Ask the Slot Expert: My first royal

Question: I don’t have a question. I just want to exercise my bragging rights for a moment.

I’ve read your column and those of your contemporaries over the years and one phrase always stuck in my brain. "I remember my first Royal."

I have wanted mine for so long that it almost seemed impossible, until April 16, 2025 on a cruise ship in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. I hit "my first Royal" for $4K.

Never felt that feeling before and looking forward to doing it again.

Thank you for all of your slot and video poker articles.

Answer: Thanks for the kind words.

Congratulations on your first royal!

I remember my first royal. It was at the Desert Inn on June 25, 1997. I ordered a White Russian to enjoy while I was waiting to get paid.

When I went back to the DI, I always played that machine when it was available . I called it "my machine" in articles I wrote at the time. I wrote about it so often that my friends at the DI even looked into whether they could give me the machine when the DI closed. I lived in New Jersey at the time and the machine was too new to be legal for individual ownership in that state.

Just as well. Shipping would have been expensive and a slant top video poker machine makes lousy furniture.

Furthermore, I wasn't really sure that the machine that I adopted as my own really was the one on which I got my first royal.

The reason I know the date is not because I found the W-2G. And it's not because I checked the metadata on the photo I took with my camera because there weren't any smartphones back then.

The reason I know the date is because I wasn't used to carrying large amounts of cash at that time and I asked to be paid by check. The DI agreed -- somewhat reluctantly, as I recall -- and cut me a check.For a casino like the DI, paying a jackpot that low by check was very unusual. I had plenty of time to enjoy my cocktail.

One of my friends who works on the slot floor told me that his casino tries to pay all winnings in cash. It's faster and easier for the casino. If the player is uncomfortable about receiving the cash on the slot floor, the payment will be made in an office. They will also provide a security guard to walk the player to their car.

I was playing video poker in the high limit room of another casino a few years ago. A lady hit a handpay for about $2000. The slot attendant knew the lady. He asked her if she wanted the usual, half in cash and half in a check. I guess this casino is more accustomed to writing checks for (relatively) small amounts. When I started playing there because Jean Scott also played there, her husband Brad told me that I would be considered a high roller there for playing dollar video poker.

The only other royals I remember hitting are the ones I was dealt. I don't expect that to happen so many times that it's not a really special event when it occurs.

May this be the first of many more royals in your future.

If you would like to see more non-smoking areas on slot floors in Las Vegas, please sign my petition on change.org.

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert™, at slotexpert@slotexpert.com.

Copyright © John Robison. Slot Expert and Ask the Slot Expert are trademarks of John Robison.

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert™, at slotexpert@slotexpert.com. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.

Copyright © John Robison. Slot Expert and Ask the Slot Expert are trademarks of John Robison.