The day of the penny slot gone?

So while I'm hoping Lips is having a wonderful time in Laughlin.  I decided to start my own thread, so not to derail her thread away from her trip.  So it begins.

I've always wanted to visit the first real casinos somewhere in Atlantic City or Las Vegas some day.  Mainly because I know that's where the action started.  Yet honestly after my Chicago trip.  If I thought Chicago was expensive.  I'm dreading what Las Vegas is going to try get a guy to gamble just to play a machine or a table.

Like I'm not hurting for cash, when I got to a casino.  Normally I bring a $200 budget.  Just I hate chucking the whole budget into one machine that's going to force me to play a minimum of $1 or somewhere.  I get the times are tough for casinos and they are getting greedier by the day.

I remember when I used to be able to walk into a casino and play a 5 or 3 reel mechanical machine with 9 lines for anywhere from a true $0.01 bet up to the maximum lines of $0.09.  Then of course the bets could go from there.

I just hate how these casinos are configuring there machines to require certain minimum bets.

So this is where the question comes into play, do you think casinos these days are just that greedy to where there tired of the cheap player?  Are the only looking for the person wanting to sink some cash into these machines?

My honest opinion based on the bet minimums I'm seeing with some of these new machines.  Is yes I believe these guys are getting that greedy.  Yet this is only a opinion not a fact of course.

I understand what you're saying about the 9 line games.. They do seem to be few and far between. But I can say, at least in Vegas, and maybe it's because there's so many casinos that you're bound to find what you're looking for, there are still plenty of the 9-15 line penny slots. But yes, I have found that they seem to be turning more into the 40-50 minimum line bet (even at my local casinos) and then they're very terrible at paying.

I always enjoyed the 9 line cleopatra, and those from that era. Yes, it's definitely greed. My dad used to laugh at me playing the pennies, then he started playing because the bonuses were fun, and realized you could bet more in one spin playing the pennies than you could playing video poker or quarter reels. But I think that's where they get you.. "It's only pennies".. But then you end up betting 1.50 or more to make any decent win.

Yep and I totally get that, I totally do.

I have noticed myself to get a nice payoff from the average penny machine.  You have to at least be betting more than minimum bet to see a rather large pay off.

There are a few rare exceptions to this rule though, like for example.

I had a real nice run on Robin Hood and the Golden arrow, where I actually hit a $500.00 pay day on a $0.50 bet.  I also hit a similar nice hit on Great Eagle Returns, hitting another nice $500 pay day in the bonus.

I've also won some nice progressive amounts from Where's the Diamonds and Son Choy Doy.  On minimum bets.

Yet it's just like anything being in the right place at the right time.

Most of the times though, on minimum bets these days.  I"m just excited to see my investment returned, and that's being honest, with maybe a nice double from time to time.  Even though I won't like there are times my own personal greed kicks in and thinks.  Maybe this machine is actually going to keep spitting out nice results, and well you know how that goes.

Here in the UK there are still many games that allow you to play for a penny a line in the land based casinos, but more and more the games have additional features and bonuses that are only available when playing "Max Bet". The advertised RTP when playing £0.20 per spin can be as low as 75-80%, whereas playing at max bet £2.00 per spin you get the proper 93-97% RTP. A total ripoff in my eyes!

Catapult, you're exactly right. I think that's the worst part about the new betting req's with the penny games.. You have to bet the max to win the bonuses. That's how it was at the casino on the cruise I went on in September. Then I started noticing more of it at land based. I completely steer away from those types of machines now.. I missed the major jackpot because I didn't see the "must play max bet".. Well in older times, it would've been max lines, not 450 a spin.

Here for us it's not that hard :D You can play almost every game with 1 cent bet... And I have seen a older guy playing Lord of the Ocean on 1 cent and get a line hit with Kings, not the K symbol but King, that's 50 euros :D And many people do that, they go into the game hall, smash one euro in, and play 1 line but bet 2-5-10 cents on that. Even if you hit 10 with only the line, on 10 cents it's 10 euros :D

Great question Cheetah!

I am not so sure it's greed instead i have to partly say it is due to technology. I remember the days when 9 paylines were predominant and ruled in the casinos. But today i find them boring compared to what is out there now.

We have 24, 50 and 100 paylines plus a zillion ways to win today on Slots. The Bonuses are more exciting, graphics more animated and payouts better with minimum bets at .25/.50 versus .09.

It is sorta of the same thing with classic slots, the traditional 3 reel one payline machines that were all the rage because that is all there was! They seem somewhat dull in comparison to the gaming industry today.

Slots have made a huge transition from yesteryear. It is not just a Slot with spinning reels, they are games full of robust features. The player has gravitated into new era and playing field. Just as the cost of living goes up so does the minimum bets on Slots. How many times have we sat next to a player betting the bare bones minimum bet and thought they are wasting their time compared to what the could win if they upped it. Not to mention half these machines won't payout the Jackpot unless there is a max bet.

One thing i do agree on is Casinos that have primarily only two cent machines and have steered away from the penny machines. The casino is indeed greedy and Rivers Casino has the worst reputation for that. I am equally disappointed in the Video Poker machines that start at quarters with no single hand play ONLY multiple hands. There are no nickel or dime machines and it can get pretty costly.

When i was in Laughlin every single casino on the strip had primarily penny machines and it was refreshing to see and play.

One more thing about your post cheetah 

I've always wanted to visit the first real casinos somewhere in Atlantic City or Las Vegas some day.  Mainly because I know that's where the action started.  Yet honestly after my Chicago trip.  If I thought Chicago was expensive.  I'm dreading what Las Vegas is going to try get a guy to gamble just to play a machine or a table.

Don't let Rivers Casino tarnish your opinion on other Casinos destinations. Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Laughlin, Tunica and other gambling spots have a huge variety of penny slots, more than any other denomination!