3 comments about Slot Machine Strategy: Winning Methods for Hitting the Jackpot.

1. There's nothing new in this book that hasn't already been written about playing slots.



2. I personally enjoyed this book, which I borrowed from the library. The part that I enjoyed the most, were the case studies near the end of the book, which described several types of slot players, and the common mistakes that they made, and how they overcame them. One case study was about a guy who won 2 million dollars playing 10 dollar slots, and continued to play after he had won. That was really interesting. There might not be much new in this book, as another reviewer mentioned, but playing slots is not as complicated as other casino games. This book is to the point, and drills home good ideas and strategies like the title suggests.



3. This book was an interesting read for the history of slot machines, the experiences in slots from the author and captivating ideas of how casinos strategize to keep the bucks rolling into their pockets. Beyond that, it really didn't explain a strategy for beating the odds of slots in a casino. The strategy outlined is gambling common sense (e.g. set an absolute loss per visit), ways to minimize loss to the casino by getting better return rates from different machines, and some theories on how to find the "best" (or the least worst) slots by thinking like the casino business. There are no surefire strategies for beating the odds, and this book does not sell that. Unfortunately, the case study section of the book gives the stories of winners that paints a portrait of those beating the odds by following the outlined strategies. There are false statements in the stories that the author does not correct, which creates a contradictory reading experience.

2 comments about Video Poker & Slots for the Winner, 2nd Edition.

1. With all due respect to Marten Jensen, he does not deliver the simplification and consolidation promised in the book. I bought the book for 2 reasons: (1) I'm a new Las Vegas resident who wants to enjoy the casino scene, but I want to play intelligently; and, (2) having graduated with a degree in Mathematics, I am curious how the odds and payouts work in these machines.

   I will focus my comments exclusively on Jacks or Better Video Poker content (my game of choice, and as far as I read, once I realized the shortcomings of the book. )

   Mr. Jensen identifies play strategies based on the various payout amounts of machines, collapsing 12 possible payout schemes to 2 strategies (excluding the Not Recommended to play strategy.) After an hour of analysis, I concluded the two play strategies are identical -- the only differences that I found are that the same hand is given different descriptors between the two strategy charts (what is described as JQ, JK, QK and JA, QA, KA as 2 separate hands in one strategy is simply described as 2 High Cards in the other, each with the same play strategy), and that he omitted a possible hand in one of the strategies (he describes what to do with a 4 card Inside Straight with 3 or 4 high cards, but he neglects to offer advice for any other type of 4 card Inside Straight.) My conclusion -- if Mr. Jensen recommends a Jacks or Better machine at all, he really means to tell me to play them all the same.

   He further advises taking his book to the casino with you to match payout schemes on the machines to the charts in his book, rather than taking the time to reduce the various play/no-play strategies to a simple list of questions. I was able to reduce 12 charts to 3 simple questions to determine if (using his approach) you should play a machine or pass on it.

   Finding such puzzling omissions and inconsistencies in this book makes me question the fundamental validity of his numbers and his strategies. He may be absolutely right (I'm not going to bother to do the math to double-check his assertions,) but I am left with enough lingering doubt that I'll pass on his advice and buy a different book and see what it says.




2. The previous reviewer was too kind. The strategy tables presented are not only over-simplified, but there are incorrectly ranked hands in the strategy tables as well.

   For example, he uses the same strategy table for Double Bonus, regardless of whether it is 10/7 full-pay or 9/6 short-pay.

   Marten's incorrect "BQE" chart recommends keeping a pair of J-A over a 4-card flush, even though the average expected value of a 4-card flush is 7.55, compared to only 7.28 by holding J-A. His strategy of J-A over a 4-card flush would only be correct in a 9/6 game, where the flush pays 6.

   Given the number of casinos in Las Vegas and Reno that offer the 10/7 version of Double Bonus, you follow Marten's advice at your own peril.

No comments about Owner's Pictorial Guide for the Care and Understanding of the Pace Bell Slot Machine (Owner's Pictorial Guide).

No comments about Slot machine denomination mix: An assessment of gaming industry practices in casino design.

No comments about Price guide update, November 15, 1978: Companion to An illustrated price guide to the 100 most collectible slot machines.

1 comments about Mills of the Thirties Operator's Companion (Slot Machines of Yesteryear).

1. This book is a necessity for any serious collector of Mills bell machines. It is filled with reproductions of the original Mills sales literature, parts lists, price lists, pictures with parts callouts, etc. A treasure of information. See also Mills of the Forties.

No comments about Slot Machines on Parade.

No comments about All about Slots and Video Poker (All About... (Perigee Book)).

No comments about Advantageous slot machines.

No comments about Win Big At the Casino.