Break the One-Armed Bandits!

Book Description

One of America's bestselling gaming authors has written the definitive book on slot machines. Players can learn what makes some machines player-friendly and other machines player-deadly and how to distinguish between them. In the land of the one-armed bandits, this new book is the road map slot players need.

Customer Reviews:

Waste money.......2006-11-10

I bought this book few days ago. I finished reading in a day. This book spent most of the time telling stories about gamblers but not the method to win a jackpot. The author does not have much experience in playing jackpot machine, he merely did some interview with real gamblers and casino employee. There is no pictures, no facts or figure to illustrate. In my opinion, It can only be consider as a easy to read book on jackpot. Do not expect to win anything after reading it.

Very interesting reading.......2006-11-03

I found this to be extremely interesting reading, as well as entertaining and informative. I don't think any of the tips and tricks in ANY slot machine book will apply at "Indian Reservation" casinos, but this book is a must read for any fan of Jersey, Vegas, Mississippi, or other non-reservation casinos.

Best Slots Book I've Read--Needs an Update.......2006-05-11

I am not crazy about playing slots--but to get free room at the Venetian (LV) I need to put in hours each day, each visit. The Scoblete book is the most informative overall I've read so far on a subject where random chance is the rule. The chapter about which slots are loose was probably good advice--but people don't hear coins falling into the hopper any more--coins have been replaced with paper receipts. Paper payoffs also skew the advice in that excellent chapter on money management. These days most people deposit bills, not coins, into the slot machine and there is no bucket of coins to use or to reserve. Mr. Scoblete needs to revise this book. If he still gambles, I'm sure his well-thought 1994 guidelines would benefit from updating. I would be first on line to buy the new book. The organization and research of "One-Armed Bandit" are outstanding.

The Best Book on Slots.......2003-12-24

I have read just about every book on slots but I resisted buying this one because I thought the information would be old and stale. Now having read it I have to agree with other reviewers that just about all slot books "borrow" heavily from Scoblete's work and are nowhere near as comprehensive. The book is a masterpiece of research and it is well written and extremely fun to read. I recommend this as the first and only slot stop you'll need before you try your hand at the one-armed bandits.

Very funny, very enlightening, very good book.......2003-12-22

I laughed so hard at certain chapters in this book that my sides hurt. I also learned a great deal about how the slots work and their history. There are some excellent strategies in this book as well. Definitely a book worth buying.

Owners Pictorial Guide for the Care and Understanding of the Mills Bell Slot Machine

Average customer rating:

Required for Owners
Excellent Original Literature

Owners Pictorial Guide for the Care and Understanding of the Mills Bell Slot Machine
Robert Geddes , Robert N. Geddes , and Daniel R. Mead
Manufacturer: Mead Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Reference | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Reference Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Mills of the Thirties Operators Companion (Slot machines of yesteryear operator's companion)

ASIN: 093442201X

Book Description

This comprehensive book is specifically directed to the owner of any full-size, three-reel Mills bell machine manufactured after 1920, including the puzzling BONUS, NEW BONUS and FUTURITY models. However, the knowledge gained from this book will enable the reader to work on all previously manufactured Mills machines. Over 500 detailed photographs are accompanied by step-by-step instructions for all routine maintenance operations as well as complete assembly, disassembly, overhaul, lubrication and theory of operation.

This enlarged third edition, now in its third printing, is organized into 14 chapters, with seven appendices for machine part variances, and an extensive glossary for parts identification. With this extraordinary book and a few simple tools, you will be able to analyze and correct any problem you may encounter with your Mills machine. Book includes an extensive table of contents and introductory material. Size: 8.5" x 11".

Customer Reviews:

Required for Owners.......2000-02-14

If you own a Mills slot machine you need this book. Detailed information on machine breakdown, lubrication and cleaning, theory of operation. It has gotten me past many otherwise hard to solve problems.

Excellent Original Literature.......2000-02-14

This book is a necessity for any serious collector of Mills bell machines. It is filled with reproductions of the original Mills sales literature, parts lists, price lists, pictures with parts callouts, etc. A treasure of information. See also Mills of the Thirties

Average customer rating:

Good Information but dated

Slot Operations the Myth and the Math
Richard Lehman
Manufacturer: published by the Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Entertainment | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0942828496
Release Date: 2002-09-01

Book Description

Over the years a number of books on casino operations have been written but the subject of Slot Operations has been neglected. A definitive guide to Slot Operations has been sorely needed by the gaming industry. The wait is over with the publishing of this book!

Slot Operations: The Myth and the Math is the definitive guide to slot operations that will soon become the industry's bible on this subject. This book is authored by Richard Lehman, a former vice president of slot operations at a number of resorts including Caesars Palace. Mr. Lehman is a slot expert who consults on this subject worldwide.

The book describes the rapidly changing slot industry with a true insiders viewpoint. Slot Operations covers topics such as slot departmental organization, personnel issues, policies and procedures of the slot department and all current slot operational issues in casinos today. The book continues and gives a detailed look at slot development with a great chapter on slot analysis. The book also gives detailed information on slot player tracking systems and their integrated usage.

Customer Reviews:

Good Information but dated.......2007-04-25

Slot Operations gives a good overview of the slot operations and sample polices and procedures. However, the information is somewhat dated and does not deal with TITO (Ticket In - Ticket Out) which is now used in place of coin in most casinos, multi-denomination, and multi-game machines. Still I haven't found a better book on the subject.

The Slot Machine Answer Book, 2nd Edition: How They Work, How They've Changed and How to Overcome the House Advantage

Average customer rating:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Great info, great format
Good info - didn't care for the format
average
I Agree - This is a Good Book

The Slot Machine Answer Book, 2nd Edition: How They Work, How They've Changed and How to Overcome the House Advantage
John Grochowski
Manufacturer: Bonus Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1566252350

Book Description

This new edition of The Slot Machine Answer Book has the answers to every slot enthusiast's questions: What machines are likely to pay-off? Does it make a difference if the game is on video instead of having physical reels? Can the casino decide who wins?

Customer Reviews:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.......2005-02-26

i spent 10 bucks for the book read it i made $660 the first time playing slots.......i say i made my money back....$660 stars,,,,

Great info, great format.......2002-06-06

I have to disagree with the previous reviewer ... a book doesn't get any easier to follow than this one. The start of each answer paraphrases the question. You can easily browse through, reading the answers as a series of essays on slots, without ever taking the quizzes. To me, breaking down the volume of information into short, digestible essays makes this one of the most user-friendly books on slots around. It goes beyond Break the One-Armed Bandits with information on video slots and slot clubs. Definitely a must for slot players.

Good info - didn't care for the format.......2002-05-30

The way that this book is set up is that the author gives you a series of questions, and then the answers. Personally I did not care for this format. Part of the problem is that by the time you get to the answers, it is easy to have forgotten the exact wording of the questions. I think that it is ok to have a quiz after the information is presented, like some of the Dummies and Idiots books might do, but I did not care for the quiz first format. If you know NOTHING about slots, this is not a good first book to read.

Some of the chapters were more interesting than others, and more useful. I did not really care for some of the chapters about the different manufacturers of the machines, and thought that it was pretty difficult to take a quiz on this information.

Many of the themes are repeated over and over, such as how the machine is random. Sometimes this becomes a dead horse that is beaten. I know there are a lot of misconceptions about slot machines, so maybe this is neccessary.

Overall a good book, but I preferred Break the one-armed bandits better. Perhaps that is because I read "Break" first, and it was such a ground breaker. This book even quotes "Break" a few times.

average.......2001-06-22

Book informed me of a few things I wasn't aware of but didn't much cover the small Indian casinos prevalent in our area which is all we play in. Would possible be O.K. for anyone that travels around some.

I Agree - This is a Good Book.......1999-10-21

I agree with Karl from New York that this and Scoblette's Break the One-Armed Bandits are the two best slot books on the market. I've read just about all the slots books so I know. What sets Grockowski and Scoblette apart is the fact that these writers can write. They are professional writers who know how to interest a reader. The information is accurate, the anecdotes fun and informative. Grockowski's book is filled with insights and stories. I love the way he tests your knowledge before he answers and elaborates on his information. His other book, The Casino Answer Book, is also a very fine book. I read that about a year ago. In a field, gambling writing, where semi-literates have dominated over the years, it is refreshing to have some good writers appear.

Owner's Pictorial Guide for the Care and Understanding of the Bally Electromechanical Slot Machine (Owner's Pictorial Guide)

Average customer rating:

Owner's Pictorial Guide for the Care and Understanding of the Bally Electromechanical Slot Machine (Owner's Pictorial Guide)
Robert N Geddes
Manufacturer: Mead Pub. Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bally Slot Machines: An Illustrated Guide to the 285 Most Popular Electro-Mechanical and Series E Models

ASIN: 0934422052

Book Description

Although dealing with all models from M/742 through M/1206 manufactured from 1963 to 1981, this book specifically covers the four basic types of Bally machines: single coin, five coin multiplier, three-line and five-line criss-cross. However, the knowledge gained from this book will enable the reader to work on a great many other Bally machines. Over 300 detailed photographs, 94 isolated circuit diagrams and four complete, large, fold-out schematics (printed on colored paper for ease in locating) for the four basic types are accompanied by step-by-step instructions for all routine maintenance operations, as well as complete assembly, disassembly, overhaul, lubrication and theory of operation.

The book is organized into 17 chapters with six appendices. Methods used to calculate payout characteristics have been demonstrated, so the statistics of any machine can be computed by the reader. Additionally, there is a detailed lubrication guide specifying the precise location and type of lubricants required on the various assemblies. A comprehensive trouble-shooting guide is included for routine, easy-to-fix malfunctions.

Throughout the book are numerous charts, tables and diagrams; each electrical diagram contains location codes for the electrical components so that they can easily be found.

Customer Reviews:

Coming out ahead.......2002-03-18

I'd like to start out by thanking the author. I've been a gambler for several years, but not a very smart one. I used the - Green Plan - on quarters and it worked for me. I made a profit late in the afternoon. Had I been playing 3 quarters all along, I would have run out of money hours earlier. I'm anxious to study up on the other work plans and put them to the test.

It was a new feeling for me that I was in control of the outcome much more than ever before. I recommend it for the gambler that likes to go often, but can't afford it if they lose. This way, you win a little or lose a little, and can afford to keep visiting the casino.

It sure beats some of my previous strategies, like rabbits feet, wearing red and walking around an oak tree during the full moon.

Thank you, Claude.

Slot Smarts: Winning Strategies At The Slot Machine.......2002-02-26

This book would have received higher "stars", however, the author is too moralistic in preaching on the perils of slot playing. There is too much information in this book that the average slot player is already aware of. The book was disappointing from this stand point. I did use the author's spreadsheet to enable better tracking for my future slot sessions. Frankly, the book is overpriced for the knowledge gleaned.

Good strategies for those new to slot money management........1999-08-28

I read this short book in one night. The strategies for playing the machines are well documented and easy to follow. My only complaint is too much time repeating the basics of limiting your gambling to money you can afford to lose and limiting your expectations for profit--we all know that I hope. But I'm going to try the strategies on my next trip to the casinos and I'll let you know if they work then...

A Worthwhile Read.......1999-04-30

As we say in the Old Country, this one's a "corker," a real pick-me-up and put-down "read". Good for browsing which is about all travelling slotters like me get to do en route to the next tournament. The author had won me over well before I got to his piece on slot tournaments. Beats me why others haven't woken up to that lure yet. Best of all worlds! Fun galore and somebody in the group is always guaranteed to take out the big money. Makes sense to me but then most of this book does, and for old pros like me too. After some of the junk put out by "experts" on one-armed bandits, this book sticks to reality. We all need a game plan before the money goes in AND we all need to stick to it. That makes real sense.

Easy to Read, Well Worth Trying.......1999-02-05

Have read most books on winning at slots. They don't help much. This one has much more to offer. I'm a $$ player anyway which helps because the author insists on two coin $$ machines and a hefty start stake. I am a bit of a wanderer so I don't object to his frequent movements. Do his ideas work? I am making a better job of "managing my luck" (as he puts it) since I found this book in Atlantic City but I haven't ventured to Vegas yet where he seems to concentrate his efforts. Maybe I will go after my next big win. I've had a couple in three trips using one of his strategies and sticking to his two coiners.

Slot Machine Strategy: Winning Methods for Hitting the Jackpot

Average customer rating:

Enjoyable easy read
same old stuff

Slot Machine Strategy: Winning Methods for Hitting the Jackpot
MacIntyre Symms
Manufacturer: The Lyons Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1592283721

Book Description

Slot machines are the heartbeat of a casino. Enter any big house of chance and the first thing you'll hear is the humming, clanging, ringing, jingling of those dispensers of luck known as "one-armed bandits."
SLOT MACHINE STRATEGY is a concise and easy-to-understand guide to the exciting, and potentially lucrative world of the casino slot machine. MacIntyre Symms offers important lessons, including:
· How can you choose the North American casino with the best chance of paying off?
· How do you decide whether to stick with the machine you are playing or move to a new machine?
· How is slot machine strategy affected by casino innovations such as the progressive jackpot and multiple-coin machines?
Along with helpful tips on how to win and win big, Symms also briefly offers slot machine history, a quick course in how to manage your money, and some of the wacky things to expect should you win the big jackpot.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable easy read.......2002-05-25

I personally enjoyed this book, which I borrowed from the library. The part that I enjoyed the most, were the case studies near the end of the book, which described several types of slot players, and the common mistakes that they made, and how they overcame them. One case study was about a guy who won 2 million dollars playing 10 dollar slots, and continued to play after he had won. That was really interesting. There might not be much new in this book, as another reviewer mentioned, but playing slots is not as complicated as other casino games. This book is to the point, and drills home good ideas and strategies like the title suggests.

same old stuff.......2002-03-22

There's nothing new in this book that hasn't already been written about playing slots.

Average customer rating:

For those who want to win -- Great Book!
Best on this topic so far
Learn Where to Find the Good Slots and How They Really Work

Powerful Profits From Slots
Victor Royer
Manufacturer: Lyle Stuart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Reference | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Sports Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0818406402

Customer Reviews:

For those who want to win -- Great Book!.......2006-06-29

Some people just don't get the point. For whatever strange reason, there are people who think that you should be able to "quit your day job" and go playing slots. In this book, the author makes it plain that slots are machines whose programs provide for a steady house edge. Therefore, mathematically, no slot machine can be played in a manner that would always assure the player of a profit. However, the author also makes it clear that there are "methods", as opposed to "systems", that the knowledgeable, educated, and smart player can use to help win on those slots that offer the best paybacks and winning opportunities. And, he identifies which they are, and shows you how to find them!

There is also a big difference between something called a "system" and a "method". The author here in this book makes it abundantly clear what this difference is, and why it is so. In simple terms, a "system" is usually something that will supposedly 'guarantee' you a steady win, mostly on negative-expectation games. This is NOT what the author is offering in this book. Instead, the author makes it very plain that the "methods" he offers are those that are based on sound understanding of the slots, their programs, and the skills and knowledge necessary to take advantage of the opportunities some -- but not all -- of these slots offer. Alongside this advice, the author also makes it plain that none of his "methods" are somehow 'guarantees', but rather guidelines to help the slot players improve their results, lose less, and win more.

This book is full of great advice, and much wisdom. The author has gone to great lengths to unmask the realities of what slots are, and how they really work. He has also put decades of his personal experiences behind the recommendations and advice he offers. Several times he makes it clear that he is NOT offering "systems", but rather the knowledge that smart players can use to help themselves become better players.

It is the application of this knowledge to the information the author offers about slots that makes this book essential reading for anyone interested in playing better, losing less, and winning more and more often.

Best on this topic so far.......2005-03-27

This book is the most informative and straight forward of all the slot gambling books I have read. There seems to be an assumption that the reader already has the basics down and if you do you will benefit from this book. I thought I knew a lot until I read this book. I would not recommend it for rank
beginners.

Learn Where to Find the Good Slots and How They Really Work.......2003-05-30

No other book tells the real story of what the modern slot machine actually is. All modern slots are computers. Other books talk about the Random Number Generator as the "mechanism" by which the slot machine program "picks" the winning events. No other book, however, tells the reader what the RNG actually is, and how it really works, and why this is important. No other book actually shows the inner workings of the modern slot machine, because no other author has been allowed to publish this information. Royer's book is the ONLY book that tells the truth of the reality of the slot machines, including video slots, and how and why they work the way they do, and how to play them to win. This information is EXCLUSIVE to Royer, and to this book.

Amazon.com

This darkly funny look at growing up male in America is narrated by chubby, 14-year-old Elvin Bishop, who describes, with sublime sarcasm, his increasingly painful efforts to find his appropriate athletic "slot." Mature readers will find this unusual sports story both hilarious and poignant; in a starred review, Booklist wrote, "this wry, thoughtful book speaks with wisdom and heart to the victim and the outsider in us all." An ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

Book Description

"If you don't have a slot, what are we going to do with you?"

It's called Twenty-One Nights with the Knights. But for Elvin Bishop--fourteen, overweight, and a self-proclaimed nonathlete--this summer sports "retreat" is more like the twenty-one trials of hell.

As everyone around him, including his best friends, slips smoothly into athletic "slots," Elvin is pounded on the football field, slammed on the baseball diamond, and tortured on the wrestling mat--always coming out a complete failure. But appearances can be deceiving. Sometimes real strength comes from breaking the rules rather than playing the game. And sometimes finding acceptance is less about fitting in than about making your own way--with grit and humor.

All incoming freshmen at Flagship Academy's summer program are suppose to find an athletic `slot' for themselves. But there is no slot for Elvin, a wise-cracking, overweight sports incompetent who bounces from one humiliating game to another. How he discovers his own place for himself—with grit and humor—makes for "a funny, poignant coming-of-age story...[A] wry, thoughtful book [that] speaks with wisdom and heart to the victim and outsider in us all."—BL.

Bulletin Blue Ribbons 1995 (C)
1996 Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
1996 Best Books for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA)
Books for Youth Editors' Choices 1995 (BL)
1996 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)
Young Adult Choices for 1997 (IRA/CBC)

Customer Reviews:

Slot Machine.......2005-11-22

The book that I read was Slot Machine by Chris Lynch. This book is about a boy named Elvin who is 14 years old. Elvin and his friends decide to go to this camp over the summer because they had nothing else to do. The camp was called 21 Nights with the Knights and it was for mainly overweight people. Once they got there they found out that they had to pick a slot. A slot meant that you would pick a sport and try to get better at it over the summer. Then Elvin found out that some of his teachers were there from school to help. The first slot that Elvin picked was football and the first day of practice he got hurt. After he was in the football slot, he got moved to wrestling and baseball slot. You will have to read the book to find out the ending.

One thing that I liked was when they were on the bus fighting over the cookies because I really like cookies. Another thing that I liked was when Elvin got hurt and met another friend. Then Elvin found out that you could only get three injury papers to see the nurse. The thing that I didn't like was when Elvin kept getting yelled at and moved to different slots.

I would recommend this book to people who like sports books and some conflict between the characters. This book is for boys who are in grades from seventh to tenth grade. Another similar author that I found to recommend would be Matt Christopher.

Amusing and Thought-Provoking.......2004-07-25

Chris Lynch packs a whallop in Slot Machine. Any young adult who has searched for his slot, his place to "fit in", will identify with Elvin Bishop. Readers will cry, moan, and eventually laugh with Elvin as he suffers through defeat, rejection, and then triumph. Lynch manages to sum up many readers' entire adolescence in three weeks of an action-packed, bully-infested, humiliation-filled summer camp. And yet our hero, Elvin Bishop, emerges stronger than he went in. He is secure in his knowledge of who he is, even as he watches his two best friends lose a bit of their perfection. Even though this tale is a bit tall, Lynch's writing contains realistic dialogue and character traits that young adults will identify with. Slot Machine is the epitomy of "coming of age" books, leaving readers a little more secure in the knowledge of who they might become.

a good book for teens.......2003-12-23

I read the book Slot Machine by Chris Lynch. It is an adventure/comedy book and is very entertaining and I never wanted to put down the book. I choose this book because when I looked at it it seemed interesting because of the title of the book. I loved the book because of the predicament that the main character was in. Also, there was kind of a diffrent story on the side which included one of the main characters two best friends. I would recomend this book to people from the 6th grade to the 10th grade. Chris Lynch has written other books including the Shadow Boxer and Iceman. Lynch has a masters degree from the writing program at Emerson College.
This book is about a boy named Elvin who is going to a new school. He is at a retreat where all the freshmen go to find what "slot", sport, they are in. Unfortunately Elvin can't find himself a slot. For a side story he has two best friends. One of his best friends Frankie was trying to fit in with the older and cooler kids. His other best friend Mike found his slot easily and is like there father, he kept encouraging Elvin to find a slot. In one part of the story Frankie trys to pursuade Mike and Elvin to come with him to a party with the older kids. Frank says "You guys want another chance tonight, the O's kind of think you two are wimps". After Frank said that I wonderd if Mike and Elvin were going to fold under peer pressure, but they did not. That is just on of the parts of this excellent book. I recomend if you are between the age groups I suggested that you definetely read this book.

Worst book ever.......2003-09-08

The plot of the story is that some kid goes to camp and is bad at every sports and at the end he is in the very weird art group and did not change at all durring the book. A day in the life of some guy that sleeps all day would be more interesting than this. I BEG OF YOU DO NOT READ THIS BOOK IT HAS NO POINT. Everyone who writes reveiws are parents who love the book but the kid hates it. I am a kid and I know how the person who is reading it feels

ward is a playa.......2003-04-25

this book was fairly decent book. it was about sports with a little bit of comedy. a guy trys to play all different kinds of sports and gets thrown around and made fun of. he tries hard cause he wants to be like his friends. he is always getting hurt.
there was some bad things about the book i didnt like. for one its to long. its also not as funny as it sounds like it would be. it wasn't a bad book though. it was confusing how one day he was doing one sport and all of a sudden the next day he was doing another. I would recommend this book to likes sports and a little bit of comedy.

Average customer rating:

Price of fun

Big Book of Slots
Marten Jensen
Manufacturer: Cardoza
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1580421679

Book Description

This easy-to-read and oversized guide teaches players everything they need to know about the world of slots, a game that has grown so exponentially in the last five years that it now accounts for more than 50% of a casino's income! More than 25 chapters include ones on the 50 most popular slots, 21 actual winning strategies, professional tips on finding machines with the most frequent and largest payoffs, history of slots, and a massive section on joining slots clubs and benefiting from their many comps including free trips and actual cash-back bonuses. Includes lots of insider advice on how to avoid losing machines (in airports, by show lines) and how to find the most profitable machines. Includes tons of illustrations, charts, photos, interesting tidbits, glossary and money management advice for every player.

Customer Reviews:

Price of fun.......2007-09-24

The Big Book of Slots and Video Poker is a no-nonsense approach to setting a gambling budget and managing expectations. Explanations of the price of fun make it easy to make choices before you go to the casino.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books