Slot Machine Denominations Explained: Choose the Right Bet

If you’re playing slots at your local casino, you probably have a handful of dollars in your pocket. But some slot denominations are fixed at odd amounts, like 20 cents, and you don’t have a 20-cent coin on you.

In such cases, you just need to do a little math. You can use a slot denomination calculator, but you shouldn’t need it.

Simply multiply the denomination amount by the number of credits to get the total number of spins.

For instance, if the denomination is 20 cents and you have a dollar in the machine, you will get five spins (5×20 = 100 cents or $1).

Slot denominations may also be depicted under the abbreviated label “DENOM.”

Why Are Casino Denominations Used?

Denominations simplify the credit/betting system and are useful for determining the number of spins based on your total credits. They’re not used in all machines, though; even in machines that use denominations, there are alternatives.

Most slot cabinets have an option to switch to real money balances. Try pressing the denomination amount, which should switch to a cash balance. This is also the default for most online slot machines.

What is the Best Slot Denomination to Play?

There is no ideal denomination to play on a slot machine. These games are governed by random number generators (RNG); payouts are multiples of the total stake/denomination.

This means that outcomes are random and don’t change based on the stake, while payouts are relative to your stake.

In other words, the prize for getting multiple symbols on a payline will often be shown as 100x instead of $100. If you bet $0.50 and win, you’ll get $50. If you opt for a $1 wager, the payout will jump to $100.

There is an exception for progressive jackpot slots, though.

Some progressives require you to meet a minimum stake before you qualify for the jackpot. Meeting this minimum amount is beneficial, as it will give you a chance of winning the jackpot, whereas failing to wager the minimum will take that prize off the table.

Most progressives use a sliding probability scale—the more you wager, the greater your chance of winning. Standard wins are the same across the board and are always based on multiples, but as progressive jackpots are the same for all players, casinos incentivize higher stakes by giving high rollers more chances to win.

We like to compare these jackpots to playing the lottery. One spin is like buying one ticket. You have a chance of winning and will get the same jackpot as everyone else if you win. But buying more tickets increases your chances.

Be sure to wager an amount you’re comfortable with, though, and don’t bet more than you can afford to lose, regardless of whether it qualifies you for a jackpot or not.

Is There a Benefit to Playing Higher Denomination Slots?

There are other times when playing higher denomination slots may be beneficial except for progressive jackpot slots.

Slot Tournaments

In our guide to how tournament slots work, we noted several ways to accumulate points and climb tournament leaderboards.

The most common of these gives you points based on total wagers. So, if you’re wagering $1 at a time, you’ll need to play 100x as many games as a player wagering $100 if you want to get anywhere near them on the leaderboard.

These tournaments always benefit high rollers—the more you bet, the more points you get. Your payouts are not considered. It’s all about those wagers.

High rollers have the edge in such cases, and wagering more is beneficial.

There are other tournament types, though, that give you points based on payout percentages, thus accommodating smaller stake players.

Check the tournament rules before sitting down to play.

Giveaways

The rules of casino giveaways aren’t fixed, so you’ll need to check the terms and conditions, but they usually give you tickets to the giveaway for every X amount you wager.

The more tickets you have, the more likely you are to win.

For instance, if you get one ticket for every $10 wagered, betting $0.50 per spin means you must take 20 spins to get a ticket. If you have a limited time to collect these tickets, that stake will put you at a disadvantage compared to someone wagering $100 a spin and getting ten tickets per spin.

You still have a chance of winning, so stick with a stake within your budget, and don’t worry too much about what others are doing.

Loyalty Programs

Whether you’re spending all night at the blackjack and roulette tables or taking a few spins of 243 ways to win slots, many casinos will give you loyalty points based on your total wagers.

These points determine your loyalty level, impacting how quickly you generate points and what kind of perks you receive.

Loyalty schemes are open to all players, but the lowest levels have only small perks, and casual players will typically not wager enough to get anything worthwhile from these programs.

On the other hand, high rollers are incredibly valuable to the casino and are often treated to VIP event tickets, personalized bonuses, and even their VIP account manager.

Summary: Slot Machine Denominations Explained

Slot machine denominations are just the value of the spins on a slot machine. They are something you should know about but not something you need to worry about as you play.

Think more about the types of games you should play, the size of your bankroll, and how much should you bet on slots, as these things have more of an impact on your budget and enjoyment level.