Best time of day to hit and run. - Slot Slayers

Best time of day to hit and run.

› Forums › Welcome › Best time of day to hit and run.

Tagged: 

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • July 18, 2026 at 3:02 pm #5986
    Chris VillalobosVillage Wolf
    Participant

      There is a casino 200 miles from my home that I know has at least 40+ A/P cabinets.  It’s usually very sleepy during the week but Friday/Saturday nights it fills up with Saturday night being the most popular according to Google Maps.  I was pleased to see that this Casino is embracing AP slots rather than taking them out (Peppermill!!!).  If I plan to invest the time to hustle this casino once a week should I start the night late or early?

      Starts to ramp up at 12PM
      Peak: 9PM
      Low Point: 3AM

      Games: Buffalo Ascension (6), Magic Treasures (6), Frankenstein (4), Regal Riches (4), Cashman Bingo (2), Hexbrak3r (4), Grand Buddha (3), Magic of the Nile (2), Wheel of Fortune High Roller (1), Rich Little Piggies (6), Scarab (3), Phoenix link (4), Buffalo Link (4)…. probably more.

      Attachments:
      You must be logged in to view attached files.
      July 18, 2026 at 5:53 pm #5993
      Ben RosenthalBen Rosenthal
      Keymaster

        Nice! So it would depend on the competition for me. At some casinos these days, getting there really early (that 3 a.m. window) after all the slot-playing fireworks would be too late to find much, as it would have been picked over by the time you got there.

        That used to be my favorite time to get to a casino, but I’ve found it’s not as fruitful doing that as it used to be. Also, as I’ve experienced firsthand, you’re going to stick out more to security when hustling through the casino and clicking away at that hour because there won’t be much else going on for them to monitor.

        If you plan on making this a consistent weekly endeavor, which it sounds like, I’d get there at like 7 p.m. or so and stick around until that early-morning time frame. See how it is all hours and adjust from there. If there’s gold to be found at 3 a.m., maybe that would be the time to aim for to really maximize your time.

        July 19, 2026 at 6:38 pm #6054
        Chris VillalobosVillage Wolf
        Participant

          I got an early start and played right through till 11 PM. At that point, I had to do the math—3.5 hours home versus whatever sleep I could salvage afterward. At 56, with a Monday-through-Friday 9-to-5, sleep isn’t something I can shrug off anymore. Weekends are usually my catch-up time, and losing a full night throws things off more than it used to.
          I walked the floor for about six hours, scanning for other regulars. Nobody particularly sharp caught my eye. A few players were giving Regal Riches and Buffalo Ascension some attention, but I didn’t see a single person stop to “play the piano” on any of the other advantage-play machines.
          If I can’t get a room comped for next week, I’m seriously considering just riding out the night and crashing in the casino parking lot for a few hours in the back of my car, then driving home Sunday morning.

          • This reply was modified 2 months ago by Chris VillalobosVillage Wolf.
          July 19, 2026 at 8:08 pm #6056
          Ben RosenthalBen Rosenthal
          Keymaster

            Makes sense. Getting a comped room right off the bat on a weekend is usually going to be pretty tough, but it will depend on the casino and especially how much you gambled.

            July 25, 2026 at 4:26 pm #6293
            Chris VillalobosVillage Wolf
            Participant

              Heading out again today. There’s an RV park near the casino, so I can charge my car and catch some sleep before driving home on Sunday. That gives me a full night to play—probably splitting time between scouting the games and sitting at the Poker tables. They do have table games too, but my Blackjack isn’t sharp enough to test out yet, and the heat isn’t worth the risk. I might poke around for some advanced table-game opportunities, but honestly, I’m still a rookie in that area.

              There’s always a trade-off. I’ve got Poker rooms closer to home where I could grind out $20–$30 an hour. But right now, chasing slot plays feels like less of a slog—less stressful than hours at a Poker table, and more novel.

              That said, I feel like I need to clear at least $500 on an average weekend night to make the time and travel worth it. Last weekend, one lucky play saved my night, but I also found more opportunities—and learned I jumped into a few too early. Still climbing the learning curve. Maybe $500 isn’t out of reach.

              • This reply was modified 1 month, 4 weeks ago by Chris VillalobosVillage Wolf.
              August 1, 2026 at 4:13 pm #6424
              Chris VillalobosVillage Wolf
              Participant

                Summary: Wildhorse Casino is probably best left to the locals.

                I gave it a real shot last weekend—drove 3.5 hours to Wildhorse in Pendleton, Oregon, and booked an RV spot so I could charge my car and crash after a late night. I played from 4 PM to 2 AM on Saturday, determined to see if a weekly trip could be worthwhile.

                On previous visits, I hadn’t spotted any skilled advantage players. This time, I counted at least six others working the floor—some practically jogging between machines. By the end of the night, their hustle turned desperate, with several taking plays that were borderline at best.

                I did catch a few decent opportunities. One Buffalo Ascension session paid off nicely when all three columns maxed out and the first kept re-triggering—satisfying to play. But I jumped too early on a Wheel of Fortune High Roller play: one column was a single symbol away from a 4-spot, but the total ways were under 3,000 and the center column sat at just 3-high. That misstep put me in the red for the night.

                The poker room was a letdown too—no live game ever got off the ground.

                I did connect with a regular who makes the 3 hours trip almost every weekend. They showed me their weekly free-play haul—about $80—and suddenly their willingness to take marginal plays made sense. With that safety net, borderline spins become a lot easier to justify.

                Still, Wildhorse is 3.5 hours in the wrong direction with only Slot plays. Reno, Sparks, Tahoe, and Carson City are about twice that distance, but they offer far more options and higher overall value. My poker game is solid, and my blackjack study is paying off, so if slot plays dry up, I can always settle in for long hours of Hold’em or hunt down single/double-deck games. Long weekends in Nevada are starting to look like the smarter play.

                August 1, 2026 at 8:53 pm #6425
                Ben RosenthalBen Rosenthal
                Keymaster

                  Interesting stuff.

                  I have a buddy who’s a big poker player, and he likes knowing slots when he wants to take a break/stretch out from sitting/build some comps. Depending on the casino, even one nice slot hit can make the week (or month).

                  That does sound pretty tough: three-and-a-half hours with no poker as a fallback and lots of competition. At places like that, it sure is easy to pull the trigger a little early out of boredom alone.

                  I’ll often play poker in situations like that, though that obviously won’t work if there’s no game running. You could always call ahead and see how the poker room looks, though with how far the place is away, there’s no telling if it will still be active by the time you get there.

                • Author
                  Posts
                Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)
                • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
                Ready to become a Slot Slayer?

                Join today and get access to hundreds of advantage strategies!

                 

                SlotSlayers.com has no claim on winnings and is not responsible for losses associated with the use of any information provided here. Gambling/investing entails risk and it is incumbent on each individual to use this information in proper alignment with their own personal financial and risk-tolerance parameters. If you have questions or concerns about your own gambling behavior, we urge you to seek assistance at National Council on Problem Gambling via the 24-hour Confidential National Helpline Number: 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).