more profits than all eight of the racinos combined.

Florida gaming regulations require all of the pari-mutuel casinos to report how much their slot machines actually pay back to the public. This “Average Payout Percentage” information isavailable to the public and can be seen on the state’s website at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/pmw in the “Slot Revenues” section. Additionally, each racino must post a sign in the casino showing the average monthly payback percentage forall of their gaming machines. Usually, the average for all of the casinos is around 92.5%

The Seminoles are not required to release information on the payout percentages for any of their casinos and they keep this information a closely guarded secret. They say that theirmachines pay out at a rate comparable to the pari-mutuels, but no one knows for sure, and the topic is sometimes a source of controversy.

If you read reviews of Seminole casinos on Yelp, Tripadvisor, or on our website at americancasinoguide.com you will see some reviewers say they believe the machines are set to around 60%, orlower. As someone who has written about casino gambling for more than 25 years, I know that isn’t true. The procedure for deciding what a slot machine is set to pay back to the public is rathersimple. When a casino orders a slot machine the manufacturer will offer them a choice of chips to put in the machine and that chip is what controls the long-term payback percentage in thatmachine. Generally, there are about six to eight different chips to choose from and the payback percentages can be as high as 98 percent to as low as 82 percent.

Casinos, almost universally, put the highest-paying chips in the highest denomination machines and the lowest-paying chips in the lowest denomination machines. This means that $25 slots willhave chips returning around 95-98 percent and the penny machines will have chips returning around 86-89 percent.

The lowest payback I ever heard of for a chip was about 80 percent, so I knew that the 60 percent number in the user reviews was not correct, but could there be some way to find out what themachines at the Seminole casinos really paid back to the public? After a lot of research, I believe that I have correctly calculated this information and what follows is my story of how I didit, plus a simple formula to show how anyone can do it. Additionally, we’ll take a look at the returns on some specific machines at some Seminole Casinos and see how they compare to the returnsat other casinos. Now, in order to start this discussion properly, you’ll first need some background information on how casinos work.

Slot Machine Payouts By Casino

When discussing how casinos make money, it is important to know the term “theo,” which is short for theoretical. This is how a casino expects to make money on its games. It’s referred to as“theo” because it is a theoretical number that is not guaranteed. However, the casino knows that the longer you play, the more likely your loss will approach the theoretical win for thatparticular game.

As an example, if you play a slot machine that has a 10% theo, then the casino would expect to keep about 10% of all the money you play through that machine. So, if you played $1,000 throughthat slot machine, the casino would calculate its theoretical win as $100 because 10% of $1,000 is $100. Now, since this is gambling, anything can happen when you play that machine. You may win$600, or you may lose $400 and, actually, the casino itself doesn’t know what will happen. All they know is that as long as people continue to play that machine, the casino will end up keepingabout 10% of the money that goes through that machine because the machine has a “theo” of 10%.

In order for a casino to calculate your total theo for your visit, and what you are worth as a player to them, your play must be tracked and that is done by the player’s club at each casino.All casinos have a player’s club where visitors can join and have their play tracked on the machines in order to earn “comps” such as free food, free drinks, free shows, free gifts, invitationsto special events and more.

To track your play you are issued a card, similar to a magnetic-striped credit card, that is inserted into the machine and it will track your wins and losses, as well as the total amount of allyour bets. Naturally, the more you play on the machines, the more free stuff you will get from the casino. When deciding how much to give you back in benefits for your play, the casino mustfirst calculate your total theoretical loss to determine how much they have earned from you. Then, based on that total, they will rebate a certain percentage back to you in the form ofcomps and free play. The actual percentage rebated to the player is a trade secret for each casino but, again, it is always based on a player’s tracked theoretical loss.

I live only one mile from the Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood and I joined their Seminole Wild Card player’s club shortly after the property opened in 2004. Although I did not playmuch in the ensuing years, in late 2013 I began to play rather heavily and it continued through early 2017. My game of choice was video poker rather than slot machines because there is a skillinvolved in video poker and I used software to learn how to play my hands properly. Eventually, I played at an expert level that allowed the casino to have only a slight mathematical edge overme.

Overall, my results were pretty good as I hit quite a few royal flushes in 2016 and that helped me to come out ahead for my three years of play. In early 2017 the casino made some changes totheir video poker games, which made them less desirable, and I stopped playing. During my period of play I used that opportunity to analyze the Seminole Wild Card Player’s club and, following,is what I discovered.

The set-up of the Seminole Wild Card Player’s club is somewhat unusual because at most casinos when you play a machine you will earn points based on the total amount of money you put through amachine. On some machines it may be that $5 earns one point, while on other machines it may be $10 or $25 earns one point.

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The Seminole Wild Card Player’s club is different because players don’t earn points on each machine, instead they earn comp dollars. As an example, for playing $10 through one machine you mightearn six cents, while on another machine you might only earn three cents. So, if you ended up playing $1,000 for the day on the same machine, your comps would total $6 on the first machine, or$3 on the second machine. As a player, you wouldn't really know why one machine gave more comps, but you could correctly theorize that the machines that had a higher rate meant that the casinowas making more of a theoretical win from you and that's why they could give you back more comps.

The comps you earned could then be spent like regular dollars at hotels, restaurants, bars, lounges and retail stores at any of the six Seminole Casinos. Besides earning comps, each day's playalso earned you status credits and those enabled you to reach a higher player's card level. Interestingly, there was no information on a formula for how the status credits were earned. As aplayer all you knew was that you could check your account each day to see how many status credits you earned for your previous day's play.

The player's club only has three tiers: Platinum, Elite and X Card. All players start at Platinum and to reach Elite you need to earn 3,750 status credits within a three-month period. X Card isreserved for the casino's biggest players, but there is no public information available on what is needed to attain that level.

I easily attained Elite level and after tracking the comps and status credits I earned each day, within a few months I began to realize that the status credits actually represented my totaltheoretical loss for each day. I was able to confirm this through test play on certain machines, as well as speaking with other knowledgeable players.

Once I knew that the earned status credits represented my total theoretical loss I was then able to compare that number to the total comps I earned on that same day and I realized that therewas a relationship between those two numbers. As an example, one day I earned $48.75 in comps and I was awarded 828 status credits. By multiplying $48.75 by a factor of 17 the result was828. Another day I earned $30.83 in comps and 524 status credits. Once again, by multiplying $30.83 by 17 the result was 524. That relationship was absolute and no matter what day I played, Ifound that I could always multiply the amount of my earned comps by 17 to determine my status credits (theoretical loss) for that day.

Since I now knew how to calculate my theoretical loss for the day, based on the comps I earned, I then realized that I would be able to calculate what the casino had set as its theoreticalpayback percentage for any electronic game on the floor.

Which Slot Machines Payout The Best Way

How to Calculate the Theoretical Payback Percentage on a Slot Machine - I believe that anyone can calculate the theoretical payback percentage on any gaming machine in aSeminole Casino by using a formula that I created. The key to calculating a machine’s theoretical payback percentage is to track how many comp dollars you earn for putting exactly $100 in playthrough a machine. For example, if you bet $1 a spin, just track how many comp dollars you have earned after making 100 bets. Once you know that number, you can simply multiply it by 17 and youwill know the casino’s theoretical win rate for that machine. Deduct that number from 100, and you will then know the theoretical payback for that machine.

As an example, let’s say you put $100 through a penny slot machine and you earn 54 cents in comps. Just multiply .54 x 17 and you will get 9.18, which represents the casino’s theoretical winrate for that machine - 9.18%. Then, deduct 9.18 from 100 and you get 90.82 which would represent the casino’s theoretical payback percentage for that particular machine - 90.82%.

I found this method to be accurate and I tested it on dozens of machines at four different Seminole casinos. It should also work at the other two Seminole casinos since they all share the sameplayer’s club. One word of warning, however, is that I found the method to only be accurate for single-denomination machines. If you play a multi-denomination machine the method cannot berelied upon to give you an accurate payback percentage for all of the denominations.

How Do Slot Paybacks at the Hard Rock in Hollywood Compare to the Other Local Casinos? In trying to determine an average payback percentage for slot machines at the Hard Rock in Hollywood, Irealized that it would not be possible to get an actual accounting and I would just have to make an educated guess based on the results of playing some machines in different denominations.

Therefore, I randomly played 10 different machines throughout the casino in three different denominations: pennies, quarter and dollars. As mentioned previously, I had to play exactly $100through each machine and in some instances it wasn’t possible to play exactly $100, so I might have gone over by a few pennies.

In the table below you can see the results for playing 10 random penny slots and the average theoretical return was 88.37%

Date Played	Machine #	Name	comps earned for $100 coin-in	Theoretical Hold	Theoretical Payback
30-Nov	012714 10130	Moon Maidens	$0.68	11.56%	88.44%
17-Aug	040312 04892	Quick Strike Mystery Rewards	0.69	11.73%	88.27%
30-Nov	010103 11114	Desert Dawn	0.59	10.03%	89.97%
17-Aug	034106 09083	Quick Hit Platinum	0.64	10.88%	89.12%
17-Aug	050907 10010	Fu Dao Le	0.69	11.73%	88.27%
30-Nov	012106 11952	Jungle Riches	0.69	11.73%	88.27%
17-Aug	013504 10609	Super Wheel Blast Lion of Venice	0.70	11.90%	88.10%
17-Aug	013510 10618	Wild Leprecoins	0.70	11.90%	88.10%
17-Aug	043702 08245	Buffalo Special Edition	0.72	12.24%	87.76%
14-Oct	051502 12178	Rumble Rumble Bison	0.74	12.58%	87.42%
Average			11.63%	88.37%

In the table below you can see the results for playing 10 random quarter slots and the average theoretical return was 90.89%

Date Played	Machine #	Name	comps earned for $100 coin-in	Theoretical Hold	Theoretical Payback
30-Nov	067510 11231	The Enforcer	$0.45	7.65%	92.35%
30-Nov	032301 32091	Triple Double Diamond	0.53	9.01%	90.99%
30-Nov	013704 09830	Thunder Eyes	0.54	9.18%	90.82%
30-Nov	074701 11731	Quick Hit Platnum Plus	0.63	10.71%	89.29%
30-Nov	101406 08598	Cash Cove	0.49	8.33%	91.67%
16-Oct	064103 09534	Colossal Cash Grand Dragon	0.47	7.99%	92.01%
16-Oct	034708 12048	Double Hot Fire	0.54	9.18%	90.82%
16-Oct	075307 10059	Black Diamond	0.59	10.03%	89.97%
16-Oct	101309 09950	Mystery Rewards Glistening Jade - Rapid Hit Fever	0.53	9.01%	90.99%
30-Nov	075305 09528	Crystal Star	0.59	10.03%	89.97%
Average:				9.11%	90.89%

In the table below you can see the results for playing 10 random dollar slots and the average theoretical return was 91.40%

Date Played	Machine #	Name	comps earned for $100 coin-in	Theoretical Hold Hold	Theoretical Payback
17-Aug	075504 50787	Spin & Win Instant Spin	$0.47	7.99%	92.01%
17-Aug	069001 09079	Quick Hit Platinum	0.51	8.67%	91.33%
12-Oct	069710 09348	Wild Red Sevens	0.44	7.48%	92.52%
12-Oct	069707 09345	Triple 777 Red Hot 3 Reels	0.44	7.48%	92.52%
12-Oct	041806 05563	Black & White 7s	0.47	7.99%	92.01%
30-Nov	067804 10546	Double Jackpot Lions Share	0.59	10.03%	89.97%
14-Oct	065405 10508	Midnight Eclipse	0.47	7.99%	92.01%
30-Nov	068904 08728	Dragons Luck	0.59	10.03%	89.97%
30-Nov	068105 10158	Sky Rider	0.58	9.86%	90.14%
16-Oct	055307 50806	Blazing 7s 3 Reel	0.50	8.50%	91.50%
Average:				8.60%	91.40%

So, now that we have analyzed the theoretical payback percentages on these machines, how do they compare to the actual returns on slots at other South Florida casinos in those samedenominations?

Well, unfortunately, Florida’s Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering, which compiles the statistics on payback percentages for all racetrack casinos only releases information on the average payoutfor all machines within each casino and not for specific denominations. We did put in a public records request asking for a breakdown of those stats by denomination, but we received thefollowing reply: “The Division does not maintain information responsive to the following request: slot machine gaming revenue reports by denomination (one cent, nickel, quarter, dollar, etc.).”

Since we couldn’t get information on payback percentages by denomination, it was not possible to compare the Hard Rock’s machines with those at the pari-mutuels. However, it was possible tomake an educated guess about the overall returns on the Hard Rock’s machines. For the 12-month period from July 2016 through June 2017, the pari-mutuel casino with the highest average returnswas Magic City at 93.55% and the lowest returns could be found at the Isle in Pompano where they averaged 90.91%. Therefore, based on the numbers shown in the tables above, I would have toagree that the Hard Rock Hollywood’s slot paybacks are “comparable” to those at other local casinos and they are not set to pay back at the low rates that some people would suggest.

How Do Returns on Machines at The Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Tampa Compare to Returns at Casinos in South Florida? On the American Casino Guide website visitors can leave a review forany U.S. casino and the Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa has gotten almost 200 reviews - https://www.americancasinoguide.com/florida/seminole-hard-rock-hotel-a-casino-tampa.html The vast majority of those reviews are complaints about how bad the paybacks are on the slotmachines. The thinking seems to be that, once again, the machines are set to pay back at a very low rate, especially since the Tampa casino has no competition because the nearest non-Seminolecasino is about 250 miles away. That sentiment seemed somewhat logical to me so I thought I would investigate further by making a trip to Tampa to visit the casino.

I arrived late in the day and I spent a few hours that evening, as well as a few more hours the next morning testing various machines using my formula. My thought was to find some of theexact same machines I played at the Hard Rock in Hollywood and to see if the theoretical payback percentages were lower. This turned out to be harder than I expected as I found it difficult tofind the same machines in the same denominations. One other thing I noticed was that there did not seem to be too many penny slots. Instead, the vast majority of the lower denomination gameswere two-cent slots. This was not the case at the Hard Rock casino in Hollywood, where penny machines were abundant.

Eventually, I did find a few machines, in three specific denominations, that were the exact same as the ones I played in Hollywood and the table below shows how the results compared.

For penny games there were three machines I tested and, interestingly, all three had the same theoretical payback percentage as at the Hollywood Hard Rock.

Date Played	Machine #	Name	comps earned for $100 coin-in	Theoretical Hold	Theoretical Payback	Location
14-Oct	051502 12178	Bison Rumble Rumble	$ 0.74	12.58%	87.42%	Hollywood
23-Oct	082802 05797	Bison Rumble Rumble	$ 0.74	12.58%	87.42%	Tampa
17-Aug	050907 10010	Fu Dao Le	$ 0.69	11.73%	88.27%	Hollywood
23-Oct	092206 6026	Fu Dao Le	$ 0.69	11.73%	88.27%	Tampa
17-Aug	070712 04056	Buffalo Special Edition	$ 0.72	12.24%	87.76%	Hollywood
23-Oct	043702 08245	Buffalo Special Edition	$ 0.72	12.24%	87.76%	Tampa

Finding quarter games proved to be a bit harder. I only found two machines that were identical to ones at the Hollywood casino and, once again, the theoretical payback percentages matched upfor both casinos.

Date Played	Machine #	Name	comps earned for $100 coin-in	Theoretical Hold	Theoretical Payback	Location
16-Oct	075307 10059	Black Diamond	$ 0.59	10.03%	89.97%	Hollywood
23-Oct	324002 30380	Black Diamond	$ 0.59	10.03%	89.97%	Tampa
30-Nov	075305 09528	Crystal Star	$ 0.59	10.03%	89.97%	Hollywood
23-Oct	015205 30371	Crystal Star	$ 0.59	10.03%	89.97%	Tampa

At the dollar level I found four machines that matched up with their Hollywood casino counterparts. On the first one, Triple 777 Red Hot Three Reels, the comps earned were the same as at theHollywood casino. This was great because the comp rate on every machine was matching up perfectly, so far, but that soon stopped.

Date Played	Machine #	Name	comps earned for $100 coin-in	Theoretical Hold	Theoretical Payback	Location
17-Aug	069707 09345	Triple 7 Red Hot Three Reels	$ 0.44	7.48%	92.52%	Hollywood
23-Oct	380605 50232	Triple 7 Red Hot Three Reels	$ 0.44	7.48%	92.52%	Tampa
16-Oct	055307 50806	Blazing 7s Three Reel	$ 0.50	8.50%	91.50%	Hollywood
23-Oct	040111 50330	Blazing 7s Three Reel	$ 0.39	6.63%	93.37%	Tampa
17-Aug	069001 09079	Quick Hit Platinum	$ 0.51	8.67%	91.33%	Hollywood
23-Oct	180209 50437	Quick Hit Platinum	$ 0.41	6.97%	93.03%	Tampa
17-Aug	075504 50787	Spin And Win Instant Spin	$ 0.47	7.99%	92.01%	Hollywood
23-Oct	353601 50197	Spin And Win Instant Spin	$ 0.56	9.52%	90.48%	Tampa

On the three-reel blazing 7’s machine the comp rate was 39 cents, which would correspond to a theoretical payback percentage of 93.37%, which was higher than the 91.50% figure for the samemachine in Hollywood. A similar thing happened with the next machine I tested: Quick Hit Platinum. The comp rate on this game was 41 cents which would equal a theoretical payback percentage of93.03% which, again, was higher than the 91.33% figure for the same machine in Hollywood.

Then, on the last dollar machine I played, Spin & Win Instant Spin, the results were slightly worse. That machine gave 56 cents in comps, which would correspond to a theoretical return of90.48%, versus the same machine in Hollywood which came in at 92.01%

So, interestingly, the theoretical payback percentages for the first eight slot machines in Tampa were either equal to, or better than, the same machines in Hollywood. This was very surprisingas I thought they would be lower at the Tampa casino because they had no direct competition.

But what about all those player reviews complaining that the slots in Tampa paid less than the slots in Hollywood? Well, my research showed that the machines were set to pay back at about thesame rate in both places. However, there didn’t seem to be quite as many penny machines in Tampa, most of them were 2-cents and higher, and this could offer an explanation.

Penny machines are the most common denomination found in U.S. casinos. For example, at the two Indian casinos in Connecticut, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, penny machines make up about 60% of allthe slots on the floor. While I didn’t take an inventory of all the machines in Tampa I was struck by the fact that penny machines were not in abundance. Since the Tampa casino has nocompetition, it could be that they were forcing players to make a higher average bet simply by having fewer penny machines available. If so, a higher average bet would result in players losingtheir money faster, thus explaining the sour sentiments of some players. Keep in mind that the Hollywood casino would not be able to easily do the same thing because of competition from othercasinos. If a player in Hollywood didn’t think there were enough penny games available they could just go to a different casino. A player in Tampa would not have that option.

Now, looking back, it is true that one slot machine in Tampa did come in with a lower theoretical rate, but that could have simply been a mistake. Keep in mind that the casino knows what thechip in each machine is set to pay back to the public on a long-term basis and, in turn, they will set the player’s club comp rate to approximate that number. Sometimes mistakes are made andthe rate could be set too high, or too low. That could be what happened here, or perhaps it was intentional and there was a specific reason for that particular setting.

In conclusion, I hope that everyone reading this report understands that it is not a complete analysis of all machines at either casino. To undertake such a project would have required a hugeamount of manpower, plus a rather large bankroll to withstand the gambling losses that would be expected.

I am just one person who set out to investigate this subject as it is my area of expertise. I have been writing about payback percentages at casinos for more than 25 years and I believe that mywork is accurate. Should anyone from Seminole casino operations want to present any further information on this subject I would welcome hearing from them. I would be also be glad to print anyrebuttal that they might want to send to me concerning this article.