Hi Jon,
Hopefully I can be of help with a couple of your questions.
With regard to reel slots, or video slots for that matter, in general
the higher denomination machines pay back a higher percentage of the
money they take in, compared to lower denomination machines.
However, that doesn't mean that your wallet is better off if you play
dollar machines instead of nickels. Let's say you play six spins a
minute. If the nickel machines in your casino pay back 90% of what
they take in, on a three coin machine you will play 6x3=18 coins per
minute, which is $0.90 per minute. On the average, you'll get 90% of
that back, which is $0.81, and your average loss will be $0.09 per
minute. Let's say the dollar machines pay back an average of 97%.
To be conservative, let's go with a two coin machine. In one minute,
you'll play the same six spins, and put in 6x2=12 coins, a total of
$12.00. You'll get back an average of 97% of that, or $11.64, for a
loss of $0.36 per minute. So, even though the house edge is lower by
percentage on the dollar machines, you will (on average) lose more
because you're putting more money through the machines. The extra
comp you will earn by playing the dollar machines will not come close
to making up the extra losses. Also, you do not always reduce the
house edge by playing maximum coin on a reel slot. You need to look
at the payout schedule on the individual machine, to see if there is
a bonus payout possible for maximum coin. For example, if the top
winning combination pays 800 coins for the first coin in, 1600 for
two coins in, and 2400 for three coins in, you would not be reducing
the house edge by playing maximum coin, since you'd still be getting
back 800 coins per coin played if you hit the top jackpot. However,
if the payout were 800 for one coin in, 1600 for two coins in, and
2500 for three coins in, then you WOULD be reducing the house edge
(although very slightly) by playing maximum coin. Some machines
offer huge jackpots for playing maximum coin, others offer no bonus
at all. Also, there is no way to know what the payout percentage of
a slot machine is just by looking at the payout schedule, because the
frequency of hits is governed by a programmable random number
generator (RNG). There can be two identical loooking slot machines,
one next to the other, with the same payouts shown on the glass, and
one could be looser than the other because the RNG is programmed
differently. Even if you know that on the average, the quarter slots
at a particular casino pay out 93% of what they take in, you have no
way of knowing which machines might pay out more or less than that
average. Some casinos post signs on particular banks of machines,
advertising an overall payout rate for those machines, but that's the
exception rather than the rule. In general, if you're going to play
reel slots, you'll do better at the "locals" casinos, as opposed to
the megaresorts. Having said all that, you're there to have fun. If
the $1 machines are within your budget, and you want to take a shot
at possibly winning more, what the heck!
As for walking from the strip to downtown.....it's quite a hike. The
301 bus runs along the strip and goes to the Downtown Transportation
Center, which is an easy walk from the downtown casinos. For info on
the Las Vegas bus system (Citizens Area Transit), you can visit
www.catride.com
As for comps, most casinos track your play by means of players club
cards which you insert in a slot in the machine you're playing. The
benefits you can earn vary by casino. In some casinos, you can only
use your earned comp toward food, room, and/or merchandise in that
casino. Other casinos offer the additional option of cash back. In
any case, you do not need to be staying at that hotel to use whatever
comp you have earned via your players club card. If you're playing a
lot, you might be able to get additional comps, above what you've
earned on your card, by consulting with a slot host. Can't hurt to
ask! At any rate, do sign up for a players club card before you play
the slots or video poker in any casino....and be sure to use the card
whenever you play. And don't worry that you're staying with a
friend....that comp that you don't have to use on a room will buy
that much more food! 
Have fun!
Regards,
Perry
Hello again, and many continued thanks for all your help!
As many of you know, Stratosphere is running a new slot club
members' special whereby you are reimbursed for 15% of your coin-in,
up to $100, on the slots. Since there are so many knowledgeable
folks in here, I thought this would be the perfect place to ask about
this!
First of all, does Stratosphere distinguish between slots and
VP? To wit, can this special be used on VP machines there? If not,
proceed to next paragraph...
I am aware that by betting max coins and playing the larger
denomination reel slots, one is able to lower the house edge.
However, I don't have any idea where the numbers truly lie. Is there
a "rule of thumb" or a ballpark figure one can use for reel slots?
I'd like to take advantage of this offer at Stratosphere, but unless
I know the approximate ER, I won't be able to make the best
decision. Also, is it safe to say all [max bet, larger denomination]
machines there are the same, or are some of the machines (those made
by a certain company?) set to pay out at a higher rate?
Jack Short was kind enough to send me a guide to Las Vegas. In
it, I see that downtown and THe Strip aren't terribly far from each
other.
Is it practical to walk from one to the other? Is it
all "sidewalked"? Does public transportation run only in The Strip
and downtown, or does it also connect to outlying areas such as
Henderson? Does anyone have a website address for public
transportation in LV?
Finally, a question about comps. If I am staying with a friend
in the LV area (would have no need of a hotel), would that have a
negative impact on the comps I'd get? Let me explain my reasoning
behind this question. As you know, you earn comps for your play.
Much of this can/does get assigned for Food, Drinks, and Hotel. Now,
if I'm *not* staying in the hotel, do I kiss that particular benefit
goodbye or can I use the "comp-age" I would've gotten for the room in
place of something else? I hope that makes sense!
Thanks to all who've helped and will help! After December, I
suppose I'll be of more assistance than a burden...
···
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "mercutions" <mercutions@y...> wrote:
Yours luckily,
Jon of Florida