CASINO PLAYERS EZINE #120

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Editor -- Gayle Mitchell. Casino Players Ezine
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Feature Article: Video Poker 2008 IGT still leads the way when the subject is Video Poker and 8 of their newer creations follow. One interesting add-on for 2008 is that, similar to slots, increased payouts are in the offing for an extra coin bet per hand. 1) Guaranteed Play: In this game, you prepay for a number of hand anywhere from 75 to 400 or more. If you score ends up positive, the money is yours. If on the other hand you lose in the end, you only lose the original bet. This version is also available for the game of blackjack. 2) Video Poker Hold ‘em Poker: the popular poker game moves to a VP slot. The similarity to Pick ‘em Poker VP is that you are dealt two sets of hold cards, one of which is ‘picked’ by you. Then five additional cards are dealt and you are paid as per the paytable. Your bet is returned for two pair, but a few starting hands like red aces will multiply your score. The Super Version where you bet 10 coins offers a better payout. Strategy is similar to Joker Wild – 2 pair versions in that you will not necessarily save high cards, but rather ‘middle cards’ like 8-9 or 6-7 for possible straights and straight flushes. 3) Quick Quads: Rather than 5 coins per line, you bet six and receive credits for five. The additional coin for this version that can be triple, five or ten hands games is for a bonus feature. This feature occurs when you receive 3 of a kind from twos to tens and the other two cards add up to the rank of this three of a kind, the hand then qualifies as a four of a kind. Example 10-10-10-6-4 is considered four tens. Strategy: If you are dealt trips, take a look at the other two cards to determine if one or two should be tossed. Example: 10-10-10-6-J---toss just the J or 10-10-10-J-J---toss both jacks. 4) Wheel Bonus Poker: Similar to the popular Wheel of Fortune slot, this VP version is another 6 coins per line game. Hit a quad and you spin the wheel for credits from 100 to 2000. The gamemaker says the average payout will be approx. 400 credits and considering the 6 coin instead of 5-coin play, the payout return for this game is approximately 98%. 5) Big Times Draw Poker: This VP version can be played for up to 10 coins/line. The unique twist is that small value cards offer the larger payouts as follows: High card is K or Q = 1X payout or return of your original bet. High card is J, 10, 9 down to 3 = 5X payout High card is 2 as with a quad or full house comprised of aces and deuces = 10X payout. Your biggest wish, therefore is for 2AAAA or A2222 especially when playing at a triple, five or ten hand version. A big strike of $100,000 is yours for either of these two hands when dealt at a ten-hand game. 6) Super Triple Play: You play six coins instead of 5 but the advantage is that quads (4-of-a-kind) pay double or triple the average value. Some nice paydays for 1 more coin. 7) Good Times Poker: Raise your bet to 10 coins/line and you receive a random multiplier (averaging about 2%) for each line of this triple hand version. While there are no strategy differences when playing this game, the overall payout is certainly increased to match the increased bet. Example: the Jacks or Better 9/6 version boasts an average return of 99.78% with a 2X multiplier. 8) Ultimate X Poker: Once again, a 10-coin bet/line and random multiplier determines your payout. The multiplier, which can change for every line at multi-hand versions, is established by the payout received on the previous hand. It is important to bet the maximum of 10 coins at all times because if you bet the usual 5 coins for a previous hand, then you are awarded only the multiplier for the following maximum bet hand, but not the multiplier from the previous hand as it was not max. bet. While the average multiplier is 2X which means that you are receiving twice your original bet which equates to twice the return of a regular 5 coin bet, this game can push the multiplier as high as 12X for each hand if your last hand was a full-house dealt. It follows then that your strategy for the next hand will be based upon the multiplier from your previous hand. Example: for a VP version that offers a bonus for four aces, there will be two different strategies for the next hand. If previous hand was a low multiplier, then hold aces with unsuited high card—A,Q or A,J or A,K. If previous hand was a high multiplier, then hold ace only. Additional strategies include scanning the last multiplier on 2 machines before choosing the one that had the higher multiplier when the player left and playing only 5 coins for your last hand before leaving so as not to leave any multiplier behind. This VP game is valuable when you receive better than 2X return payouts, otherwise it can drain your wallet quickly.

Slots Reviews
Slot descriptions/reviews are listed by Slot Name, Manufacturer, payout range offered, (low to high) and average hit frequency if available. We begin this month’s reviews with 4 versions introduced by A.C. Coin. Big Game Show Gold Edition Bonus, Chef’s Daily Special Bonus, When in Rome and Super Bankroll Bonus.
1) Big Game Show Gold Edition Bonus:	It’s back, 10X better in its Gold Edition with 25 paylines. The bonus round begins when three Big Game Show Gold Edition Bonus symbols appear on an active payline. After the player activates the bonus round by pressing the flashing button, the game card award board is initiated and starts to randomly blink at which time one game card award square will be displayed to the player. Located on the game card are 14 different squares that contain credit awards and ball drop awards including 10X and 5X multiplier spaces. Located in the top box are ten balls including one Devil ball (zero award) and 9 with pay values (20-500). When the appropriate number of balls is revealed, the amounts are added to the game card credit awards and the total amount is awarded to the player, ending the bonus event.
2) Chef’s Daily Special Bonus:	Slot players will hunger for this 30-line bonusing game that plays, “That’s Amore” and boasts an interactive bonus game card. The bonus feature is initiated by the appearance of three bonus symbols on any played payline. The game board award card is then initiated and begins to randomly blink. The player is prompted to press the flashing button, at which time one game card award is displayed to the player. Located on the game card are three different squares representing one, two, and four-ball drop awards. Located in the top box are 11 balls, including a 2x multiplier ball and 10 balls with pay values. When the appropriate number of balls are revealed to the player, the amounts are added to the bonus meter and the total amount is awarded to the player. If one or more multiplier balls drop, all pay value amounts are first added together and then the multiplier(s) are applied last.
3) When In Rome:	Bringing slot players an empire of excitement, When in Rome combines a thrilling 5 reel Triple Stars with the crowd-drawing action of an interactive bonus game card, and new 3x 5x and 10x multiplier awards. When three When in Rome bonus symbols land on any played payline, players enter the fun-filled bonus round. The game card award board is then initiated and begins to randomly blink. Located on the game card are 14 different squares that contain credit awards and ball drop awards. The player is prompted to press the flashing button, at which time the blinking stops and a single award square is displayed. Located in the top box are eleven balls with pay values (20-1000). When one or more balls are revealed, the amounts are added to the game card credit awards and the total amount is awarded to the player.
4) Super Bankroll Bonus:	The company’s newest six-station true community bonusing game, Super Bankroll Bonus strengthens social excitement on the casino floor by allowing slot enthusiasts to play among others and experience a shared bonusing event. The theme of the new game is based upon AC Coin & Slot’s Bankroll and it stands 7 feet tall and almost 7 feet wide. The game boasts a 5-reel, 20-line program and plays the song, “Money, That’s What I Want.” Players are enticed with a jumbo-sized bonus event that features a scrolling display of a printing press printing oversized bills.
5) Triple Double Cherries: Wms Gaming. 88-92%. 3 spins.	The cool news about this slot is the Hot Hot Super Jackpot feature when you play all lines with a side bet of 10 credits thereby increasing the free spin round frequency and the credits won. The triple in the theme of this slot refers to a) multipliers ranging from 2X to 10X and a free spin bonus round. b) With 2 scattered bonus symbols, you are paid for all wins other than scatters plus the reels with the bonus symbols freeze and all the other reels re-spin once. c) side bet increases the 5 free spins to 10 at 3X jackpots. If three or more scatters land during the free spins, another 5 free spins occurs. Another benefit of the side bet is that the rewards for the largest winning combos are increased for base and bonus round spins. While this paytable may seem complicated, all you need to know are two phrases: side bet and triple wins.
6) Norse Warrior: Konami. 82-96%. 3 spins.	Stunning graphics highlight the theme of the base game of a fabled warrior astride his horse. Free spin rounds begin when three, four or five scatter across the screen bring on 10, 15 or 25 free spins, respectively and all jackpots are doubled. Watch for additional free games during this bonus round. For a low maximum bet of only 10-30 cents per spin on a penny machine, you can trigger all the paylines and be a slot warrior.
7) Capricorn Mountain: Konami. 82-96%. 2 spins.	This slot theme focuses on a tropical volcano and features a reel configuration that produces wins in both directions for scatter pays on adjacent reels. Therefore, the hits just keep coming. For example—when 3 or more volcano symbols scatter on the reels, a free games event of 10 spins begins. Further 4=15 freebies while 5=25 free spins. As with most bonus slots today, all jackpots are doubled during the free spins. You can climb this mountain with ease and extra cash when the random options of Quick Strike or Mystical Temple are in play.
8) Quarter Million$ - In the Money: Bally. 83-88%. 2 spins.	Merge the familiar slot In the Money with an Instant Spin wheel; put all 25 paylines into play and you are truly ‘in the running’ for $250,000. or more. This slot offers one of two bonus options; either play the reels or head to the bonus event that occurs at the roulette wheel above you. This top wheel offers bonus credits of 250, up to 25,000 credits. Wild symbol -- In the Money subs for all symbols in winning combinations. Here are the numbers. A bet of 75 credits=an average bonus of 723 credits. A bet of 100 credits=two spins for an average bonus of 1446 coins. A bet of 125 credits=wheel spins, three times for an average bonus of 2169 credits. Want to be ‘In the Money’ again? If there is a random Mystery Pay feature, then that famous song will be ‘music to your ears’

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Jackpot Bulletin: Winning Stories
1) AC Hilton & Resorts Tournament Winner	Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts teamed up to present the Wheel of Fortune $1 Million Winner Takes All Slot Tournament and the winner is...Thomas Hedenberg, 63, of Mantua, NJ. The new millionaire said, “As a regular player at the Hilton, I had the opportunity to participate in the contest for $1 million, and was lucky enough to win the tournament!” “We chose to come to the Hilton to celebrate my wife’s birthday.” “Winning $1 million dollars…Wow! What a way to celebrate.”
2) Still Working after the Big Win	“I really like my job and will continue to work.” “Since everyone I know works, there’s no one to play golf with anyway,” was the way this anonymous winner described his future plans. After playing about $60 at a Megabucks Jackpot slot at the Mohegan Sun, he was rewarded with a $2,346,820 payout. “I wasn’t really sure what happened, I was stunned.” A quick bank deposit will be his first step after the win fall.
3) Around Midnight, the Wheel Turns	Richard Henry and wife of Wells, ME were too energized to sleep on their first day of vacation at the Monte Carlo Casino, Las Vegas. Around midnight seemed a good time to play. Their choice was a quarter Wheel of Fortune slot and the bet was $20. Richard, a restaurant owner then struck for a $474,964 MegaJackpot and the exciting win sunk in for two very happy people. The 59 year old restaurant owner mentioned that he and his wife vacation in Las Vegas twice a The future includes a home improvement project and paying off the car.

Readers FYI: Current gaming news of interest. Note: the Editor’s comments are in italics. Most slot players, including me, find nightmares of a ‘slot machine malfunction’ follow dreams of that multi million dollar win. The Nevada Gaming Commission has a FAQ on this subject. 1) Slot Machine Malfunctions FAQ 1. Why do slot machines malfunction (tilt)? There are over 209,000 slot machines normally operating 24 hours a day 7 days a week in Nevada and unfortunately, on rare occasions, there are malfunctions. Malfunctions occur for a variety of reasons including, improper tampering, coin jams, empty hoppers, switch failures, computer chip failure, power outages and accidental contact (bumping). 2. What happens when a slot machine malfunctions? When a malfunction occurs the slot machine will normally not accept additional coins nor play existing credits, the lights on top will flash, the readout on the face of the machine will likely flash or display an unusual number or code (example: 3300 code), the reels may stop briefly then rotate or spin slowly, or there may be an on-screen indication of the problem, such as "hopper empty" or "call attendant." Read More… This news item is about plunging profits in Vegas and Atlantic City vs. local casinos. My answer has always been that this situation calls for better room rates and promotions to attract casino players. I was surprised that the article did not mention how this will affect online play. I believe that playing online is a cheaper option as it eliminates major expenses like gas, accommodation and dining out while offering a wide variety of games. 2) Local casinos vie with Vegas as gamblers pull back As travel costs continue to rise, some analysts say closer-to-home regional casinos might attract gamblers away from "destination" gaming centers like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. They argue that the extra costs involved in traveling to those two popular cities could make some gamblers choose instead to keep their hard-earned cash for local tables and slot machines. Others, however, believe both regional and major gambling venues will continue to suffer as the U.S. economy weakens and consumers are more careful about staying on budget. In Las Vegas, a number of prominent gaming companies -- including MGM Mirage Inc and Wynn Resorts Ltd reported deteriorating quarterly earnings in the last three weeks Read More… Three major casinos were in the news lately. I find the item about Harrah’s rejecting NBA Bets both good news and bad. The good news is that they are doing the right thing and the bad is that it will be oh, so costly. 3) First report was: Greektown Casino falls into Chapter 11 DETROIT - Greektown Casino has asked a federal court for approval to reorganize its finances and continue business operations under the protection of Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians announced today. Then this news item: Court authorizes Greektown casino financing DETROIT - Greektown Casino completed a significant step in its reorganization by securing federal court approval today on an interim basis of financing to finish construction of its permanent casino hotel and resort 4) Trump Marina casino being sold for $316M ATLANTIC CITY - In recent years, the Trump Marina Hotel Casino has been wasting away in Atlantic City's ultra-competitive casino market, searching for its lost shaker of salt, if you will. 5) Harrah's to reject NBA bets -- Casino chief owns a part of Boston Celtics While local sports books are expecting to take in heavy action on this year's championship series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics, sports books at all of the Harrah's properties will be turning bettors away. This is not the first, nor the last example of self-barred casino patrons who return to the exact spot that they should not be and then decide that it’s the casino’s fault and they must be sued. I’m sure that most casino visitors who sign up for self-exclusion take that responsibility seriously; however, there are exceptions as this report reveals. 6) Problem gamblers hit Ontario casinos with $3.5B lawsuit A $3.5-billion proposed class-action lawsuit has been launched on behalf of addicted gamblers who allege they asked to be barred from Ontario's casinos, but were still allowed in. The suit was filed against the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation in Toronto on Tuesday, claiming the corporation did not do enough for those who signed up for "self-exclusion," a program that allows people to have themselves banned from casinos so that they can curb their ruinous gambling habits. None of the allegations has been proven in court and a statement of defence has not yet been filed in the suit, which has not been certified as a class action.

Slot Payouts Report As reported by the Gaming Commissions. Slot players know that payout %'s and top casino payout rankings can change monthly. Note: Not all land-based casinos/regions are required to report payouts. This link will provide current reporting for Slots Payouts. http://www.easycasinogambling.com/payouts.html

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