The thrill of slots(?) and online play

[DaveG39]

After being around this forum for a little while, I get the impression that alot (most?) people here are slot players. I've never played slots, nor will I ever. I do occasionally play video poker, but only if I'm way ahead at the tables. I do this because, I've always been told they are one of the worst bets in the house (besides Keno), at least at B & M casinos (and I assume the same is true online). The reason most often given for this that you can't calculate house edge on a slot like you can at, for example, Craps or Roulette. Therefore the casino can set the machines anyway they like and you'll never know better. Also, for the lower denomination slots, the higher the house edge HAS to be for the casino to keep making money. So, for the slots players, why do you play a game that seems to be such an obvious loser?

As an aside, many of my friends think I'm crazy for playing online in the first place. This, they say, is because all online games, not just video slots, are nothing but RNGs that can be manipulated. Furthermore, even small manipulations, which the vast majority of players wouldn't detect, can reap huge profits for the casinos due to volume. Thoughts?

[SlotKing]

Most slot players, from my experience, seem to want to play slots because it is one of the simplest (if not THE simplest) game to play in a casino. You sit down at a machine, put your money in, pull the lever/hit the button and pray to god. It couldn't be simpler. A table game requires players to go through an entire thought process to calculate what their next best move would be, diluting the fun in winning. I say this because a win is supposed to be a thrill, and not a calculated probabiliity.

Also, a lot (I won't say most) of slot players aren't really concerned about house edge. They are more concerned with what the payouts are, or what kind of bonus game/free spins the game offers. The house edge is not something I concern myself with. When I play them, I am looking for the thrill of a win. I know I could get this from a table game, but I'm more interested in the play time for my buck.

As you may very well know, slot machines also offer the biggest jackpots in the casinos. If I had a choice between a table game with a fixed payout for the best deal/throw/whatever that doesn't pay more than 100x my bet, and a possible progressive jackpot that could pay out thousands or even millions of times my bet (and dollars ), I'd choose the latter anytime.

My 2c on that

[KasinoKing]

So, for the slots players, why do you play a game that seems to be such an obvious loser?

Because of the high variance.
Your average bonus player probably thinks high variance is a really bad thing - but it is a slots player's best friend!
How often have you played regular Blackjack & won more than 1.5 x your total bet on one hand?
I've lost count of how many bet x 100+ wins I've had on slots!
The HA of a slot is largely irrelevant (within reason) - it's the variance which counts.

When I started playing online, for the first 4 years 98% of my play was on card games. When the bonuses became less attractive, I switched to slots (around the end of 2005). For the last 4 years 98% of my play has been on slots, and yet I have continued to make profit (by using bonuses) year on year.
Each to their own, but I just love the excitement of hitting a big win on a slot, and throughly enjoy completing WR with a profit against all the odds!

KK

[DaveG39]

Most slot players, from my experience, seem to want to play slots because it is one of the simplest (if not THE simplest) game to play in a casino. You sit down at a machine, put your money in, pull the lever/hit the button and pray to god. It couldn't be simpler. A table game requires players to go through an entire thought process to calculate what their next best move would be, diluting the fun in winning. I say this because a win is supposed to be a thrill, and not a calculated probabiliity.

Also, a lot (I won't say most) of slot players aren't really concerned about house edge. They are more concerned with what the payouts are, or what kind of bonus game/free spins the game offers. The house edge is not something I concern myself with. When I play them, I am looking for the thrill of a win. I know I could get this from a table game, but I'm more interested in the play time for my buck.

As you may very well know, slot machines also offer the biggest jackpots in the casinos. If I had a choice between a table game with a fixed payout for the best deal/throw/whatever that doesn't pay more than 100x my bet, and a possible progressive jackpot that could pay out thousands or even millions of times my bet (and dollars ), I'd choose the latter anytime.

My 2c on that

OK, I can understand the high variance attraction. However, I think that makes some of the complaints about software not paying off a bit hypocritical. Because of the high variance, you are going to go through long dry spells.

Oh, and for the simpletons (and I don't mean that in a mean way ), may I suggest Baccarat?

[Balky]

There are several reasons to play slots online. Numerous providers offer attractive slots with very interesting features, which provide a high entertainment level while playing. Besides there are often good bonus offers especially for slots players. As KasinoKing mentioned, in Blackjack your win is strictly limited on 1,5x your bet. If you ever tried a high variance game, lets say Scary Rich, and hit 1000x your bet, I am pretty sure you will play that game again. And with a good bonus offer you will not risk too much of your own money. On the other hand I would not recommend playing high variance slots with a max cashout (Most players know what I mean - sigh)

Cheers Balky