Lots of misinformation in this thread.
First off, the people telling you to play video poker, blackjack or other advantage play games neglected to tell you that having an advantage at those games usually requires not only a lot of practice and skill but a bigger bankroll than $200. For example, say you find a video poker game with a payback >100% (You've memorized all of the paytables so you know which ones are good and which are crap, right?) the bet on that game is probably going to be $5 a hand. You're very likely to go broke with only $200 to back you, even with such a good payback percentage. Also keep in mind that the payback percentage is for optimal play. You've memorized all of the rules to play optimally on each of the different video poker games, right? Otherwise you are probably costing yourself >4% of the return. Similarly, other games where you *can* have an advantage generally require detailed knowledge of the game so you *do* have an advantage.
Originally posted by: Firebot
If you do play slots, play a single line slot machine (the game lasts longer, and when you hit you hit for bigger amounts vs what you put in then 5 line slots), and for god's sake, do NOT play a progressive slot machine unless you want to lose every 3rd credit to a chance at winning the lottery...
Not true. Single line slots generally have the same payback percentage as multiline slots although they have a higher volitility than single line slots. In essence, you have a higher chance of winning bigger on a single line game, but the tradeoff is that you don't win any smaller, more frequent pays like you do on a multiline slot. The consequence of this is that your money generally lasts longer on a multiline game but you are more likely to double your money on a single line game. The median number of games played on a single line game would be much smaller than the multiline game for the same wager.
As for the 3rd coin bet, you're a fool for not making it. You're a fool for playing at all depending on your outlook, but I digress. I assume from your comment that you're referring to three reel mechanical games where the first two coins get you the paytable and the third coin gets you the bonus and the progressive. The progressive is actually a very small amount of that third coin. Nearly all of it contributes to the bonus round. On most of those games betting the third count has a a return >4% greater than not betting it even when discounting any return from the progressive.
Originally posted by: Titan
Roulette is a good game because no players will yell at you for being a n00b. Every play is independent of the next, unlike blackjack.
Some blackjack players will definitely yell at you if you don't play "properly", but in reality your play is mathematically independent of theirs. They only notice when your "bad" play affects them negatively, never when it helps them. In the long run it is all the same. One player cannot affect the return of another player in blackjack.
I ran some numbers, and it looks like a bet of about $0.40 a spin should have a high probability of making the $200 last 4 hours on a slot machine.
<-- Mathematician who makes slot machines for a living.
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