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Slot Machines
History and Rules
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Content
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Slot
machines in
the Trump
Taj Mahal |
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A row of
"Wheel of
Fortune"
slot
machines in
a casino in
Las Vegas.
This
specific
slot machine
is loosely
based on the
TV game show
Wheel of
Fortune
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A
slot machine
(American English),
poker machine
(Australian
English), or
fruit machine
(British English) is
a certain type of
casino game.
Traditional slot
machines are
coin-operated
machines with three
or more reels, which
spin when a lever on
the side of the
machine is pulled.
The machines include
a currency detector
that validates the
coin or money
inserted to play.
(The slot machine is
also known
informally as a
one-armed bandit
because of its
appearance and its
ability to leave the
gamer penniless.)
The machine
typically pays off
based on patterns of
symbols visible on
the front of the
machine when it
stops. Modern
computer technology
has resulted in many
variations on the
slot machine
concept. Today, slot
machines have become
one of the most
popular attractions
in casinos. |
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Sittman and Pitt of
Brooklyn, New York
developed a gambling
machine in 1891 that
could be considered
a precursor to the
modern slot machine.
It contained 5 drums
holding a total of
50 card faces and
was based on
poker. This
machine proved
extremely popular
and soon there was
hardly a bar in the
city that didn't
have one or more of
the machines
bar-side. Players
would insert a
nickel and press a
lever, which would
spin the drums and
the cards they held,
the player hoping
for a good poker
hand. There was no
direct payout
mechanism, so a pair
of Kings might get
you a free beer,
whereas a Royal
Flush could payout
cigars or drinks,
the prizes wholly
dependent on what
was on offer at the
local establishment.
In order to make the
odds better for the
house, two cards
were typically
removed from the
"deck": the Ten of
Spades and the Jack
of Hearts, which cut
the odds of winning
a Royal Flush by
half. The drums
could also be
re-arranged to
further reduce a
player's chance of
winning.
The
first "one-armed
bandit" was invented
in 1887 by Charles
Fey of San
Francisco,
California, who
devised a much
simpler automatic
mechanism. Due to
the vast number of
possible wins with
the original poker
card-based game, it
proved practically
impossible to come
up with a way to
make a machine
capable of making an
automatic pay-out
for all possible
winning
combinations.
Charles Fey devised
a machine with three
spinning reels
containing a total
of five symbols –
horseshoes,
diamonds, spades,
hearts and a Liberty
Bell, which also
gave the machine its
name. By replacing
ten cards with five
symbols and using
three reels instead
of five drums, the
complexity of
reading a win was
considerably
reduced, allowing
Fey to devise an
effective automatic
payout mechanism.
Three bells in a row
produced the biggest
payoff, ten nickels.
Liberty Bell
was a huge success
and spawned a
thriving mechanical
gaming device
industry. Even when
the use of these
gambling devices was
banned in his home
State after a few
years, Fey still
couldn't keep up
with demand for the
game elsewhere.
Another early
machine gave out
winning in the form
of fruit flavoured
chewing gums with
pictures of the
flavours as symbols
on the reels. The
popular cherry and
melon symbols derive
from this machine.
The "BAR" symbol now
common in slot
machines was derived
from an early logo
of the Bell-Fruit
Gum Company. In
1964, Bally
developed the first
fully
electromechanical
slot machine called
Money Honey.
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Description
A
row of "Wheel of
Fortune" slot
machines in a casino
in
Las Vegas. This
specific slot
machine is loosely
based on the TV game
show Wheel of
Fortune
A
person playing a
slot machine
purchases the right
to play by inserting
coins, cash, or in
newer machines, a
bar-coded paper
ticket (known as
"ticket in/ticket
out" machines), into
a designated slot on
the machine. The
machine is then
activated by means
of a lever or
button, or on newer
machines, by
pressing a
touchscreen on its
face. The game
itself may or may
not involve skill on
the player's part —
or it may create the
illusion of
involving skill
without actually
being anything else
than a game of
chance. The object
of the game is to
win money from the
machine. The game
usually involves
matching symbols,
either on mechanical
reels that spin and
stop to reveal one
or several symbols,
or on a video
screen. The symbols
are usually brightly
colored and easily
recognizable, such
as images of fruits,
and simple shapes
such as bells,
diamonds, or hearts.
Most
games have a variety
of winning
combinations of
symbols, often
posted on the face
of the machine. If a
player matches a
combination
according to the
rules of the game,
the slot machine
pays the player cash
or some other sort
of value, such as
extra games.
There
are many different
kinds of gambling
slot machines in
places such as
Las Vegas. Some
of the most popular
are the
video poker
machines, in which
players hope to
obtain a set of
symbols
corresponding to a
winning poker hand.
There are standard
5-card draw
machines, all the
way up to 100-play
machines, where you
can play 100 hands
at a time.
Becoming more
popular now are the
9 line slots.
Usually these are
themed slots, with
graphics and music
based on popular
entertainers or TV
programs (Addams
Family, I
Dream of Jeannie,
etc.) with a bonus
round. Most accept
variable amounts of
credit to play with
1 to 5 credits per
line being typical.
The higher the
amount bet, the
higher the payout
will be.
Of
course, there are
the standard 3 - 5
reel slot machines,
of various types.
These are the
typical "one-armed
bandits".
One
of the main
differences between
video slots and reel
slots is in the way
payouts are
calculated. With
reel slots, the only
way to win the
maximum jackpot is
to play the maximum
number of coins
(usually 3,
sometimes 4, or even
5 coins per spin).
With video slots,
the fixed payout
values are
multiplied by the
number of coins per
line that are being
bet. In other words:
on a reel slot, it
is to the player's
advantage to play
with the maximum
number of coins
available. On video
slots, it is
recommended to play
as many individual
lines as possible,
but there is no
benefit to the
player in betting
more than one credit
per line with
regards to
calculating the
payout amounts.
(There are some
isolated cases where
a video slot machine
requires the maximum
number of credits
per spin to be
inserted to win the
largest payout, but
those are the
exception.) An
example: On the
"Wheel of Fortune"
reel
slot, the player
must play 3 coins
per spin to be
eligible to trigger
the bonus round and
possibly win the
jackpot. On the
Wheel of Fortune
video slot, the
chances of
triggering the bonus
round or winning the
maximum jackpot are
exactly the same
regardless of the
number of coins bet
on each line.
Larger casinos offer
slot machines with
denominations from
$.01 (penny slots)
all the way up to
$100.00 or more per
credit. Large
denomination slot
machines are usually
cordoned off from
the rest of the
casino into a "High
Limit" area, often
with a separate team
of hosts to cater to
the needs of the
high-rollers who
play there.
Slot
machines common in
casinos at this time
are more
complicated. Most
allow players to
accept their
winnings as credits,
which may be "spent"
on additional spins.
In
the last few years,
new slot machines
commonly known as
"multi-denomination"
have been
introduced. In a
multi-denomination
slot machine, the
player can choose
the value of each
credit wagered from
a list of options.
Based upon the
player's selection,
the slot machine
automatically
calculates the
number of credits
the player receives
in exchange for the
cash inserted and
displays the amount
of available credits
to the player. (For
example, a player
could choose to
wager one dollar per
game on a nickel
slot machine.) This
eliminates the need
for a player to find
a specific
denomination of a
particular slot
machine; they can
concentrate on
simply finding the
machine and setting
the denomination
once they decide to
play.
Recently, some
casinos have chosen
to take advantage of
a concept commonly
known as
"tokenization": 1
token buys more than
one credit. A casino
can configure slot
machines of numerous
different
denominations to
accept the same type
of token. (For
example, all penny,
nickel, quarter, and
dollar slot machines
could be configured
to accept dollar
tokens.) This
significantly
reduces a casino's
inventory costs and
coin handling costs.
A tokenized slot
machine
automatically
calculates the
number of credits
the player receives
in exchange for the
token inserted and
displays the amount
of available credits
to the player. When
a player chooses to
collect his credits
(by pressing a "Cash
Out" button), the
slot machine will
automatically divide
the number of
credits on the
credit meter by the
value of one token
and return the
result to the
patron. Any
remainder is known
as "residual
credits" and cannot
be collected.
Residual credits
must be either
played or abandoned.
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Bonus
is a special feature
of the particular
game theme, which is
activated when
certain symbols
appear in a winning
combination. In the
bonus, the player is
presented with
several items on a
screen from which to
choose. As the
player chooses
items, a number of
credits is revealed
and awarded. Some
bonuses use a
mechanical device,
such as a spinning
wheel, that works in
conjunction with the
bonus to display the
amount won.
Candle
is a light on top of
the slot machine. It
flashes to alert the
operator that a hand
pay is requested or
that there is a
problem with the
machine.
Carousel
refers to a grouping
of slot machines.
Coin hopper
is a container where
the coins that are
immediately
available for
payouts are held.
The hopper is a
mechanical device
that rotates coins
into the coin tray
when a player
collects his
credits/coins (by
pressing a "Cash
Out" button). When a
certain preset coin
capacity is reached,
a coin diverter
automatically
redirects, or
"drops", excess coin
into a "drop bucket"
or "drop box".
Credit meter
is a visual display
of the amount of
money or credits on
the machine.
Drop bucket
or drop box
is a container
located in a slot
machine's base where
excess coins are
diverted from the
hopper. Typically, a
drop bucket is used
for low denomination
slot machines and a
drop box is used for
high denomination
slot machines. A
drop box contains a
hinged lid with one
or more locks
whereas a drop
bucket does not
contain a lid. The
contents of drop
buckets and drop
boxes are collected
and counted by the
casino on a
scheduled basis.
Hand pay
refers to a payout
made by a slot
attendant or cage,
rather than the slot
machine. A hand pay
occurs when the
amount of the payout
exceeds the maximum
amount that was
preset by the slot
machine's operator.
Usually, the maximum
amount is set at the
level where the
operator must begin
to deduct taxes. A
hand pay could also
be necessary as a
result of a short
pay.
Hopper fill slip
is a document used
to record the
replenishments of
the coin in the coin
hopper after it
becomes depleted as
a result of making
payouts to players.
The slip indicates
the amount of coin
placed into the
hoppers, as well as
the signatures of
the employees
involved in the
transaction, the
slot machine number
and the location and
the date.
Low Level
or Slant Top
slot machines
include a stool so
you can sit and
play. Stand Up
or Upright
slot machines are
played while
standing.
Optimal play
is a payback
percentage based on
a gambler using the
optimal strategy in
a skill-based slot
machine game.
Payline
is a straight or
zig-zagged line that
crosses through one
symbol on each reel,
along which a
winning combination
is evaluated.
Classic spinning
reel machines
usually have up to
nine paylines, while
video slot machines
may have as many as
fifty.
Rollup
is the process of
dramatizing a win by
playing sounds while
the meters
count up to the
amount that has been
won.
Short pay
refers to a partial
payout made by a
slot machine, which
is less than the
amount due to the
player. This occurs
if the coin hopper
has been depleted as
a result of making
earlier payouts to
players. The
remaining amount due
to the player is
paid as a hand pay.
Theoretical Hold
Worksheet
is a document
provided by the
manufacturer for all
slot machines, which
indicates the
theoretical
percentage that the
slot machine should
hold based on
adequate levels of
coin-in. The
worksheet also
indicates the reel
strip settings,
number of coins that
may be played, the
payout schedule, the
number of reels and
other information
descriptive of the
particular type of
slot machine.
Weight count
is an American term,
referring to the
dollar amount of
coins or tokens
removed from a slot
machine's drop
bucket or drop box
and counted by the
casino's hard count
team through the use
of a weigh scale.
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Each
machine has a table
that lists the
number of credits
the player will
receive if the
symbols listed on
the pay table line
up on the pay line
of the machine. Some
symbols are wild and
will pay if they are
visible in any
position, even if
they are not on the
pay line. Especially
on older machines,
the pay table is
listed on the face
of the machine,
usually above and
below the area
containing the
wheels. Most video
machines display the
pay table when the
player presses a
"pay table" button
or touches "pay
table" on the
screen; some have
the pay table listed
on the cabinet as
well. |
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Random number
generator
It is
a common belief that
the odds on a
machine have
something to do with
the number of each
kind of symbol on
each reel, but in
modern slot machines
this is no longer
the case. Modern
slot machines are
computerized, so
that the odds are
whatever they are
programmed to be. In
modern slot
machines, the reels
and lever are
present for
historical and
entertainment
reasons only. The
positions the reels
will come to rest on
are chosen by a
Random Number
Generator (RNG)
contained in the
machine's software.
This is called
"virtual reel"
technology.
The
RNG is constantly
generating random
numbers, at a rate
of thousands to
millions per second.
As soon as the lever
is pulled or the
"Play" button is
pressed, the most
recent random number
is used to determine
the result. This
means that the
result varies
depending on exactly
when the game is
played. A fraction
of a second earlier
or later, and the
result would be
different. |
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Slot
machines are
typically programmed
to pay out as
winnings between 82
to 98 percent of the
money that is
wagered by players.
This is known as the
"theoretical payout
percentage". The
minimum theoretical
payout percentage
varies among
jurisdictions and is
typically
established by law
or regulation. For
example, the minimum
payout percentage in
Nevada is 75 percent
and in New Jersey is
83 percent. The
winning patterns on
slot machines, the
amounts they pay,
and the frequency at
which they appear
are carefully
selected to yield a
certain percentage
of the cost of play
to the "house" (the
operator of the slot
machine), while
returning the rest
to the player during
play. Suppose that a
certain slot machine
costs $1 per spin.
It can be calculated
that over a
sufficiently long
period, such as
1,000,000 spins,
that the machine
will return an
average of $950,000
to its players, who
have inserted
$1,000,000 during
that time. In this
(simplified)
example, the slot
machine is said to
pay out 95%. The
operator keeps the
remaining $50,000.
A
slot machine's
theoretical payout
percentage is set at
the factory when the
software is written.
Changing the payout
percentages after a
slot machine has
been placed on the
gaming floor
requires a physical
swap of the
software, which is
usually stored on an
EPROM but may be
downloaded to
Non-Volatile Random
Access Memory (NVRAM)
or even stored on
CD-ROM or DVD
depending on the
technological
capabilities of the
machine and the
regulations of the
jurisdiction. Based
on current
technology, this is
a time consuming
process and as such
is done
infrequently. In
certain
jurisdictions, such
as New Jersey, the
EPROM is sealed with
a tamper-evident
seal and can only be
changed in the
presence of the
state Gaming Control
Board. Other
jurisdictions,
including Nevada,
randomly audit slot
machines to ensure
that they contain
only approved
software.
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Often
machines are linked
together in a way
that allows a group
of machines to offer
a particularly large
prize, or "jackpot".
Each slot machine in
the group
contributes a small
amount to this
progressive jackpot,
which is awarded to
a player who gets
(for example) a
royal flush on a
video poker machine,
or a specific
combination of
symbols on a regular
or 9 line slot
machine. The amount
paid for the
progressive jackpot
is usually far
higher than any
single slot machine
could pay on its
own.
In
some cases multiple
machines are linked
across multiple
casinos. In these
cases, the machines
may be owned by the
machine maker who is
responsible for
paying the jackpot.
The casinos lease
the machines rather
than owning them
outright.
Megabucks may be
the best known
example of this type
of machine.
Megabucks Nevada
starts at $7,000,000
after a jackpot. The
new penny
Megabucks video
game has a jackpot
that starts at
$10,000,000.
Slot
machines that are
not linked to a
large regional
jackpot such as
Megabucks
usually have higher
payout percentages,
as linked machines
have to take into
consideration the
large jackpot amount
into their payout
percentage
calculations.
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Because the reel
display of modern
slot machines is
controlled by
computer software,
it is possible to
make the slot
machine frequently
display
combinataions that
are close to winning
combinations. For
instance, if the
jackpot combination
is "7-7-7", a slot
machine could be
programmed to
frequently display
"7-7-(non-7)". This
can fool the player
into thinking they
"almost won",
teasing them into
playing more often.
This
practice of showing
combinations that
are similar to
winning combinations
more frequently than
would occur randomly
is called
"near-miss"
programming. It has
been ruled illegal
in the U.S. states
of Nevada and New
Jersey. The Nevada
Gaming Commission
did review some
machines with this
type of programming
and refused to
authorize them.
There
is a related
phenomenon that is
also sometimes
called "near-miss".
The chance of a
winning combination
appearing on a
payline is
controlled by the
winning percentages
programmed into the
slot machine.
However, the
combinations
appearing above and
below the payline
are all roughly
equally randomly
distributed. This
means it is much
more likely that a
"winning
combination" will
appear above or
below a payline than
on the payline.
Using the same
example above, it is
much more likely
that a "winning
combination" of
"7-7-7" would appear
on a line above or
below the payline
than the chance that
it would appear on
the payline.
The
issue of a near-miss
above or below the
payline was also
investigated by the
Nevada Gaming
Commission. They
ruled that this was
legal, so long as
the "near-miss"
above or below the
payline was not
specially
programmed. In other
words, the
"near-miss" must be
just as likely to
occur as any other
combination. The
machine cannot be
specially programmed
to show "winning
combinations" more
frequently than
other combinations
above or below the
payline. |
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In
the United States,
the public and
private availability
of slot machines is
highly regulated by
state governments.
Many states have
established gaming
control boards to
regulate the
possession and use
of slot machines.
Nevada is the only
state that has no
significant
restrictions against
slot machines both
for public and
private use. In New
Jersey, slot
machines are only
allowed in
hotel-casinos
operated in Atlantic
City. Several states
(Illinois, Indiana,
Iowa, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and
Missouri) allow slot
machines (as well as
any casino-style
gambling) only on
licensed riverboats
or permanently
anchored barges. For
a list of state by
state regulations on
private slot machine
ownership.
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Native American
casinos located in
reservations are not
permitted to have
slot machines unless
the tribe first
reaches a pact with
the state in which
it is located (per
Indian Gaming
Regulatory Act).
Typically, a pact
entitles the state
to receives a
percentage of the
gross revenue from
slot machines.
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Some
states have
restrictions on the
type (called
"class") of slot
machines that can be
used in a casino or
other gaming area.
"Class III" (or
"traditional") slot
machines operate
independently from a
centralized computer
system and a
player's chance of
winning any payout
is the same with
every play. Class
III slots are most
often seen in Nevada
or Atlantic City and
are sometimes
referred to as
"Vegas-style slots".
"Class II" slot
machines (also known
as "Video Lottery
Terminals" or "VLTs")
are connected to a
centralized computer
system that
determines the
outcome of each
wager. In this way,
Class II slot
machines mimic
scratch-off lottery
tickets in that each
machine has an equal
chance of winning a
series of limited
prizes. Either class
of slot machines may
or may not have a
player skill element
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Many
American casinos
offer free
memberships in "slot
clubs", which return
a small percentage
of the amount of
money that is bet in
the form of "comps"
(complimentary food,
drinks, hotel rooms,
or merchandise), or
sometimes as cash
back (sometimes with
a restriction that
the cash be redeemed
at a later date).
These clubs require
that players use a
card that is
inserted into the
slot machine, to
allow the casino to
track the player's
"action" (how much
the player bets and
for how long), which
is often used to
establish a level of
play that may make a
player eligible for
additional comps.
Comps or cash back
from these clubs can
make a significant
difference in the
maximum theoretical
return when playing
slot machines over a
long period of time.
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Queen
of the
Nile(manufactured by
Aristocrat), one of
the most popular
Australian poker
machine games, also
very popular in some
American casinos
Generally referred
to as poker
machines or
pokies, but
officially known as
'Gaming Machines',
Australia has one of
the highest
concentration of
poker machines per
head of population
in the world, with
changes in
regulations leading
to a profusion of
poker machine venues
across the country.
Various objectors,
including many
branches of the
clergy and also
charities for the
poor, have
criticized the
spread of the
machines, as they
claim that it has
led to a huge rise
in the levels of
"problem gambling" -
gambling to a level
that causes
financial and social
stress to the
gambler and their
families, as well as
the general levels
of gambling.
Australian-style
poker machines use
video displays to
simulate (usually)
five physical reels.
These machines also
have additional
bonusing and
second-screen
features such as
free games and bonus
levels. They also
allow for multiple
lines (up to 50) or
multiple ways (up to
243 ways) to be
played. This higher
level of complexity
has meant that
greater revenues can
be obtained by
operators, but also
that the potential
for problem gambling
to develop is
increased.
Poker machines are
found in casinos
(approximately one
in each major city)
as well as pubs and
clubs (usually
sports, social, or
RSL clubs). This
greater
accessibility is
also seen as a
potential
contributor to
problem gambling.
The first Australian
state to legalize
this style of
gambling was New
South Wales in 1956
when they were made
legal in all
registered clubs in
the state.
Laws governing
gambling in
Australia are
controlled at the
state level and as
such, they vary from
state to state. In
the state of
Queensland gaming
machines in pubs and
clubs must provide a
return rate of 60%
while machines
located in casinos
must provide a
return rate of 90%.
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Slot machines are
often known as
fruit machines
and AWP
(Amusement with
Prizes) in
Britain. Slot
machines are
commonly found in
pubs, clubs,
arcades, and some
take-away food
shops. These
machines commonly
have 3 or 6 reels
with around 16 or 24
fruit symbols
printed around them.
These reels are
spun, and if certain
combinations of
fruit appear,
winnings are paid
from the machine, or
subgames are played.
These are very
similar to slot
machines seen in
casinos and
elsewhere around the
world, but the term
"fruit machine" is
usually applied to a
type of machine more
commonly found in
pubs and arcades.
These games have
lots of extra
features, trails and
subgames with
opportunities to win
money, usually more
than can be won from
just the reels.
However, the
jackpots from these
fruit machines are
strictly limited
with many machines
paying no more than
a maximum of £25 in
any one win.
It
is known for
machines to payout
multiple jackpots,
one after the other,
this is known as a
streak but
each jackpot
requires a new game
to be played
(circumventing the
maximum £25 pound
per game rule).
Private members
clubs are allowed
"club machines",
which have higher
jackpots.
These machines also
operate in a
different fashion to
American slot
machines; whereas
slots are programmed
to pay a percentage
over the long-run,
there is no reason
why a jackpot cannot
be paid straight
after one has
already been won -
this is because over
the long-run the
percentage payout
will be the same.
However, in the UK,
a fruit machine
takes on an amount
above its payout
percentage before
winning, so if a
payout is 95%, a
machine will make
the player lose £10
before paying out
£9.50. As such, it
is sensible to watch
for people playing
these machines but
not winning as the
likelihood of a win
increases. This,
however, is called
Sharking.
This type of fruit
machine is popular
across Europe (in
the countries where
they are legal), and
very popular in
countries such as
the Czech Republic,
Russia, and Ukraine.
The minimum payout
percentage is 70% in
Britain, with pubs
often setting the
payout at around
78%.
It
has been alleged by
the Fairplay
campaign that UK
fruit machines
employ fraudulent
techniques in which
gambles and chances
which appear to be
random are in fact
pre-determined and
cannot be affected
by player choices.
1
...at this
point, you'll
have gambled the
win up to £25.
However, the
machine doesn't
want you to
gamble any
further. If from
the 5 you select
"High", the
machine will
spin in a 3 and
you'll lose. If,
on the other
hand, you select
"Low", the
machine will
spin in a 9 and
you'll lose...
The claims centre
around the emulation
of fruit machine
hardware on
computers, which
allow for the
machines RAM state
to be saved at a
particular point and
replayed making a
different choice.
The fruit machine
industry has hit
back at the
allegations.
Currently the issue
has supposedly been
considered by the UK
Gaming Board (now
the Gambling
Commission) and
warning notices and
possibly
modifications are to
be put in place,
though it is unclear
as to whether this
has happened. This
is infact the law
now in the UK and
all machines carry a
warning notice
informing the user
that the machine may
at times offer the
player a choice in
which they have no
possible chance to
win. |
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Japan
has a relatively new
involvement in slot
machines, roughly
since after the
American occupation
during the World War
II era. Most
machines can be
found in Pachinko
parlors and the
adult sections of
amusement arcades,
known as game
centers.
The
machines are
regulated with IC
chips, and has six
different levels
changing the odds of
a "777". The levels
provide a rough
outcome of between
90% to an
astonishing 160%
(200% if using
skills). Indeed, the
Japanese slot
machines are
"beatable".
Despite the many
varieties of the
machines, there are
certain rules and
regulations put
forward by a
commission. For
example, there must
be three reels.
Also, all reels must
be accompanied by
buttons which stop
these reels, etc.
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-
Standard slot
machines do not
get "hot" or
"cold". The odds
of hitting a
winning
combination are
determined by a
random number
generator
contained in the
machine's
software and is
exactly the same
with every spin.
-
(Exception:
UK-style AWP
machines are
progressive
which means
chances of
winning will
increase
over time if
the machine
has not paid
any wins
out. Many
also "force"
wins on
players in
order to
meet the
payout
percentage).
-
Except possibly
in a few
jurisdictions,
slot machines
are never "due
to be hit" if
they haven't
paid out a
jackpot in a
while.
-
There is a
science to the
placement of
slot machines on
the gaming
floor, but the
highest paying
machines are not
necessarily
placed in
high-traffic
areas.
Typically,
machines of
similar payback
percentages are
grouped
together, with
1% or less
difference from
machine to
machine in the
group.
-
Using a slot
club card does
not affect the
machine's payout
percentage, but
allows the
casino to keep
track of the
amount wagered
by a player and
issue
complimentaries
accordingly.
-
In most
jurisdictions,
casinos cannot
alter the
machine's
percentages by
time of day, day
of week, or
remotely via a
computer. In
some
jurisdictions,
it cannot be
done without
regulatory
oversight. The
percentages are
set by a special
chip, called a
key chip (in
most games). One
of the game's
EPROMs are
removed, and
then the key
chip is
inserted, to
allow you to set
the payout
percentage.The
Game chip is put
back in, and
then the state
gaming official
seals the
chips(in some
jurisdictions)
with
tamper-resistant
tape.
-
(Exception
1: In many
markets
where
central
monitoring
and control
systems are
used to link
machines for
auditing and
security
purposes,
usually in
wide area
networks of
multiple
venues and
thousands of
machines,
player
return must
usually be
changed from
a central
computer
rather than
at each
individual
machine. A
range of
percentages
are
preprogrammed
into the
game
software and
selected by
configuring
the machine
remotely.)
-
(Exception
2: In 2006,
the Nevada
Gaming
Commission
began
working with
Las Vegas
casinos on
technology
that would
allow the
casino's
slot manager
to change
the game,
the odds,
and the
payouts
remotely via
a computer.
The change
cannot be
done
instantaneously,
but only
after the
selected
machine has
been idle
for at least
four
minutes.
After the
change is
made, the
machine must
be locked to
new players
for four
minutes and
display an
on-screen
message
informing
potential
players that
a change is
being made.
ref)
-
Missed
opportunities.
This comes in
two general
forms
-
You leave a
machine.
Another
player comes
up and
immediately
hits a
jackpot. You
think, "If I
had played
just one
more time, I
would have
won that
jackpot."
-
A machine
returns a
higher
jackpot for
playing more
coins. You
play fewer
coins, and a
winning
combination
appears. You
think, "If I
had played
more coins,
I would have
won more
money."
In
both cases, you did
not "miss" an
opportunity to win.
The results of
modern slot machines
depend on exactly
when you play them.
It is very unlikely
in either case that
you would have
received the same
result if you had
played just one more
time or just one
more coin. See
Random Number
Generator above.
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-
Slot machines,
like other
gambling devices
and games, can
be addictive to
some
individuals.
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The first
Liberty Bell
slot machine can
be found at the
Liberty Belle
Saloon &
Restaurant on
4250 S.
Virginia, Reno,
Nevada. Brothers
Marshall and
Frank Fey opened
the restaurant
Nov. 20, 1958.
The Fey's
grandfather,
Charles Fey,
invented the
first
three-wheeled
slot machine,
and the
restaurant has a
collection of
more than 200
antique
machines. The
Liberty Belle
closed on March
17, 2006 and the
location was
recently
purchased by the
Reno-Sparks
Convention
Center which is
located nearby.
On
July 8, 2006, the
Liberty Belle's slot
machine collection
will be auctioned
off at the
Reno-Sparks
Convention Center.
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