PAR sheet: Paytable and Reels. This is a sheet with a table of information about the specific game on the slot machine. Typical information includes Theoretical PAR, hit frequency, total combinations, Physical Reel Stops, Virtual Reel Stops, etc. Think of a slot machine with a crazy high amount of sides on a die. To determine whether an individual slot machine is per-forming as the vendor intended we first need to know the benchmark. This benchmarking information can be obtained from the probability accounting report or “PAR work - sheet.” Typically, this worksheet is provided by the vendor at the purchase date and is based on the game software. Answer: The PAR sheet has to give the long-term payback of the machine and show how it is achieved. The probabilities and payoffs have to be listed for the base game, every feature and every bonus round. If a payoff or probability changes with denomination or bet per line, that has to be described on the PAR sheet too.

Most people look at the vast array of casino slot machines and assume they are all alike. They see a handle, a coin slot, flashing lights and figure one is as good as another. However, in making this assumption, they fail to see a lot of valuable information to help determine if they should play a particular slot machine.

Surprisingly perhaps, machines aren't all the same. The best way to separate one from another is to learn how to “read” a machine by looking at the payout schedule on the front. Let’s see what information can be found on a typical slot machine.

Casinos here in the U.S. and abroad keep several types of slot machines in play at any given time. A few you'll most often see:

Multiplier: This machine has a payout for a certain symbol and the number of coins played multiplies it. If the machine pays 5 coins for three lemons when you play one coin, it would pay 10 for the second coin and 15 for three coins played. This machine does not penalize you for not playing maximum coins. If you plan to play only one coin at a time, this is the type of machine you should look for.

Bonus Multiplier: This machine operates like the multiplier but offers a bonus when you play maximum coins and hit the jackpot. Three 7’s may pay 1,000 for one coin, 2,000 for two coins and 10,000 for maximum coins. The central question is whether the bonus is worth playing the extra coin.

Multiple Payline: These machines have more than one line of play. Each coin activates a particular line. If you hit a winner on a line that is not activated, you will not receive anything. The older machines used to have three lines but the newer video slots can have up to nine lines.

Buy-a-Pay: These are the most misunderstood machines in the casino. Each coin activates a different payout. You need the maximum coins to receive the largest jackpot.

One example is the Sizzlin' 7s machines. This machine will pay on cherries, bars, and sevens. The sevens pay 1,000 coins. If you play one coin you collect only on the cherries. If you play two coins you collect on cherries and bars.

Three coins are required to collect on the Sizzlin' 7s. If you hit the jackpot with one coin in you will not win anything -- do not play this machine under any circumstances unless you are playing the maximum coins.

Progressive Slots: The progressive slots take a certain percentage of the money played and add it to a pool for the top jackpot.

First and foremost, It is never wise to play a progressive machine with less than the maximum coins -- stories abound of people losing out on lesser progressive jackpots because of short coin play.

Some casinos link machines together within their own facility to offer mini-progressive jackpots.

Megabucks and Quarter Mania are examples of machines from several casinos linked together to offer 'life-changing jackpots'. It's important to keep in mind that payback percentage on lesser wins is lowered to allow for these jackpots.

All of the information you need is posted on the front of each slot machine. Before sitting down to play, taking a minute to “read” the machine will help make you more knowledgeable in determining which machines may be best suited for you.

Until next time, remember:
'Luck comes and goes...Knowledge Stays Forever.'

So I wrote a Basic program on my iphone to calculate the return for Quick Hits Platinum Black & White Sevens. I used the odds Mission linked to in an earlier thread. Still haven't found a 100%+ QH game, but I really haven't been looking. Just writing the program was a nice mental exercise. I would really like to see some Par sheets for some other current progressive slots to do the same thing and calculate if the game is a positive play. All the slot websites I've checked (IGT, WMS, Bally, etc.) require you to have some sort of job with a casino to see their Par sheets on their websites so I'm outta luck there. Any suggestions?The Wizard is working with an attorney to get PAR sheets for various slots through the Freedom of Information Act. I hope he doesn't mind me revealing that; maybe he will comment on it.

The Wizard is working with an attorney to get PAR sheets for various slots through the Freedom of Information Act. I hope he doesn't mind me revealing that; maybe he will comment on it.

I think you have two of my stories mixed up. To make a long story short, I don't have any PAR sheets I can legally share and lost my legal fight over another similar matter. More on that when I write about it in May.

The Wizard is working with an attorney to get PAR sheets for various slots through the Freedom of Information Act.

Dr Kevin A. Harrigan and Mike Dixon, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada got PARS sheets from the Canadian government for their article entitled.
PAR Sheets, probabilities, and slot machine play: Implications for problem and non-problem gambling
Journal of Gambling Issues: Issue 23, June 2009

Understanding Slot Machine Par Sheets

There are some PARS sheets for old games that have been posted online (see my blog) but not progressive games.

There are some PARS sheets for old games that have been posted online. I am not sure what the big deal is about them, as the tricks are not overly difficult to figure out.

I have a whole box of PAR sheets but don't want to get sued for publishing them. It is really no big deal to have some. I already explain how some slots are designed on my Odds site much more clearly than any PAR sheet.Thank you paco, I have read that before and it is a good read.
Wiz- I am anxious to hear what happens in may. I am jealous of your sheets. If I had them, I would make a professional slot player app with calculators for the more common progressives. Throw in the mystery progressive target point calculator with some other gambling tips and ouila! You have professional slot playing for dummies.

I think you have two of my stories mixed up. To make a long story short, I don't have any PAR sheets I can legally share and lost my legal fight over another similar matter. More on that when I write about it in May.

Darn, but I look forward to reading it. I was all ready to pay $20 for the legal defense fund.

I am jealous of your sheets. If I had them, I would make a professional slot player app with calculators for the more common progressives. Throw in the mystery progressive target point calculator with some other gambling tips and ouila! You have professional slot playing for dummies.

My PAR sheets are for games from the late nineties and early zeros. As far as I know, none are progressive.

Is it out of order for me to ask if the FOI case was against government regulators or were you bringing it against the manufacturers?

You, sir, are out of order! Sorry, I've always wanted to say that. The case was against the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and I lost. The story is pretty boring; don't get your hopes up. After a lot of legal expense on both sides the judge ruled against me without stating a reason.

Slot Machine Percentage Sheet