Slot machines

The idea of the slot machine, also called a poker machine or fruit machine, is quite simple: you put in a certain amount of money, and you never see them again.

They are one of the worst forms of gambling: there is no skill involved, and the house edge is usually very high. Variance is also sky-high because one needs to hit a jackpot now and then to make up for losses.

It is possible to profit in the long run from slot machines, but this requires much patience, a very large bankroll, and proper machine selection. Certain machines with a progressive jackpot might at some point have the jackpot so high that anybody playing that machine will have a positive expectation. In other words, the size of the jackpot ensures that, on average, the money one wins will exceed the money one loses. However, it may take a long time for that average to work out!