Most people look at the vast array of casino slot machines and assume they are all alike. They see a handle, a coin slot, flashing lights and figure one is as good as another. However, in making this assumption, they fail to see a lot of valuable information to help determine if they should play a particular slot machine.
Slot machines are also one of the oldest casino games out there today, tracing their roots all the way back to 1895. And the slots are a quintessentially American way to gamble, offering any and everybody who has a penny to spare the opportunity to cash in big.
Surprisingly perhaps, machines aren't all the same. The best way to separate one from another is to learn how to “read” a machine by looking at the payout schedule on the front. Let’s see what information can be found on a typical slot machine.
Casinos here in the U.S. and abroad keep several types of slot machines in play at any given time. A few you'll most often see:
Multiplier: This machine has a payout for a certain symbol and the number of coins played multiplies it. If the machine pays 5 coins for three lemons when you play one coin, it would pay 10 for the second coin and 15 for three coins played. This machine does not penalize you for not playing maximum coins. If you plan to play only one coin at a time, this is the type of machine you should look for.
Bonus Multiplier: This machine operates like the multiplier but offers a bonus when you play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three 7’s may pay 1,000 for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and 10,000 for maximum coins. The central question is whether the bonus is worth playing the extra coin.
Multiple Payline: These machines have more than one line of play. Each coin activates a particular line. If you hit a winner on a line that is not activated, you will not receive anything. The older machines used to have three lines but the newer video slots can have up to nine lines.
Buy-a-Pay: These are the most misunderstood machines in the casino. Each coin activates a different payout. You need the maximum coins to receive the largest jackpot.
One example is the Sizzlin' 7s machines. This machine will pay on cherries, bars, and sevens. The sevens pay 1,000 coins. If you play one coin you collect only on the cherries. If you play two coins you collect on cherries and bars.
Three coins are required to collect on the Sizzlin' 7s. If you hit the jackpot with one coin in you will not win anything -- do not play this machine under any circumstances unless you are playing the maximum coins.
Progressive Slots: The progressive slots take a certain percentage of the money played and add it to a pool for the top jackpot.
First and foremost, It is never wise to play a progressive machine with less than the maximum coins -- stories abound of people losing out on lesser progressive jackpots because of short coin play.
Some casinos link machines together within their own facility to offer mini-progressive jackpots.
Megabucks and Quarter Mania are examples of machines from several casinos linked together to offer 'life-changing jackpots'. It's important to keep in mind that payback percentage on lesser wins is lowered to allow for these jackpots.
All of the information you need is posted on the front of each slot machine. Before sitting down to play, taking a minute to “read” the machine will help make you more knowledgeable in determining which machines may be best suited for you.
Until next time, remember:
'Luck comes and goes...Knowledge Stays Forever.'
State Laws for legal Slot Machine Ownership
GAMBLING DEVICE. You must understand that using a slot machine for profit or gambling purposes is illegal and could subject you to severe penalties. Before purchasing a slot machine you must understand that every state does not allow ownership of these machines. However, we suggest that you check with your local authorities. We assume no responsibility for errors.
Pachislo machines are also know as Skill Stop, or Japanese Slot Machines. You may see that some people will advertise these as being authentic slot machines and might even state ‘Like used in Vegas’. This is not the case though it is possible to set these machines up to accept US coins, they are designed to accept tokens. The listing indicates which states these Pachislo machines are legal to operate.
New Information: We believe there is a concern over the legalities of these Pachislo machines in the States of Colorado, California, Washington, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, North Dakota and Oregon
ALABAMA Any Machine PROHIBITED
ALASKA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
ARIZONA Any Machine LEGAL–Pachislo OK
ARKANSAS Any Machine LEGAL, Registration Required.–Pachislo OK
CALIFORNIA 25 Years or Older or Slot Business Reg. W/DOJ
COLORADO Introduced pre-1984 or Slot Business Reg. W/DOJ
CONNECTICUT Any Machine PROHIBITED
DELAWARE 25 Years or Older–Pachislo OK
FLORIDA 20 Yrs. or Older or Slot Bus. Reg. W/DOJ –Pachislo OK
GEORGIA Pre – 1950
HAWAII Any Machine PROHIBITED — Pachislo OK
IDAHO Pre – 1950 — Pachislo OK
ILLINOIS 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
INDIANA 40 Years or older — Pachislo OK (Law changed in 2012 to allow possession IC 35-45-5-3.5 Version a)
IOWA 25 Years or Older
KANSAS Pre – 1950– Pachislo OK
KENTUCKY Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
LOUISIANA 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
MAINE Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
MARYLAND 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
MASSACHUSETTS 30 Years or Older. Poker machines & Video gaming devices of any age are legal for personal use.– Pachislo OK
MICHIGAN 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
MINNESOTA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
MISSISSIPPI 25 Years or Older
MISSOURI 30 Years or Older
MONTANA 25 Years or Older. Machines are not allowed to be on public premises for sale or display.
NEBRASKA Any Machine PROHIBITED
NEW HAMPSHIRE 25 Years or Older
NEW JERSEY 30 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
NEW MEXICO: We received a letter from the Gaming Control Board of New Mexico stating the following; The only gambling device that my be possessed without a license from the board is a bona fide antique device. An antique gambling device is a gambling device that is at least 25 years old, is substantially in original condition, and is not used for gambling or located in a gambling place. It is illegal to possess gambling devices otherwise, in New Mexico unless you are a distributor, manufacturer or operator licensed by the board. “This letter was dated August 2, 2000”.
NEW YORK 30 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
NEVADA Any Machine LEGAL. — Pachislo OK
NORTH CAROLINA 25 Years or Older
NORTH DAKOTA 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
OHIO Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
OKLAHOMA 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
OREGON 25 Years or Older — Pachislo OK only if the Pachislo machine is over 25 years old
PENNSYLVANIA Pre – 1941– Pachislo OK
RHODE ISLAND Any Machine LEGAL
SOUTH CAROLINA Any Machine PROHIBITED
SOUTH DAKOTA Pre – 1941
TENNESSEEAny Machine PROHIBITED– Pachislo OK
TEXAS Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
UTAH Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
VERMONT Pre – 1954
VIRGINIA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
WASHINGTON 25 Years or Older– Pachislo OK
WASHINGTON D.C. Pre – 1952
WEST VIRGINIA Any Machine LEGAL– Pachislo OK
Risky Areas Of Slot Machines Dispense
WISCONSIN 25 Years or Older
Risky Areas Of Slot Machines Jackpots
WYOMING 25 Years or Older