AboutC.J. Expertise If you would like to understand spinning reel slot machines, video poker and multi-line video slot machines, I can help. Can answer most questions on odds, math, trends, myths and realities related to gaming devices at licensed casinos in the US. I have no winning "systems" to offer. Please limit questions to slot machines in licensed casinos. Please do not ask about table games, or how to fix a machine!
Experience Work for a major manufacturer of gaming/slot machines, which are sold strictly to licensed casinos.
Question C.J., I've heard from several sources in the past that it is a good idea to work as a team, in shifts on one machine, when playing progressive slots, to increase the chances. It's also been mentioned to start playing when the jackpot is high. What would be considered on a nickel machine? How about a quarter machine? Also, are progressive machines networked to machines all over the country or just in one state or region? Thanks for your time.
Answer Hi Ed,
There are many kinds of progressives, and I'm not sure which one your sources were referring to.
So I'm going to cover the most common, and tell you far more than you probably want to know....
Wide-Area Progressive Machines (WAP), such as Megabucks.
The manufacturer of the game retains ownership of the machine, and charges the casino a percentage of the coin-in on the machine. The manufacturer is responsible for the payout on the top award. These machines are linked statewide. (With the exception of some, but not all, Native American casinos which are linked across state lines with other Native American casinos.)
In-house Linked Progressive
These progressives are proprietary to a casino. The casino owns the machines. The linked progressive is on a bank of machines which have the same top award, same odds to the top award, and same denomination. (The game themes and artwork do not have to be the same.) The casino has control of the payback percentage, and the amount of coin-in to be assigned to the progressive meter. For example: Casino chooses 94% payback percentage software (6% hold). Casino decides to dedicate 1% of coin-in to the progressive meter. Casino now has a 5% hold. All machine jackpot meters on that bank will increment at that same 1%, and the top award will be the same on all of those machines.
Stand-Alone Progressive
These progressives are generally proprietary to the casino. A stand-alone progressive is limited to 1 machine. The casino owns the machine, and is responsible for the top award. The casino chooses the progressive incrementation rate, just as they do on the linked progressives.
In-house Proprietary Mystery Progressives
These are progressives that are independent of the game theme, and can be connected among all of the machines in a casino, or across multiple state-wide casinos owned by the same company. No winning combination on the machine is necessary. If you are using a players card, you are eligible for the jackpot. The jackpot usually has a "must hit by" amount. And it's generally fairly large. The casino dedicates a small fraction of total casino coin-in to the progressive. But, considering that all coin-in on all machines is contributing to the mystery jackpot, the jackpot can move quite quickly.
Now that you have an understanding (I hope) of how progressives work, I will attempt to answer your questions.
I suspect your sources are referring to Stand-alone progressives, when they suggest that working in shifts as a team, on 1 machine gives them an edge. Yes, and no. Since a percentage of their coin-in is contributing to the top award, they have a distinct "ownership" in that machine. The odds of them hitting the top award are the still the same every play.
Playing when the jackpot is high is fun, but it doesn't change your chances of winning. If a game has a 1-in 800,000 chance of hitting the jackpot.. those are your odds. Now if the game is "overdue", because the game has been played 4 million times without a jackpot, it is enticing. But keep in mind, it may have hit the JP several times when a player did play the maximum bet required for the JP.
Determining what is a "high" jackpot on any denomination, or any game can only be done if you know what the original "re-set" value is.
Frankly, it's not worth it to get that scientific about playing slots. (Both from spending time on research, and from a monetary standpoint.) Just have fun at the casino. Never look to get rich at the casino. You might, but it's not likely. Treat your bankroll as entertainment dollars.
