---
title: 'Best Slot Machine for Low Rollers - Nothing But Bonuses'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=tHqjLhJ52Pc'
video_id: 'tHqjLhJ52Pc'
date: 2026-07-23
duration_sec: 2572
channel: 'Cruise Ship Gambling'
---

# Best Slot Machine for Low Rollers - Nothing But Bonuses

> Source: [Best Slot Machine for Low Rollers - Nothing But Bonuses](https://youtube.com/watch?v=tHqjLhJ52Pc)

## Summary

The video follows a slot player at the Phoenix Link machine on Utopia of the Seas, testing strategies for low rollers. The player experiments with different bet sizes and denominations, particularly favoring the 5-cent denomination, which seems to trigger frequent bonuses. The session ends with modest wins and losses, highlighting the unpredictability of slot machines.

### Key Points

- **Starting Session** [00:03] — Player begins at 6:57 AM on Phoenix Link machine, noting a previous cashout of $5,133 and a hand pay on a $1,250 bet.
- **Initial Bets** [00:43] — Starts with $2.50 bets, but gets empty spins. Switches to 5-cent denomination after no wins.
- **First Bonus** [03:40] — Triggers a bonus on 5-cent denomination with only 4 orbs (usually needs 6), wins back initial $100 investment.
- **Bonus Anomaly** [05:42] — Another bonus on 4 orbs with a $3.75 bet, but subsequent spin with 4 orbs does not trigger bonus, indicating inconsistency.
- **Free Games on 5-Cent** [10:02] — Gets 6 free games on a $2.50 bet, but payout is low. Continues to prefer 5-cent denomination.
- **Multiple Bonuses** [11:38] — Experiences two bonuses in a row on 5-cent, one with a re-trigger. Ends up down $118 after being $300 in.
- **Switching Denominations** [15:27] — Switches to 2-cent denomination, gets a bonus with re-trigger and a 'bonus bonus' (unusual feature). Wins $123, down only $51.
- **5-Cent Success** [20:06] — Returns to 5-cent, hits a mini $50. Notes that 5-cent denomination seems most active, referencing a previous hand pay on $1,250 bet.
- **Random Bonus on One Ball** [22:30] — Gets a random bonus with only one ball on a $3.75 bet, which is unusual. Wins modestly.
- **Higher Bet Attempt** [23:37] — Increases to $6.25 bet on 5-cent, gets a bonus but no major win. Switches to 25-cent denomination for bigger minors.
- **25-Cent Denomination** [29:16] — Plays $7.50 bet on 25-cent, gets a bonus but payout is disappointing. Switches back to 5-cent.
- **Dollar Denomination** [34:50] — Tries $1 denomination with $5 bet, gets bonus but only wins $25. Concludes 5-cent is best.
- **Final Bonuses** [36:08] — Continues on 5-cent, gets multiple bonuses but no big win. Ends session after last bonus, cashing out to go surfing.

### Conclusion

The player concludes that the 5-cent denomination on the Phoenix Link machine offers the best value for low rollers, with frequent bonuses and occasional re-triggers. Despite not hitting a major jackpot, the session demonstrates that lower bets can sustain play and provide entertainment.

## Transcript

All right, we are at Confucious Phoenix Link on Utopia of the Seas. It's Phoenix Link on Utopia of the Seas. It's 6:57 a.m. and this is a good time to play when they're open 24 hours. We're at Coco K. Uh the last person cashed out
at Coco K. Uh the last person cashed out on this machine, $5133. And I saw someone hit a hand pay last night on this on a 1250 bet. So, I'm going to keep playing this machine. You know what? Who knows? There's a theory
that if the machine just paid out big, it's not going to pay again. But I also think if a machine is hot, it's going to keep paying. keep paying. So, I don't know. Let's see. Let's do um
250 bets to start. Wow. Almost got something on the first Wow. Almost got something on the first pin.
the Phoenix. And so far I got empty spins after empty And so far I got empty spins after empty spins.
Needed three of those. Wow.
You can stop it, but that's only going to speed up your loss. I've not had one spinning one winning spin yet.
spin there. Need six of those. Oh my goodness. Let's switch it to the 5 cent.
Oh, look at this. First spin on the 5 cent. Okay. Uh let's see what we get here.
Well, we got a lot of things to fill up here. there. minimum.
These are all little ones. Let's get one with a word on it.
Oh, come on. Give me some help. Well, you know what? It's better than nothing.
bonus, so so I can't complain here.
Well, I got my money back. I started with a h 100red bucks
So, I only really sat down to drink my coffee before the gym. I'm think I'm going to go to the gym first and we'll be back to this machine
first and we'll be back to this machine later. Okay. Well, I got a bonus, but how did I get it on only four? That's really weird. I I only four. I
thought you need six. I'm not going to argue, but it stayed on the 5-cent denomination.
phoenixes? That's really weird.
That was really weird. I've never seen a game give you four bonus on four orbs. Usually six. I might have to stay on this 5-cent I might have to stay on this 5-cent denomination here.
I guess I should keep playing a little bit longer. So, we'll be back with another bonus. On this spin, I got four, but I didn't get a bonus. So, that was really weird how I did that. It was on a 375 bet. I thought maybe
there's something to do with that, but I guess not.
>> Let's catch a bonus live right here as it happens. little. Stay on this 5 cent.
That was the denomination where the guy did the hand pay last night. He was did the hand pay last night. He was doing 1250 bets.
>> Double mini would have been a h 100red bucks.
Let's see. Oh, wow. We need three of those.
Confucious say, "Give me a winner. Give me a winner, Confucious.
bonus on four. I don't know where that came from. came from. Drop down.
All right, it's about time for this thing to wake up.
All right, let's switch to the 10 cent. See what happens here. Not a bad little line thing. Oh, wait. It was a bad line thing.
It >> was barely profitable.
Those >> are 250 fats, too.
>> Give me some orbs. >> Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. >> Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. 33.
>> Come on. Just one more bonus >> and I'll never gamble again.
Got six free games on 250 bet.
Okay, that wasn't very good. Bonus. We'll get a bonus. Come on.
middle, but you need everything else to match up.
over there, that would have been good. You know what? It likes this 5-cent You know what? It likes this 5-cent denomination.
Better than nothing, though. All right, we'll be back if we get another bonus. All right, I continued on. I'm actually 300 in on this machine, but I'm actually 300 in on this machine, but I got a 375 bet and five 5-cent
denomination. The 5-cent denomination seems to be The 5-cent denomination seems to be where it's at on this machine.
bonus. All right, this could be my best one yet. So, let's see what happens. All right, let's start getting some Phoenix's here.
Oh my gosh. That's it. All right. Well, that was only game one. Uh-oh. What was What was that? Oh, I got another one. I got two B.
That's weird. Okay. Maybe it's going to give me some more. I've never seen that before. I have no idea what that was. Gave me like two bonuses in a row.
Oh, I saw the minor. That's 250 if we can get that. This is all eye candy. It already knows what it's going to pay me. Okay, these are all five cent denominations.
denominations. These aren't bad. bonus. We got five games left.
Like I said, I'm 300 in. So, this could possibly get me close to back to even when I get this bonus done. I hope. when I get this bonus done. I hope. Anyway.
All right. So, that's game one. Can we get another bonus within a bonus?
Stop it. Oh, look at that. That's it. 182 up to Well, I'm 300 in and I'm down 182 up to Well, I'm 300 in and I'm down $118. I'm gonna play a few backup spins on the 5 cent.
I like to resume at the lower bet once I get ain't going to pay right away. So, I drop down a little bit. drop down a little bit. 425.
>> Have to stay at this 5 cent minus only 50
>> 375 bet up. A triple major would have been over 16 $1600
>> This machine's done some weird things on me today. another bonus. Well, I switched to the two cent denomination.
I got four of those, but it doesn't matter. Still get six free unions, matter. Still get six free unions, but on a $2 bet. Not expecting much.
Come on. We got one more free game and we get a bonus within a bonus.
Oh, he re-triggered. Okay, we got three more free balloons.
Oh, we got a bonus within a bonus. This is a two cent denomination. bet what you can get. I'll be happy if just give me one or two more balls here.
just give me one or two more balls here. Oh, come on. Please don't stop. Oh, come on. Please don't stop. I saw the miner in there, but that's it. Okay. Oh, I got a bonus. Look at this. I
got a bonus bonus. I got a bonus bonus. life. I've never seen this before. Couple of I've never seen this before. Couple of $4 balls.
on that bonus. That's weird. Gave me like a bonus bonus.
bonus. Oh, but but you got to give me something else. All right, I'm stopping it. All right, I'm stopping it. Oh my gosh.
What happens is if it doesn't give you any balls at all, it gives you another chance. Now, here you're guaranteed to get at least one ball. get at least one ball. See, there's
on it. Preferably like a major. Preferably like a major. All right. Finally, multiple balls.
take whatever I can get. All right. We got two more.
I got one more free game left after this. For a $2 bet, it turned out to be not too bad of a bonus.
right, we have one more free game left. I'm going let this thing ride. Let's go. Come on. Come on. Come on. Oh my gosh. Well, that would have been 60 bucks. Do you know what? It's $123 and I'm only down like $51.
Huh. Not too bad. Well, I was betting higher bets and getting wiped out. So, I'm almost down to nothing. But I'm on a 250 bet and once again on the 5-cent denomination. So, uh let's
see. The 5 cent on this machine's been pretty good. All right. Got a mini 50 bucks right there. Okay. All right. So, we got the mini already. That's 50.
Tell you what, that 5-cent denomination seemed to be working on this machine. That's what the guy got a hand pay on last night on a 1250 bet. Got like over last night on a 1250 bet. Got like over 3,000.
Okay, we'll be able to get three more little spins here, right? Some words
that may be balls, but Oh, I saw the minor. That's 250. All right, that was only the first spin of six free games.
Okay. All right, let's see what else we can get here.
Oh, at least we got $100 at least on this bonus. this bonus. One more free game.
All right, going to keep playing. Trying for the big one. So, this is weird. I got a random bonus on one ball. I don't know how that happens. That is very know how that happens. That is very weird. Put a spin on our 375 bet. It's
the 5 cent denomination again. I switch around. I switch around. Maybe this guy's feeling sorry for me.
Maybe Confucious is getting happy, making me feel sorry for me.
you never know what you're going to get. But I only got one ball and I got a bonus. That was really weird. Gives you like a random bonus.
All right. Well, it's better than nothing. Okay. 5 cent again. I got a 625 nothing. Okay. 5 cent again. I got a 625 bet. Look at that one. Wow. That's a bet. Look at that one. Wow. That's a good one.
Okay, this might be the one that brings me all the way back on a 625 bet. Got a little ballsy here or impatient.
Thank you. What is that? A $10 ball? I don't know. $25 ball. All right, we got two more left. Oh, I saw the miner. That's 250.
right here. Drop. Okay, that's a pretty good ball right there. I don't know what that is.
All right. Going to have to stay on this a little longer. here. Lower bet. I always start off with a lower bet on the
I'm going to try to pop something on this 25 cent denomination. this 25 cent denomination. Hey, that's your bet. 375
and 25 cent. Your minor in the mini is bigger. Oh, I needed one more of those. bigger. Oh, I needed one more of those. Haven't done very good on this 25 cent.
Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.
$25. Come on. And I want to pop this 25 cent. This machine gives you like really weird random bonuses.
back down to the 5 cent. Go up the ladder.
All right. Got three more spins here. Come on. Oh, don't do this to me. Please, please, please, please, please.
please, please, please. Okay.
All right, we'll be back with another bonus. We'll do a couple of backup spins bonus. We'll do a couple of backup spins here. A lower bet.
I'm going to switch to the and I want that. I want something on the 25 cent cuz the bonuses mini and minor are bigger.
>> Oh, don't tease me.
Come on. Three more. Oh, maybe it wants to do something here.
>> I just want something on this 25. I want a bonus on this 25 cent. The minor is a bonus on this 25 cent. The minor is $8.75. The min's 175.
Let's go up. Oh, a 750 bet. Oh, yeah. Okay. This is where the rubber meets the road.
All right. Come on. Let's saw 120 in there. Doesn't matter what you see there. You could see nothing and it still drops. could see nothing and it still drops. Okay, we got that dropped.
Last one, please. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go. Okay.
Come on. Let's change the music. Come on. All right. Now the music changes.
disappointed. But pray and you might get something. Yeah. Hello. Hey, these are all 25 cent denomination.
Let's see what we got here on a $7.50 bet.
I'm going to jump back down to the 5 cent denomination and um let's see if we can get it right here. here. Start off at the low and work my way up.
See if this magic happens. Oh, I thought it was going to happen. 375. Oh my goodness.
Every time you switch denominations, it's like switching to a different game.
250. Oh, wow. That's a big ball there. 250 >> 375.
down and uh get another bonus. I'll be back. Well, I didn't record this. I was only betting $1.25 and the 5 cent again. I got a bonus and a I got a re-trigger. So, I'm on uh I got two more free games left, but I hit this almost full screen
of books, but it's only a$125 bet, so I don't know. I'm not going to pay that don't know. I'm not going to pay that much. Let's see if we get a another big much. Let's see if we get a another big thing here.
was bouncing around on the bets back on the 5-cent denomination on a 375 bet. Every bonus is like my hope for the big one. We need the big
hope for the big one. We need the big one. The mini is 50. The miner's 250. Two balls at once is nice.
know, like to see something.
Did not save it on a 375 bet. Let's see. Uh, what is this about? 50 bucks.
We will keep playing. All right. So, I wanted to crack a bonus on the $1 denomination. We did not get the orbs, but we did get the six free games. So, let's see what we get here. It's a $5 bet, but you
we get here. It's a $5 bet, but you know, $1. We get orbs.
This ain't going to pay us much here at all.
Didn't intend to pay as much. $25 on a $5 bet on the $1 denomination. That's terrible. Going back to my five cent.
It's got a bonus on the $1 denomination. Paid $25. >> $5 bet. Nice. This been hitting a bonus. on the 5 cent. Oh, >> the 5 cent is where it's at. That's
>> the 5 cent is where it's at. That's where that guy was playing last night. getting all my bonuses. >> Well, I know, but I'm getting a lot of >> Well, I know, but I'm getting a lot of bonuses on the smaller bets.
>> All right, we'll be back on the next bonus. I'm running out of steam. I'm running out of patience. This is my last harrah. This is it. Last bonus. I got to get out of here. Can't spend all day in here.
If it doesn't give you any balls here, it's going to give me another chance. Yeah, it does give you another chance. Gives you a second chance.
least one ball. If it doesn't, it may give you another chance. Who knows? Okay. Well, not going to give you Okay. Well, not going to give you another chance.
the first spin block. >> Oh my gosh, >> this lady got her first spin on a bonus. Wow.
Got three more games left. We'll see what happens.
Can we get a re-trigger? Can we get another bonus within a bonus? We get a re-trigger. No,
we did not get much. All right, I got to get going. All right, I got to get going. Thanks for watching. I still here Thanks for watching. I still here back on the 5 cent.
>> Oh, I saw the minor minor. which doesn't mean anything.
one hopefully. If not, thanks for watching on the minimum bet. watching on the minimum bet. Oh well.
All right. It's going to give me another chance. That's it. It didn't Oh, yeah. Here we go. Give me a second chance.
go. Give me a second chance. Need more than that.
All right. Back again. Still 5-cent denomination.
I'm going to cash out. I got to get going. Got to go surf on the flow rider.
All right, everyone. Thanks for watching. Please like and subscribe.