Your odds of winning are better than this, as you can hit five bells, five whistles or five of any other set of symbols, so on this machine your odds of any set of five are actually 5 x 0.032%, or 0.16%. So once in every 625 spins of this hypothetical machine, you’ll hit your set of five identical symbols for the jackpot.
Slot machines have a strange relationship with craps. Craps has a long history predating slots, but with the introduction of slot machines in the the 1990′s, craps tables lost some attention in brick and mortar casinos. Slots took over as the most popular game of chance in standard casinos. As the online casino technology continued to develop, craps came back into its own alongside the ever-popular slot machines. In brick and mortar casinos, dedicated craps players ignored the newcomer gushing over slot machines and pressed on with their dice. Its still usually a matter of preference.
Craps has the public, communal energy of a table surrounded with players yelling, praying and cajoling the dice to do what they want for a win. Slots tend to be more individual, yet the whistles and bells of the original machines and even the flashing lights and attention of a winning video slots machine can create a momentary flurry of excitement. While both craps and slots are still considered the primary “games of chance” at a casino, each game carries different expectations and requires different strategic choices for players and enthusiasts of craps and slots.
Differing Expectations
Players seem to have very different expectations about playing craps than they do about playing the slots. With slots, though they are based on the same general, mathematical probabilities as craps, vastly more players seem to think that a slot machine will allow them to “hit the jackpot” with higher frequency. In some cases, this is true.
Slot machines use RNG–random number generators, to determine the combinations of a slot roll. Whenever a player is pulling the handle on the slot machine or even when the machine is sitting “idle” without a player, the RNG computer chip inside is constantly working to produce thousands of combinations a second. This ensures the true random selection of every spin of the slot wheel.
However, a machine can be a “loose” machine or a “tight” machine. In a loose machine, a certain paying symbol like two cherries which pays a few coins, replaces a non-paying symbol. This creates a loose machine–one that pays out more frequently, whenever those additional paying symbols appear. A tight machine is the opposite, having more non-paying symbols in place of paying symbols, thus less frequent payouts.
Oddly enough, smart craps players “create” their own “loose machine” function by choosing to make the best payout bets at the craps table. Every experienced craps player will say that the way to make the dice pay is to place odds bets. The higher the multiplier allowed, 2x, 5x, 10x, 50x, 100x, the greater the payout and the more even the odds against the house.
Obviously, the difference is that the rapid RNG computer can more quickly and more often create a winning scenario for a slots player than the human generated roll of dice can for a craps player. So in terms of sheer time spent, in a given hour a savvy slots player may make more in winnings than a savvy craps player, but that also requires some strategic decisions along the way.
Different Strategies
Playing craps and playing the slots both do require strategic choices to maximize the benefits and fun of playing. (Losing hours in a row does not seem fun to most people.) Thus, when a player is trying to determine which game will earn his energy or attention on a given night at the casino, there are a few strategies to choosing between craps and slots.
Choosing Where To Play
Craps tables post the table limits prominently, so low limit players and high rollers can separate into their distinctive table groups. Low limit craps tables often have the larger crowds, who also frequently make the most noise in a casino as bystanders and players root for the favor of the dice. High roller craps players are making a choice about their large investments and have the longer bankroll to support big wagers. In online craps, choose a site that craps enthusiasts recommend, such as Online Vegas, Rushmore or Aladdin’s Gold, who offer bonuses for craps players at their online casinos.
Loose slot machines will more often be found in areas of high visibility and high traffic, so incoming players can see people winning. However, watching a row of machines for a few minutes before choosing one is helpful. Loose machines and tight machines tend to be located next to each other, alternatively (one loose, one tight, one loose and so on). Also, focusing on one machine at a time helps you track what you’re investing and receiving.
Choosing What To Invest
Craps players, after choosing a table limit, really make their investment choices based on what type of bets they place. Pass line and odds bets are the safe and functional way to go, but are not as “fun” as other bets like, come/don’t come, field bets or specific number bets. For players who are investing, rather than just spending, the discipline of choosing bets that will pay off more frequently will be the reward itself. Other players set monetary limits when they arrive at the craps table and play it until its gone, regardless of how soon that is.
Slot Machines Odds Of Winning
Slots players have different kinds of investment choices. One coin to three, one reel to five, single coin or multiple coin progressive slots each have a certain advantage but the best way to earn some real cash is to play at a denomination level you enjoy with as many rolls and payoff possibilities as you can get. Some slots experts recommend the best choice is a two-coin, non-progressive machine that doubles or quadruples a winning hit. Not only does the two-coin function automatically double your payout, but using two coins instead of three means you get more chances to pull the handle and play longer with decent returns. Yet, for some players, similar to craps, if this is too much “thinking” before gambling, set a monetary limit to spend and roll away wherever you like for as long as it lasts.
Choosing When To Stop
This brings us to the intensive strategic choice of when to stop. In both craps and slots, the adrenaline flows, particularly after wins or jackpots. The easy nature of the games entices players of both to just stay for “one more spin.” Yet, this is where knowing your personal limits as a player is crucial. In craps, having a literally growing or dwindling stack of chips before you is a useful visual indicator of your investment or winnings. Make a decision before you start at the table about when you want to leave–when the chips are gone or when they are high. Don’t be deceived by the lure of the potential big payoff on the next roll. If you go home from the craps table with money in your pocket, that’s a good night.
With slots, this is a more difficult choice, because though your quantity of coins may rise and fall, the windfall of a jackpot quickly reorders your balance. It’s also a lot harder for most players to estimate the monetary total of a disorganized cup full of quarters than the color-coded stacks of chips representing certain cash amounts. Like craps however, the wisest gamblers will make a decision about when to stop before evening beginning at the slots. Set limits and stick with them. In slots also, the lure of “one more pull” is incredibly strong and only the best players know it is worth resisting in the long run.
Craps and slots have many more similarities than other casino games. The energy and excitement of hits is celebrated wildly with the fellow players around you. The feel of randomness in the play is part of what makes both games attractive to casino patrons, regardless of the actual odds of winning at either game. Players of both craps and slots have strategic choices to make about how to maximize their winning potential. This leaves the major choice between craps and slots up to a player’s “mood” or preference for physically rolling the dice for active involvement or sitting back with a push-button slots spin.
Slots has been a thing for eons. Over the decades, it has simply evolved and changed in form. But at its core, the gambling basics have remained unchanged. In the past decade or two, the industry has experienced many ‘tech upgrades’ that have increased the number of punters in the world. Today, you don’t have to take a trip down to Las Vegas. All you need is a steady internet connection an online casino you trust and you are set.Speaking of casinos, (land-based or online), there are two types of slot machines they feature; Class III and Class II. The two slots machines operate differently. The Class II slot machines are common in slots parlors. They are attached to Native American Casinos or horse racing tracks. Owing to improved tech tools, Class II slot machines have become more sophisticated. So much so that casual punters have a hard time telling them apart from Class III slot machines.
But you are in luck. In this piece, we shall scrape off the confusion by explaining the basics and answering some common questions related to Class II slot machines.
So, let’s get to it.
What Exactly Are Class II Slot Machines?
It’s simple. The Class II slot machines are designed to replicate Class III slot machines while remaining within the confines of the regulatory guidelines. The Class system is clearly stated and defined in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by the Federal Government. The Act defines all Class II games as bingo regardless of whether computer, electronic or any other tech gadgets are used with it and if it is played in the same room with bingo or any games similar to bingo.
The immediate consequence of this regulatory Act was that the high stake bingo games were legalized. Yes, the bingo games held in halls were super popular at some point. But with time, as developers sought to upgrade their gaming experience, they leaned towards a casino-like environment and experience. Though they managed to incorporate Class III casinos in some of their gaming options, they were met with a lot of resistance and legal issues.
It was during this time that Class II slot machines were designed. Since their inception, key players in the industry have been working around the clock to replicate Class III machine experience in Class II jurisdictions. Engineers have been contracted to build in-house systems while slot manufacturers were brought on board to create games that would run on the designed systems
How do they Work?
It’s true, aside from the LED bingo card which displays your card patterns for every spin; it’s really hard to differentiate the Class II from the Class III. The big part of the difference lies in how the game operates. So let’s peep under the hood and see how Class II slots machines are designed to meet legal requirements of being a bingo game.
First, there is usually a 20-millisecond window. Any person that presses the ‘Play’ button during this window enters into a common draw. For this draw to run there needs to be a minimum of two players (there is no maximum number). If there are only two players, one of them will get the winning pattern.
So here’s what happens when a video or slot poker is brought into the picture. Designers extrapolate odds of specific bingo games to video or slot games’ results that have similar odds. Usually, there are extra algorithmic processes that are in play which help to determine the outcomes but usually, the end results are similar – you pull the machine handle and the reels spin.
How To Play Slots Odds
From the moment you pull the handle to the millisecond before they stop, you become one of the participants in a multiplayer bingo game. The results of the bingo game are ‘reported’ by the reels when they halt. If you are lucky, you’ll win some cash. So now if you think about it, you’ll have had a Las Vegas slot machine experience while in the background, the machine meets all the requirements which make it legal in Class II slot machine jurisdictions – areas where bingo is legal but RNG machines are not.
Now, most casinos that run the Class II slot machines claim that their odds are similar to those of Class III machines. This is how they explain it – it’s more like a scratch-off lottery card. But instead of scratching you’ll be pulling a handle.
And though this analogy is close to the real thing, it’s not quite accurate.
What do Class II Slots Look Like?
While they look extremely similar to Class III machines, the main way in determining if it is a Class II machine is to look on the display for a bingo table. It will look quite obvious and will indicate that the machine is using bingo logic rather than the typical RNG of a Class III machine.
Here’s an example below – notice that there is a bingo table located at the bottom right of the display.
Should You Play Class II Slot Games?
This is a really good question. And believe it or not, it’s pretty common. But despite this, its answer is not straight forward. But here’s something that will help you make that decision.
Gambling experts insist that Class II games are similar to lottery scratch tickets than Class II machines. You see, with lottery scratch tickets, the prize is determined before the printing of the tickets. Class II games may have shorter realization times but unfortunately, they aren’t random. The moment you pull the slot handle, the outcome of whether you have won or not and what prize you have won has already been made. The reels are only there to deliver the news.
Why do Casinos Prefer Class II Slot Machines?
Why is it that modern casinos seem to have a mix of Class II and Class III slot machines and games? And why is it that even with the mix, they are skewed towards class II games?
Well, first, the IGRA granted casinos self-regulating powers when it came to Class II games. However, with Class III games, they must be officially undergo rigorous testing through third parties and approved goverment organizations. This is to ensure that the randomness and reliability of the machine is deemed fair.
Second, casinos don’t have to pay taxes on the revenues generated from the Class II games. But on the Class III games, they are obligated to pay taxes.
Thirdly, the odds on winning in a Class II game are worse because you are put against a large pool of players to win instead of relying on RNG.
There you have it. Everything you need to make an informed decision. Hopefully, after reading this Class II and Class III slot machines don’t confuse you anymore. So with that go have a ‘happily ever after’ gambling experience.