Penny Slots a Sign of the Times?

by Bodog Casino | Sep 24 2009

Although economists say things are turning around, it's still pretty rough for us non-Diddy folk out in the real world.

For that reason the economic pie that allows us to bet the max on a dollar slot machine is still shrinking, and it looks like people are finding cheaper alternatives to compensate.

What's their cheaper alternative you ask? Penny slots.

Instead of sticking them in a giant jar never to be seen again, people are putting those pennies to some use and popping them in slot machines. They want to feel the fun gaming offers, just at a lower price. Penny slots give them a cheaper alternative.

Or do they?

The stats do say people are betting less. Leading up to June 30 gamblers did wager $20.1 billion less in Las Vegas compared to a couple of years ago, but that seems to coincide with Sin City's tourism issue not cheaper machines. The truth is penny slots can lose a player just as much or more than any dollar slots, and stats say it usually does.

In Vegas, statistics state that players get about a 95 percent return on non-penny slots. Meanwhile, those who play the penny games only get a 90 percent return. The reason is because although the single denomination is cheaper the max bet on a penny machine is just a costly as any dollar machine.

You can bet on 100 lines on some penny slots, and usually to get any kind of noticeable payout you'll have to. This makes the penny slot cheap in name only, in the end you'll be spending as much as any other quarter slot machine, and with the visual tricks the denominations will play on your head you'll probably end up betting more.

That's why if you truly want to save money, don't be blinded by the penny-slot mirage. Stick to the machines you usually play, but make sure you lower the amount of lines you bet on. Instead of using quarter or dollar machines and betting the maximum, use restraint and bet one credit instead of three to five per spin. Or if you do plan on playing only penny games, keep in mind 25 credits is still 25 cents.

You can still enjoy penny slots, but you'll need to show restrain just like you would with any other machine or table game.

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