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KnowYourLimit.ca

YOUR GUIDE TO PLAYING

SLOTS

What You Need to KnowHow to Play

Slot machines are among the most popular and exciting games at slots and casino facilities in Ontario. Understanding how slot machines work is the first step towards a more rewarding playing experience.

• In Ontario, gaming sites offer dozens of different slot games and depending on the one you choose, the cost-per-play can range in denominations from 1 cent to 100 dollars.

• Slots are programmed to take in more money than they pay out. In other words, the more you play, the more you will pay.

• There is no skill required to play a slot machine. • It doesn’t matter what machine you choose or

what time of day it is, slot machine outcomes are random and unpredictable.

• There is no such thing as “investing” money into a slot machine; your chances of winning are not related to how long you play.

• Always set a budget, and stick to it. When your entertainment money is spent, it’s time to call it a day.

Will my chances of winning increase, if I play on more than one slot machine at a time?By playing more than one machine you may win more often but you will also spend and ultimately lose more. Remember for most people it will cost them money over time.

If I bet just one credit, will more winning combinations be generated?All slot machines have a random number generator. Your chances of getting a win will always stay the same no matter how little or how big you bet.

1. Read the display for betting instructions.2. Insert a bill or ticket into the bill validator to

obtain machine credits.3. Bet one Button: Push this button once to bet 1

credit; twice to bet 2 credits, etc.4. Spin Button/Handle: Use either of these to spin

the reels.5. Cash/Credit Button: Push this button to cash

out winnings on your machine. This includes credits from winnings or from bills inserted into the validator.

SLOTS - HOW TO PLAY?

Everything you need to know.

KnowYourLimit.ca

To obtain this brochure in French and other languages please call

1-800-387-0098 or visit:

1-888-230-3505www.problemgamblinghelpline.ca

How do Slot Payouts work?

What are the odds? Payout odds for slot machines vary based on what machine you play. The odds of hitting the top award vary greatly by machine. Odds of winning the top prize on some games are around 1 in 4,000 spins, while odds of winning the top prize on other games may be as high as 1 in 16,000,000 spins.

In Ontario, the payout for slot machines has to be set at 85 per cent or higher. This figure is set and controlled by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO), the independent body that regulates specified OLG activities. Eighty-five per cent is the minimum payout rate and most machines are preset for higher levels.

Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean that for every $10 you put into a slot machine that you will get $8.50 returned to you. The payout of 85 per cent is based on the long-term return of the machine, which could include hundreds of thousands or even millions of spins.

The figures below outline slot payout percentages at slots and casino facilities in Ontario:

Who decides when the slot machine should pay out?A computer memory chip determines when slot machines will pay out. Inside the machine, a random number generator is constantly coming up with numbers at a rate of thousands per second, even when no one is playing. All these numbers have an equal likelihood of being selected at any one time to determine the game outcome.

Since each outcome is random, it is impossible to predict which number might be generated at any one time. Someone who uses the machine right after you and wins, did not win your jackpot. This is because pushing the spin button at the exact moment the random number generator comes up with a winning number is what determines a jackpot, not how long someone’s been playing for.

Slots are never “due for a win” and they don’t “go cold” after a win. So it’s feasible to place one bet on a slot machine and win a large amount, or you could play for two hours and end up with a loss.

Can a casino employee adjust slot machines to pay out less?Once the machine’s payout rate is set, gaming employees can not adjust a slot machine without following AGCO’s strict rules and very specific technical procedures. Slot seals are put in place over top of the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of the slot machine. For a gaming venue to change the payout rate, it has to submit a request to the AGCO and receive approval. Then, the AGCO must be on site to inspect and approve the change to the game.

I think slot machines used to pay out more than they do now. Is that true?No. Slot machine payouts are – and have always been - strictly regulated by AGCO. Machines are not set up to pay out more when they are first installed and then change to pay out less as time goes on.

The symbols were so close to lining up for the big jackpot, I must be close to winning, right?Since each outcome is not influenced by previous outcomes, “almost” winning does not mean that you are any closer to a win than you were before.

If I play long enough on one machine, am I more likely to win?No. Each play is an independent event with the same odds of winning or losing as every other play on that game. The result of your last play or series of plays has absolutely no bearing on what happens on your next play.

Checklist for keeping slot play fun and safe:

Set a money limit for how much money you’ll spendSet a time limit for how long you will playDon’t spend more than you can affordDon’t try to win back what you’ve lost Always remember that playing slot machines is entertainment and not a way to make money

For more information about slot machines, speak to a slot attendant or visit www.KnowYourLimit.ca. You can also drop by the Responsible Gaming Resource Centre (RGRC) near the entrance of any Ontario slots or casino facility. RGRCs are independently operated by the Responsible Gambling Council.

If you think you or someone you care about may have a gambling problem and are looking for information or someone to talk to, contact the Ontario Problem Gambling Helpline (OPGH) at 1-888-230-3505 or by email or online chat at www.problemgamblinghelpline.ca.

This service is free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in over 140 different languages.

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