Megabucks nears $27 million

[vegasjim]

Jackpot is third largest in 16-year history of slot game

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2003/jan/14/514515966.html

[Casper]

Why can't they put these games on the NET. Should be easy to do these days. I hate waiting in lines.

[Rufus_M]

This is Megabucks the slot machine. Actually it is a network of slot machines which all kick into the same pot and thus generate this huge progressive.
(See the link).

If one can believe it is a one in 16.7 million bet, and paying attention only to the big $27 million jackpot, it is still a negative expectation (losing) bet at $3 per spin.
(For every $1 you put in you will only get back 54 cents).

If you figure in all the other lesser prizes though perhaps it crosses over in to positive play. Not sure. Still 16.7 million to one is really a long shot and would require a huge bankroll (not to mention time) to attack. This is an issue because when progressives cross into positive expectation they are at times targeted by professional teams.

[vegasjim]

Megabucks as Rufus says is a network of machines. In fact almost every casino has some megabucks bucks machines and they are all hooked to the same network. Megabucks as any slot machine is a negative play. I only posted about it cause it is popular with the tourists. It is really the Nevada lottery. The winners are not even paid by the casino but they are paid by the slot machine manufacture. All slot machines are negative plays. They are totally random. You will get a better return though on higher denomination machines. On a dollar machine you will lose 3 to 4 cents for every dollar you play. On a quarter machine you will lose 10 to 15 cents for every dollar. When you see signs in casinos saying 100 % machines they are talking about video poker machines. Even though slot machines may be in the bank of machines where the sign is the 100% machines are only the video poker ones. Casino put the positive machines in so they can advertise 100% return. As Rufus says there are pro teams that take over banks on progressives when they become positive. I have even sat in on some of these teams when another player is needed. These are usually banks of 6 to 8 machines and there will be a team member at every machine and will stay until someone hits. Again these are video poker machines so not real slot machines. Video poker machines are also random but the difference is there is only 52 cards and the pay table must be posted so the exact odds on any given video poker machine can be figured. An example is a draw poker machine. In most draw poker machines in a casino if you read pay table you will see that they pay 8 for a full house and 5 for a flush. This is a negative pay. But if you search casino you may find some the same draw poker machines with a pay table of 9 for a full house and 6 for a flush. These are 99.5 % machines and can be positive with cash back such as the .53% cash back at the Hilton.