Hi Folks:

About 15 years ago, IGT became the largest slot maker, by making games with different themes, but the same math. Slot makers are still doing the same thing today -- and sometimes we may not even realize it.

For example, WMS Gaming has a game called, "Zeus" and a game called, "Palace of Riches II" -- and they are the same game with different graphics.

IGT has "Texas Tina" and "Money Storm" -- which are the same game, with different themes. They also have a 100 line game called, "Filthy Rich" which is identical to "Bombay".

Aristocrat, the Austrilian Gaming company has some "Reel Pays" games, "Silk Road" and "Pompei" which are the same games.

Let me know if you can think of more examples ...

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

The Hot Hot games by WMS are similar...Mechanical reel games. I like them a lot. Mystical Fortunes...Wheels O Dublin...etc..Sometimes they make a lot of noise on just a 30 cent bet. If you go to the 3 dollar bet they sometimes hit pretty well.

I also like the Extreme slots..that have the 4 and 5 reel multiplier...the key to them is if you play the 5 credits per line for the 4th reel and 10 credits per line for the 5th reel.

The Great Eagle Slot ate me alive...but I bet the 100 line wrap around pays really well when it does hit. I have not seen it hit big yet. But, the Max bet on it is large.

Enjoyed Houdini a bit..but did not get far with it yet.. The other one in that series is a car game...but I am not into cars that much.
Flower

I saw a girl hit 2,500 on a Lucky Ducky...the other night.

Hi Flower:

As a suggestion ... I would not bet a MAX BET unless there was some advantage. Most of the multi-line slots are completely linear in their payouts. There is no advantage to a MAX BET on most machines. However, if you step up to a larger denomination, you will likely get a better payback percentage -- for the same size total bet.

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

Frog Princess, is also the same as Filthy Rich and Bombay. Treasures of Troy and White Orchid also. That particular game is IGT's "Bettor Chance" series of games with 1024 ways to win.

I have found I lose well on them...

Hi Deb:

Actually ... to get into the bonus round on, "Frog Princess", you need a Princess on the 1st and 5th reels -- similar to the chest trigger of, "Enchanted Unicorn". The bonus round itself is similar (but not identical) to "Turkey Shoot" -- where there are 10 picks, where 1 contains 20 free spins, 1 contains 10 free spins, and the rest increase the multiplier. So ... I don't think it is mathematically the same game. However, you might be correct about "Treasures of Troy" and "White Orchid" -- I can't think of a difference. I'm not a fan of those games. Not enough medium hits for me.

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

I am trying not to play max bet. I guess sometimes I don't know why I win or lose and that is the frustrating part. Sometimes I don't know what a reel buys. Like on the 100 line wrap arounds I didn't know that you have to buy each reel. Each reel being 20 lines. if that is a penny machine it may take a dollar to play all the reels and all the lines.

On the Extreme reels you have to purchase the 4th reel multiplier and then double that to purchase the 5th reel. With pennies the 4th reel is a dollar and the 5th wheel turns it into another dollar. It becomes a 2 dollar a spin game to just play all the properly.

Now that I think about it maybe Zeus and Brazilian Beauty has to be played properly to activate all the software program. Gee, I wish they came with better instructions so I didn't get so confused.

Flower

Hi Shamus,

I actually have never played Turkey Shoot. I have seen it though. For the record I done much better on Treasures of Troy than I have White Orchid.
I love Frog Princess, I just wish it didn't have so many lines. 100 lines~phew!

Hi Flower:

There is no secret to slot play. You get what you pay for. However, I always advocate playing all lines at a denomination you are comfortable with. Personally, I am happy with a 45-cent to $1.00 total bet per spin.

For me, I can really only afford to play the 1-cent "Wrap Around Pays". At a $1 a spin, that is toward my upper limit. I'm not saying I wouldn't play a 2-cent machine, but I would only earmark a $20 -- and that's it. The way I look at it -- I will be able to play a 2-cent machine (roughly) half as long as a 1-cent machine. Because the lines are shared, the game has a built-in tendency to exagerate wins and losses. So -- it is realistic to expect a $150 win on a $1 total bet on this machine. It happens all the time. I'm happy with that payout.

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

I usually play a 2-cent machine at Mohawk Racetrack slots (at Milton, Ontario, Canada). I stick to 50 lines on that machine -- because the trigger is a scatter pay ... it's not like "Bombay" where you need the symbols on the line. With a $1 total bet, I have won in the hundreds many times. If you are lucky enough to get the 20 free spins, you can usually do very well (and hopefully find the 10 free spins with all of the picks you get). My best win is in the $400 range. Since this machine has an increasing multiplier -- if you hit well on one of the later spins (like 2000 credits) ... you get 20000 credits, because you have a 10x multiplier. A very volitile game.

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