NEW SLOTS

Jackpot Fury

By IGT

Give players a fiery stepper-style game that delivers with IGT’s Jackpot Fury multi-level progressive slots. The lively three reel, 27 pay line game kicks up the excitement with a linked five-level jackpot and frequent free spin bonuses with growing on-screen flame animations each time a jackpot symbol lands.

In the player selectable multi-denomination base game, any spin that lands one or more jackpot symbols can trigger the free spin bonus.

During the bonus, five free spins are awarded, offering players the opportunity to collect even more jackpot symbols and win the highest corresponding jackpot.

Adding to the base game action, landing five or more jackpot symbols award the corresponding jackpot; nine jackpot symbols award the top $5,000 jackpot.

This a 50 credit cost to cover game. For more information, visit IGT.com. $

Hunt For Neptune’s Gold

By Aristocrat Gaming

Aristocrat Gaming’s Hunt For Neptune’s Gold is the #1 top indexing Class II video reel game, and now players can dive deeper into the fun in the all-new Hunt For Neptune’s Gold Diamond. Hunt For Neptune’s Gold Diamond appears on the Arc Double cabinet and has a rapidly hitting $100,000 Multi-Site Progressive jackpot and seven new features that appear frequently in this high-volatility game.

The Red Screen Free Spins bonus feature fills the entire 7 foot game screen, and you never know how many times the reels will re-spin. The Shark Attack bonus is triggered by Shark symbols on lines 1, 2, and 3, and the Shark drops random bonuses on the reels. What’s that behind you? A Mega Shark, which multiplies wins! The Minefield bonus is loaded with awards ready to be picked, and in the Neptune’s Maze feature, revealed credits are added to total prize. The longer players enjoy Hunt For Neptune’s Gold Diamond, the more chances they have to randomly collect 10 diamonds and trigger bonuses. An easy-to-see counter at the top helps players track how many diamonds they have collected. Match two diamond values to win that amount. Newton the Nudger is a gremlin that lives inside the game and randomly appears to change a losing spin to a win. In the Jewel Swim feature, the lead character Jewel randomly awards Neptune’s gems and diamonds as she swims across the screen. Plus, Jewel’s dog, Meatloaf can randomly swim across screen. Players pet him to win a Neptune’s gem, diamond, or credits. For more info visit AristocratGaming.com/US. $

Triple Fortune Dragons

By IGT

One of IGT’s best-known, blockbuster CDS themes, Triple Fortune Dragon has made its way to the broader Class II market. The 3x5 reel, 243 ways game features Asian-inspired symbols including ornate Ming vases, fans, an emperor, and a golden dragon complete with harmonious music.

Adding to player excitement, all-ways wins allow for numerous possible winning combinations, including a minimum of three matching symbols. During the base game, when the wild symbol, represented by the golden dragon, lands on reels two or four, the win is multiplied three times. If the dragon symbol lands on reels two and four, the win is multiplied nine times.

The bonus is triggered when three to five coin symbols appear on consecutive reels with the possibility of retriggers. In addition, scatter wins are awarded when three or more coin symbols appear on the reels during the bonus.

Triple Fortune Dragon is a 25 credit cost to cover game. For more information, visit IGT.com. $

Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania 4

By IGT

he latest evolution of IGT’s popular maritime theme, Lucky Larry’s Lobstermania 4 Link video slots introduce the first linkable progressive game in the series. The 30 pay line game offers exciting bonuses, including king and wild stacks, free games, and multipli-T ers.

During the base game, when treasure chest symbols appear on reels two, three, or four, a coin value will be revealed and float up to the top of the reels to fill the loot meter on the top of each reel. When one of the meters becomes full, a random prize will be awarded and can include multipliers, wild stacks, a wheel bonus, and more.

For additional excitement, if three Lobstermania 4 symbols land on reels two, three, or four, the bonus choice will be triggered, and players can choose between the Buoy Bonus or Lucky Lobster’s Free Games.

Adding to the fun, the Big Wheel bonus is activated in the Larry’s Loot feature, or when three or more adjacent wheel overlays land on the reels. Players are presented with jackpot and credit wedges for a chance to win even more prizes.

This is a 75 credit cost to cover game. For more information, visit IGT.com. $

1 VS. 5 CREDIT PLAY?

What Players Need To Consider

Most discussions on video poker include the advice to always play the 5 credit max bet as opposed to 1 through 4 credits to take advantage of the higher paying Royal Flush.

As a player you gain a little bit of expected value and decrease the house edge. If you are fortunate to play a full pay machine, playing the 5 credit max bet can place your long run payback percentage at over 100%!

However, sometimes your bankroll doesn't always allow you to play at max bet all the time. So, what do you do now? If you are used to playing quarters at a max bet of $1.25, should you switch to nickels where the max bet is now only $0.25? The answer is: it depends on the game. If the pay table is the same, you should absolutely switch down to the nickel game. Most of you know that nickel games don’t have the same pay table as the quarter games, so by switching down in denomination you are probably hurting your long run payback percentage. More and more, you’re probably finding identical pay tables for different denominations of video poker; most of them nowhere close to where they used to be just a few years ago.

Here is some advice to be aware of when considering your options with Jacks or Better. Playing 1 credit on a 9/6 Jacks or Better game reduces your payback percentage by about 1.5% in comparison to 5 credits. If you switch to a Jacks or Better nickel game (generally at 8/5), you suffer a 2.23% loss on the payback percentage because of the reduced pays. Not to mention the adverse effect on your bankroll and play session length. If you stay at the 9/6 quarter game and play 1 credit, you are up by about 0.73%. Now you are hoping NOT to hit that royal flush!

The situation is even worse with Deuces Wild pay tables! If we play a full pay game at about 100.6% long term payback which pays 25 credits for the four-of-a-kind at max bet, we tend to feel good about ourselves. If we play one credit, the game is reduced by about 1.18%. Yet playing a poorer pay table, where the four-of-a-kind pays 20 credits, on a lower denomination game, even at max bet, costs you about 6% in the long term payback percentage. Overall, you lose around 4.8%!

Don’t despair, you can still find some silver lining in the clouds if you are careful. Comparing 8/5, 7/5, and 6/5 Jacks or Better pay tables, you lose around 0.8% switching between 8/5 at one credit and 6/5 at max credits. The same scenario with 8/5 and 7/5 gains you 0.35% payback percentage!

If you are just out to have fun, or you are out with a friend who just wants to have fun, don’t let all these numbers bother you. Play some video poker and have fun!

If you really are trying to conserve your bankroll, you need to place your bets carefully if you are switching between denominations and the pay tables are changing.

Have fun playing video poker! $