Slots
money management strategy: level 1
I{' you're playing a very short session of twenty
to forty coins (typically one-half or one roll
of quarters), the machine may gobble them all,
give a few back, or deliver a jackpot. There is
simply no way to predict. The most practical strategy
for a very short session player is to play once
through with your bankroll and expect zero percent
back. Your price for fun is one coin per pull.
The probability of winning something and paying
less than the full price using this strategy is
extremely high. If this strategy sounds too conservative
consider the alternative. Putting forty coins
into a machine and only getting twelve back is
a drag unless you were prepared to spend the money.
Slots
money management strategy: level 2
Longer session players with bigger bankrolls are
more likely to experience payouts closer to the
average, so they can reasonably include some of
the value of those expected payouts in the price-for-fun
calculation. Let's say the session bankroll is
$100. You're playing single coins on a quarter
machine. $100 will buy you 400 spins. How much
should you expect to win back? Anything can happen,
but remember that you're setting a maximum price
for fun. My personal favorite is an ultra-conservative
and easy-to-figure 50 percent. That means when
the original $700 is gone and the 400 spins are
over you intend to have at least $50 in winnings.
You're willing to pay up to S,50 for the pleasure
of 400 spins. I've never personally had a run
as bad as 50 percent, but I’ve ,seen other
people who have. The key to avoiding such a catastrophe
is monitoring your winnings. One quarter of the
wav through your bankroll (100 spins) you should
be down a maximum of $12.50. Anything more and
you're paying more than 50 percent, way too much
for fun. Find a looser machine.
Slots money management strategy: level
3
You're in for the long haul and playing for multiple
hours. It's possible to see returns approximating
the actual house edge at this level of play, but
don't count on it. Set your overall price for
fun at 25 percent of your bankroll (75 percent
return) and play the money once through. Periodically
monitor your winnings at 50 or 100 spin intervals.
If you hit a cold streak or a tight machine your
price for fun will shoot through the roof. When
that happens you should take a break or play another
machine.
