CLASS II SLOT MACHINE STRATEGY TIPS
In previous articles, we examined the difference between âClass IIIâ and âClass IIâ slot machines. Now, weâll talk some specific strategy tips for Class II games. Actually, âstrategyâ might be a misnomer. Thereâs precious little strategy involved with any slot machine and to the extent there *is* any thereâs less in Class II machine. Ironically, the fact that thereâs so little strategy in any type of slot machine (or video keno machine) is the only thing that makes âClass IIâ games playable at all. Video poker is also available in âClass IIâ jurisdictions but you really shouldnât waste your time playing them. Strategy *is* important on legitimate casino âClass IIIâ video games but that element is not relevant to âClass IIâ machines.
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CLASS II SLOT MACHINES DEFINED
The best way to explain âClass IIâ slot machines is like this: theyâre an attempt to replicate the traditional âLas Vegas styleâ Class III slot machine experience while staying within regulatory guidelines that only permit bingo. The various gaming âClassesâ is defined by the US Government in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Most âClass IIâ 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 âthe 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.â
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 itâs usually offered as part of a casino. That being said, there are still some traditional âTribal Bingoâ 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 âcasino likeâ environment. In some states, they fought a legal battle to offer âLas Vegas styleâ 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 âClass IIâ 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?
Thatâs a good question but one without an easy answer. It depends. If youâre strictly a recreational player that likes the slots in Las Vegas youâll probably enjoy the Class II games. If youâre a lottery enthusiastâvideo or otherwiseâyouâll 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 randomlyâthe prize distribution is determined before the tickets even get printed. Class II games might have a shorter âlead timeâ but theyâre definitely not ârandomâ like their Class III counterparts. When you pull the slot machine handle the determination of whether you win or not and, if so, what âprizeâ 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 âClass IIâ 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 wonât really bother lottery enthusiasts and a good many slot machine aficionados. It likely will bother more serious gamblers who worry about odds and wonât be able to get around the fact that the games arenât âtruly randomâ.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST CLASS II GAMING
For a gambler the best argument against playing any Class II games is that thereâs no way to determine the odds youâre receiving. This is true with any slot machineâeven âType IIIâ games that use random number generators. Itâs not true with video pokerâyou can determine video poker odds just by looking at the pay table on a âClass IIIâ video poker machine. On a âClass IIâ video poker machine strategy doesnât matter. You can throw away a good hand and a âgenieâ will zap the cards back into your hand (seriously).
Itâs also important to keep in mind that much of the âback endâ 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 youâre dealing with. Fortunately, thereâs not many Class II video poker games but thereâs 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 isnât 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 donât feature a random number generator.
Whatâs 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 doesnât send any information to the slot computerâs 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, letâs 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 wonât 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 â 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 âinstructionsâ.
Think twice before spending more money than you otherwise would just because you believe that staff know that this particular machine is âdueâ 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 â fun that does not promise mind-blowing wins.