Not every slot machine that has some type of visual indicator that builds up (such as pots that fill with coins) is an actual advantage game. In fact, most games with features like these never reach a state of +EV (positive expected value). The following is a collection of games that offer no advantage whatsoever and should never be played by real APs (advantage players).
There are two techniques you should try:
1) Try switching bet sizes—if nothing on the screen changes (e.g., the pots all have the same amount of coins between bet levels), then the game is likely an AP trap.
Game manufacturers will make the visual indicators stay the same between bet levels because they have data that shows players will start betting higher amounts once they think a feature has been built up or that a bonus is closer to hitting.
A true persistent state game won’t allow you to build up the feature on a lower bet amount (for a smaller cost) and then switch to a larger bet (for a bigger payout) once the feature is close to hitting. Allowing this would quickly bankrupt the casino once players caught on to this trick.
Must-hit-by (MHB) progressives typically allow bet switching, but the jackpot is the same between bet levels and the meter increase is based off a percentage of your bet, so it doesn’t make any difference (other than variance).
I can think of one true advantage game where you can switch to a larger bet level once you get close to hitting the feature, but the equity gets built up in proportion to the previous bet amounts, so it doesn’t really offer any advantage to switching.
There are also some games where the graphical indicators do change between bet levels, but there is still no advantage. That is why you should always follow the next step...
2) Read the rules screen.
As they say in the programming world: RTFM. Tapping through the rules screen on the machine (usually located on the bottom corner of the main screen) will often tell you directly whether there is any actual advantage to a built-up visual indicator.
Look for language (often located on the last page of the rules screen) describing the graphics like “has no effect on game play” or “for entertainment purposes only.” The rules below are from Magic Treasures (which, confusingly, is an actual advantage game, but the advantage comes from the numerical Money Balls counter rather than the piles of coins contained within the pots).
Notice how it says, “An increased number of coins in the Money Balls Bonus pot, Free Games Bonus chest, and Jackpot Bonus coin pile has no effect on game play.”
I’m always shocked at the number of APs who never bother to read the game rules. The first step in figuring out any advantage game is to meticulously read every single page of the rules. RTFM!
Simple answer: These types of games make the casinos more money.
The concept of “perceived persistence” as it applies to slot machines has proven to be a dynamically successful visual created to attract players and increase time-on-device.
—John G. Brokopp, CDC Gaming Reports
Casinos use whatever tactics they can to milk as much money out of players (shocker, I know). Machines with persistent state features (or more often perceived persistence) give players a sense of control, which keeps them on the machine longer, resulting in greater profit for the casinos.
I have a list of advantage play slot machines here that can enter a state of +EV. Here is a brief overview of how advantage play games work if you are not familiar with the term:
Persistent state slot machines can enter a temporary state of positive expected value (+EV) where the player has an edge over the house. Advantage players (APs) use math and statistics to figure out these playable numbers. Casinos make the same overall return from the machines, but the APs are doing the winning, while the regular players are doing the losing.
Community members are making serious money advantage playing slots.
No. The hatching chicks (Boost and Nudge) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The green, yellow and pink pig meters (Expand, Repeat and Jackpot) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The size of each pig is for visual appearance only and does not affect the likelihood of triggering a feature.”
No. The lit-up strings of firecrackers do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The purple, red and green sizzling firecrackers (Ultra Spins, Double Up and Extra Spins) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features
No. The accumulating coins in the green and red bags, as well as the scale in the middle, do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The green, red and purple pots (Yummy, Upsized and Spicy) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The appearance of pots and fire over time is for presentation only.”
No. The accumulating gems in the green, purple and blue pots (Prizes, Wins and Wilds) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The lit-up strings of firecrackers (More Chili, Cashman and Wicked Winnings) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The three wheels above the reels (Free Games, Total Multiplier and More Ways) do not offer any kind of advantage when it comes to triggering any of the features.
No. Every 8 to 12 minutes a “Strike Mode” features activates and lasts for 3 minutes. The game rules state, “Return to player remains the same between regular and Strike mode.”
No. The coins in the purple, red and green barrels (Buffalo Rising, Buffalo Gold and Buffalo Bucks) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The green Stampede Meter that fills in does not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The STAMPEDE METER visual appearance does not affect the likelihood of triggering the STAMPEDE FEATURE.”
No. The activated symbols on the treasure chest do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The gems accumulating in the green, red and purple mining carts (Extra Spins, Symbol Upgrade and Boosted Prizes) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The enhanced coins or pigs (Piggy, Wiggly and Squeak) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The height of the green, red and blue chickens does not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The height of each chicken is for visual appearance only and does not affect the likelihood of triggering a feature.”
No. The red, purple and blue pots (Double Action, Jackpot and Double Slots) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The Major and Grand progressive jackpots never reach a point where they are +EV (positive expected value) to chase after.
No. The Major, Fortune 8 and Grand progressive jackpots never reach a point where they are +EV (positive expected value) to chase after.
No. The purple, yellow and green trees (Prize Boost, Jackpot Bonus and Expansion Bonus) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The appearance of the trees over time has no effect on activating the trees and is for presentational purposes only.”
No. The purple, green and blue treasure chests (Discover, Jackpot and Evolution) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The green, red and purple bags do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features and they do not offer any kind of boost in the bonus like the original Fu Dai Lian Lian. Also, none of the bags change when switching bet levels, which is another indicator that this isn’t an AP game.
No. The meters on the bet pad are based on each bet level and do not increase or build up in any way.
No. The growing red, gold and green fish do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The accumulating coins in the two pots do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The two slowly rotating wheels above the reels do not offer any kind of advantage in regards to triggering any of the features.
No. The Mini, Minor, Major and Grand progressive jackpots never reach a point where they are +EV (positive expected value) to chase after.
This is actually a true persistent state game, but the Unicow Max Plays counter (featured on the bet pad and lower right corner of the main screen) can never reach a point where it is +EV (positive expected value) to chase after.
No. The gorilla, tiger and macaw (Multiplier Reel, Ultra Reels and Extra Wilds) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules don’t directly state this, but nothing changes when switching bet levels, which is usually an indicator of an AP trap.
No. The red and blue chests that accumulate coins do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. That said, some versions of the game include a Rocket Rollup MHB progressive above the main game screen that can be advantage played.
No. The Major and Grand progressive jackpots never reach a point where they are +EV (positive expected value) to chase after.
No. The coins collected on the bottom of the reels get reset after every spin, so they don’t offer any kind of advantage.
No. The piles of coins and glowing orbs do no indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The accumulation over time of coins and the accumulation and appearance of orbs above the reels is for entertainment purposes only.”
No. The prizes above the reels reset after each spin, so they do not offer any kind of advantage. Additionally, the Mini, Minor, Major and Grand progressive jackpots never reach a point where they are +EV (positive expected value) to chase after.
No. The orange, red and blue money bags (Multiplier Money Catch, Jackpot Money Catch and Extra Picks Money Catch) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The piles of purple, green and blue gems (Free Games, Cash Collect and Jackpot) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The green, red and blue pots (Wild Multiplier, Jackpot Bonus and Expanding Reels) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The yellow, white and purple bottles (Ignite, Jackpot and Double) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “An increased number of coins below the bottles above the reels and magical bottle antics have no affect on game play.”
No. The filled-in pyramid segments above the reels do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The game display does not indicate how close you were to winning, and cannot necessarily be used to determine your chances of winning or losing if you continue to play.”
No. Orb of Egypt, The Hunt for Aztec Riches and The Hunt for Neptune’s Gold are Class II bingo-based slots and the bonus meters do not change when switching bet levels. Some Class II slots can indeed be advantage played (we have a bunch of discussions about beatable Class II slots on the Machine Pro Club forums), but this series of games is never +EV.
No. This is actually a true persistent state game, but it’s not really beatable in any way. You move forward randomly on the board between one and six spaces, so your position on the previous spin does not really make any difference. The larger bet sizes contain better upgrades on the board, but it still doesn’t make the game +EV.
No. The growing green pig, red donkey and blue eagle piñatas do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The coins that accumulate in the bowl do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “An increased number of coins in the bowl above the reels has no effect on game play.”
No. The wheel above the reels does not offer any kind of advantage.
No. The lit-up firecrackers on the green, red and purple dollar symbols (Extra Spins, Reels Up and Firecracker Quick Hits) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The growing pig does not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The green, red and blue rockets (Prize Boost, Big Bang and Spin Boost) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “The number of lit fuses attached to the rockets above the reels has no effect on game play.”
No. The accumulating coins in the green, red and purple pots (Coin Boost, Jackpot and Reel Boost) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “An increased number of coins in the pots or increased size of the pots above the reels has no effect on game play.”
No. The game rules state, “All prize outcomes remain unchanged during Fired Up Jackpots compared to standard game play, and any presentation around upgrading Progressives is for entertainment purposes only and has no impact on the predetermined prize awarded.”
No. The blue, red and green drums (Thunder Prize, Jackpot Feature and Thunder Prize and Free Games) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The coins accumulating in the treasure chests (Tiger Bonus and Dragon Bonus) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “An increased number of coins in the Tiger Bonus and Dragon Bonus chests and an increased number of rotating [symbol] on the large gong above the reels has no effect on game play.”
No. The dial with the number selected gets spun every time the Treasure Ball feature is triggered. So the number that is currently selected does not make any difference because it will change when it spins again.
No. The red, green and blue ingots (Lock & Spin Multiplier Bonus, Lock & Spin Saver Bonus and Lock & Spin Wheel Bonus) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The accumulating coins in the red, green and blue pots (Symbol Upgrade, Extra Spins and Grow Reels) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. Having symbols closer to the ends of the tracks (Free Games, Match Three and Hold & Spin) does not indicate that you are any closer to triggering any of the features. The game rules state, “Feature is not guaranteed if the respective Gong Symbol is at the end point of the track.”
No. The red goat, white ram and stacks of coins do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The coins below the reels swap out after every spin, so there is no advantage.
No. The accumulating gold nuggets and gems in the prospector’s mining cart do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The accumulating gems in the blue, red and green pots (Wheel Boost, Kash Respins/Free Games and Extra Pointers) do not indicate how close you are to triggering any of the features.
No. The Mini, Minor, Major, Super and Grand progressive jackpots never reach a point where they are +EV (positive expected value) to chase after.
No. The golden egg on the conveyor belt moves to a new random position after every spin, so it doesn’t offer any kind of advantage.
Comments and messages from community members.