Slot Machine Card Games

 

Slot games, roulette, dice games, and card games like blackjack where the house is also a player all fall under the Class III gambling games category. So How Can There Be Class II Slot Machine Games? If you’ve ever visited a Native American casino–like the Winstar Casino in Oklahoma, you’ve almost certainly played some Class II slot.

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Today, I’m going to answer another reader question which I received recently by email. It comes from Sarah in Scotland who wants to know “Are slot machines rigged?” I’ve copied the email directly below with her permission.

Dear GamblingSites.org team,

I’m Sarah McKeown, and I’ve been a long-time reader of your blog. I’ve found lots of interesting content over the years. I even won a healthy jackpot after playing one of your recommended jackpot slots.

However, I’ve been keeping a record of my bets versus my wins, and I’ve noticed that no matter how many big wins I have, I always end up losing it all again over the long term. Can you tell me if slot machines are rigged? Can casinos fix slot machines to make sure players lose?

Any insights you can share with me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Sarah McKeown

Sarah, I’m going to answer your questions directly. Yes, slot machines are rigged. However, they’re not rigged in the way you think they are

In this post, I’ll explain how slot machines work, why you lose in the long-term, and I’ll give you some useful tips for beating slot machines more often. Let’s begin!

Are Casino Slot Machines Rigged?

I guarantee you that if you walk through any Vegas casino, or any casino in the world for that matter, and ask every slots player if they won, the vast majority of them will tell you no.

It’s difficult to understand how this could be the case unless slot machines are rigged. And if they are, how in the heck is that legal? Are casinos actively keeping slot machines rigged so that you can’t win? If so, what about all those stories of players who won huge jackpots?

This can all seem rather confusing, but it’s not. The simple answer is that the vast majority of players lose, and a few lucky players win. Each machine is programmed to pay out less than what’s put into it, ensuring that the casino makes a continuous profit over the long run. This could be anything from a 2% advantage on the best slot machines, to a 10% or greater advantage on some of the big-money jackpot slots.

So, in a nutshell, casino slots are rigged to make sure the casino makes a profit, but that does not mean you can’t win on any given gaming session.

Gaming commissions would never allow casinos to run games you can’t win, nor would it be good for business. Players would soon figure out that the games were unwinnable and would stop playing.

Let’s take a closer look at how slot machines work. This will help you understand that while the house always wins, you can win, too.

How Slot Machines Are Rigged

Understanding how slot machines are rigged requires you to understand how they work. Each slot has its game odds, but they all use a similar method of paying out jackpots. Here are some important things to know about slot machines.

Understand Slot Machine RTP

RTP is an acronym for “return to player.” If you read slot machine reviews, you’ll usually find each game has a specific RTP published by the developer. For example, on NetEnt.com, you can find the RTP of Starburst and other games.

RTP is a percentage.

For Example:

Based on Starburst from above, the RTP is 96.09%. What does this mean in terms of money, jackpots, and wins and losses? It means that, for every £100 bet on these games, players win back £96.09.

It’s important to remember that this does not mean you’ll make back £96.09 for every £100 you bet on Starburst. It means that the casino returns £96.09 to all players spinning the reels at every casino which offers Starburst. This includes all of the small wins and losses each player wins on every spin. In the long run, the casino will make £3.91 on every £100 bet on that game, regardless of what happens in the short term.

Hopefully, this concept of RTP helps you understand how slot machines are rigged in favor of the game developers and casinos but are not rigged in absolute terms. You can win when playing slots, but you can’t win in the long run.

Understand Random Number Generators

Even though the house has a built-in advantage on slot machines, it’s clear that some players do win massive jackpots. Just take a look at this story about a British soldier winning a record-breaking jackpot from a £0.25 spin.

Slot Machine Card Games Euchre

Lots of players wonder when the best time to play slot machines is, which slots are “loose,” and all sorts of other questions. They hope that figuring out the answers will help them win slots more often, but the truth is that this is all a waste of time.

Slot machines decide when to pay out in accordance with a Random Number Generator (RNG). Believe it or not, it’s possible for a slot machine to pay out a jackpot on two spins in a row, although it is unlikely. A Random Number Generator is a piece of software which spits out billions of numbers per second, and if it happens to spit out a number associated with a jackpot, you’ll see the high-value symbols line up across a payline and you win.

There’s no way to manipulate RNGs. You can’t cheat online slot machines no matter how hard you try. Some smart players note that RNGs can’t be truly random since humans create them, but for all reasonable and practical purposes, you can’t manipulate them.

Perhaps, someone will someday spot a pattern in the apparent randomness by using a quantum computer to crunch numbers. But until then, just assume they’re random.

While the slots developer can control the RTP via programming, it can’t control the RNG. There are third-party games testing organizations such as eCogra which test RNGs and verify that they are fair. This doesn’t mean all slots developers play fair, but big names like Microgaming and NetEnt do.

How to Win at Slots — Tips and Tricks

Now that you understand how slot machines work, and how they are rigged without being unfair, it’s time to turn the tables on the casinos. I’ve learned a lot about slot machines throughout my career as a player, and I’m going to share my best tips on how to win slots more often.

Pick Slot Machines With a High RTP

One of the first and most obvious tips is to select high RTP slot machines. These games pay back the most to players in the long run, so you’re better off playing them even if the jackpots are smaller.

Very often, the jackpots are smaller. Since the casinos have less risk to deal with when a smaller jackpot is involved, they can afford a higher payback percentage to players. It makes sense, doesn’t it?

So, which slot machines have the highest RTP? Here are five to get you started.

  • Blood Suckers by NetEnt – 98%
  • Rags to Riches by Cryptologic – 98%
  • Good Girl, Bad Girl by Betsoft – 97.8%
  • Kings of Chicago by NetEnt – 97.8%
  • Wolfpack Pays by NextGen – 97.8%
Games

Those slots have a variety of excellent bonus features, decent jackpots, and higher than average RTPs. If you want to get the most bang for your buck as a long-term player, it’s wise to play them.

Pick the Right Volatility for Your Bankroll

There’s a top-notch article on slot machine variance and volatility here. If you want a more detailed breakdown of what they are, check that out.

Slot machine volatility is important to understand because it will tell you which slots are suitable for your bankroll. Volatility indicates both how often a slot should pay and the average size of the payouts.

  • Low volatility slots pay smaller amounts more often.
  • Medium volatility slots pay decent amounts fairly often.
  • High volatility slots pay less frequently, but wins are more explosive.

If I had a smaller bankroll, say £20, I’d start by playing a low volatility slot such as Starburst. I find that it’s a good slot to build your bankroll with. Once I double up, I usually switch to a higher volatility slot with bigger payouts which occur less frequently.

Managing your bankroll effectively is about the only slot machine strategy which works. Therefore, knowing the volatility of a game is useful information.

Use Free Spins With Low Wagering Requirements

Most online casinos offer free spins bonuses for new players. Lots of them also offer free spins to loyal players who spin slots daily or weekly.

I’ve learned the hard way that not all free spins bonuses give me an advantage. Sometimes, the wagering requirements are so high that the bonus is a liability. This is especially true if it comes with predatory terms such as that I can’t withdraw my deposit until I meet the wagering requirements. Yes, such bonuses exist, I’ve seen it all over the years I’ve been playing!

There are other free spins bonuses you will want to take. They’ll give you a chance to beat the house with its own money and have these characteristics.

  • They won’t require excessive minimum deposits.
  • The wagering requirements will be low, around 20x or less.
  • You’ll be able to keep all of what you win when you wager the bonus.

Free spins with low wagering requirements are available at lots of top UK casinos. There are even casinos with no wagering requirements, and they’re especially popular in the UK market.

Final Words

Thanks for writing to me with this question, Sarah. It’s given me a chance to cover lots of ground with regards to slot machines, and I hope that it answers your question. Are slot machines rigged? Yes, the house has a mathematical advantage which you can’t alter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win.

Beating slot machines is a case of picking the right games, managing your bankroll effectively, and getting lucky. Don’t forget the last part! Luck is essential. There’s no effective way to beat the slots every time. Happy spinning, and don’t forget to pick up a casino bonus before you begin!

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The Buffalo animal-themed free slot game initially gained its popularity in the land-based casinos. When most of software manufacturers made the transition and brought the machine to virtual casinos, the online version became even more played. Players prefer to play free Buffalo slot machine games, which is available in the format of 5 reels and 4 symbols spinning per each reel. The machine is specific for its 1024 ways to win (fixed paying lines), and the changeable feature is the number of reels, while it is usually the other way around in video pokies.

Buffalo1050100300
Eagle50100150
Tiger50100150
Wolf2080120
Elk2080120
A and K1050100
Q and J520100
10 and 92510100

How to play Buffalo slot machine

The design is not the most attractive feature of this slot. Buffalo is a casino slot game that couldn't be defined as a graphically high, and the symbols are 2D. There are many cutting-edge machines nowadays, yet again, bettors prefer the traditional classic Buffalo over many new free slots. There are many things tied to Buffalo theme in the world and many people like them due to size and strength – buffalo sabres or buffalo wild wings is an example. Some would like to see the buffalo grill menu or buffalo bisons running wild, but it’s all about buffalo slot machine review. Hopefully some American football Buffalo Bills team fans will find this buffalo slot machine for their liking. We have tried to see why:

  • The big number of winning lines is praised among players because it matches symbols in more than thousand ways. This, compared to slots with 20 or less lines, secures more paying combinations.
  • Buffalo slots is a low volatility, penny slot. The bigger part of players are low / medium rollers, and this machine gives them the chance to bet between $0.1 and $100.
  • The machine features free spins for its bonus. This is the most wanted additional game in the slot world and is not hardly triggered.
  • The jackpot is 300 coins, one of the lowest jackpot amounts online. However, compared to the total bet amount, this is a fair number. Moreover, you can win it without even betting max; all betting values are eligible for the jackpot.
  • The return-to-player is 94.85%

Coin Denomination and Betting Values

The changeable features here are Reel Cost and Bet per Reel. The cost of reels goes from x1 to x40. As you reduce it, the reels you are betting on will lower, too, until you are left with only one betting reel. The line bet can be set between a penny and $2.50. These two configurations result in the amount shown in Total Bet, which varies from max $100 to min $0.01. Remember that all the free spins, once triggered, pay the values based on parameters that you've set before the additional game started. The same goes for the Auto Spin option. An expert's advice is to bet one coin on a video slot that has multiple lines. In this case, 1024 lines are all in play, so it is enough to just set $1.00 total bet. This will, according to studies, lead to higher and more frequent rewards.

Buffalo Slot Machine Tips

The most important part is free spins. Most players prefer to play free Buffalo slot game among other casino entertainments exactly for this reason. You'll have much greater odds of activating them by making all the reels count (x40 cost) because this gives more space for 3+ scatters to show and match. Also, if you are playing in the free demo version, you'll begin with $500 balance. Don't start betting on the max $100 right away or you might end up the gameplay after only 5 tries.

Here are the list of properties that will serve as free tips that are necessary to achieve the minimum level of awareness for preventing troubles and bring winnings.

  • Play / Stop – 'Play' triggers the spinning of the Buffalo's reels. Once the round begins, this button will change itself to 'Stop' and by pressing it, you'll stop the spinning before it automatically finishes.
  • Win – The amount bellow 'Win' is the price you have won after a played round by landing a combo of symbols. All the payments found on the pay lines are added together, and their total amount is shown in this window. Once you press 'Play' again, the price will transfer to the total balance.
  • Balance – Right next to the Aristocrat's logo, you'll see your wager shown in dollars that represent coins when you are playing for fun. Once your balance is insufficient, you can change (lower) the coin selection in the free play, or reload the game. Players for real money can increase their wager and continue where they stopped.
  • Auto Play – The auto spin button is connected with 'Play'. It allows players to set the auto spinning after 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 25 times. Auto Play will stop once the Free Spins are triggered, or you run out of coins.
  • Settings – This option opens a new window where you can check or uncheck Sound Effects, Ambient Sound, and Spacebar Spins the Reels. When you open the game, the first two configurations are checked by default. The third one is convenient for computer players when the spacebar can be used instead of the 'Play' button.
  • Question Mark (?) – Here, you'll find five filters:
    • Feature: Explains the scatter card and free games additions;
    • Pay Tables: Shows the value and function of all the symbols, but only in the case of your stake being set at 1.00 coins;
    • Game Rules: Additional info about special symbols, and the gameplay;
    • Reel Power: Shows the reels (Xtra Reel Power);
    • Instructions: Explains different buttons. The machine's history can be viewed from here.

Ordinary Symbols

In total, there are 13 symbols appearing on the 5 Buffalo's online slots reels. This is the most common number of icons in online slots, although here they are matched in 1024 ways from left to right. There are 11 standard icons provided in the table above.

When you play the free Buffalo slots game, the same-named symbol is stacked, meaning that it can show itself multiple times on one reel. It is even possible, especially with the help of Wild, to fill the whole screen with these symbols. As you can see, only it and 10 and 9 symbols are paid when 2 of them are matched. Others count only for 3+ of them found on a win line. If your total bet exceeds $1, these above-mentioned winning values will be even higher, and if it is less than $1, the values will reduce.

Bonus Symbols

Two extra symbols exist in the slot:

  • Wild – Wild is present in almost every up-to-date video slot and is highly beneficial in the matching of symbols. This bonus card shown as a sunset acts as any available symbol excluding Scatter. During the regular play it appears only on the reels 2, 3, and 4, while in the free games, it will multiply the total payment by two or three times.
  • Scatter – This icon triggers the additional bonus games if 3, 4, or 5 of them are landed. It is shown as a golden coin.

Bonus Features

Slot Machine Games Free Download

The Buffalo slots machine don't claim the download or registration. Also, it lacks special features such as gambling option and bonus games. However the following ones are enough for players to win big, and even multiply their win by 27 times!

  • Xtra Reel Power – This bonus gives bettors a chance to bet on the number of consecutive reels they choose (from the first to the fifth). Furthermore, the third horizontal row of symbols (counted from above) will be added to the gameplay. The total bet changes according to the number of betted reels.
  • Free Spins – From the main screen, 8, 15, or 20 free spins can be activated depending on the number of scatters. Every round played during these spins is completely cost-free and can only bring benefit. Moreover, if only 2 scatters are found on the display during the feature, 5 extra free games are awarded.

Myths and Facts

Most players think that the Xtra Reel Power is applied to the 1024 lines. However, these two additions have nothing to do with each other; the first one, as above-mentioned, is about reels and their cost. If you wish to know why the Aristocrat company created exactly 1024 ways to win, simply multiply 4 rows on 5 reels (4 x 4 x 4 x 4) and the answer appears.
An interesting fact on the way to learning how to win Buffalo slot machine with own strategy, you'll see that it has a higher RTP percentage in the online version compared to land-based casinos (90% to 92%).

A myth about online video machines is that players will activate more winning combos if they bet on only $0.1. Though this is available at Aristocrat games page Buffalo online slot, consider the fact that every fair machine works by using Random Number Generator (RNG). Therefore, the odds are the same, no matter how large is the rollers' stake.

Slot Machine Card Games Spider Solitaire

The Sequels and Similar Games

After the original version, Aristocrat created three more sequels! They are Buffalo Deluxe, Buffalo Legends, and Buffalo Stampede. As the new parts in the series were coming, we could see graphics and features improving every time. However, the software provided stayed true to the original and kept the trademarks through all the sequels. The last game differentiates the most, with a progressive jackpot, expanding reels, and free spin options added.

FAQ

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📌 What Is the Buffalo Slot and Is It Available Online?

Buffalo is a popular land-based game that had a huge fan following. Its popularity led the gaming software developers to make a transition and bring this title to the online world. It tasted success here as well. The Buffalo slot is developed by Aristocrat and can be tried out on many of the licensed, reputed, and reliable gambling sites. It comes with 5 reels and 1024 ways to win. There will be 4 symbols spinning on each of the reels. This is an animal-themed slot that gives plenty of chances to gain big wins. The attractive features offered include free spins, wild and scatter icons. The gameplay is simple with high-end graphics, and 2D animal symbols.

📌 Can I Play Buffalo Slot for Free?

You can. This title is available on many of the reputed and popular gaming websites. Most of them provide this game in the free practice mode. This is suitable for all the players who are new to online casinos. You can check the gameplay and its features by trying out the practice mode. The biggest advantage is that you can check it out as many times as you want before playing for real cash. Once you get well-versed in it, you can always opt to place the real money stake.

📌 How Do I Play Buffalo Slot with Real Money on the Internet?

To play this game with real money to win some prizes, you need first to find out the online gaming website that has this in its portfolio. Once you locate the site, the next step is to sign up for an account. Choosing sites that offer an attractive welcome bonus for the new gambles is a good option to bet with less money from your pocket. After signing up, you need to deposit the money required and then you can start to set the reels rolling.

📌 How to Play the Buffalo Slot?

Slot Machine Card Games

Before you set the reels rolling, you need to choose the bet size. This is done by pressing the menu button provided on the bottom of the game screen. Press game settings to adjust the reel cost and bet per reel. Use these arrow keys provided under each option to set the total bet. There is also an autoplay option. Choose the number you want to allow the reels to spin continuously. Once done, move to the main game screen and press the spin button to play manually.

📌 Where to Play Online Buffalo Slots for Free?

The Buffalo slots casino game is offered both in free and real money versions with no download at the renowned online gambling platform, Slotozilla. All bettors from around the world are welcome to visit the site; the slots here are free from download and depositing as long as players want to spin 'for fun'. Once they decide to move on to the real play, where coins start representing a real currency, primarily signing up is required. After this, by using e-wallets, bank transfers, or credit cards, customers need to place a wager and then choose to bet on a slot. Next to Buffalo slots machine that is free and no download, there are over 1800 machines filtered on the SZ's pages by their themes and types. Some of the all-time favorite casino machines are WMS's Zeus, IGT's Cleopatra, NetEnt's Lights and Starburst, iSoftBet's Rango, and more.