Page 7 - September 2005 • Southern California Gaming Guide

What Type of Slot Player Are You? Iby Bill Burton
recently attended a seminar given by the company that manages my 401k retirement plan. e meeting started with all of us lling out a questionnaire that would help determine the type of investors we were. e questions were designed to give us an insight into how much
risk we could handle, as well as how much money we anticipated we would need for retirement. With this information, recommendations could be made about the types of investments that
were best suited for us.
ere were other factors to consider as well, but the whole point of the questionnaire came
down to two factors: how much risk we could handle and how much time we had. If you were averse to risk, it was recommended that you stick with the safer investment options such as bonds. If you were more than inclined to take a risk, you could go with all stocks. As always, there was a risk to reward ratio meaning that the riskier investment options could bring a higher return, but it was also likely that you could lose money. e more stable investments had a smaller return, and while you could still lose money, it would be less. I started to think how this could relate to playing the slots in the casino.
Aggressive Players may want to choose the progressive slot machines. While the chances of hitting a life-changing jackpot are slim, you are not afraid to put it on the line. If you don’t want to play the progressive machines, you may be equally comfortable playing the higher denomination dollar machines seeking a jackpot worth thousands of dollars.
Average Players will usually be most comfortable playing the quarter slots. If you want to stretch your money, you can look for a machine with a high-hit frequency. (Machines with a high-hit frequency pay out small wins frequently, while machines with a low-hit frequency usually pay out larger wins less frequently.) If you are looking for a larger jackpot, you can choose one that has more payouts on the upper end of the pay table.
Conservative Players will probably get the most enjoyment playing nickel or penny machines with a high-hit frequency, such as the new video slots. If you pick a machine with the fewest number of lines and play a single coin on each line you can really stretch your playing time. You can also play a single coin in a straight multiplier quarter machine. ( ere is no added jackpot for playing maximum coin.
is machine does not penalize you for not playing maximum coins.) You most likely won’t win a large amount, but you will be able to play for quite some time on a small investment.
We all have our own playing styles, and you should choose the one that you are most comfortable with. It is all a matter of personal choice and what gives you the most pleasure when you visit the casino. Have fun!
Until next time, remember: “Luck comes and goes... Knowledge Stays Forever.”
Bill Burton is the Casino Gambling Guide and columnist for the Internet portal About.com. He also writes for several national gambling publications. He is the author of Get the Edge at Low Limit Texas Hold’em available for $15 postage paid. Send checks to Bill Burton, PO Box 310299, Newington, CT 06131-0299 or online at www.billburton.com. Bill Burton’s website is located at: http://casinogambling.about.com.
About Gambling With Bill Burton
What is Your Risk Tolerance?
You could divide slot players into three general groups based on their tolerance for risk. Let me point out that these are only general groupings for example, and many of you will likely fall into a cross section of two groups.
Aggressive Player: Are you the type of player who is not afraid of going
jackpot that would pay for your playing time and give you a little extra. If so, you can consider yourself an average player who is looking for entertainment as well as a chance to win some money.
Conservative Player: Are you the type of player who likes to go to the casino but really doesn’t want to spend a lot for your entertainment? Maybe you
broke in return for a chance at a big jackpot? If you are, you could be considered an aggressive player — one who likes the action and doesn’t mind putting it all on the line for a chance to grab the brass ring even if it means going home broke.
You would be very happy with a medium-sized
are just happy playing the games, and if you break even for the day you feel you have won because of the enjoyment you received while playing.You want to get as much playing time as possible for your money. If so, you can consider yourself a conservative player.
Choosing a Game
Once you have an idea about what type of player you are, you can determine the type and denomination of slots you
want to play.
Average Player: Do
you go to the casino with
the hopes of coming
home with more money
that you went with? You don’t mind risking your money, but you also don’t want to go home broke.
September 2005
Page 7
“We all have our own playing styles, and you should choose the one that you
are most comfortable with. It is all a matter of personal choice and what gives you the most pleasure when you
visit the casino.”
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAMING GUIDE