Break the One-Armed Bandits (Paperback)

by Frank Scoblete (Author) "Circa 1958, Las Vegas. The flyers, publicity packets and advertisements for the various casinos show smiling, impeccably dressed men and women..." (more)
Key Phrases: slot aisles, coins hitting trays, many slot players, Atlantic City, Las Vegas, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product 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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Bonus Books (May 25, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566250013
• ISBN-13: 978-1566250016
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #43,592 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #1 in	Books > Entertainment > Puzzles & Games > Gambling > Slot Machines
  #94 in	Books > Home & Garden > Antiques & Collectibles

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ONLY Slots Book You'll Ever Need!, February 28, 2003

By	Keith Kimmel "Free Thinker, Constant Reader" (OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Casinos are in the business of taking people's money. They are not a charity and they don't have a 30 day money back guarantee. It's a fact and no matter what spin they try to put on it, it's your wallet that they have in their sights. It's operation drain pocketbook. And according to some estimates, as much as 80% of a given casino's revenues now come from slot machines.

They are easy to play and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure them out. Even the dumb kids can play them. Unlike table games which can be intimidating because of the interactions with other players and the complexities of the games themselves, you just put a couple of coins in and hit the little button or pull the magic lever. Who can't handle this?

It is because of this simplicity that slots generate the largest share of revenue for the gaming industry. In Blackjack, a player has lots of control over how much of an "edge" the house has. With a slot machine, it does what it is programmed to do and short of taking a sledge hammer to it - there is nothing you can do to change that - until now.

Frank begins with an excellent - but short and sweet - history of slot machines as they relate to the industry. He also describes how the machine actually works, which is of great importance to the player. Some of the most basic information he provided about today's "smart slots" dispels many myths: including the one of hot and cold machines and the infamious "it pays better when I don't use my [player's] card".

Not only is this title a learning experience, it helps the savvy slots player understand the forces at work behind the machines designed to take his money. Understanding how the machines work is half the battle - knowing how the casino works and why it works that way is the other half. And Frank does a remarkable job of quenching the readers' thirst for both.

Using Frank's techniques and information obtained from his interview with a casino slot executive who he refers to as "Mr. Handle", I have been able to locate the "loose" machines in even the tightest casinos. The information is not only on target, it makes perfect sense when one considers what is being said.

Frank's extremely revealing interview - quoted verbatim - has exposed so much about the placement of "loose" machines. And what's even more valuable is the fact that Frank has not only provided the locations but also the reasoning behind the locations.

Finally, the book contains a wealth of information that has been put into perspective about the slot player's long and short term prospects. Can you really come out ahead? According to Frank, yes - but only if you are careful and heed the warnings in this title.

For the few dollars you spend on this book, you may save yourself hundreds and maybe much more at the slots.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loaded with Valuable Information, May 19, 2001

By A Customer

Frank Scoblete's "Break the One Armed Bandits" is just packed with interesting, fascinating and important information for slot players. I can break these down into the following areas:

1. Explains the RNG in a way that is understandable for nonmathematicians. The RNG as you may know controls what comes up on the reels.

2. Discusses which machines are loose and tight and where they can be found. Has an interview with a slot manager that is really mind-blowing.

3. Shows you what areas of the country have the best machines.

4. Explains which denomination of machine is the loosest.

5. Gives a complete history of the slot machine that is truly fascinating.

6. Discusses strategies to reduce your risk and increase your chances to come home a winner.

7. Shows how the house edge is achieved and what you should do about it.

8. Has great stories about slot winners and losers that you can learn from.

9. Offers ways of finding loose machines by observing other players. Great stuff about slot "natural selection."

10. Scoblete's style is just great and even difficult ideas are made easy to understand. When you finish this book you will have a complete knowledge of the slot machines.

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Book on Slots, December 23, 2003

By	Maria K. (Houston) - See all my reviews

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.