Can You Win At Penny Slots
The name “Penny Slot” is something of a misnomer. Most people who don't know better might assume that a penny slot costs a penny to play but that's not the case. For decades, the most popular slot machines in U.S. casinos were nickel slot machines. In the late 1960s, Bally Manufacturing developed an innovative machine called the Money Honey, a penny slot that could be played for up to five coins simultaneously. These multi-line machines that accepted multiple coins per line were a hit with players—despite the fact that they were playing more per pull of the one-armed bandit's handle.
The New Penny Slots Offer Extra at a Price
The new penny slot games offer their fair share of electronic excitement with such features as theme songs from popular game shows and movies, bonus screens, and special mystery payoffs. However, all of these extras come at a cost. The most popular games from the Japanese video conglomerate Konami including 'Race Driver' and 'Beat the Field' require a minimum of 50 coins amounting to a dollar per spin. Several other manufacturers have games with up to 16 lines that require up to 100 coins per spin—totaling a whopping 1,600 pennies.
Those are long-term expected returns, of course, so you’ll always have a small chance to win big whenever you press “SPIN” – but judged over the long run, penny slots offer an inferior payback percentage. The casinos bank on casual players ignoring this fact while focusing on the inexpensive cost of entry. You’re playing 100 lines on a penny slot ($1 bet) You win a $0.20 payout on one line; While the win is nice, you’ve technically lost $0.80 overall; Stepping back, anybody can logically see that this is a losing long-term proposition. And $0.20 payouts don’t make up for the loss of $0.80. Not only is a penny slot machine oozing with the potential of providing slot players the cheapest way of wagering in slots game but it can also give an opportunity for more jackpots to win. Most penny slot machines are built with the addition of random jackpot prizes aside from the regular bonuses that goes along with the game. Penny slots are provided in two versions – free and real money play. The latter grants players the chance to collect big wins in the form of actual cash since the same is used in the placement of stakes. The free options can be used to sift through the numerous games featured online to find the ideal one for real money bets. Choose high RTP games.
While slot manufacturer IGT offers a penny version of its popular 'Megabucks' game that can be played for just a few pennies, for the standard 'Megabucks' machine, which is a $1 variety, the player must play three coins per spin, or $3. On the new 'Penny Megabucks,' the player is required to play the maximum of 300 coins per spin, so the price is the same.
The Odds Are With The House
These machines are built to be both fun and addictive. They require a minimum number of coins/lines to qualify for the bonus screens (where the bulk of the payoffs are made). Players must make sure to play enough coins/lines to get the payoff when a bonus hits.
For someone to play a 25-cent video poker game, they'll have to play five coins in order to qualify for a 4,000-coin royal flush. That's $1.25 per spin for a chance to win $1,000. On most penny slots offering payoffs of bronze, silver, and gold, the big payoff is much harder to win than the 45,000-to-1 odds on a video poker game. Plus, the player will likely risk $2.50 to $5 per spin to win it. That adds up.
The Psychology of Small Payoffs
Human beings are creatures of habit and thanks to the lure of instant gratification are prone to gamble. When players consistently receive small payoffs, psychology kicks in. The mind tricks itself into believing, 'Great, I'm winning,' when in reality, the player's initial deposit is usually being frittered away to nothing.
Penny slots have the kind of high hit frequency that ropes players in. As fun and exciting as the promise of winning may be, most of the time, the payoff is actually less than the initial wager on a spin. In other words, the bells and whistles go off on a regular basis but for small payoffs. For example, a player might risk something like 100 coins and only get a payoff of 18 coins.
Play Responsibly
The main issue with gambling in general—and penny slots, in particular—is that as a player, you mustn't forget that your personal bankroll is considerably smaller than that of the casino. Bear in mind that if you budget $200 for a trip to a particular casino where playing a penny slot takes 250 coins per spin, you won't get nearly enough spins to make a dent in the long-odds of hitting a substantial jackpot before your bankroll is exhausted.
Fast Facts: Tips for Newbie Penny Slot Players
As with any form of gambling, playing the penny slot machines should be approached with caution.
Can You Win At Penny Slots Slot Machines
- Start by choosing just a few lines or just a single coin per spin.
- It's not recommended for players to automatically hit the maximum spin button.
- Read the help screen to find out how many coins it takes to have a bet on all the lines so you can better decide how many coins and credits to risk per spin.
Can You Win Off Penny Slots
Overall, players should enjoy their slot play, but never forget that gambling is gambling—especially on penny slots. A handful of pennies is still a dollar per spin. If you're playing more per spin, you'll bust-out fairly often—and it can happen very quickly.