Reader asks
if the anti-gimmickry gimmick is gimmicked
4 January 2008
By Mark Pilarski
Dear Mark: As an avid slot player, I have a
theory which I would like you to evaluate. We
all know that slot symbols are picked by a RNG
and that each spin is independent of the
previous one, but what if the RNG is not always
playing with a "full deck" so to speak. Is it
possible that at certain times the computer can
remove certain winning combinations from the
mix, thus not permitting the RNG to select them?
The pick that it does make would still be random
but somewhat limited. Stan S.
Let's be flat-footed about this, Stan: Can a
one-armed bandit be programmed to cheat players?
Yes, you bet! It's a mere matter of programming
skills. And are the casinos willing to do it?
Here's where brains come into play. For a
moment, Stan, stare at these letters: HET, LVS,
WYNN They are the stock market symbols of such
companies as Harrah's Entertainment, Las Vegas
Sands Corp., and Wynn Resorts that trade on the
NYSE. Since most casinos are publicly traded
companies, be reasonably certain that they are
not interested in exposing their gaming license
to loss through any faintest whiff of a
semi-inkling that they're fixing the slot
machines so that Stan cannot strike it rich.
The main reason why casinos don't play the game
of deception is that they already legally have a
license to print money. Huh? Yup, it's how they
reap their profits—paying players less than the
true odds. Every game offered to the player is
set up mathematically in the casino's favor. For
instance, when you flip a silver dollar there is
a 50/50 chance of your winning, but not with
casino games. Instead of getting even money for
every dollar you win on a wager, you are paid
94˘, or 83˘ or maybe even 75˘, which, by the
way, are the typical payoffs on different
denomination slot machines.
Finally, gaming regulations at places where
you're likely to play—Nevada, New Jersey,
Illinois, Mississippi and other gaming
jurisdictions that pattern after those states—
require that all slot machines have random
outcomes.
Dear Mark: This question has been on my mind for
a while. The game "Battleship" was hugely
popular and then it disappeared from the casino
where I play. It was fun and offered a variety
of bonus rounds. Why do games suddenly
disappear? I asked at Greektown awhile back and
they said it had to do with licensing
agreements. Debra G.
Debra, there can be a whole host of reasons why
a slot machine like Battleship was swapped out.
The answer you got from Greektown Casino-Hotel
(Detroit) could very well be legit. Games are
moved in and out of casinos often, especially if
they were placed there on a lease arrangement.
Another possibility, although highly unlikely,
is that Mikohn Gaming's Battleship slot machine,
which is loosely based on the Hasbro Inc. board
game of the same name that kids play, was viewed
as a violation of a state regulation that
prohibits the distribution of gambling devices
that might attract children.
Awhile back, I read that a one state's gaming
commission prohibited the placing of Battleship
in gambling establishments where children may be
present, such as convenience stores and
supermarkets, but again, in an adult-only
environment like Greektown, where children are
not allowed, I doubt this is the reason for its
disappearance.
Finally, and generally the number one reason
machines are replaced, is that from the casino's
point of view, Battleship was taking on water
and listing to port.
As with any gambling device, Debra, slot
machines need to show reasonable results or
their replacement is inevitable. A gaming
machine's performance is measured by two
factors: the total value of coins wagered daily
("coin in") and the resulting value collected
daily by the casino ("win"). If a machine's
performance falters ever so slightly, a slot
manager could decide a change is needed in the
slot mix, as to both the placement and
positioning of machines on the casino floor, and
"Bon Voyage" and for some like Battleship.
Gambling Wisdom of the Week:
"Why people think they can beat a computer chip
really blows my mind." --Thomas Grey
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