Tackling those slot machines

ABBY: I think our biggest sin as casino gamblers is to play the slots exclusively. Why is that so? Because of those house edges of 10% or more on some machines, the chances of even being close to the casino in a given period of time are remote. Should slots be your only game? Don’t you agree?

CINDY: Yes, I do, but you leave out one very important factor – slots offer the chance of a quick hit, and sometimes those hits can be for significant money. I think that's why so many casino players gravitate to slots. I know those machines hold a fascination for me even though I budget only a small amount of my bankroll for them. I must admit I do enjoy playing them — and don’t you kid yourself, Abby, you enjoy playing some money into those machines.

ABBY: I do, I do, I don't deny that. Like you though, I only budget a certain amount of money to play those machines. I look for a hit or two but if I don’t get that hit or couple of hits, I go right to the table games.

CINDY: We don’t follow the same methods of play, do we?

ABBY: No, we don’t. I am a little more daring than you. I’ll go for those massive jackpots on progressive machines. I figure if you are going to bet your money, you might as well have the chance for the really big payout.

CINDY: Not me! I am far too conservative. I only play the standalone machines, and I tend to go for the more or less traditional ones. I have a better chance of having a machine with a better payout than you over time, and therefore those are the machines I hit.

ABBY: I understand that, but my amount of play is small compared to what I spend on table games and I feel that is worth doing. I get a kind of super-charge on the slot machines that I might not get at all of the table games. I don’t get super-charged playing Pai Gow Poker, even though I love that game a lot.

CINDY: I budget 10% of my bankroll to slot play — and that’s all. I also spread the play around. I won’t use all 10% at one time. I use slots as a break from playing the tables. I just sit, relax and take my time with slot play. I find that is the best way for me. I am not looking to get so super-charged as you.

ABBY: You’ve always been like that! I would guess I spend about 20% of my money on slots, and I play much faster than you do.

CINDY: Like lightning.

ABBY: Not exactly that fast; at least I don’t think so.

CINDY: I never let myself get into a reverie at the machines where I play kind of as if I am almost asleep. I want to make sure my money lasts, and that’s my basic feeling. Fast play is not my idea of fun. Just the opposite. Slow and steady is my pace.

ABBY: I actually don’t play as fast as you think but everything is comparative I guess. We do have somewhat different styles when playing the one-armed bandits.

CINDY: I don’t think many players call them that anymore. Those times and almost all of those machines are gone. It’s a new age for slots.

ABBY: The casinos are actually slot-machine palaces, because without slots I don’t think we would have gambling in so many states. They are the most appealing of all the games. I think that is a statement that can’t be challenged.

CINDY: Well, I’m not challenging it.

ABBY: I doubt anyone would.