CLASS II SLOT MACHINE STRATEGY TIPS

In previous articles, we examined the difference between ‘Class III’ and ‘Class II’ slot machines. Now, we’ll talk some specific strategy tips for Class II games. Actually, ‘strategy’ might be a misnomer. There’s precious little strategy involved with any slot machine and to the extent there *is* any there’s less in Class II machine. Ironically, the fact that there’s so little strategy in any type of slot machine (or video keno machine) is the only thing that makes ‘Class II’ games playable at all. Video poker is also available in ‘Class II’ jurisdictions but you really shouldn’t waste your time playing them. Strategy *is* important on legitimate casino ‘Class III’ video games but that element is not relevant to ‘Class II’ machines.

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CLASS II SLOT MACHINES DEFINED

The best way to explain ‘Class II’ slot machines is like this: they’re an attempt to replicate the traditional ‘Las Vegas style’ Class III slot machine experience while staying within regulatory guidelines that only permit bingo. The various gaming ‘Classes’ is defined by the US Government in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Most ‘Class II’ games are found in Indian casinos though there are some that can be found in slot parlors attached to horse racing tracks. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act defines Class II gaming as “the game commonly known as bingo (whether or not electronic, computer, or other technological aids are used in connection therewith) and, if played in the same location as the bingo, pull tabs, punch board, tip jars, instant bingo, and other games similar to bingo.”

This class of gaming was originally intended to allow high stakes bingo games on tribal land. At one point, many native American tribes held high stakes bingo in warehouse sized halls. Bingo is still popular though it’s usually offered as part of a casino. That being said, there are still some traditional ‘Tribal Bingo’ halls around the United State usually in states with very restrictive gambling laws. Many tribes, however, wanted to generate more revenue from their gaming offerings than the limited bingo demographic would afford. That led them to upgrade their gaming offerings to a more ‘casino like’ environment. In some states, they fought a legal battle to offer ‘Las Vegas style’ table gaming and slots. In some areas, the political climate was such that this was not an option. It was in this environment that the ‘Class II’ slot machines were born. The Seminole Hard Rock properties in Florida have been at the forefront of these games and spared no expense to replicate a Class III experience in a Class II jurisdiction. They hired engineers that had worked for major slot machine manufacturers like IGT to develop the in-house computer system to make it work while their casino operations side worked with slots and video poker manufacturers to create games that would work within their system.

SHOULD YOU PLAY CLASS II GAMES AT ALL?

That’s a good question but one without an easy answer. It depends. If you’re strictly a recreational player that likes the slots in Las Vegas you’ll probably enjoy the Class II games. If you’re a lottery enthusiast–video or otherwise–you’ll also enjoy the Class II games. In fact, many gambling experts suggest that Class II games have more in common with lottery scratch off tickets than with traditional gaming machines. No one thinks that lottery scratch off tickets are printed randomly–the prize distribution is determined before the tickets even get printed. Class II games might have a shorter ‘lead time’ but they’re definitely not ‘random’ like their Class III counterparts. When you pull the slot machine handle the determination of whether you win or not and, if so, what ‘prize’ you win has already been determined. The slot machine reels just deliver the news.

Class II gaming devices may have more in common with video pull tab machines than anything else. Not surprisingly, paper based pull tabs have also been reborn in video form and they also have a strong resemblance to slot machines. That resemblance may make them more entertaining for the player but just as with ‘Class II’ slots there is no true randomness. The prize you win (or not) is determined before you press the button to activate the game. As we noted above, this won’t really bother lottery enthusiasts and a good many slot machine aficionados. It likely will bother more serious gamblers who worry about odds and won’t be able to get around the fact that the games aren’t ‘truly random’.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST CLASS II GAMING

For a gambler the best argument against playing any Class II games is that there’s no way to determine the odds you’re receiving. This is true with any slot machine–even ‘Type III’ games that use random number generators. It’s not true with video poker–you can determine video poker odds just by looking at the pay table on a ‘Class III’ video poker machine. On a ‘Class II’ video poker machine strategy doesn’t matter. You can throw away a good hand and a ‘genie’ will zap the cards back into your hand (seriously).

It’s also important to keep in mind that much of the ‘back end’ technology that allows companies to comply with Class II regulations is proprietary. You simply have no clue what sort of game parameters are happening under the hood, let alone what sort of odds you’re dealing with. Fortunately, there’s not many Class II video poker games but there’s plenty of Class II slots and keno games.

Class II Slot Machine Strategy Gambling Questions And Answers

Here are the answers to some of the most common questions that we receive.

What is a Class II slot machine?

Class II is a definition of gambling machine by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. It is actually an attempt to replicate the traditional Las Vegas style machines which are commonly defined as Class III, but without breaking any regulatory guidelines that will only permit bingo games.

Why do they exist?

Class II slot machines were devised to mimick the Las Vegas styled Class III machines for the areas where such gambling simply isn’t legal. This called for engineers from major slot machine manufacturers to develop system that would make possible to experience Class III type of gambling in a jurisdiction that would only allow Class II.

Where can you find Class II slot machines?

Most commonly, you will find them in Indian casinos, but in some rare cases, these can also be found in slot parlors attached to dog or horse racing, often referred to as racinos.

Are these as random as their Class III counterparts?

In most cases, these are more like lottery scratch off tickets, as they don’t feature a random number generator.

What’s the biggest issue with Class II slot machines?

Ask any serious gambler, and he will tell you to stay away from Class II machines, as with them there is no way of determining the odds that you receive. In most cases, the back-end technology behind Class II slot machines is proprietary and there is no way to determine what the operators pack under the hood.

Is it possible to tell when a certain machine is ready to pay off?

Although it undoubtedly would be great, in reality, there are no powers able to predict not only a whopping jackpot but also the smallest payout. Even though Class II slots are not run by sophisticated RNGs, they are still absolutely random.

How much do Class II slots pay?

Since this type of slots is mainly found across the Native American casinos and racinos, which are not required to report their payout percentages, there is no exact info on this matter.

Of course, these machines cannot brag of high RTPs seen in Las Vegas or across online gambling platforms. According to different sources, returns vary from state to state ranging between 88% and 92%.

Can my loyalty card affect the outcome of the game?

No. Despite what many punters believe, using your card or playing with loyalty points cannot affect the result of the game either in a positive or negative way.

In fact, the card reader doesn’t send any information to the slot computer’s game chip, it only keeps track of your play in order to reward you as a member.

How much money do I need to test a certain slot?

It is hard to give an ultimate answer, all the more so, a lot depends on your gambling style, preferences, and titles you want to put on test. Generally, slots have higher volatility than the majority of card games or, even, video poker. Plus, even Class II machines are no stranger to pretty long losing streaks.

Taking into consideration all aforementioned, maybe the best measure for a fruitful evening could be, let’s say, a bankroll that can cover at least your 200 bets. Again, there is no guarantee, you will get expected results.

Can I play Class II slots on my smartphone?

Technically, yes since some iLotteries deliver their games to mobile devices. However, you won’t find them at serious mobile casinos â€“ real-money players are not interested in this type of fun. Instead, they prefer spinning the reels of real slots.

Can I benefit using Play and Run strategy?

Despite its intriguing name, this popular among the punters approach is based on a pretty simple idea: to limit the duration of sessions played at a certain slot machine.

Time frames can vary greatly, from a couple of minutes to whatever you can set as a limit to spend on the same seat but the result is always the same – a lot of running around and nothing else.

Which betting system is the best?

Both negative and positive betting systems are very hard to apply to slots, especially to the modern wonders of technological progress. It is safe to say, that in the case of Class II machines all eventual strategies are even less effective. It does not make sense to spend a hefty bankroll on a game with pre-defined patterns.

Does it make sense to play at several slots at the same time?

Players that run between the rows struggling with coins and trying to keep track of eventual wins are seen pretty often throughout casino floors. Usually, they cause broad smiles on the faces of other visitors accompanied by a couple of sloppy comments.

If a strategy at all, it is far from being a worthy piece of advice to follow. After all, it is too far from the main idea of playing slots â€“ to have fun!

Can slot managers show me loose machines?

The powers of casino stuff are seriously overestimated by too many punters used to tip slot personnel in order to get secret â€œinstructions”.

Think twice before spending more money than you otherwise would just because you believe that staff know that this particular machine is â€œdue” to hit. If they knew, they would keep this info for themselves, get rich and leave the job, right?

How long should I stay on a Class II machine?

The answer to this question is pretty simple: as long as you enjoy playing it! Promoted as a pure source of entertainment, Class II games are exactly what it says on the tin – fun that does not promise mind-blowing wins.