I Won - I'm Happy - I Guess

[scotch27]

I attended a convention last week in Las Vegas, staying at the new Palazzo-Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Close to 11:00 PM on Tuesday May 13th, I was playing the $1 Wheel of Fortune slot machine, and I believe it was the Double 3x4x5x Times Pay. I was playing the maximum $2 bet per pull, trying to blow my last $30 before heading up to bed. On the 3rd pull, the machine came up with the symbols 3X, 2X, 5X. The machine showed that the payout was $2,000 for the 1st coin, but then was hard to deceipher what the payout would be for the maximum $2 bet. The light on top was lit and the LED display said "call attendant." When the attendant arrived I asked what the payout was and he said $2,000. When I asked why the payout wasn't progressive, he said that for my combination the payout was as indicated for the first coin, regardless of the number of coins played, and then he pointed to the LED display which said "2000 credits." After filling out the requisite IRS W-2G forms the casino counted out 20 $100 bills. Obviously I was thrilled and remain so, but it is still nagging at me why the payout wasn't higher. Perhaps someone might be able to explain why the payout is $2,000, regardless of the number of coins played. I'll rest better at night.

Lucky Jim.

[The Shamus]

Hey Lucky Jim:

Perhaps someone can confirm ... but with, "Wheel of Fortune" ... the final coin is usually required to make you eligible for the top progressive and the "Wheel of Fortune" bonus round.

If you played only $1 --- you would win whatever came up on the display. As this was a PAY 2x 3x 4x machine -- you would essentially be playing the game without the chance for a bonus round (game ignores the spin symbol). It would be just like playing a PAY 2x 3x 4x without the "Wheel of Fortune" theming.

A payout of 2000-to-1 is pretty good. Congratulations. On most Wheel machines I am familiar with --- you actually have to pay $3 --- with the final coin making you eligible for the SPIN bonus ... in that case, a $2 bet does double the payout.

Hope this helps.

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

[scotch27]

The Wheel of Fortune machine had a maximum bet of $2. I played the maximum bet but only was awarded the amount for the first dollar and nothing for the "progressive dollar". I even pointed out the $2 bet to the attendant who said, "It doesn't matter how many coins you played because on this jackpot you only get paid based on the value of the first coin." To me it didn't make sense at the time but when you've put in $2 and you receive $2,000 back, you assume they know what they're talking about.

[The Shamus]

When I re-read my reply, it was still somewhat cryptic. The slot attendant was correct in his explanation --- the second coin only makes you eligable for the progressive and the SPIN bonus. It does not enhance the payout for the standard game.

Bottom line ... I don't think you were ripped off by the casino. I can totally understand why you would be confused. Machines like "Wheel of Fortune" are somewhat like Bally's old, "Silver and Gold" where the first coin paid all of the bar payouts only. The second coin paid for the WILDS and the third coin qualified you for the top payout (GOLD symbol).

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

[scotch27]

Thanks Shamus. This now makes sense and I'll enjoy my lucky $2,000 even more.

Best regards!