I write quite a bit about poker and why everyone who likes to gamble should learn how to play. But it’s not the best choice for every gambler. Depending on why you’re gambling, other games can offer more.

Slot machines don’t offer the same chance of winning over time that poker does, but this doesn’t mean they’re not a better option for some players. Here’s a list of seven reasons why slot machines are better than poker.

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1 – You Don’t Need to Learn Strategy

If you want to be a winning poker player, you need to do a great deal of work. You have to learn how to play, and you need to spend months or years learning strategy and improving your game. But if you play slots, you don’t need to learn anything about strategy because there isn’t a strategy that helps you win.

You can do some things while playing slots that help your bankroll last longer, and you can try to find return to player numbers for several slot machines so that you can play on the ones that offer the highest return, but once you hit the spin button or pull the handle, there’s nothing to do but hope for a win.

When you play slot machines, if you want your bankroll to last longer, you can find machines that have lower cost per spin, and you can take fewer spins per hour. While both of these are good, they aren’t exactly strategy.

If you can find the return to player numbers for some slot machines, you can only play on the machines that have the highest return, but this still isn’t going to help you overcome the house edge. In addition, finding return numbers for slot machines is difficult.

Return to player is simply the difference between the house edge and 100%. If the house edge on a slot machine is 4%, the return to player is 96%. This means that on average the slot machine pays back $96 out of every $100 wagered on it, and the casino keeps the rest as revenue.

The only other thing you can do that’s close to strategy on slot machines is track progressive jackpots and play on the machines that have a jackpot so high that it might overcome the house edge. This is a risky strategy because even if the progressive jackpot is high enough to overcome the house edge, you still have to hit it. This can take hundreds of thousands of spins or more, and other players are trying to hit the jackpot at the same time.

If you want to have a chance to turn a long-term profit, are willing to work hard at learning the best strategies, and are willing to invest years reaching your goal, poker is a good option.

But if you just want to take a shot at a jackpot without needing to learn any strategy or think about your playing decisions, slot machines are the way to go.

Another strategy issue with poker is that you need to pay attention to what the other players are doing. You need to watch how they play hands so that you can spot playing tendencies and make more profit from them later. You don’t need to pay attention when you play slot machines because the machine takes care of everything.

2 – You Don’t Have to Deal With People

Some gamblers love to interact with dealers and other players, but other gamblers just want to be left alone. When you play poker, you have to communicate with the dealer and sit at a table with many other players. But when you play a slot machine, it’s just you and the game.

Many gamblers who prefer to play alone have started to transition to online and mobile gambling options. You can play most casino games and poker online. Mobile and online casinos have thousands of different slot machines, with some individual casinos offering over 100 different slots games. At last count, some Microgaming online casinos have over 400 different slot machines.

Online and mobile gambling is great, but it doesn’t have the same feel as sitting down at a real slot machine and watching the reels spin. Even when you play poker online, you still have to deal with the other players. While it’s not as bad as sitting at a real table with them, it can still be frustrating at times.

The only thing you have to deal with playing live slots is other players on machines close to you. When the casino is busy, it’s hard to find a machine that doesn’t have other players close by. And you can’t stop people from sitting down close to you.

One way to help with this is to walk around every casino you visit to identify the slot machines that are the least accessible. Look for machines close to corners and at the end of rows. Every casino has a different layout, but most have at least a few machines that offer a little more privacy than others.

3 – You Can Play as Fast or Slow as You Want

When you play poker, the speed of the game is dictated by the dealer and the other players. You can take your time when playing your hand if you need to, but even that has a limit. The problem usually isn’t that you want to play poker slower; the problem is that you want to play faster, and the dealer and/or other players are slow.

Online poker is much faster than live poker, but you still have to wait for the other players at the table to play their hands. A few online poker rooms offer a type of speed poker, where you get moved to a new player and start a new hand as soon as you fold.

While these games are even faster, I don’t prefer them because you never learn anything about your opponents. This might not seem like a big deal, but if you want to maximize your profits playing poker, you need to find weak players and exploit their weaknesses. Speed poker makes this impossible.

When you play on a slot machine, you’re in complete control of the speed of play. You can play as fast as you can push the buttons or pull the lever. Or you can take your time and just play a few spins every minute. Playing slower has the added benefit of making your bankroll last longer.

4 – Better Online Bonuses

Most online poker rooms offer bonuses, but they aren’t even close to the bonuses that online slots players have access to. 100% matching slots bonuses are common, and many online casinos offer 200% and higher match bonuses.

You can also find some online slots bonuses worth thousands.

The other big advantage of online slots bonuses over online poker bonuses is that you can usually play with your slots bonus as soon as you make a deposit. When you get a poker bonus, you usually have to clear it by playing a set number of raked hands or by acquiring a set number of player’s points. In addition, you usually only receive small chunks of your poker bonus at one time. This can be as small as $5 or $10 at a time.

It’s important to read the terms and conditions for every slot machine bonus you consider taking because every online casino has their own set of rules. You should learn more about the types of online casino bonuses and make sure you understand what you need to do before you can cash out.

The good news is that you don’t have to worry too much about it if you’re chasing a big progressive jackpot. When you play progressive slot machines, you just want to play as long as possible to give yourself the best chance to win big.

The only thing to watch out for in the terms and conditions when you play progressive slot machines is to make sure there isn’t a maximum cash out amount. Most slots bonuses don’t have a maximum, as long as you meet the playthrough requirements.

5 – Progressive Jackpots

Poker only offers a couple different ways to make a large pile of money. You either need to win a big tournament or grind out your winnings over time. In order to do either one of these things, you have to put in a great deal of work improving your skills.

On the other hand, you can find many different slot machines that have large jackpots. Most large jackpots on slots are progressive ones, but some machines have a set top prize worth tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands.

You don’t have to learn anything about strategy or play a certain way to hit a big slots progressive jackpot. You just have to play on a progressive machine and get lucky.

If you want to take a chance to win a life-changing amount of money, a progressive slot machine is your best choice in the casino. You just need to make sure that you read the rules to verify what you have to do to be eligible.

You can find great progressive jackpot slot machines in land-based casinos and online. When you play online, you can get a big bonus like I covered in the previous section that doubles or triples your bankroll. When you get a bonus, it gives you more chances to get lucky and hit a big win.

6 – More Variety

In most casinos and poker rooms, the only games offered are Texas hold’em. Larger poker rooms offer Omaha and seven card stud, but even with these games, you have a low number of choices.

On the other hand, even the smallest casinos have several different types of slot machines, and the big casinos have hundreds of different slots varieties.

It doesn’t matter if you play online or at a land-based casino; you can pick from many different slot machines. Some casinos have thousands of slot machines, so you can try many different games every time you play.

Even if you consider the different poker variations, different limits, and cash game and tournament offerings, you still have only a fraction of the choices when you play poker.

It’s also easy to get bored when you sit at the poker table for hours, especially when you have a run of poor cards. It can seem like you fold every hand for an hour, and it’s easy to get distracted.

But when you play slot machines, you can quickly move to another machine if you get bored with the one you’re playing. You can try out the old-fashioned three-reel machines or play on one of the newer video-based slot machines with numerous bonus rounds and games within games.

Some slot machines even have a storyline that you watch as you play. You can unlock new parts of the story and new bonuses the longer you play.

Poker really hasn’t seen anything new for years. A new game gets introduced from time to time, but players are still choosing Texas hold’em as their main game.

Slot machine manufacturers are constantly developing and introducing new games. This is true for land-based manufacturers and online software developers. New slot machines bring new players into the casinos and keep experienced players interested.

7 – Slot Machines Are Easier to Play

Even though popular poker games are easy to learn, slot machines are even easier. To play poker, you need to learn the basics of poker, including the value of cards, the rank of hands, and how hands are formed using a deck of cards.

The next step is learning the specific rule of the variety of poker you’re playing. Texas hold’em is the most popular variety of poker, and it has a specific set of rules. Other forms of poker that have different rule sets include seven card stud and Omaha.

You also need to learn the differences between limit, pot limit, and no limit poker and the differences between cash games and the various types of tournaments.

When you play slot machines, you simply sit down at a machine, put some money in, and press the spin button. You can pick how many lines you want to activate on some machines and adjust the number of coins to bet per line on some machines, but even these are simple choices.

If you’re looking for the easiest game to play in the casino, slot machines are always towards the top of the list.

Conclusion

Poker might offer a better chance at long-term profits, but slot machines have advantages for many gamblers. When you just want to play a simple game and not worry about strategy, slot machines offer a big advantage over poker.

You don’t have to deal with other gamblers when you play slots, and you can get big online bonuses that you can use to chase a huge progressive jackpot. And you can try new slot machines every time you play.

It’s still a better long-term strategy to master poker if you want the best chance to win, but it takes a great deal of work. Slot machines don’t require any work, and you still have a chance at a big win if you get lucky.

A video lottery terminal (VLT), also sometimes known as a video gaming terminal, video slots, or the video lottery, is a type of electronic gambling machine. They are typically operated by a region's lottery, and situated at licensed establishments such as bars and restaurants.

VLTs typically feature a selection of multiple games, primarily video slot machines and Keno. Their exact operation depends on local law: many VLTs are stand-alone devices containing a random number generator. Each terminal is connected to a centralized computer system that allows the lottery jurisdiction to monitor gameplay and collect its share of revenue. The outcome of each wager on a VLT is random. VLT operators are not able to program the total amount wagered, or payouts, through the central computer system. A minimum percentage payout usually is written into that jurisdiction's law. That percentage is realized not by manipulation of the game, but by adjusting the expected overall payout.

In some jurisdictions, VLTs do not contain a random number generator, and display results from a fixed pool controlled by the central system (in similar fashion to scratch-off lottery tickets).

Is Video Poker Considered A Slot Machines

Canada[edit]

VLT programs are operated in eight Canadian provinces, with the only major exceptions being British Columbia and Ontario. These machines are typically governed by the region's lottery and gaming boards, and are situated inside licensed establishments such as bars.^[1] In several provinces, VLTs were deployed primarily to help counter illegal underground video gambling operations, while several (particularly those whose economies are reliant on natural resources) cited economic development as a factor in their use.^[1]

VLTs were first popularized in Atlantic Canada, with New Brunswick becoming the first province to introduce them in 1990, and the other Atlantic provinces following suit in 1991. In New Brunswick, sites were initially limited to a maximum of five machines each, and they were later removed from locations that did not hold liquor licenses. Since 2002, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation has been fully responsible for all VLT operations in the province, rather than having their costs covered by private owner-operators. The ALC had already operated the VLT programs in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia since their launch, while Prince Edward Island transferred its VLTs to the ALC in 2003.^[1] Quebec introduced VLTs in 1994.^[1]

VLTs also began to appear in Western Canada in 1991, with Alberta trialling them during the Calgary Stampede and Klondike Days events before beginning a province-wide program the following year. Manitoba initially deployed them at rural locations only, but expanded them to Winnipeg in 1993, and the Assiniboia Downs race track.^[1] Saskatchewan introduced VLTs in 1993, primarily to encourage business at establishments in smaller communities (which faced competition from out-of-province casinos, prior to the opening of several commercial and First Nations casinos in the province).^[1] Saskatchewan's VLT program also includes games offering regional and province-wide progressive jackpots.^[2]

To address problem gambling concerns, VLTs in Canada are typically equipped with features and restrictions as safeguards in comparison to a casino-style slot machine, including the display of a player's credits as a cash value rather than units of a denomination, on-screen display of the current time, maximum session lengths with mandatory cash-out after time expires, limits on hours of operation, no Stop button (to regulate the pace of play), wager limits, limits on the amount of cash that can be deposited during a single session, and problem gambling resources.^[1] Some VLTs may also offer integrated account systems for tracking usage and setting limits on cash spent.^[3] In 2012, Nova Scotia began to mandate that users enroll in an account card system known as My-Play in order to use VLTs. The government discontinued the scheme in 2014, citing its decision to allow players to register anonymously without personal information ('light' enrollment) as having defeated the purpose of the system—as many players only used the cards temporarily before disposing them. The government claimed it would save $200,000 a year by removing the system.^[4][5]

Each province has imposed caps on the number of VLTs that may operate in their province, and Nova Scotia has enforced a moratorium on new VLT sites and attrition on existing sites outside of First Nations reservations (taking VLTs out of service permanently if a site closes or removes them). In the 2000s, Alberta reallocated some of its VLTs to increase the number allowed at specific sites, in effect reducing the total number of sites in operation. Some provinces also have regulations that allow individual municipalities to hold referendums to opt out of VLT operation in their communities.^[1][3][6] In January 2017, Quebec announced that it would similarly re-allocate and cut its VLTs from 12,000 to under 10,000 over the next two years, including making the number of sites and machines present in a region proportional to population, and focus more on placing them in leisure venues such as billiard halls and bowling alleys to 'promote socialization and group entertainment'.^[7]

The Moncton, New Brunswick-based Spielo has been heavily involved in the VLT market; it was acquired in 2004 by GTECH Corporation, which was in turn acquired by Lottomatica of Italy, which then acquired and merged with IGT in 2015.^[8] Alberta and the Atlantic Lottery both deployed modernizations to their VLT networks in the early-2010s, entering into supply deals with multiple gaming vendors, collectively including Aristocrat, and the present IGT (IGT, Spielo) and Scientific Games (Bally Technologies and WMS).^[9]

United States[edit]

Is Video Poker A Slot Machine

Lotteries in the U.S. were considering VLTs as early as 1981, when a planned experiment with 20 machines by the New York State Lottery was scrapped, after the Attorney General determined they would be illegal.^[10] A similar plan by the New Jersey Lottery died in 1983 after ties between state officials and VLT manufacturers raised conflict of interest concerns.^[11]

The first VLTs in the country were installed in late 1983 by Bellevue, Nebraska as part of its municipal lottery. Eleven other local lotteries in Nebraska followed suit, until the state banned the devices, effective 1985.^[12]

South Dakota became on October 16, 1989, the first state to adopt VLTs. In a unique arrangement with private industry, the machines are owned by private companies but monitored by the South Dakota Lottery via a centralized computer system that assures the integrity of the games. South Dakota imposes a substantial tax on the net income (gross income minus player winnings) of the games. Beginning in 1992, four attempts were made to repeal South Dakota's video lottery; all were widely rejected by public votes. Most recently, in May 2006, petitions were filed containing over 21,000 signatures in order to place the issue on the November ballot; voters again agreed to keep video lottery, by a 66%-34% margin.

Other US jurisdictions which have had legal video lottery include Oregon, South Carolina (formerly), Rhode Island, Delaware, New York, Ohio, West Virginia, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana and Illinois. Of these, Delaware, Rhode Island, and West Virginia formerly participated in a shared VLT game, Cashola.

The U.S. Virgin Islands also has a legalized video lottery, managed by Southland Gaming of the Virgin Islands.^[13] The local governments in St. Thomas and St. John use the funds generated by the video lottery to fund various government programs on the islands; primarily focusing on educational efforts.

Racinos[edit]

In 1990, West Virginia introduced the concept of racinos when it allowed MTR Gaming Group to add VLTs to Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester.

Racinos differ from traditional VLTs in that all video lottery games are played on a gaming machine.

Other states that have legalized VLTs in racinos are Delaware, Rhode Island, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia.

Non-lottery[edit]

In Montana, VLT-type poker, keno and bingo machines are legal to operate in the private sector. Since the 1970s, Montana was the first state, other than Nevada and New Jersey, to legalize machine gaming.

Keno and Bingo machines were first introduced in Montana in 1975. Although subject to legal challenge, these machines were deemed legal in 1976 after the Montana Supreme Court ruled in favor of Treasure State Games, a private company that brought the first games of this type to the state. (See Justia.com - Treasure State Games v. State of Montana)

Unlike in other states, the gaming devices are not under the jurisdiction of the state lottery. In 2011 the state legislature added another class of games, so-called 'line games', to the list of approved games.

All establishments licensed for the on-premises consumption of alcohol within the state of Montana are allowed to operate such machines provided they have the correct permits. In addition, there are some Montana establishments (such as some truck stops) that do not possess 'on-sale' licenses but hold 'grandfather' licenses allowing them to operate gaming machines.

The maximum prize awarded on these machines is $800, with a maximum bet of $2 per hand. The legal age to gamble in Montana is 18, although people under the age of 21 cannot gamble in bars.

As in Louisiana, the games in Montana are not technically part of its lottery.

Class III video lottery[edit]

Currently, only Oregon and South Dakota employ Class III gaming technology (incorporating a random number generator) into their VLT games. Oregon's VLT program was modeled upon those deployed in Canada.^[1] The devices operated in Montana are also Class III machines, but as they are not connected to the Montana Lottery are technically not 'video lottery terminals'. This means that unlike any of the Class II states (which have a fixed number of winners, analogous to scratch cards), Oregon and South Dakota lottery players compete against a house edge rather than other lottery players.^{[citation needed]} This is the same type of gaming offered in Nevada, Connecticut and Atlantic City, New Jersey as well as in the majority of tribal casinos. Currently, the state of Oregon offers its players a 91-95% payout on each of its games. South Dakota and Montana law specifies that payouts must be greater than 80%, although in reality actual payouts in these two jurisdictions are around 88-92%.^{[citation needed]}

Most US jurisdictions do not allow VLTs and those that do have attracted the same criticism the Canadian provinces have. However, some non-players have expressed tolerance for the machines.

Other terminology[edit]

In certain jurisdictions, VLTs are known as video gaming devices (VGD) or video slot machines along with 'Video Gaming Terminal (VGT)'. Most VLTs are multi-game devices, allowing the players to select, from an on-screen menu, the game(s) they wish to play. They are also known as poker machines and fruit machines in some areas.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

1. ^ ^abcdefghi'VLT Gaming in Canada'(.doc). Canadian Gaming Association. March 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
2. ^'Moose Jaw woman wins $1.2 million from VLT'. Regina Leader-Post. 2018-10-01. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
3. ^ ^abDoucette, Keith (2011-03-25). 'New VLT moratorium to continue in Nova Scotia'. iPolitics. Retrieved 2019-11-30.
4. ^'Province says My-Play system unsuccessful in helping gambling addicts'. Cape Breton Post. Retrieved 2019-12-02.
5. ^'John Xidos calls province's My-Play figures 'far-fetched''. CBC News. August 26, 2014. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
6. ^'Provincial VLT revenues slow after four years of growth'. CBC News. March 21, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
7. ^'Quebec to slash number of video lottery terminals in low-income areas'. CBC News. 2017-01-03. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
8. ^'Moncton gaming company cuts 67 jobs'. CBC News. 2015-04-22. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
9. ^'Canadian lotteries infuse Nevada's slot industry with sales opportunities'. Las Vegas Review-Journal. 2012-05-30. Retrieved 2020-03-06.
10. ^'Video lottery plan scrapped'. New York Times. via LexisNexis. September 11, 1981. p. B6. Retrieved 2012-06-02.(subscription required)
11. ^Asher, James (March 6, 1983). 'Bets are off: Many say politics killed New Jersey's high hopes for video lottery'. Philadelphia Inquirer. via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-06-02.(subscription required)
12. ^Sutton Jr., William W. (March 17, 1985). 'A bet on video games pays off for one town'. Philadelphia Inquirer. via NewsBank. Retrieved 2012-06-02.(subscription required)
13. ^Video lottery information page

External links[edit]

• VLTs: Nova Scotia's Billion Dollar Gamble An investigative website on VLTs in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia prepared by University of King's College students.