Slots
and video poker are high-paced games. Unlike blackjack,
where players typically average around 50 hands
per hour, video poker and slots players will average
hundreds of spins per hour. Some players play
faster than others, but 500 spins per hour is
typical for reel slots and video poker. Games
with bonus rounds result in slower play, usually
closer to 300 spins per hour.
We can use the average playing speed for the games,
along with the house edge, to determine the average
amount that a player can expect to lose each hour
playing the slots.
Using the expected return of 99.5% on a typical
Jacks or Better video poker game, we can determine
the expected loss playing 500 hands per hour.
This return is based on the maximum bet. The
payout on 1 to 4-coin bets is slightly lower.
Playing on a quarter machine with the maximum
bet, you would bet 500 times $1.25, or a total
of $625. The expected loss of .5% would be $3.13
per hour. If you play the minimum bet of 25
cents each time, you would be a total of $125
and would be expected to lose 1.6% of that amount,
or $2.00.
When playing the quarter 8-5 Jacks or Better
video poker, the average loss per hour increases
to $4.88. This is a result of the reduced payouts
for flushes and full houses.
The payoffs on video poker due not vary based
on the denomination of the machine. Instead,
the difference is a result of changes to the
pay schedule. So the $1 9-6 Jacks or Better
machine will lose 4 times as much per hour as
the quarter machine, provided the pay schedule
is the same.
Penny slot machines usually offer lower paybacks
than do higher denominations. They usually pay
less than 90%. At 85%, a 20-line penny video
slot machine will lose around $9 per hour.
Quarter reel slots usually have a house edge
around 6 to 9 percent. The payout on the top
jackpot is higher for maximum coin bets. Playing
one coin at a time, a typical quarter reel slot
machine will cost $11.25 per hour to play.
For a 9-line nickel video slot machine, the
cost is an average of $13.50 per hour. The quarter
reel-spinning slot, at three coins, costs an
average of $26.75 per hour. Dollar reel slots
average $35 per hour with one coin.
The dollar 8-5 Jacks or Better video poker averages
$67.50 per hour for five-coin play. The dollar
reel slots cost an average of $75 per hour with
three coins played at a time. It’s no
wonder dollar slot players receive such good
comps. They deserve them.
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