Page 16 - July 2002 • Southern California Gaming Guide

THE SAN DIEGO GAMING GUIDE
Finding the “Right” Denomination Slot Machine to Play
This month, I want to respond to many requests I’ve had from readers who have asked the following: Do I really win a lot? How do I do it? The answer is yes. I win consistently. I am ahead in winnings at the six-month mark of the year by a “good” amount (I have to keep some secrets). How do I do
it? The answer is simple: Planning and luck. Do those two things seem incongruous together? Hear me out. Planning is of the essence. I allocate a nite amount of money for gaming monthly. I play different games, but primarily video poker and slots. I play at four casinos regularly, but go to all the San Diego County casinos (and some of the Riverside County ones close by). I use my player’s club card ALL THE TIME—and get cash back, meals and other great perks! And I am lucky. (And I can’t teach you that.)
Column: The Unknown Gamer
Page 16
July 2002
Before you go to any casino, have a game plan. Plan which games you want to play and what you want to spend. This is a basic money management principle whatever you do, but is imperative to success and fun at the casino. If you are ever
tempted to go beyond your budget once at the casino, be certain to leave your ATM and credit cards and your check- book at home.
When you play slots or video
poker, plan which denomi-
nation machine you want to play. Whether you play pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars or higher— your rst priority when entering the casino is nding the right denomination machine for you. Pennies and nickels are great for a low budget. You can stretch out your play longer and increase your fun. The higher
the denomination, the faster the money can go (and of course, though – the more you can win!)
Most casinos plan their slot oors with banks (rows) or carousels (circular groups) of slots. It sounds simple to nd the right denomination slot. But how many times have
you seen some- one sit next to you and put a bill in a slot machine,
and then realize the slot they thought was a quarter machine, is a dollar? (This, of course, never happened to you!)
The face of the machine will tell you the denomina- tion. But there’s also an easy way to spot a machine’s denomination even from across the casino oor! Every
slot machine—video poker machines as well, have a single light on the top of the machine. It’s the light that illuminates when you push the “change” button, and when you win a jackpot. That light is called a slot
“candle”. But did you know that the candle tells you the denomination of the machine? The bottom light is colored. Multi-denomination machines have multi- ple colored-candles. Here’s the guide:
So, that’s a beginning – and a simple one. Plan and be aware of the denomination slot you’re playing at. I’ll share more tips next month on how to increase your fun at the casino!
“If you are ever tempted to go beyond your budget once at the casino, be certain to leave your ATM and credit cards at home.”