Game Selection: Is it True that Locals Avoid "Flashy" Slots and Pick Tables with a Lower House Edge?
I was walking through the floor last night and couldn't help but notice how the crowd was split up. All the tourists were crowded around those massive, loud slot machines with the 3D graphics and movie themes, while the folks who looked like they lived there were mostly tucked away at the blackjack tables or the "boring" video poker machines. I’ve always been drawn to the flashy lights myself, but I feel like my money disappears in minutes. Are those high-tech slots just a trap for visitors, and should I be looking for games that don't look like a video game if I want to actually play for a while?
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There is definitely some truth to that observation. The flashy machines are designed to be an experience, and you pay a premium for that entertainment in the form of a much higher house edge. When you play as a hobby every week, you start to value "time on machine" and better odds over bells and whistles. I’ve shifted my focus to games like craps or basic blackjack because the math is just more forgiving for a regular player. I actually read a pretty insightful comparison of these habits on https://bdgovt.info/the-casino-tourist-vs-the-casino-local/ which explains why locals tend to migrate toward the tables where they have a bit more control or at least a better statistical shot. If you want your bankroll to last the whole night, sticking to the classic table games or low-margin video poker is usually the smarter move than chasing a jackpot on a machine that looks like a Hollywood production.