On the face of it blackjack is a simple game. The objective is to have a hand value closer to 21 than the dealer without going bust. However if the fine print of the rules is itemized then one finds about ten items that impact the payout percentage of the game. These include factors like number of decks, whether the dealer hits or stands on a total of soft 17 and how many times can a hand be respilt. Online casino software providers have mixed and matched these rules in order to create subtle variations in the blackjack games. Microgaming alone provides about 50 variants. When the variants of the other software providers are added the number would increase significantly.
Therefore it is essential for the discerning gambler to understand the variants and the impact they have on the payout percentage. This will help the players to choose the more appropriate variant of blackjack from this point of view. One of the most important factors is the number of decks used in the game. Online blackjack games are played with between one and eight decks. Again using Microgaming as an example, Vegas Single Deck Blackjack Gold is played with one deck, Bonus Blackjack Gold is played with two decks, Big Five Blackjack Gold is played with five decks and Microgaming European Blackjack uses eight decks. The simple tip is that as the number of decks increases the expected payout percent decreases. Therefore players are best equipped playing games with single decks.
Another key rule is whether the dealer is whether the dealer should hit or stand on a total of soft 17. A soft total has an ace that can take the value of 11. If the dealer is allowed to hit on a soft 17 he gets the chance to convert the value of his ace to 1 and thus is likely to increase his hand value. Hence the payout percent to the player is expected to be better if the dealer is forced to stand on a soft 17 and therefore players should look for those variations. In Vegas Single Deck Blackjack Gold the dealer hits on a soft 17 whereas in Classic Blackjack Gold the dealer stands on a soft 17.
In general restricting the options of a player results in a decrease in the expected payout percent. Some of the restrictive impositions in common use are not allowing a player to double after a split, restricting resplitting to two times and not allowing a player to respilt aces. Therefore players should avoid those blackjack variants that have these restrictive provisions.
However the issue is not so simple. Each of the above discussions assumes that other conditions are constant. This is rarely so. Online gaming software providers combine the favorable and unfavorable conditions. But this is not a cause for worry. There are several blackjack calculators available on the Internet. Players need to plug in the conditions and get the numerical value of the expected payout percent. This leads to a simple comparison of the blackjack games.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Microgaming Blackjack Statistics
Microgaming offers about 40 blackjack games in its portfolio. Most of the games provide a number of statistics that are generated continuously during the session. Many players never access these statistics. However some of the statistics do provide helpful clues and enable players to plan their online gaming. This article discusses some of these statistics and how they can be used.
The statistics are accessed using the button provided in the bottom toolbar. In most Microgaming blackjack games the button displays the '%' sign. One of the problems associated with the statistics function is that the data is not saved. When the player opens a Microgaming blackjack game there are no statistics available. As the player wagers the statistics are generated and can be accessed. Therefore players who are intending to wager on blackjack as their staple game would need to save the statistics on their computers. Statistics become meaningful only if a large number of games are played and therefore it is advised that the players engage in a session of about 500 games and then save the statistics. The statistics can then be used as a reference data.
The statistics box has a number of tabs. It opens to the default setting of 'General'. This tab displays three values, which are hands played, session time and hands per hour. The 'hands per hour' value is obtained by dividing the hands played by the session time. This information is very useful in planning the bet amount. Players would work out their bankroll per session based on their overall funds availability. They would also work out the time they want to allot per session based on their overall time availability. The 'hands per hour' statistic tells the player how many hands he can play in the time he has allotted for the session. Then the player can divide his total bankroll for the session by the number of hands he expects to play in that session and arrive at the amount he must wager on each hand. Instead of following this systematic procedure if the player wagers an ad hoc amount on each hand he may exhaust his bankroll before the intended end of the session. This could tempt him to deploy more funds than he had originally planned to and this is the first step to get into the problem gambling trap.
A decision that players have to make in every blackjack hand is whether to hit or stand. This decision is to some extent dependent on the dealer's initial card and the expected final hand value. For example if the dealer is expected to go bust then the player would stand on his present hand. Or if the dealer is expected to reach a hand value of 17 then the player may hit in the hope of getting a higher valid hand value. In the game statistics box there is a tab 'Dealer's Final Hand'. For each value of the initial card the table gives the percentage distribution of the final hand value. This tells the player what is the most likely final hand value of the dealer for the dealt initial card. This information can be used to decide whether to hit or to stand.
The statistics are accessed using the button provided in the bottom toolbar. In most Microgaming blackjack games the button displays the '%' sign. One of the problems associated with the statistics function is that the data is not saved. When the player opens a Microgaming blackjack game there are no statistics available. As the player wagers the statistics are generated and can be accessed. Therefore players who are intending to wager on blackjack as their staple game would need to save the statistics on their computers. Statistics become meaningful only if a large number of games are played and therefore it is advised that the players engage in a session of about 500 games and then save the statistics. The statistics can then be used as a reference data.
The statistics box has a number of tabs. It opens to the default setting of 'General'. This tab displays three values, which are hands played, session time and hands per hour. The 'hands per hour' value is obtained by dividing the hands played by the session time. This information is very useful in planning the bet amount. Players would work out their bankroll per session based on their overall funds availability. They would also work out the time they want to allot per session based on their overall time availability. The 'hands per hour' statistic tells the player how many hands he can play in the time he has allotted for the session. Then the player can divide his total bankroll for the session by the number of hands he expects to play in that session and arrive at the amount he must wager on each hand. Instead of following this systematic procedure if the player wagers an ad hoc amount on each hand he may exhaust his bankroll before the intended end of the session. This could tempt him to deploy more funds than he had originally planned to and this is the first step to get into the problem gambling trap.
A decision that players have to make in every blackjack hand is whether to hit or stand. This decision is to some extent dependent on the dealer's initial card and the expected final hand value. For example if the dealer is expected to go bust then the player would stand on his present hand. Or if the dealer is expected to reach a hand value of 17 then the player may hit in the hope of getting a higher valid hand value. In the game statistics box there is a tab 'Dealer's Final Hand'. For each value of the initial card the table gives the percentage distribution of the final hand value. This tells the player what is the most likely final hand value of the dealer for the dealt initial card. This information can be used to decide whether to hit or to stand.
Roulette Tips on Betting Options
Roulette can seem like a pretty difficult game to play if you haven't actually been introduced properly. The theory is simple, but when you add in all of the different bets and really want to win you need to follow some tips. The first tip that can ever be offered when you are learning Roulette is to play the outside bets only. We will get into an explanation of why so that you understand where this tip is coming from.
On the Roulette table you have inside and outside bets. The inside bets have the lowest probability for you to win at the game and the better house edge. When gambling you will want to choose a bet that have the most advantages for you and not the house. In Roulette this means you need to place one of the several outside bets.
The most come outside bets will be the even money bets. These are bets in which you place your wager on 18 numbers. The 18 numbers can be odd, even, black or red. The reason it is called even money bet is because you win 1:1 odds. You also have the highest probability of winning at 1.111 to 1.
Other outside bets allow you to bet on 12 numbers in the column. This is a little riskier than the even money outside bet, but it is a sure chance of getting a win more often. The Roulette wheel is only going to land on one number every spin. This number is going to be random and the marble will be changed out after 8- 12 hours of play depending on the casino, so that there is no issue. Even betting on 18 numbers you still have a chance to lose because you might have played on red with a black number coming up. This is the gamble you take, but knowing that if you play 18 numbers you will get 1:1 back you have a better chance of stock piling a little money over time as you play with less risk.
If you do decide to place an inside bet rather than the outside bet, you should cover that bet. In other words you should place the outside bet that will cover the inside bet you just made. This way if the number you chose is hit, you get more of the winnings, but if it misses you still have a chance to recoup your losses with the outside bet.
By playing with this tip to only play outside bets you get to have fun longer. If you blow your winnings on high chances you aren't going to be playing for a long period of time. This statement is true of online and land casinos because the games and rules of the same. You need to play with a winning strategy and tips in order to make sure you come out winning more than you not winning. Gambling is a risk by definition, but there is no sense in making it harder.
On the Roulette table you have inside and outside bets. The inside bets have the lowest probability for you to win at the game and the better house edge. When gambling you will want to choose a bet that have the most advantages for you and not the house. In Roulette this means you need to place one of the several outside bets.
The most come outside bets will be the even money bets. These are bets in which you place your wager on 18 numbers. The 18 numbers can be odd, even, black or red. The reason it is called even money bet is because you win 1:1 odds. You also have the highest probability of winning at 1.111 to 1.
Other outside bets allow you to bet on 12 numbers in the column. This is a little riskier than the even money outside bet, but it is a sure chance of getting a win more often. The Roulette wheel is only going to land on one number every spin. This number is going to be random and the marble will be changed out after 8- 12 hours of play depending on the casino, so that there is no issue. Even betting on 18 numbers you still have a chance to lose because you might have played on red with a black number coming up. This is the gamble you take, but knowing that if you play 18 numbers you will get 1:1 back you have a better chance of stock piling a little money over time as you play with less risk.
If you do decide to place an inside bet rather than the outside bet, you should cover that bet. In other words you should place the outside bet that will cover the inside bet you just made. This way if the number you chose is hit, you get more of the winnings, but if it misses you still have a chance to recoup your losses with the outside bet.
By playing with this tip to only play outside bets you get to have fun longer. If you blow your winnings on high chances you aren't going to be playing for a long period of time. This statement is true of online and land casinos because the games and rules of the same. You need to play with a winning strategy and tips in order to make sure you come out winning more than you not winning. Gambling is a risk by definition, but there is no sense in making it harder.
Save Bets In Microgaming Roulette
One of the advantages of roulette is that it offers a number of betting patterns so the players can break the monotony by switching to different patterns. And unlike in craps the different patterns offer identical and reasonable house edges. If a player chooses simple patterns like betting on red, betting on a single spot and betting on a column he has to place chips at only one spot on the layout and he is through. Toggling between bets is very convenient. However, most players would want to use more complicated betting patterns. These may include betting on the digits of their telephone number, a combination of simple bets to extend the coverage and neighbor bets that cover a number of consecutive spots on the wheel. In this event the player would have to place chips at several places on the layout and it can be inconvenient to switch bets often.
Most online roulette games offer a way out by allowing players to save bets. Then all the player has to do is click on the appropriate button and the chips are placed on the layout as he desires. Different software providers and even different variants of roulette from the same software provider would have slightly differing procedures for saving bets. The procedure to be followed in Microgaming's American Roulette is being described as an example.
First the player needs to go into the expert mode by clicking on the EXPERT button. In the bottom toolbar there will be an EDIT button with eight numbered buttons below it. Initially none of them are active. By clicking on the EDIT button the player is taken to the screen that enables him to save the bets. On the left hand side of the screen is the normal roulette table layout. If the desired bet has already been laid out in the game it can be transferred to this layout by clicking the GET TABLE BETS button. Otherwise the chips have to be placed on this layout. Suppose the player wants to place a $1 chip on each digit of his telephone number that may be 9821056839. He should select the $1 chip and click on each of the digits of the telephone number. The spots 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 will have bets of $1 and the spots 8 and 9 will have bets of $2. Then by clicking the SAVE LAYOUT button this bet is saved at Bet Layout 1.
By clicking the NEXT button a fresh layout is revealed on the screen. Now suppose the player wants to save a neighbors bet. The relevant part is the center of the screen that shows a roulette wheel layout. The player can cover from one to eight neighbors on either side of the chosen number. If the player chooses two neighbors he will be able to cover five consecutive numbers on the wheel. To select the desired neighbors the player has to click on the button next to the number of neighbors he wants to select. He then has to click on the central number he has chosen on the wheel. This highlights the sequence of spots selected. By clicking the ADD TO LAYOUT BUTTON the selected chip denomination is placed on each of the spots in the table layout on the left of the screen. The pattern can be saved as described earlier.
The player can return to the game by clicking the BACK TO GAME button. Now under the EDIT button, buttons numbered 1 and 2 are active. By clicking on button 1 the telephone number pattern can be wagered and by clicking on button 2 the neighbors pattern can be wagered. In all Microgaming's American Roulette can save up to eight patterns.
Most online roulette games offer a way out by allowing players to save bets. Then all the player has to do is click on the appropriate button and the chips are placed on the layout as he desires. Different software providers and even different variants of roulette from the same software provider would have slightly differing procedures for saving bets. The procedure to be followed in Microgaming's American Roulette is being described as an example.
First the player needs to go into the expert mode by clicking on the EXPERT button. In the bottom toolbar there will be an EDIT button with eight numbered buttons below it. Initially none of them are active. By clicking on the EDIT button the player is taken to the screen that enables him to save the bets. On the left hand side of the screen is the normal roulette table layout. If the desired bet has already been laid out in the game it can be transferred to this layout by clicking the GET TABLE BETS button. Otherwise the chips have to be placed on this layout. Suppose the player wants to place a $1 chip on each digit of his telephone number that may be 9821056839. He should select the $1 chip and click on each of the digits of the telephone number. The spots 0, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 will have bets of $1 and the spots 8 and 9 will have bets of $2. Then by clicking the SAVE LAYOUT button this bet is saved at Bet Layout 1.
By clicking the NEXT button a fresh layout is revealed on the screen. Now suppose the player wants to save a neighbors bet. The relevant part is the center of the screen that shows a roulette wheel layout. The player can cover from one to eight neighbors on either side of the chosen number. If the player chooses two neighbors he will be able to cover five consecutive numbers on the wheel. To select the desired neighbors the player has to click on the button next to the number of neighbors he wants to select. He then has to click on the central number he has chosen on the wheel. This highlights the sequence of spots selected. By clicking the ADD TO LAYOUT BUTTON the selected chip denomination is placed on each of the spots in the table layout on the left of the screen. The pattern can be saved as described earlier.
The player can return to the game by clicking the BACK TO GAME button. Now under the EDIT button, buttons numbered 1 and 2 are active. By clicking on button 1 the telephone number pattern can be wagered and by clicking on button 2 the neighbors pattern can be wagered. In all Microgaming's American Roulette can save up to eight patterns.
Choose the Pass Line Bet with Free Odds
Craps is a very popular land-based casino game. Therefore it is no wonder that all online casinos offer this game in their portfolio. As in land-based craps, the Pass Line bet is one of the most popular bets in online craps. There are many reasons for this. It offers one of the lowest house edges among all the craps bets, that of 1.4%. The bet is played over a number of rolls and is therefore sufficiently engaging. It is also complex enough to interest the seasoned craps player.
In online craps the wager for the Pass Line bet is placed on a band marked Pass Line. After the wager is placed the first roll of the series is made. In craps parlance this is known as the come out roll. If in the come out roll 7 or 11 are rolled then the player wins without any further rolls taking place. Likewise if in the come out roll 2, 3 or 11 are rolled then the player immediately loses his wager. The action begins if any other number is rolled in the come out roll. That number then becomes the point for the subsequent rolls in the series. If the point is rolled before 7 then the player wins. However, if 7 is rolled before the point then the player loses. Whether the player wins during the come out roll or later he receives the payout of 1 to 1.
Land-based craps games offer a supplementary bet to the Pass Line bet, which is known as the Free Odds bet. Unfortunately not all online casinos offer the Free Odds bet, but some of them definitely do. The Free Odds bet allows players to place another wager on the same outcome and the additional wager has no house edge. It pays as per the mathematical calculations. Hence the house edge of the combined wager decreases to less than 1.4%.
The payout for the Free Odds bet is not 1 to 1 as in the case of the Pass Line bet. It depends on the number established as the point. If the point is 4 or 10 then the payout is 2 to 1; if the point is 5 or 9 then the payout is 3 to 2 and if the point is 6 or 8 then the payout is 6 to 5. The combined bet works as follows. Suppose a player wagers $5 on the Pass Line bet and after the point is established as 4 he wagers another $5 on the Free Odds bet. If the player loses then he loses the entire $10. If the player wins then the payout is calculated in the following manner. For the Pass Line bet his payout is 1 to 1 and therefore he receives $10 from the online casino, which is to say that he wins $5. For the Free Odds bet his payout is 2 to 1 and therefore he receives $15 from the online casino, which is to say that he wins $10. In all he receives $25 and after deducting his wager he wins $15. The payouts for the combined bets in case of other points can be similarly calculated.
Usually the Free Odds bet is restricted to between the amount of the original wager and double that amount. Players should choose the amount of the Free Odds wager very carefully so that they do not lose out if the online casino rounds off the payout to the minimum chip size. If they do not exercise this caution the players can lose the advantage offered by the Free Odds bet. And since not all online casinos offer the facility of the Free Odds bet, serious craps players should locate an online casino that does so and register there.
In online craps the wager for the Pass Line bet is placed on a band marked Pass Line. After the wager is placed the first roll of the series is made. In craps parlance this is known as the come out roll. If in the come out roll 7 or 11 are rolled then the player wins without any further rolls taking place. Likewise if in the come out roll 2, 3 or 11 are rolled then the player immediately loses his wager. The action begins if any other number is rolled in the come out roll. That number then becomes the point for the subsequent rolls in the series. If the point is rolled before 7 then the player wins. However, if 7 is rolled before the point then the player loses. Whether the player wins during the come out roll or later he receives the payout of 1 to 1.
Land-based craps games offer a supplementary bet to the Pass Line bet, which is known as the Free Odds bet. Unfortunately not all online casinos offer the Free Odds bet, but some of them definitely do. The Free Odds bet allows players to place another wager on the same outcome and the additional wager has no house edge. It pays as per the mathematical calculations. Hence the house edge of the combined wager decreases to less than 1.4%.
The payout for the Free Odds bet is not 1 to 1 as in the case of the Pass Line bet. It depends on the number established as the point. If the point is 4 or 10 then the payout is 2 to 1; if the point is 5 or 9 then the payout is 3 to 2 and if the point is 6 or 8 then the payout is 6 to 5. The combined bet works as follows. Suppose a player wagers $5 on the Pass Line bet and after the point is established as 4 he wagers another $5 on the Free Odds bet. If the player loses then he loses the entire $10. If the player wins then the payout is calculated in the following manner. For the Pass Line bet his payout is 1 to 1 and therefore he receives $10 from the online casino, which is to say that he wins $5. For the Free Odds bet his payout is 2 to 1 and therefore he receives $15 from the online casino, which is to say that he wins $10. In all he receives $25 and after deducting his wager he wins $15. The payouts for the combined bets in case of other points can be similarly calculated.
Usually the Free Odds bet is restricted to between the amount of the original wager and double that amount. Players should choose the amount of the Free Odds wager very carefully so that they do not lose out if the online casino rounds off the payout to the minimum chip size. If they do not exercise this caution the players can lose the advantage offered by the Free Odds bet. And since not all online casinos offer the facility of the Free Odds bet, serious craps players should locate an online casino that does so and register there.
Tips for Online Casino Slots Betting Options
Unlike in games such as blackjack and video poker, online slots do not require any inputs from players once the wager is placed and the reels are set in motion. However, some decisions are involved in deciding how to place the wagers and these are commonly referred to as betting options. Though these decisions are extremely simple in nature they must not be taken carelessly because they can have long-term implications.
There are a few slot games that are played with fixed bets. But other than that all online slot games provide for at least two betting options. These are selection of the number of paylines and fixing of the line bet. Many online gaming software providers offer paylines with single coin wagers and players are required to choose only the coin denomination. Some software providers allow players to choose both the number of coins and the coin denomination in finalizing the line bet betting option.
There is only one tip for selecting the number of paylines and it is inviolable. 'Always wager will all paylines enabled'. There are two reasons for this. In all online slot games winning combinations pay out only on enabled paylines. If there is a combination that pays out on any payline and that payline has not been selected then the player gets nothing. Also in most progressive jackpot online slots the progressive jackpot can only be hit by getting the winning combination on the highest payline. This means that the player has to enable all paylines in order to hit the progressive jackpot.
In certain slot games activating all paylines can be a problem for low rollers. In particular are those online slots that have 40 or more paylines. In such cases the total amount wagered per spin, which is referred to as the total bet, becomes at least 40 times the line bet. Hence the line bet must be chosen judiciously. Here online slot games that allow players to choose the number of coins per payline must be considered separately. In progressive jackpot online slot games it is mandatory to wager the maximum number of coins to be eligible for the progressive jackpot. Therefore players wagering on such games have no option but to choose the maximum number of coins per payline and make all their adjustments only on the coin denomination. In the normal online slots players can choose that combination of coin denomination and number of coins which brings them closest to their desired line bet.
Whether the selection of the line bet involves a single decision of coin denomination or a multiple decision of coin denomination and number of coins, it has to be made based on the player's bankroll for the session. This is the most prudent way and is essential to ensure that the player does not fall into the trap of problem gambling. The player first fixes his bankroll for the session based on his overall funds availability and he then fixes the number of spins that he would like to play in that session. This would give him his total bet per spin. Dividing this amount by the number of paylines in the online slot game will give the player a ballpark number for the line bet. Even though it may seem complicated to the uninitiated, the process is extremely simple and takes less than a minute to perform. All online slots players should get used to this.
There are a few slot games that are played with fixed bets. But other than that all online slot games provide for at least two betting options. These are selection of the number of paylines and fixing of the line bet. Many online gaming software providers offer paylines with single coin wagers and players are required to choose only the coin denomination. Some software providers allow players to choose both the number of coins and the coin denomination in finalizing the line bet betting option.
There is only one tip for selecting the number of paylines and it is inviolable. 'Always wager will all paylines enabled'. There are two reasons for this. In all online slot games winning combinations pay out only on enabled paylines. If there is a combination that pays out on any payline and that payline has not been selected then the player gets nothing. Also in most progressive jackpot online slots the progressive jackpot can only be hit by getting the winning combination on the highest payline. This means that the player has to enable all paylines in order to hit the progressive jackpot.
In certain slot games activating all paylines can be a problem for low rollers. In particular are those online slots that have 40 or more paylines. In such cases the total amount wagered per spin, which is referred to as the total bet, becomes at least 40 times the line bet. Hence the line bet must be chosen judiciously. Here online slot games that allow players to choose the number of coins per payline must be considered separately. In progressive jackpot online slot games it is mandatory to wager the maximum number of coins to be eligible for the progressive jackpot. Therefore players wagering on such games have no option but to choose the maximum number of coins per payline and make all their adjustments only on the coin denomination. In the normal online slots players can choose that combination of coin denomination and number of coins which brings them closest to their desired line bet.
Whether the selection of the line bet involves a single decision of coin denomination or a multiple decision of coin denomination and number of coins, it has to be made based on the player's bankroll for the session. This is the most prudent way and is essential to ensure that the player does not fall into the trap of problem gambling. The player first fixes his bankroll for the session based on his overall funds availability and he then fixes the number of spins that he would like to play in that session. This would give him his total bet per spin. Dividing this amount by the number of paylines in the online slot game will give the player a ballpark number for the line bet. Even though it may seem complicated to the uninitiated, the process is extremely simple and takes less than a minute to perform. All online slots players should get used to this.
Consider Bonus Games While Choosing Online Slots
Slot games drive the online casino industry. The player is never strapped for choice. On the contrary the player often faces difficulties in choosing the slot game he wants to play. The payout table is usually the deciding factor in selecting the slot game. Some slot games offer comparatively lower payouts in the payout table and these games are given the skip. Players who do so are making a mistake. Slot games that offer low payouts through the line wins in the payout table makeup by offering attractive payouts in bonus games. Therefore players must consider the bonus games alongside the payout table while choosing online slots.
One of the most common types of bonus games is the free spins bonus round. The number of free spins offered, the payout multiplier and whether the free spins can be re-triggered are some of the factors that players need to consider. However, if the free spins bonus round is to compensate for low payouts in the payout table then it must offer something extra. There are many ways in which online slot games build in this extra payout in the free spins bonus round. Very often the wild symbol behaves differently in the free spins bonus round. It can act as a multiplier and sometimes it appears more often in free spins. But it really works wonders when it expands to cover the entire reel. And if that reel containing the expanded wilds is held fixed through the remainder of the spins then the payouts can really pile on. In such cases a low-paying payout table should be acceptable because the real benefits lie elsewhere.
There is a Microgaming online slot game called Doctor Doctor. It offers a unique free spins bonus round. Two special symbols can appear during this bonus round. One is the yellow capsule that adds more free spins. The other is the blue capsule that increases the multiplier. If this free spins bonus round is triggered it usually results in high payouts.
The second type of bonus round is the bonus game on the second screen. There is considerably more variety in this type of bonus round. Also there are no clear cut parameters like number of free spins and multipliers. Hence it is more difficult to estimate the potential payout of such games. One way to evaluate such games is through the number of levels. Multi-level bonus games tend to pay out more. A recently released online slot Kung Fu Monkey has a three level bonus game on the second screen with fantastic payouts.
One way to evaluate the bonus game on the second screen is to actually play it. Players can switch to the free play mode and play the online slot till the bonus game is triggered. Repeating this procedure a few times will give a fairly good idea of what level of payouts to expect. They can then factor in the bonus game on the second screen with the free spins bonus round and the regular line payouts.
Another factor that players need to consider is the number of paylines. The more the paylines the more often will winning combinations occur and therefore will make up for lower payouts. Alaskan Fishing has 243 paylines, which is the maximum possible in a 5 reel slot with three rows of symbols. Therefore the maximum line payout of 500 is not all that bad a deal.
One of the most common types of bonus games is the free spins bonus round. The number of free spins offered, the payout multiplier and whether the free spins can be re-triggered are some of the factors that players need to consider. However, if the free spins bonus round is to compensate for low payouts in the payout table then it must offer something extra. There are many ways in which online slot games build in this extra payout in the free spins bonus round. Very often the wild symbol behaves differently in the free spins bonus round. It can act as a multiplier and sometimes it appears more often in free spins. But it really works wonders when it expands to cover the entire reel. And if that reel containing the expanded wilds is held fixed through the remainder of the spins then the payouts can really pile on. In such cases a low-paying payout table should be acceptable because the real benefits lie elsewhere.
There is a Microgaming online slot game called Doctor Doctor. It offers a unique free spins bonus round. Two special symbols can appear during this bonus round. One is the yellow capsule that adds more free spins. The other is the blue capsule that increases the multiplier. If this free spins bonus round is triggered it usually results in high payouts.
The second type of bonus round is the bonus game on the second screen. There is considerably more variety in this type of bonus round. Also there are no clear cut parameters like number of free spins and multipliers. Hence it is more difficult to estimate the potential payout of such games. One way to evaluate such games is through the number of levels. Multi-level bonus games tend to pay out more. A recently released online slot Kung Fu Monkey has a three level bonus game on the second screen with fantastic payouts.
One way to evaluate the bonus game on the second screen is to actually play it. Players can switch to the free play mode and play the online slot till the bonus game is triggered. Repeating this procedure a few times will give a fairly good idea of what level of payouts to expect. They can then factor in the bonus game on the second screen with the free spins bonus round and the regular line payouts.
Another factor that players need to consider is the number of paylines. The more the paylines the more often will winning combinations occur and therefore will make up for lower payouts. Alaskan Fishing has 243 paylines, which is the maximum possible in a 5 reel slot with three rows of symbols. Therefore the maximum line payout of 500 is not all that bad a deal.
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