I have been doing research lately into playing the poker machines in pubs and clubs.
Some of the following information may seem a bit odd. But you must understand that I’m playing in places with machines that largely have an 85% return. Also, places where soft drink will cost ~$1.50 a mouthful and if you’re hungry a small serve of fish and chips costs ~$30. In other words; it’s expensive as hell.
Some people blame the government’s high taxes; others say it’s due inflation and greedy publicans. In any case, Australian pubs and clubs are not the kinds of places the normal sane person wants to spend much time in, unless they want to lose their shirts.
Breaking the 1c/spin psychological barrier
I once observed an older woman playing 1c/spin for an extended period of time at a pub.
Some people will bet this low in order to play down credits but this woman was genuinely playing. This is the only person I have ever seen betting this small and I have observed thousands of people playing poker machines.
Breaking the 1c/spin barrier is something I have yet to achieve but I feel that I am on the verge of doing it. Currently, my max bet is 5c/spin on the usual poker machines and 3c/spin on the 243 line machines. Some IGT 50 line machines jump from 1 line to 10 lines. I avoid playing these machines. I have an average loss of about $2-$3/hour by playing like this. If I can break the 1c/spin barrier I could probably lose a fifth of this.
The golden rule for playing the pokies is to bet as low as you can possibly bear.
Of course, there is an exception to betting low and that’s when it’s profitable to bet high.
The first things to do when entering a pub or club
You must have no scruples about claiming abandoned credit or cash. I would pick up a dollar on the floor in front of the manager even.
Credit left on machines is common. When I enter a pub or club with poker machines, on the average there are 2 machines with unplayed credit. I have found the best way to claim this abandoned credit is to put in $1 and play it down. But, you want to be careful as you wouldn’t want to cause any trouble by doing this. For example; I was at a pub earlier tonight when some bikie-like characters left ~$1 on their machine. I waited until they left before playing the credit down as it is not worth the risk of getting people angry.
Play down abandoned credit on machines as soon as you are sure it’s safe to do so, or someone else will.
Check the change machines. I always have 4x 20c + 1x 10c in change in my wallet in case the change machine has credit in it. Also, finding loose dollars in or around the change machine is common; keep an eye out for it.
Profitable Machines
Along with checking for abandoned credit, checking the meters on mystery progressive jackpots is the first thing I do when I enter a pub or club.
Learn about sniping mystery progressive jackpots. They are a guaranteed way to make money. Albeit, a rare find. I always have $250 spare on me in case I find a mystery progressive jackpot that is past the breakeven point.
Also, there are some machines which have free game meters on them with an opportunity to get free spins such as Aristocrat’s “White Wizard.” Learn about these machines as they can also be profitable.
Various Tips
Keep your eyes peeled for dollars left in the trays of machines. Be on the lookout for dollars on the floor. Some trays are designed poorly and the money that spits out goes onto the floor.
Unless you live in Victoria, avoid poker machines made in 2001 or earlier as there is a possibility that they may only have a return of 85%. Also, avoid random jackpot machines. For people who bet low they are essentially machines with ~85% return.
Change machines after you have had a big win or the free games as there may be more abandoned cash around the place since you last checked. Also, this slows down your rate of play. Going from venue to venue is a good idea as it provides a fresh place with new opportunities; like swiping your club card.
Keep a notepad with the breakeven points of mystery progressive jackpots, promotion times, double point times, and opening hours etc.
People will take whatever they see lying around. Always take your coin cup with you wherever you go. Don’t leave significant credit on your machine, if you need to go to the toilet or something, hit the collet button and put the machine on reserve. Make sure you have your wallet/purse in something that it cannot fall out of; like pants with a zip up pocket.
You want to choose the days when lots of people play poker machines. A bartender told me recently that Fridays is the busiest day for the pokies. Remember, the more people that are playing, the more opportunities for abandoned credit or to find cash.
Slowing down gambling
Take breaks often, this will minimise your time on the machines and therefore your losses.
Only put $1 in the machine at a time. I.e. if you go to a new machine only put in $1 not $2.
Wager the $1 down until you cannot bet the usual amount anymore and then put a new dollar in.
Aim for machines with lots of free games to slow down gambling. If the machine has an option of more free games but less multipliers e.g. Choy Sun Doa, choose the longer free games as the return is the same but the free games take longer.
Never hit the take win button and let the music play till the end.
If you have a significant win, hit collect and put the coins in the cup.
Avoid playing Ainsworth games as the reels spin about twice as fast as the usual kind.
Half-doubling once on small wins like 5c-10c slows down your rate of play a great deal.
The obvious stuff
Only play 1c machines.
If it’s an option always use a club card.
Spend most of your time in the place with the most benefits, e.g. the pubs or clubs which offer the most generous point program/promotions.
Non poker machine advice
Don’t buy the drinks as the drinks are as big a rip-off as poker machines are. If available, drink free water or free hot drinks from the coffee machine. Some pubs and clubs charge for water and for use of the coffee machine; I would avoid playing at these places.
If you intend to buy a meal make sure you get a cheap special and make sure you eat at a place that has a salad bar. The salad bar is very important as once you have finished your meal you can plie up your plate as many times as you want with the salad bar. Fill yourself up to the brim. I usually fill my entire plate once or twice with the salad bar. Don’t use the smaller plates for the salad bar; use the big plate they serve your main meal on. If you are having lunch you can skip breakfast and if you are having tea you can skip lunch; for extra value.
Also, avoid leaving your plate and cutlery alone; the waiters/waitress will take it if you turn your back even for a second…
Some of the following information may seem a bit odd. But you must understand that I’m playing in places with machines that largely have an 85% return. Also, places where soft drink will cost ~$1.50 a mouthful and if you’re hungry a small serve of fish and chips costs ~$30. In other words; it’s expensive as hell.
Some people blame the government’s high taxes; others say it’s due inflation and greedy publicans. In any case, Australian pubs and clubs are not the kinds of places the normal sane person wants to spend much time in, unless they want to lose their shirts.
Breaking the 1c/spin psychological barrier
I once observed an older woman playing 1c/spin for an extended period of time at a pub.
Some people will bet this low in order to play down credits but this woman was genuinely playing. This is the only person I have ever seen betting this small and I have observed thousands of people playing poker machines.
Breaking the 1c/spin barrier is something I have yet to achieve but I feel that I am on the verge of doing it. Currently, my max bet is 5c/spin on the usual poker machines and 3c/spin on the 243 line machines. Some IGT 50 line machines jump from 1 line to 10 lines. I avoid playing these machines. I have an average loss of about $2-$3/hour by playing like this. If I can break the 1c/spin barrier I could probably lose a fifth of this.
The golden rule for playing the pokies is to bet as low as you can possibly bear.
Of course, there is an exception to betting low and that’s when it’s profitable to bet high.
The first things to do when entering a pub or club
You must have no scruples about claiming abandoned credit or cash. I would pick up a dollar on the floor in front of the manager even.
Credit left on machines is common. When I enter a pub or club with poker machines, on the average there are 2 machines with unplayed credit. I have found the best way to claim this abandoned credit is to put in $1 and play it down. But, you want to be careful as you wouldn’t want to cause any trouble by doing this. For example; I was at a pub earlier tonight when some bikie-like characters left ~$1 on their machine. I waited until they left before playing the credit down as it is not worth the risk of getting people angry.
Play down abandoned credit on machines as soon as you are sure it’s safe to do so, or someone else will.
Check the change machines. I always have 4x 20c + 1x 10c in change in my wallet in case the change machine has credit in it. Also, finding loose dollars in or around the change machine is common; keep an eye out for it.
Profitable Machines
Along with checking for abandoned credit, checking the meters on mystery progressive jackpots is the first thing I do when I enter a pub or club.
Learn about sniping mystery progressive jackpots. They are a guaranteed way to make money. Albeit, a rare find. I always have $250 spare on me in case I find a mystery progressive jackpot that is past the breakeven point.
Also, there are some machines which have free game meters on them with an opportunity to get free spins such as Aristocrat’s “White Wizard.” Learn about these machines as they can also be profitable.
Various Tips
Keep your eyes peeled for dollars left in the trays of machines. Be on the lookout for dollars on the floor. Some trays are designed poorly and the money that spits out goes onto the floor.
Unless you live in Victoria, avoid poker machines made in 2001 or earlier as there is a possibility that they may only have a return of 85%. Also, avoid random jackpot machines. For people who bet low they are essentially machines with ~85% return.
Change machines after you have had a big win or the free games as there may be more abandoned cash around the place since you last checked. Also, this slows down your rate of play. Going from venue to venue is a good idea as it provides a fresh place with new opportunities; like swiping your club card.
Keep a notepad with the breakeven points of mystery progressive jackpots, promotion times, double point times, and opening hours etc.
People will take whatever they see lying around. Always take your coin cup with you wherever you go. Don’t leave significant credit on your machine, if you need to go to the toilet or something, hit the collet button and put the machine on reserve. Make sure you have your wallet/purse in something that it cannot fall out of; like pants with a zip up pocket.
You want to choose the days when lots of people play poker machines. A bartender told me recently that Fridays is the busiest day for the pokies. Remember, the more people that are playing, the more opportunities for abandoned credit or to find cash.
Slowing down gambling
Take breaks often, this will minimise your time on the machines and therefore your losses.
Only put $1 in the machine at a time. I.e. if you go to a new machine only put in $1 not $2.
Wager the $1 down until you cannot bet the usual amount anymore and then put a new dollar in.
Aim for machines with lots of free games to slow down gambling. If the machine has an option of more free games but less multipliers e.g. Choy Sun Doa, choose the longer free games as the return is the same but the free games take longer.
Never hit the take win button and let the music play till the end.
If you have a significant win, hit collect and put the coins in the cup.
Avoid playing Ainsworth games as the reels spin about twice as fast as the usual kind.
Half-doubling once on small wins like 5c-10c slows down your rate of play a great deal.
The obvious stuff
Only play 1c machines.
If it’s an option always use a club card.
Spend most of your time in the place with the most benefits, e.g. the pubs or clubs which offer the most generous point program/promotions.
Non poker machine advice
Don’t buy the drinks as the drinks are as big a rip-off as poker machines are. If available, drink free water or free hot drinks from the coffee machine. Some pubs and clubs charge for water and for use of the coffee machine; I would avoid playing at these places.
If you intend to buy a meal make sure you get a cheap special and make sure you eat at a place that has a salad bar. The salad bar is very important as once you have finished your meal you can plie up your plate as many times as you want with the salad bar. Fill yourself up to the brim. I usually fill my entire plate once or twice with the salad bar. Don’t use the smaller plates for the salad bar; use the big plate they serve your main meal on. If you are having lunch you can skip breakfast and if you are having tea you can skip lunch; for extra value.
Also, avoid leaving your plate and cutlery alone; the waiters/waitress will take it if you turn your back even for a second…