Hit and Run Gambling: A simple guide to responsible bankroll management.
The term ‘hit and run‘ is rarely something we associated with a positive outcome. For casino gamblers, however, it can be the perfect way to guarantee a great time on the slot machines, without the fear of going broke.
It’s not necessarily a slot machines strategy, but rather a form of responsible bankroll management. The “hit and run” technique ensures you don’t spend too much time in one place, or too much money on one game. Those two elements combined can become the swiftest way to get you out the door, without a penny left to your name.
Here’s how it works…
Hit and Run Gambling
The term “hit and run” was coined (as far as I can trace it back) by famous gambling expert and columnist Mark Pilarski. It’s described as a technique in which a player sets small cash limits for each slot machine they intend to play. Only that amount of money is inserted into each machine.
If the player reaches a certain profit goal, they quit that game and take the cash. Or, if they lose all their credits, they stop playing that machine. Either way, they then move on to the next machine.
A good example would be using $5 to play a penny slot. You might set a profit goal of $2.50 (50% of your starting credits). You insert $5 and start spinning the reels. If you reach $7.50, cash out, pocket the voucher, and move to another game. If your $5 runs dray, walk away from that game and play another.
The Concept
The whole idea behind this technique is two achieve two very specific goals.
The first is to sustain responsible management of your bankroll. By spending $5 per machine, and moving around on a regular basis, you’re assured not to lose a significant amount of money over the course of an hour or two. Obviously, you should have a set amount of money you’re willing to spend before you start. Anywhere from $50 to $100 should keep you going for a while.
Second, you’re extending your game play to ensure maximum entertainment—more bang for your buck, so to speak. The longer you’re able to play on a reasonably sized bankroll, the more enjoyment you will get out of the experience. Blowing a hundred bucks or more in a short period of time doesn’t leave much room for fun.
Potential Flaw in Design
There are a few problems with the hit and run gambling technique. First and foremost, penny slots don’t just cost a penny to play. These games usually come with paylines, and it takes one penny to activate each line. A 40-line slot will cost at least $0.40 to play. If it’s a multi-line, multi-coin machine, you could be spending $1 per play or more to get max value. That’s not going to last long with a $5 per machine slot strategy.
Another issue is that, in land-based casinos, penny slots have the absolute worst payouts. Players love them because they can be cheap. Knowing this, casinos always set these games with the lowest RTP, often down to 85%. Winning on any sot is a stretch. Winning against a 15% house edge is damn near impossible.
Finally, in today’s digital age, a lot of people choose to play online slot machines. While these games do offer much higher RTPs of 96% or better, you can’t just put $5 in and start spinning. However much money is in your online casino account—your full bankroll—is the amount you’ll start with when you load the game. You’ll have to pay very close attention to your credits to follow proper bankroll management.
