Reasons not to bet MAX bet

[The Shamus]

Hi Folks:

If you have read my posts, I am an advocate of not playing MAX bets. My suggestion is to play the maximum denomination you can afford to lose. This will at least give you the best "payback percentage". If you like to MAX BET a nickel machine (5 credits per line), then you should really be playing a quarter machine (1 credit per line) to get the same bet with a better payback percentage. This strategy is just straight math.

At one time, playing a max bet offered a "kicker" or a "bonus" on the paytable to encourage a max coin bet. This does not exist on most modern video machines. There is no incentive to bet more than the minimum.

I would argue, with the trend toward more volitile machines, the minimum line bet has never been more relavent. Most slot machine players are hoping for the premium jackpot. It's rare to hit to top jackpot on a machine. Ask yourself this question ...

"Would you be willing to double your chances to win half of the jackpot amount?"

If you answered "yes", then it makes sense for you to half your bet. For example, if you like to play 4 credits per line, you could have twice as many chances at half the jackpot by lowering to 2 credits bet per line.

How many times have you won a jackpot with a small line bet, and someone says, "you would have won X" if you bet MAX COINS". While the statement is true, there is a very good chance your bankroll would have run out before you even hit the jackpot if you were betting "Max Coins". The "payback percentage" only matters if you are able to win all of the prizes on the machine (especially jackpots) -- the more spins you have available, the more chances you can catch "lightning in a bottle".

I know some of your really like MAX BET ... so let me know what you think.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

[Jinx]

Shamus,

I do agree with you about betting max bet on most machines, but i would like to point out that betting around the middle for me is better. instead of doing .40 cent bets...i like to stay between .90 and 1.40. This is comfortable for me because I usually have the bank roll to play.

I will tell you that I get bummed out if i hit a large jackpot on .40 cents when if i was playing a 1.00, i could have doubled that win. If i have the bankroll to get me there.

I never max bet if the max bet is over 2.00 a spin. I will max bet leopard spots 3x3 because its only .80 cents a spin...but i will never max bet tiki torch at 5.00-10.00 a spin when i can just go play a 5$ machine with better payback percentage.

great advice...i enjoy your posts and your knowledge of machines...

[The Shamus]

Shamus,

I do agree with you about betting max bet on most machines, but i would like to point out that betting around the middle for me is better. instead of doing .40 cent bets...i like to stay between .90 and 1.40. This is comfortable for me because I usually have the bank roll to play.

I will tell you that I get bummed out if i hit a large jackpot on .40 cents when if i was playing a 1.00, i could have doubled that win. If i have the bankroll to get me there.

I never max bet if the max bet is over 2.00 a spin. I will max bet leopard spots 3x3 because its only .80 cents a spin...but i will never max bet tiki torch at 5.00-10.00 a spin when i can just go play a 5$ machine with better payback percentage.

great advice...i enjoy your posts and your knowledge of machines...

Thanks for the great feedback!

I totally respect what you are saying about medium-sized bets. Everyone has different economic realities. It seems, over time, that slot players get pulled by an invisible "tide" into betting more (increasing total bet). I know that I routinely spend more per casino session than I used to -- and it slowly creeps up. I think it is useful for players to at least be aware of this trend.

Some time ago, I recognized I would get impatient, and try to force medium and large sized wins by increasing the bet. I came to realize, while this occassionally worked, the vast majority of times, I was merely accellerating my losses. I asked myself what I was trying to accomplish. What I really wanted, was to hit the top prize -- say a 10000-to-1 line payout. This would be a respectable $500 times my line bet on a nickel machine. I rationalized, that by lowering the line bet, I was increasing my chances of hitting "the big one" -- by giving myself more chances to hit it. It would also give me the opportunity to play longer. This strategy of "slow playing" the machines has been especially timely, as the volitility of the machines has never been higher (eg. if you get something good on one line, there is a better chance you have something good on the other 29 lines ... or whatever).

I think it is human nature to wish we bet more when we win a jackpot --- but if you adjust your expectations before hand, you can learn to be happy with a $250 or $500 payouts. I still get a thrill leaving the casino being up money -- regardless of how I got there.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\



These slot manufacturers play on human nature. On the vast majority of slots, by necessity, most spins are going to be "losing spins" (the payback, if any, will not match the size of the initial wager). With a each miss, we should, as slot players, feel good that we saved ourselves a larger loss

[RES]

It's a chance you take.
Then why take the chance one may say.
Speaking only for myself,I do well max betting.From 5cents to $1.00 machines.
I take home an average of $500.00(not every day)when visiting a casino.
When I get to the bonus round and it's done...game over.I get the voucher and start another game or move to another machine.If I get a large amount of points in a single max bet pull...game over.
I will still do max betting.

[The Shamus]

It's a chance you take.
Then why take the chance one may say.
Speaking only for myself,I do well max betting.From 5cents to $1.00 machines.
I take home an average of $500.00(not every day)when visiting a casino.
When I get to the bonus round and it's done...game over.I get the voucher and start another game or move to another machine.If I get a large amount of points in a single max bet pull...game over.
I will still do max betting.

Hi RES:

Obviously, this is totally personal perspective. This is a "rationalization" I thought I would share.

On a modern 2-cent multi line slot, a minimum bet will result in $500 (or more) several times a day.

The volitility these days is baked into the game (if you will).

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

[Metalmark]

For myself as being a mostly single line type of slot player,I bet the minimum now.I try to S-T-R-E-C-H ,my money.
When I first started playing slots I was a max better all the time,but as soon as I read some books on slot playing it made total sense to me,whats the rush?,why did I give the house the advantage? I rather win smaller bits of $$$ then blowing my whole slot play money. Sure just like ALL of you I'd love to win the big one.Now I try to win in smaller amounts if I ever get REALLY ahead sure I'd max bet to try to win one the bigger jackpots,I also LOVE the bonus times machine!! But that is a money muncher & I did not play that one this time because you HAVE to max bet on that machine.

[Deb]

When I sit down at a video slot I normally start with 3 per line. However, I often max bet. For some of you who have seen my vids on you tube you will notice that. I find that I do pretty well max betting. I don't do it all of the time but about 50% of the time.

Normally, like I said I bet about 3 per line and when I get past my original amount that I have put in the machine I will increase my bet, if I go below, I will decrease. Also there are many times when I do a "what the heck" max bet and it has turned out in my favor. For example, Life of Luxury progressives, I did that while I was playing Alpine Adventure and I got the Life of Lux bonus and cashed out with $465!!!! I was so glad I did that!

[maxgirl]

heres why I max bet some, I have seen the player sit down on a machine near me or take over something I was playing a awhile at minimum bet, they max bet the machines just a few times and hit very nice spins or bonuses 1,000 or more, So Now I try and max bet for my first fews spins to see what the machine will do, then if its not doing much I lower my bet and try to see if it will hit me back My original money, if not I move on, if it seems to be want to keep giving me some play at a low bet, I just stay a play awhile. Of course some of the nickels are 5 bucks a spin max bet and yes you would be better off on a 5 dollar machine, the point is though, I will not be playing those 5 dollar spins for long, just a few spins, on a 5 dollar machine you would need the bankroll to spins the reels a whole lot more to probably get some nice hits, I am all for giving the 5 dolllar machines a little try, you never know you could be one of those people that sit down and hit something right off, but to hang on them, I don't have the bankroll for that;) for instance Shamus, I max betted the WOZ the first few spins, and I got a bonus round on the first spin, I had the machine up to 500 bucks in no time, I seriously don't think that would have had the same outcome if I started off with minumun bets, I might have won back 25 dollars a bonus instead of around 100 each time. Not that this will always work, but whats a few max spins to find out??

[MizSlotQueen]

I've hit $200 and up to $400 on Wizard of Oz playing 90 cents. It is those >$1000 wins I see happen to other people on WOz where the max bet really boosted the payout.

Man, I really hate it when a max bet bonus pays no better than a minimum bet one. Happens much to my chagrin when sitting next to little old ladies who bet 20 cents per spin. :/

[angi465]

Oh Mizslotqueen, how true! Love White Orchid, but hate when I happen to catch the bonus on a Maxbet and only win $8 then bet .80 and win over $100 in the bonus round! Sucks! I max bet the first few spins to feel out the machine, but once I get below my original amount, I lower it. If I get a nice win, I'll up the bet for a few spins. I find I do best at the mid level of 1.60. Bonus can still pay nice and reel spins can give out over $100 on one spin.

[The Shamus]

When I sit down at a video slot I normally start with 3 per line. However, I often max bet. For some of you who have seen my vids on you tube you will notice that. I find that I do pretty well max betting. I don't do it all of the time but about 50% of the time.

Normally, like I said I bet about 3 per line and when I get past my original amount that I have put in the machine I will increase my bet, if I go below, I will decrease. Also there are many times when I do a "what the heck" max bet and it has turned out in my favor. For example, Life of Luxury progressives, I did that while I was playing Alpine Adventure and I got the Life of Lux bonus and cashed out with $465!!!! I was so glad I did that!

Hi Deb ...

With regard to "upping the bet" -- I usually do the same when I am ahead ... see if I can "catch lightning in a bottle".

When you bet three on the line bet, it is essentially tripling the volitility of the machine (wins are tripled and losses are tripled). In the old days, I would think nothing of a big line bet on Jackpot Party or Texas Tea ... these were not very volatile games. You get 45 credits, you get 30 back, etc. The games have inceased in volatility. The games with stacked WILDS tend to have less frequent bonus rounds, only a single bonus round available to trigger, and in the 5 spins they give you --- you can earn thousands, or zero.

As always, people should bet what they are comfortable with. However ... for people who find they are not winning as much as they used to ... I would advocate using the same bankroll, dialing back on the line bet, and let the machine's increased volitility kick in -- give you more chances at a big win.

Seems to me that you are doing well with your current strategy, so I wouldn't change a thing. From what I can gather, you have a bankroll which supports the higher risk.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\