Chicago Sun-Times: It's time vs. money when picking a slot machine

Playing catch-up, the first of a two-part shuffle through the Gaming mailbag:

Q. Not long ago, you wrote that "slot players need to decide what they want out of the slots, and choose the games and denominations that are best for them." Just what are the differences between machines, and how should players go about picking the right one?

K.D., via e-mail

A. For starters, the most important considerations in choosing a slot machine are bet size and the player's bankroll. Higher- denomination machines return a higher percentage of wagers to players- -in the long run, $5 machines pay more than $1 machines, which pay more than quarter machines, which pay more than nickel machines. However, the average loss per play is also higher on higher denomination machines. The average $5 machine in the Chicago area pays back about 96 percent of wagers, while the average quarter machine pays between 92 and 93 percent. But that 96 percent return on $5 games means you're losing an average of 20 cents per token wagered, while quarter players getting 93 percent returns lose an average of 1.75 cents per token wagered.

Chances of winning are greater on higher denomination machines, but average losses are also much bigger and much faster. Players who can't afford large, fast losses shouldn't play the high-denomination games. If your entertainment budget is $50 for the day and you're going to play the slots, you can't afford to even think about $5 machines. Your money could be gone in two minutes. Better stick to the quarters or nickels.

Beyond bankroll considerations, players need to decide whether they want to chase a big jackpot or whether they want a game with more frequent, smaller hits. Games with big top jackpots typically will yield fewer small wins and be very streaky. So much of the machine's overall payback is tied up in the top jackpot that it can't return as much to players in lesser hits. On the other hand, some machines have smaller jackpots and more frequent small payoffs. Most video slots are like this. So are some reel-spinning games, such as Blazing 7s. It may well be that both the game with the big jackpot and the game with the small one return about the same percentage to players in the long run, but the way they do it is different. Players have to decide if the fun is in chasing the jackpot or if it's in getting a longer run for their money.

Q. I have two questions about blackjack.

If the first two cards dealt total 11, does it make sense to double the bet and take one card?

Also, how are the odds affected if there are only two or three players at a table instead of seven?

Ron, via e-mail

A. In a multiple-deck game, the best play is to double down on 11 when the dealer's face-up card is anything other than an Ace. Against an Ace, just hit. Should you come across a single-deck game, double down the 11 against all dealer up cards, including Aces.

The house edge on blackjack remains unchanged no matter how many players are at the table. However, with fewer players, the game goes faster, with more hands per hour. That gives the house edge more chance to work against you, and on the average you'll lose more money per hour with fewer players at the table.

Q. Is it possible and very common that the players with the most perks are often the biggest losers and smallest winners? Does a small- bankroll player who suddenly hits a big jackpot become elite status, perkwise? What actually is recognized by the casino when jackpots are hit by both large and small bankroll players?

Ray, via e-mail

A. Generally, it's the amount of play, not the actual wins or losses, that determines a player's comp status. The casino knows that if there is enough play, it'll get its share. A player who makes $10,000 worth of wagers will get more perks than a player who wagers $1,000, regardless of whether any jackpots are hit. Repeated play also counts heavily in some player rating systems. A player who averages $5,000 worth of wagers per day and plays once a week may be comped more heavily than someone who wagers $10,000 a day once every couple of months.

Some casinos may make especially generous offers of rooms and meals immediately after a player hits an extremely large jackpot. But even for a jackpot winner, comps eventually boil down to length of play and average bet size.

Q. How high does the royal flush jackpot have to go on a 25-cent progressive video poker game before the player has an advantage? At the Isle of Capri, it went up to $1,900 before it hit.

Ken, via e-mail

A. Each $500 added to the usual $1,000 royal flush jackpot on a quarter game adds about 1 percent--a little more, a little less, depending on game--to the overall return. To use 8-5 Jacks or Better as an example, it starts as a 97.3 percent game with expert play with a $1,000 royal flush, with payback percentages hitting 98.4 percent with a $1,500 royal, 99.6 percent with a $2,000 royal and 100 percent with the royal at just shy of $2,167.