I keep trying to tell people that there is no real strategy to online slots (or any slots, for that matter), but some people insist that they have a good strategy. When that happens, I feel a need to debunk their strategy. I don’t do this to be mean, but to help you avoid the frustration and loss of money that goes along with using bad strategy.

One such strategy that I’ve been hearing lately is to alter the pace of your play depending on what the online slot is doing. This technique is usually done by people who know that the result of the spin is based on when you spin the slot.

The strategy goes like this: If the slot is “hot,” then I should stick to the pattern I’m using and try to time it out so I press the spin button on the same time, as if I’m doing it to the beat of a song or metronome. If I’m playing using a certain speed and the slot is “cold,” then I should change my pace and I will get different results.

People who use this strategy are right in that when you push the button determines which combination is selected by the random number generator, but everything else is wrong. First of all, slots are never “hot,” “cold,” or “due.” Each spin is completely independent of the rest and each spin is random. Slots will occasionally go on a streak, but even if it has paid out five times in a row, it is no more likely to pay out that sixth time than any other time the machine is spun. Streaks will happen in anything random, such as the flipping of a coin, but that doesn’t change the odds.

Changing the pace does change the outcome, because new numbers are chosen by the RNG hundreds of times every second. However, that doesn’t change your odds and there is no way of predicting the outcome of one spin versus the next. Altering your pace of play may make it seem like you’re doing something to affect your odds, but it really does nothing, since the odds are predetermined and are the same on every spin.

Just think of the coin flipping example. If you flip a coin it will land on either heads or tails. Therefore, each outcome has a 50% probability. Therefore, if you flip the coin over and over it should land on heads half of the time and tails half of the time. However, at times it would get on a certain streak and maybe land on heads a few times in a row. If that happens, could you change your odds by waiting a few seconds to flip the coin? Of course not, because the odds are not affected by your rate of play. It’s the same with online slots. The odds are pre-set to be the same on each spin, so altering your playing speed does nothing to improve your chances.

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Gambling in America has come to be associated with Indians, Native Americans, or whatever we’re supposed to be calling them. You know who I mean. Many Indian (Native American?) reservations have casinos and the Seminole tribe in particular is filthy rich because of it. Maybe that’s why Vegas Technology has released a new online slot with an Indian theme, which can be found at English Harbour Casino.

The new slot, called Fire Hawk, is set in America’s Old West (it looks kind of like Utah, to be honest). The game features symbols of a chief, a female Indian, drums, a ceremonial pipe, and an actual flaming hawk. I guess the Fire Hawk is supposed to be a spiritual guide animal or something like that. The chief is the wild symbol and the Fire Hawk is the scatter symbol. There is also a cool animation of a tribal war dance.

The game is a 5-reel, 25-payline online slot that can be played using coins ranging from $.01 to $10. The maximum bet is $250 and the jackpot is 6,000 coins. The game has several bonuses, such as multiplier of two, five and ten times the bet and a bonus of 20 free spins. There is no interactive bonus game, though.

The game has a bit of a cartoonish look, but the background is a gorgeous picture of a sunset in the Old West. Though the game could be considered playing upon clichés of Native Americans (Indians?), I find it to be neither offensive nor exploitative. Instead, I think it’s simply looking back at a historical time, just as with cowboy-themed slots or slots about medieval times.

To play the new online slot or any other fun game, stop by English Harbour casino.

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I don’t know about you, but can’t think of many things funnier than a shark attack. There’s just something hilarious about some prehistoric killing machine chowing down on some unsuspecting surfer or swimmer. English Harbour Casino seems to feel the same way, because they’ve launched a brand new online slot with a zany shark attack theme.

The new game, called Shaaark!, is supposed to be a comic take on Jaws and the like. It has cartoonish artwork and an overall feel-good atmosphere. The game features symbols of seals jumping out of the water, warning signs, chewed-up license plates, screaming tourists, and severed limbs… Okay, I made up that last one.

The game is a 5-reel, 20-payline online slot that can be played in denominations ranging from $.01 to $10. The jackpot is 4,000 coins and the maximum bet is $600. Anyone who suffers from selachophobia or has lost a loved one to shark attack might want to stay away from this game, but for others, it can be a good, fun time.

I guess the cartoonish atmosphere kind of takes away from the dread and fright of seeing a shark, though. When I see that dorsal fin circling around a soon-to-be-dead swimmer I should be worried for the swimmer, but instead I’m thinking, “Mmm…I could go for some shark fin soup right now.”

English Harbour Casino is on a roll here, introducing this interesting and creative game at the same time as the odd yet fun Vampire Vixen. To take part in the fun and experience the light-hearted, comical side of shark attacks, visit English Harbour Casino today.

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Vampires are all the rage right now with the teens and 20-something crowd. Sure, the witty dialogue and character development of Buffy the Vampire Slayer has been gone from TV for a while. However, there is that one show about a vampire couple on HBO that I hear is good and there’s some new tween show on the WB with vampires that I assume sucks. None of that, though, compares to Twilight.

Yes, those terrible movies have taught us that realistic characters, interesting dialogue, emotion, acting, drama and suspense are not needed for vampire movies to be loved. They also taught us that vampires glitter in the sunlight, Kristen Stewart is only capable of showing one expression, soccer moms everywhere have inappropriate thoughts about teens, and werewolves look like buff, gay Latin boys rather than furry savages.

Given all of that, it’s not surprising that an online casino would release a vampire-themed slot. English Harbour Casino has done just that with the new Vampire Vixen online slot, developed by Vegas Technology.

The game seems to be some odd vampire take on Valentine’s Day romance or something. It features a vampire vixen (as you might guess from the title) who is out preying on unsuspecting men, including a scared jock in a letter jacket. The online slot features symbols of vials of blood, bloody brooches, the vampire vixen herself and wolves…Wait, wolves? Okay, that’s clearly to cash in on the New Moon audience. Otherwise, what on earth does a wolf have to do with a vampire story?

Some of the best things about this game are the animations, which includes the vampire vixen screaming with a mouth full of dripping blood. As you might guess, this game is not suitable for minors. Now that I think about it, though, minors can’t gamble, so I guess no warning is necessary.

The game is a 5-reel, 25-payline online slot that can be played using coin denominations ranging from $.01 to $10. The jackpot is 4,000 coins, which of course varies in amount based on your bet.

Whether you’re Team Edward or Team Werewolf Guy (Edward was the vampire, right?), if you love online slots and you love vampire tales, you should stop by English Harbour Casino and try the new Vampire Vixen game. It’s a good way to spend your time while waiting for the next horrible vampire movie to come out.

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Okay, so you know that slots are random. You’ve probably seen me and other people say this plenty of times. The problem is that a lot of people don’t put that knowledge into practice. I see it all the time. People gambling in casinos will leave a certain slot because they think it’s “cold” or will jump on one that is considered “hot” because they saw someone else doing well on it. Of course, there is no such thing as a hot or cold slot and a slot is never due. It’s all random.

Most online slot players are aware of that fact, but they still fall into this trap: going after hyped machines. I look for news on online slots all the time and every day I come across articles talking about a certain progressive slot that was hit, a progressive slot with an increasingly huge jackpot because it hasn’t been hit, or a slot that has been hit a lot lately. Those articles, in my opinion, have one purpose, and that is to convince people that the slot mentioned is the one that they need to be playing.

You may notice that I have never post blogs on “news” like that and the reason is because I think it’s dishonest, or at the very least potentially misleading. If a progressive slot has a larger jackpot because it hasn’t been hit, that doesn’t mean this is a better time to play it. Sure, if you hit the jackpot you will win more, but you are no more likely to hit the jackpot than any other time.

Too often players read news like that and think that the slot is due, but the online slot has the same odds of paying out every single time you play it. The random number generator ensures that, over the long run, the slot pays out a pre-determined percentage. Any streaks a slot appears to be on is no different than flipping a coin and having it land on heads several times in a row. Sure, the odds dictate that streaks like that will happen from time to time, but in the long run, the coin still has a 50% chance of landing on heads, no matter what “streak” it is on.

You should also keep that in mind if you ever hear that a certain online slot has been hit a lot lately. That does not mean it is hot and you should play it. Your odds are the same on that slot every time it is played.

However, notice that I said they are the same on that slot. Not every online slot has the same payout percentage. Some pay out more often than others (loose slots) and some pay out less often than others (tight slots). If a slot is paying often then that could be an indication that it is a loose slot. However, it may not. Sometimes the payout percentages of online slots can be found on the internet. First you should check the online casino where you are playing. If you can’t find it, you may want to request that information from the casino. They may or may not be willing to share that information with customers, though if they are licensed and approved by a regulatory body then they have proved that the percentage falls in the acceptable range. If you can’t get that information from the casino, maybe you can get it from the group that regulates them. A general search of online gambling websites may also turn up payout percentages, though those numbers can’t necessarily be as trusted as the aforementioned sources.

I’m not trying to discourage you from playing a progressive slot with a huge jackpot or an online slot that has been paying out a lot lately. My concern is making sure you know that those machines aren’t due or hot and that your odds are the same as ever. Once you take that into account, you can make a better decision about whether you want to play that game.

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This time of year brings us the odd combination of Valentine’s Day and Mardi Gras. One the one hand we have a holiday with supposedly Catholic origins that is supposed to be about love but to many has come to be about materialism and excess. On the other hand we have a holiday of Catholic origins that is supposed to celebrate the last day to indulge in whatever you’re giving up for Lent, a deeply religious time for those of the faith, but to many has come to be about excessive partying and basically making Spring Break and the Girls Gone Wild videos look tame in comparison.

Or I can put it this way: Valentine’s Day is about buying nice jewelry for your girlfriend so she’ll still love you and have special Valentine’s Day-sex with you, while Mardi Gras is about getting drunk enough that a complete stranger will have sloppy Mardi Gras-sex with you, probably not remembering it at all in the morning.

Both holidays are being celebrated at the same time by Super Slots Casino. Their Lucky in Love slot tournament lasts all month long, where players compete for big prize money (the top prize is $50,000) so they can get a nice late Valentine’s Day present for their girlfriend and stop sleeping on the couch.

At the same time, Super Slots is holding a Mardi Gras tournament, which lasts all week long, ending on Sunday, February 21. This tournament has a much smaller prize pool – only $5,000 – but with a small $5 entry fee it could still be worth a try. Upon joining the tournament, you are given $75 to play with. If you run out and want more, you can rebuy an additional $75 for a cost of $5.

If you actually went to Mardi Gras, you probably don’t actually remember anything that happened, though you have noticed that there are a lot of embarrassing photos of you on Facebook. If that’s the case, try to experience the holiday again by joining the Mardi Gras tournament at Super Slots Casino. It’s not as much fun, but there’s a much lower chance of arrest, disease, or pregnancy.

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Every now and then I feel like ranting a little, so I decided to start a new series on Best Buy Slots called “A Rant on…” My therapist tells me that I keep things bottled up inside too much and that if I don’t let it all out and vent I will get an ulcer. Since I don’t want an ulcer, I decided to vent electronically via my blog. I hope you don’t mind.

I love online slots as much as the next guy. Wait, scratch that. I love online slots way more than the next guy (after all, how many guys review online slots for a living?), but there is one common feature on the games that puzzles me. That’s the autoplay feature.

Why on earth would you want to put the slot on autoplay? So you want to lose money without having to go to the trouble of playing a game? If that’s the case, I’ll give you my address and just send me a cashier’s check. I’ll be more than happy to take the money off of your hands.

Seriously, if you don’t want to actually play an online slot, why are you using one? I certainly hope you aren’t doing so as an investment, thinking that you will make money from the slot. Or maybe it’s a progressive slot and you’re after the jackpot, trying to get rich. If so, I should remind you that you have better odds of winning the state lottery.

Seriously, I don’t get it. I wouldn’t buy Madden’s PlayStation game and put it on demo mode while I read a book. If I want to play the game, I will actually control one of the teams. If I want to read a book, there’s no reason to have a video game taking up electricity.

Maybe I’m overreacting. If you do flat betting, then I guess all there is to an online slot is hitting the spin button anyway, right? Aside from that, you just watch to see what happens. This, of course, doesn’t apply to bonus games. So maybe autoplay doesn’t really take away from the experience of the game.

To me, though, hitting the spin button makes it seem like I’m doing something, like I have at least a little control over the game’s outcome, even though I know it’s all random. In a way, I am taking control, since the random number generator chooses the outcome based on when we push that button. Push it at a different microsecond and you will get a different result. With autoplay, though, everything is computerized, including when the reels are spun, which means you have no control at all. When pushing the spin button, I feel more engaged in the game, like what I do matters.

In the end, though I don’t really understand it, having autoplay as a feature is harmless. If you want to use it, you can, but if you don’t, you don’t have to. So I guess there’s no reason to rant at all. I have to admit that I do feel a little better, though. Thanks, Doc.

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Valentine’s Day is finally over, which means two things. First, it means that I am filling up on chocolates that were marked down in stores the day after the holiday. Secondly, it means that the Valentine’s Day slot tournaments have come to an end…Or have they?

Super Slots Casino is running a special promotion all month long for the game Cupid’s Arrow, which is a great deal for anyone who can’t get enough of that cherub archer. During the month of February, all players receive double rewards points for playing the game. Win or lose, the loyalty points will add up every time you play, which in the end can mean a lot of free credits to play with.

But that’s not all, because Super Slots Casino is also running a month-long Valentine’s Day slot tournament. The Lucky in Love tournament began on February 1 and runs until the end of the month. In that online slot tournament, players are competing for a big prize pool, with the top prize being $50,000. The second-place finisher will also do pretty well, winning $20,000. The third-place finisher will earn $7,500 in prize money. In all, prizes will be awarded to the top 275 players in the tournament. Though it’s more than half over, it’s not too late to join the tournament and take a shot at that prize.

To claim rewards points for playing Cupid’s Arrow or any game at Super Slots Casino, you must be a member of the VIP Plan, which is the free rewards program. The program has member ranging from Amber to Diamond, with players moving up in the ranks based on the amount of money wagered. The higher your VIP level, the easier it is to receive points.

To take part in the online slot tournament and join the VIP Plan, visit Super Slots Casino today.

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I always thought Lucky Nugget was an odd name for an online casino. Don’t get me wrong; I have nothing against the casino. I just think it’s an odd name. When I think of nuggets, I don’t think of good luck. I think of the Denver Nuggets, the NBA franchise that has had maybe 2 or 3 good years in their history. I think of McDonald’s Chicken McNuggets, which are Grade C meat breaded, fried, and sold to us in an attempt to make everyone fatter and more out of shape. I think of a nugget of information, which is a good thing except that people who actually use the phrase “nugget of information” annoy me.

I guess I’m supposed to think of a gold nugget, but to be honest, I’ve never even seen a gold nugget. However, you don’t have to have seen a gold nugget, think of a gold nugget or even like Lucky Nugget’s name to feel lucky if you join their online casino. That’s because right now they’re really giving new members the hook up.

To start with, Lucky Nugget gives you a free $25 just for joining the site. No deposit is necessary. The only thing you have to do for that money is register for the site and download the software. Technically speaking, you would never need to play a game to get $25, so even if you have no intention of playing you would get $25 for the trouble of signing up.

You should probably play some games, though, because taking a sign-up bonus without ever spending money on the site seems a little dishonest. There is, of course, another reason to play games on the site instead of just taking the money and running: more money.

If you play games on Lucky Nugget for at least one hour, the online casino will give you another bonus, this time for $1,000. Not too shabby. With that kind of money, you can play the slots for free for a bit and hopefully make some money back. Even if you don’t, it’s no loss for you, since you didn’t lose any of your own money.

To take advantage of these generous offers, join Lucky Nugget Casino today.

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I don’t know about you, but I’ve watched NBC more this weekend than all of last year combined. Partly it’s because, aside from the Thursday night comedies, the network doesn’t have any good TV shows. Partly it’s because I was bored last weekend. Mostly, though, it’s because I get excited about the Olympics.

Sure, some of the events are a little on the boring side. Cross-country skiing takes way too long, for instance. Most of the events are exciting, though, and I enjoy pulling for my country and athletes that I suddenly adore even though prior to the Games I had never heard of them.

For me, the most exciting events are the alpine skiing and moguls. The moguls have the added freestyle excitement of the varying jumps that the competitors do. In addition, I marvel at the fact that they can make it all the way down without blowing out their knees pivoting on those bumps. The speed, athleticism and finesse for both moguls and alpine skiing are amazing.

Because I was in the mood, when I decided to start playing online slots during commercial breaks, I decided to play the Winter Gold slot at All Slots Casino. Winter Gold is a slot with an Olympic theme, with symbols of skiers, bobsledders, skaters, gold medals and more. The tension I get while the reels are spinning, as I wait to find out whether I win or lose, is similar to watching the skier cross the finish line and waiting to see their score.

One of the best things about this video slot is the variety of bonus games. If you get three or more gold medals (the scatter symbol), you are taken to a bonus game, where you compete in an Olympic event, which can be anything from performing a ski jump to competing in a bobsled race to taking part in a biathlon.

I can’t say I won a lot of money on the Winter Gold slot. In fact, I lost money. However, I made up for that with my Olympic office pool, so I don’t feel bad. Tonight when I watch the Olympics maybe I’ll play at All Slots Casino on commercial break again. After all, it’s a great way for someone with a short attention span to pass the time.

To get into the Olympic spirit even when you’re not watching the Games, visit All Slots Casino and be sure to play the Winter Gold slot.

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