# Friday night, $2,000 at the casino **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2025, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555 "2025-04-27T06:39:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/81 "2025-04-29T15:19:58Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > It’s always the least experienced people who are the most opinionated. This thread is no exception. This is not true. Many people who have never taken drugs can give you accurate information. We are feeling kindof sorry for you because you can’t seem to see this isn’t a good use of your money. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/82 "2025-04-29T15:24:21Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > It’s always the least experienced people who are the most opinionated. This thread is no exception. > > In this thread: People who have not played a slot machine since 1998 are schooling me (who goes to casinos almost everyday) on how they work. The last time I played slots was certainly a lot later than 1998, since I was over a decade from being allowed to gamble at that time. That said, given my Statistics minor, I’ve never been a big fan of slots - I consider them a particularly pricey light show. > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > Educate yourself about “advantage play”. I did. I looked it up, and found a bunch of people trying to sell one technique or another. I also read a bunch of stories just like yours, on Reddit and such: people crying about how much money they lost when making surefire bets using advantage play techniques. > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > If there was no such thing as “advantage play”, “APers” wouldn’t get kicked out of casinos. Well, vultures who hover behind people’s shoulders when they’re playing slots trying to force them off a machine they’ve decided is hot seem like they’d make the casino’s other patrons uncomfortable, potentially to the point that they spend less time getting milked for their savings at the slot machine. That seems like a much clearer reason for casinos to get rid of them. Even if “advantage play” worked as well as you claim, why would the casino care whether you or another vulture gets the payout, as opposed to anyone else? If anything, stories about people who game the system and win big make it far more likely that other suckers will come along to get fleeced. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/83 "2025-04-29T15:34:44Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > This is incomprehensible to me. The gambling industry is… uhm… fairly deceptive. You are right, it is incomprehensible to a non addict, but man, we worked the psychology of addicts in my former job. Like, scientific research was used to make decisions at a granular level to maximise cash in, and minimise cash out. It’s kind of a fascinating example of human greed - both the avarice of the gambler, and the rapacioness of the casino. ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/84 "2025-04-29T15:37:37Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > Certain slots within the last two decades or so have some kind of “tell” that you’re approaching a bonus round. Like the slot I was playing friday night. That red column was about a foot long and less than one centimeter from the top. If that would to be an older slot, that column would’ve striked the top within 20 spins probably. And maybe $50 into the machine. No way it would’ve taken in $2K and still not strike. > > ??? > > This is incomprehensible to me. > > Why on Earth would you assume that the red bar means _anything_, much less “spin me no more than 20 times and you’ll win the jackpot”? > > Why on Earth would a slot machine be designed to give away that kind of information? > > Why would whoever got it filled up to the point it was at have left if they were just a couple spins from a guaranteed big win? Why NOT? Like you all said these games are designed for people to foolishly gamble up their money. These features encourage people to CHASE shit. These “tells” are placed on modern slot machines, so gamblers will continue pumping their money into the machine. They are “goal posts” and people foolishly chase them. With the old fashion slots, you just spin the reels hoping for a win. There are no bonus rounds and no bells/whistles. That shit gets boring after a while. There needs to be something to keep players engaged. The difference between regular players and “advantage” players, regular players will hop on that game regardless if the game is near a bonus or not (we call them ploppies, they plop there asses at the slot all day long). And whenever they go into the bonus round and win extra money, they almost always continue playing. “APs” wait for OTHER PEOPLE to fill up those features. If someone cashes out right before the bonus is struck, they hop on and play the bonus. Once the bonus is over, the “AP” cashes out. Yeah, you are correct that people in their right mind will not cash out before an approaching bonus. There are a few types of customers who will leave shit behind. They are usually tourists/partiers just having fun, they are not there hoping to win a lot of money. They are not regulars. Hell, with these newer games, some of the recreational players can’t even figure them out. Some are intoxicated. And I can’t count how many times a tourist gets up and leaves behind something very juicy because their friends come over and yank them away to go to the bar or to see a band play or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/85 "2025-04-29T15:41:24Z")
How did you expect this thread would go? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/86 "2025-04-29T15:42:38Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > Why NOT? Like you all said these games are designed for people to foolishly gamble up their money. These features encourage people to CHASE shit. These “tells” are placed on modern slot machines, so gamblers will continue pumping their money into the machine. They are “goal posts” and people foolishly chase them. With the old fashion slots, you just spin the reels hoping for a win. There are no bonus rounds and no bells/whistles. That shit gets boring after a while. There needs to be something to keep players engaged. > > The difference between regular players and “advantage” players, regular players will hop on that game regardless if the game is near a bonus or not (we call them ploppies, they plop there asses at the slot all day long). And whenever they go into the bonus round and win extra money, they almost always continue playing. “APs” wait for OTHER PEOPLE to fill up those features. If someone cashes out right before the bonus is struck, they hop on and play the bonus. Once the bonus is over, the “AP” cashes out. Your fatal flaw is assuming that the machines are being _genuine_ when they communicate to you “look, I’m filling up, I’m almost near a win!”. If they can convince you that they’re due for a win, but _not actually give you a win_, they can milk you like a sucker. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/87 "2025-04-29T15:43:46Z")
For me, I hoped it would go into probability theory. Math is more satisfying than gambling. IMHO ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/88 "2025-04-29T15:44:58Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > Yeah, you are correct that people in their right mind will not cash out before an approaching bonus. I hear some folks lose $2000, even with an approaching bonus. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/89 "2025-04-29T15:47:48Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > For me, I hoped it would go into probability theory. > > Math is more satisfying than gambling. My MIL plays those Penny Slots where you put 1x to 10x bets and the more bets you make the more lines you unlock for potential wins. She always explains that you have to make the full 10x bet because that gives you ten times as many chances to win. Sure… But doesn’t it also cost 10x as much to make the bet? And you don’t win more per line that wins, you just have more opportunity to win. So, isn’t it a wash? ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/90 "2025-04-29T15:48:36Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > So what you guys are suggesting is like telling a bartender who works and lives at a resort to suddenly quit, because his drinking gets out of control occasionally. I worked as an addiction therapist for awhile and I absolutely discussed this issue with some people who had jobs in the liquor industry (bartenders, etc). It was their choice how to act on said information. ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/91 "2025-04-29T15:50:02Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > Why NOT? Like you all said these games are designed for people to foolishly gamble up their money. These features encourage people to CHASE shit. These “tells” are placed on modern slot machines, so gamblers will continue pumping their money into the machine. They are “goal posts” and people foolishly chase them. With the old fashion slots, you just spin the reels hoping for a win. There are no bonus rounds and no bells/whistles. That shit gets boring after a while. There needs to be something to keep players engaged. > > > > The difference between regular players and “advantage” players, regular players will hop on that game regardless if the game is near a bonus or not (we call them ploppies, they plop there asses at the slot all day long). And whenever they go into the bonus round and win extra money, they almost always continue playing. “APs” wait for OTHER PEOPLE to fill up those features. If someone cashes out right before the bonus is struck, they hop on and play the bonus. Once the bonus is over, the “AP” cashes out. > > Your fatal flaw is assuming that the machines are being _genuine_ when they communicate to you “look, I’m filling up, I’m almost near a win!”. > > If they can convince you that they’re due for a win, but _not actually give you a win_, they can milk you like a sucker. Some are being genuine, some aren’t being genuine. Some are in between, the bonuses fills up MUCH slower than expected (that’s how I got fucked last Friday). Why do you assume that ALL machines are deceiving us? I explained up thread why these features are created. You need to go to a casino to understand this. ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/92 "2025-04-29T15:52:54Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > Yeah, you are correct that people in their right mind will not cash out before an approaching bonus. > > I hear some folks lose $2000, even with an approaching bonus. > [@wguy123](#): > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > Yeah, you are correct that people in their right mind will not cash out before an approaching bonus. > > I hear some folks lose $2000, even with an approaching bonus. You are right. That fucking red bar moved literally at a snails pace. I foolishly hopped on to early. Had I had patience and watched other people played, I would’ve profited. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/93 "2025-04-29T15:56:15Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > Why do you assume that ALL machines are deceiving us? Because their job is to extract money from patrons, even ones who think they’re being clever. Revealing this sort of info works against that goal. Why would they be designed that way? > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > I explained up thread why these features are created These features are created to draw players in by giving them the _illusion_ that they can play strategically to win more. _Genuinely_ giving players the info they need to guarantee wins is counterproductive to that goal. > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > You need to go to a casino to understand this. I was at one two weeks ago. Staying at a comped room from one of my inlaws, who I’d describe as addicted to gambling. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/94 "2025-04-29T16:04:31Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > That fucking red bar moved literally at a snails pace. I foolishly hopped on to early. Had I had patience and watched other people played, I would’ve profited. Are you claiming some slot machines will - somehow, someway - give a subtle “tell” or indication that it is about to Hit Big™? ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/95 "2025-04-29T16:05:00Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > Why do you assume that ALL machines are deceiving us? > > Because their job is to extract money from patrons, even ones who think they’re being clever. Revealing this sort of info works against that goal. Why would they be designed that way? > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > I explained up thread why these features are created > > These features are created to draw players in by giving them the _illusion_ that they can play strategically to win more. _Genuinely_ giving players the info they need to guarantee wins is counterproductive to that goal. > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > You need to go to a casino to understand this. > > I was at one two weeks ago. Staying at a comped room from one of my inlaws, who I’d describe as addicted to gambling. These games are designed for addicts, superstitious folks, and casual players like the tourists I mentioned above. Not “APs”. Many “ploppies” won’t cash out after striking a bonus. They want to chase additional bonuses. Hopefully even larger bonuses. So programming in those genuine tells are not counterproductive for the casino and game vendors. They ain’t going to cash out, and that money won will go straight back into the machine. The house gets their edge. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/96 "2025-04-29T16:08:49Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > These games are designed for addicts, superstitious folks, and casual players like the tourists I mentioned above. Not “APs”. Many “ploppies” won’t cash out after striking a bonus. They are hoping to chase additional bonuses. Hopefully larger bonuses. So programming in those genuine tells are not counterproductive for the casino and game vendors. If you want to continue believing that, I can’t stop you. Enjoy giving the casino more and more of your money. ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/97 "2025-04-29T16:16:38Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > That fucking red bar moved literally at a snails pace. I foolishly hopped on to early. Had I had patience and watched other people played, I would’ve profited. > > Are you claiming some slot machines will - somehow, someway - give a subtle “tell” or indication that it is about to Hit Big™? I won’t say Big, perhaps. But those kind of machines let you know you’re about to strike _something_. There are few machines that TELL you EXACTLY what you’re going to win. Those are “must hit by progressive” slots. Those jackpots can go up to $10K, $50, and even $100K. Google “Ainsworth must hit by progressive jackpots”. I do not play those, I do not have the bankroll. I will play the must hit by $50 and $500, though. ---
**Author:** ![MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MW_Degen_Gamblr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/98 "2025-04-29T16:17:22Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > > [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > > > These games are designed for addicts, superstitious folks, and casual players like the tourists I mentioned above. Not “APs”. Many “ploppies” won’t cash out after striking a bonus. They are hoping to chase additional bonuses. Hopefully larger bonuses. So programming in those genuine tells are not counterproductive for the casino and game vendors. > > If you want to continue believing that, I can’t stop you. Enjoy giving the casino more and more of your money. Enjoy leaving money on the table. 🙂 Less competition for me. And, boy, there is a lot of competition! ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/99 "2025-04-29T16:26:55Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Well, vultures who hover behind people’s shoulders when they’re playing slots trying to force them off a machine they’ve decided is hot seem like they’d make the casino’s other patrons uncomfortable, potentially to the point that they spend less time getting milked for their savings at the slot machine. That seems like a much clearer reason for casinos to get rid of them. Precisely. Owners could care less which machines you play, when you play them, if you’re using your player’s card or not, if you are playing only machines you think are “due”. All they care about is how may butts are in those seats putting money into those machines. If the “vultures” are making other patrons so uncomfortable that they move on to another casino of course they are going to discourage or kick them out. It has nothing to do with them thinking the vultures are taking advantage of the machines. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555/100 "2025-04-29T16:29:51Z")
> [@MW\_Degen\_Gamblr](#): > > Enjoy leaving money on the table. 🙂 Less competition for me. And, boy, there is a lot of competition! If I’m in the wrong business, I wouldn’t want to be a gambler - I’d want stake in a casino. Can you even imagine another business where people _compete_ to give you money? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/friday-night-2-000-at-the-casino/1017555.md?page=6)