Royally Flushed

I like to share places I find on the Internet that I think other players might also enjoy visiting.  Forums are, I think, particularly interesting because you can post questions and polls, write about your own experiences or get a different perspective by reading what others have to say on a specific topic.  In regards to gaming, I learn a lot about different casinos, strategies, promotions, pay tables, hotel offers, shows and even restaurants just from reading posts from players throughout the country.  When and if you do choose to join a forum, jump in and participate.  There are sure to be people like me who are looking for the kind of personal input only YOU can provide.

Here are some of my favorites: (more…)

Hi -  I have played these games (the Bally’s games in the article, ed.) and many more,but I’m a retired LONG Distance Trucker and on a small pension now so I don’t get to go to the CASINO anymore.I have been to and delivered to almost any city that has one and played and stayed in most. My Question is –are there any other free sites that have REAL CASINO TYPE SLOTS you can recommend?????  Thks.Ken.

This is a comment/question that was posted today on one of our older articles — Play FREE Slot Games Online Courtesy of Bally – so I thought I would move it up here and answer it.  With all of our budgets getting squeezed these days, it’s nice to have the option to play some non-gambling, casino-style slot games at home.  So, here are some options for playing free games online, Ken: (more…)

I get asked this question a lot — “When you go to Las Vegas, what and where do you play?”  As I’ve written in other posts, I am mostly a video poker player so I always look for my favorite games with the best pay tables.  On The Strip in Las Vegas, you can find me at Planet Hollywood where they have the games I like – Spin Poker™ and Super Times Pay™ plus the multi-game All-Star Poker™ machines – and the pay tables are reasonable for what I’m playing.  For several reasons, ”Planet Ho” just has a “vibe” that appeals to me.  I like the music and I really like the adjustable chairs.  The drink servers are friendly and pretty good about keeping me supplied with bottled water and the occasional glass of white wine.  Plus, (more…)

From the “look what I came across searching the Web” file, comes this remarkably detailed report on how slot machines operate from the wide-ranging ”HowStuffWorks” website.  Both the site and the television show of the same name are owned by the Discovery Company — you know, the same people who have the Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet (my fav), and a host of other “let’s-make-learning-fun” ventures. (more…)

It comes as no surprise that Blazing 7s™ from Ballys is a customer slots favorite.

The iconic Bally’s Blazing 7s machine and Vision Gaming’s old-time favorite, Pot of Gold, were named as two of the games casino slots managers “can’t pull” off their floors due to customer popularity. This question – ”What old school slot or video poker games are so popular with players that you just can’t pull them off your floor?” — is asked and answered at the website belonging to popular industry-insider magazine, “Slot Manager.”

The site has lots of interesting information and categories including “Hot Topics” where you’ll find the question-and-answer forum, a “New Products & Games” section, and great articles and columns by industry pros.  (more…)

Play free video poker games online at Action Gaming's videopoker.com website.

As I’ve said before, when it comes to playing video poker, the original Spin Poker™ and it’s 20-line sister, Spin Poker Deluxe™, are two of my favorite machines so I found this article by John Brokopp at Casino City Times interesting.   

Mr. Brokopp says  — “There is one video poker hybrid, however, that has stood the test of time: Spin Poker, an invention developed a number of years ago by (who else?), Action Gaming and IGT.

Spin Poker was the first game to successfully blend the components of traditional video poker with those of multi-line video slot play and create something that appealed to both dedicated video poker players and slot players.”  Read more here.

The machines in the casinos I play at here in Arizona are ALWAYS busy — sometimes even attracting a line of would-be players waiting for machines to open up — so I know this is one popular game!

No doubt hoping to repeat that success, Action Gaming and IGT have introduced a couple of new video poker games and you can play them — for free (no money, no wagering, just fun) — at their popular website videopoker.com  Check out new games “Big Times Draw Poker™” and “Quick Quads™” poker.  And, for some great info on strategy when playing Quick Quads™, here’s a recent article by VP pro Bob Dancer at Casino Gaming that you should read.

Hot Shot Progressive by Bally Technologies is a smokin' fun game!

Some of the most popular slot games in casinos across the country come from Bally Technologies and now you can play them for FREE online on your personal computer.  Video slot games such as the extremely popular Hot Shot Progressive® as well as both Playboy® and S & H Green Stamps® can be downloaded from the Bally Technologies site and played for free whenever you want a little casino-style fun at home or on the road.  Follow the link that says “Click here to play for free.”

Not only can you enjoy fun casino-style action but your points stay on the game so you can track your luck visit-to-visit.  To keep your play even more interesting, there’s a “chat room” available while you play so you can connect with fellow players if you wish. 

Also, when visiting Bally’s site be sure to check out the “Players Center“ section.  There you’ll find a Winners Gallery, current progressive Jackpot Totals, and a game-finder for locating your favorite Bally slot.  For instance, if you click on the Hot Shot Progressive logo, you’ll be taken to a page that lists — by state — the casinos that have that game available.  In Arizona, you’ll find this game at both Harrah’s Ak-Chin outside of Phoenix and the Desert Diamond casino near Tucson.  

So if you’re between visits, have fun playing these “reel life” casino games!

Learn video poker strategy then try your luck at South Point's casino.

If you are a video poker player like P.B. and me and you want to take your game to the next level, then here is an opportunity for you - FREE video poker classes with America’s most well-known player, Bob Dancer.  Mr. Dancer has spent years researching and teaching video poker strategy through his popular books, software programs including “Video Poker for Winners” and live lessons. 

Beginning on Tuesday, November 11, and continuing through to January, Mr. Dancer will be giving classes at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.   Again, classes are free but you must be 21 or older to attend.

The classes will offer both a 90-minute session for beginners as well as a one-hour portion for intermediate players.  Classes focus on different games such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Double Bonus Poker as well as varying subjects so see the class schedule here for more details.

Also, check out the great package prices available at South Point and combine your free video poker training with a hotel stay.  South Point is about 10 minutes from The Strip but offers guests all the amenities such as a spa, multiple restaurants, show room, lounges and more that Las Vegas visitors have come to expect in a casino destination.

"Gold Fish" - a popular slot game from WMS Gaming.

For a spirited discussion on “favorite slot machines,” visit TripAdvisor and check out what people are talking about right now in regards to slot machines. This is one hot topic on TripAdvisor considering the original post asking Las Vegas visitors to name their favorite slots game is dated August 24^th and the replies keep coming - six pages of them so far.

 I don’t play slots too often but always stop and check out any new games I see  - think eBay®, Deal or No Deal® - and any games that seem to have a lot of people gathered ‘round.   

From the topic replies, it looks like “Gold Fish” from WMS gaming is a hot slot favorite.  I mention this one specifically because P.B. and I walked by a double bank of the machines several times during our last stay at Paris Las Vegas and not once was there a machine open.  People were even hanging around waiting for machines to open up so they could play.  Hmm, based on its popularity, maybe we’ll check it out again when we go to Vegas later this month.

The hot new "Wizard of Oz" slot machine from WMS Gaming.

We recently saw this new game at Harrah’s Ak-Chin  near Phoenix  - “The Wizard of Oz” from WMS Gaming (for information, click on the game icon in this cool virtual gameroom.)  Check out the high-backed spaceship seating for this game.  Here’s what the manufacturer says about it on their website:   “The Wizard of Oz^TM is the newest theme in the revolutionary “Sensory Immersion Gaming” product category, where players hear, see, and feel the experience, thanks to real-time 3D animation and our innovative gaming chair that features the BOSE® 3Space^TM audio system and CPU-NXT®2 enhanced graphics.”   Again, we didn’t get a chance to play since all the machines were taken but we will definitely play Wizard of Oz slots in the future – when we get the chance. 

If you’re a slots player, I’d love to hear about your favorite game and where you play it.  Also, check out the thread on TripAdvisor and chime in with your recommendations.