Slot machine
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Slot machines in the Trump Taj Mahal
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
traditional 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 are the most popular gambling method in casinos and constitute about
70% of the average casino's income.[1]
Contents
[hide]
1 History
2 Description
3 Terminology
4 Pay table
5 Technology
o 5.1 Random number generator
o 5.2 Payout percentage
o 5.3 Linked machines
o 5.4 Near-miss programming
6 Regional variations
o 6.1 United States
6.1.1 Native American casinos
6.1.2 Slot machine classes
6.1.2.1 Class II game characteristics
6.1.2.2 Class III game characteristics
6.1.3 Slot clubs
o 6.2 Australia
o 6.3 United Kingdom
o 6.4 Japan
7 Skill Stops
8 Common misunderstandings
o 8.1 "Hot" and "Cold" machines
o 8.2 Placement
o 8.3 Payout changes
o 8.4 Missed opportunities
9 Addiction
10 Trivia
11 References
12 Bibliography
13 See also
14 External links
[edit] History
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 pull 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 the player a free beer, whereas a Royal Flush could pay out cigars or drinks,
the prizes wholly dependent on what was on offer at the local establishment. 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.[2] 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 winnings 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.
[edit] Description
A row of "Wheel of Fortune" slot machines in a casino in Las Vegas. This specific slot
machine is themed to 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. Depending on the machine, players can play
one, 100, or more hands at one time.
Becoming more popular now are the multi-line slots. These slots have more than one payline.
Reel slots commonly have three or five paylines, while video slots have 9, 15, 25, or even 100
different paylines. Video slots are themed slots, with graphics and music based on popular
entertainers or TV programs (The 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.
Terminology
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 change is
needed, hand pay is requested or a potential problem with the machine.
Carousel refers to a grouping of slot machines, usually in a circle or oval formation.
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 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 L.E.D. 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.
EGM is used as a short-hand for "Electronic Gaming Machine".
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 either paid as a hand pay
or an attendant will come and re-fill the machine.
Display screen of a slot machine in tilt mode
Tilt In the old mechanical days, slot machines had tilt switches. While modern machines no
longer have tilt switches, any kind of mechanical failure (door switch in the wrong state, reel
motor failure, etc) is still called a "tilt".
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.
Pay table
Main article: Pay table
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.
Technology
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.
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.
Some professional gamblers observe that the RNG does not actually generate random
numbers. Indeed, all RNG (also called Pseudorandom Number Generators or PRNGs) will
eventually repeat their number sequence. This behavior is due to poor programming, as it is
relatively easy to build PRNGs with periods so long no computer could complete a single
period in the expected lifetime of the universe. Having access to the PRNG code and seed
values, some cheats, such as Ronald Dale Harris, a former slot machine programmer,
discovered equations for specific gambling games like Keno that allowed them to predict
what the next set of selected numbers would be based on the previous games played.
Payout percentage
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. Within some EGM-development organizations this
concept is referred to simply as "par". "Par" also manifests itself to gamblers as promotional
techiniques: "Our 'Loose Slots' have a 93% Pay-back! Play now!" As an aside, the "Loose
Slots" actually may describe an anonymous machine in a particular bank of EGMS.
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 CDROM 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 Gaming Control Board
officials. Other jurisdictions, including Nevada, randomly audit slot machines to ensure that
they contain only approved software.
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.
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.[3]
Linked machines
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 $10,000,000 after a
jackpot. (Prior to September 2005, Megabucks Nevada reset to $7,000,000.) The new penny
Megabucks video game also 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.
Near-miss programming
Because the reel display of modern slot machines is controlled by computer software, it is
possible to make the slot machine frequently display combinations 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.[4]
The calculation is more complicated than implied here. The stops are not 'programmed' in the
sense that their outcome is the result of a calculation. In fact, the reel strips (like a mechanical
poker machine) are designed so that the machine will pay according to the relevant RTP.
Near-miss programming, where a near miss is innacurately displayed (i.e. the player is shown
something that is not an accurate representation of the reelstrips) is not allowed in Australia
either. Due to this, regulators use stop motion cameras to audit manufacturer's practices.
Regional variations
Row of slot machines inside Las Vegas airport.
United States
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. Delaware
allows slot machines at three horse tracks, they are regulated by the state lottery commission.
For a list of state by state regulations on private slot machine ownership, see U.S. state slot
machine ownership regulations.
Native American casinos
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 receive a percentage of the gross
revenue from slot machines.
Slot machine classes
The Following statements are generalities, not actual laws for every state. There is no federal
law governing slot machines, so these classifications may vary from state to state.
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.
In general a game must have all characteristics of a Class II game to be a Class II game. Any
characteristic of a Class III game makes it a Class III game. The casino pays a fee to the state
for each Class III game and can only purchase so many Class III licenses. There is no such
restriction for Class II games. Class II games are not so nearly regulated by the state.
Class II game characteristics
1. The player is playing against other players and competing for a common prize.
2. There is certain to be a winner in each game. The game continues until there is a
winner.
3. In a given set there are a certain number of wins and loses. Once a certain combination
has happened it cannot happen again until a new batch is initiated. This is most
obvious in scratch card games that come in a pack. Once a card has been pulled those
winning combinations cannot occur again until a new pack of cards is installed. One
game is dependent on previous games.
4. The player must be an active participant. They must recognize events as they occur
and must recognize when they have won and announce their winning. Bingo is an
excellent example here.
5. All players play from the same set of numbers as they are announced.
Class III game characteristics
1. The player is playing against the house.
2. There is a very real possibility that the player may lose the game.
3. Each game is independent of previous games. Any possible outcome can occur in any
game.
4. Wins are announced automatically.
Slot clubs
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.
[edit] Australia
Queen of the Nile (manufactured by Aristocrat), one of the most popular Australian poker
machine games, also very popular in some American casinos
Slot machines in Australia are generally referred to as "poker machines" or "pokies", but are
officially termed Gaming Machines. Australia has seen changes in regulations leading to
proliferation of gaming machine venues in various states, most notably New South Wales,
Victoria and Queensland. Various bodies, including religious organisations and welfare
groups, claim that this has increased levels of "problem gambling".
Australian-style gaming machines use video displays to simulate physical reels, usually five.
These machines 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) to be
played. This higher level of complexity offers greater opportunity of rewards for players.
Gaming machines are found in casinos (approximately one in each major city) as well as pubs
and clubs (usually sports, social, or RSL clubs). There are suggestions that this high level of
accessibility may be linked to problem gambling; however, the precise nature of this link is
still open to research.[5] 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 gaming machines in Australia are controlled at the state level and as such,
those laws vary between states. In the state of Queensland gaming machines in pubs and clubs
must provide a return rate of 85% while machines located in casinos must provide a return
rate of 90% [1]. Most other states have similar provisions.
[edit] United Kingdom
Row of old fruit machines in Teignmouth Pier, Devon
Slot machines are usually known as Fruit machines, Bandits and AWP (Amusement with
Prizes) in Britain. Fruit machines are commonly found in pubs, clubs, arcades, and some takeaway 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. An old-fashioned word for these machines can be 'Didlers'.
Currently in the UK, the cost of an individual game may not exceed 50p. The maximum
payout for an individual game depends on the type and the location of the machine, but is
typically £25 in pubs where people under the age of 18 are not allowed entry. 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 so as not to circumvent the maximum payout. The
minimum payout percentage is 70% in Britain, with pubs often setting the payout at around
78%. Private members clubs are allowed "club machines", which have higher jackpots and are
allowed to charge more per game.
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.
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 predetermined and cannot be affected by player choices.[6]
...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 windows-based
computers, which can allow for a fruit machine's RAM state to be saved at a particular point
and replayed making a different choice. Although there was only two practical example
demonstrating this which the end user could replicate, there was a lot of debate between
fairplay campaigners and the fruit machine emulation authors about the reliability of these
claims. The authors suggested that the emulators did not have 100% complete core emulation
and does not lead or prove the assumption that fruit machines "cheat"; The fairplay campaign,
led by Stuart Campbell rubbished these claims publically on various internet forums. After
some TV and radio coverage on behalf of the fairplay campaign on this issue, the fruit
machine industry has hit back at the allegations through BACTA, releasing a statement on the
issue. BACTA at the time, issued guidance to provide voluntary notices are to be put in place
on a sticker for older machines or integrated on the "top glass" artwork, most fruit machine
manufacturers have done this for circa 2005 machines. This is in fact the law now in the UK,
and all machines carry a notice informing the user that the machine may at times offer the
player a choice in which they have no possible chance to win. You can often find messages on
the artwork on machines also stating not to reproduce the software, artwork, etc in any way,
shape or form without permission.
[edit] Japan
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 have 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". The parlor operators,
naturally set most of the machines to collect money, but intentionally place a few paying
machines on the floor so that there will at least someone winning, encouraging players on the
losing machines to keep gambling.[citation needed]
Despite the many varieties of the machines, there are certain rules and regulations put forward
by the "Security Electronics and Communication Technology Association", an affiliate of the
National Police Association (NPA). For example, there must be three reels. Also, all reels
must be accompanied by buttons which stop these reels, no more than 15 coins can be paid
out per plays, credit meter cant go higher than 50, 3 coin maximum bet, etc.[citation needed]
Although a 15 coin payout may seem ridiculously low, the regulations allow "Big Bonus"
(~400-->711 coins) and "Regular Bonus" modes (~110 coins) where these 15 coin payouts
occur nearly continuously until the bonus mode finished. While the machine is in bonus
mode, the player is entertained with special winning scenes on the LCD display, and
energizing music is heard, payout after payout.
Three more unique features of Pachisuro machines are "Stock", "Renchan", and "Tenjoh". On
many machines, when enough money to afford a bonus is taken in, the bonus is not
immediately awarded. Typically the game merely stops making the reels slip off the bonus
symbols for a few games. If the player fails to hit the bonus during these "standby games", it
is added to the "Stock" for later collection. Many current games, after finishing a bonus
round, set the probability to release additional stock (gained from earlier players failing to get
a bonus last time the machien stopped making the reels slip for a bit) very high for the first
few games. As a result, a lucky player may get to play several bonus rounds in a row (a
"Renchan"), making payouts of 5000, even 10,000 coins possible! The lure of "Stock" waiting
in the machine, and the possibility of "Renchan" tease the gambler to keep feeding the
machine. To tease him further, there is a "Tenjoh", a maximum limit on the number of games
between "Stock" release. For example, if the "Tenjoh" is 1500, and the number of games
played since the last bonus is 1490, the player is guaranteed to release a bonus within just 10
games.
Because of the "Stock", "Renchan", and "Tenjoh" systems, it is possible to make money by
simply playing machines on which someone has just lost a huge amount of money. This is
called being a "hyena". They are easy to recognize, roaming the aisles for a "Kamo" (
"sucker" in English) to leave his machine.
In short, the regulations allowing "Stock", "Renchan", and "Tenjoh" has transformed the
Pachisuro from a low-stakes form on entertainment just a few years back to the hard-core
gambling it has become in 2006. Many people may be gambling more than they can afford,
and the big payouts also lure unsavory "hyena" types into the gambling halls.
To address these social issues, a new regulation (Version 5.0) has been adopted in 2006 which
caps the maximum amount of "Stock" a machine can hold to around 2000--3000 coins worth
of bonus games. Moreover, all Pachisuro machines must be re-evaluated for regulation
compliance every 3 three years. Version 4.0 came out in 2004, so that means all those
machines with the up to 10000 coin payouts will be removed from service by 2007. Only time
will tell how these changes will affect the Japanese Pachisuro industry.
[edit] Skill Stops
'Skill Stop' Buttons were added to some slot machine by Zacharias Anthony in the early 70's
which allowed the player to stop each reel allowing a degree of 'skill' to satisfy New Jersey
gaming laws of the day which required that players be allowed to control the game in some
way. This is the first known use of the skill stop on slot machine. The conversion was applied
to late model Bally slots. Because the typical machine stopped the reels automatically in less
than 10 seconds weights were added to the mechanical timers to prolong the automatic
stopping of the reels. There were approx. 50 machines involved in the original conversion. By
the time the New Jersey ABC ( Alchoholic Beverages Commision ) had approved the
conversion for use in New Jersey arcades the word was out and every other distributors began
adding skill stops. The machines were a huge hit on the Jersey Shore. The rest of the
unconverted Bally machines were destroyed as they had become instantly obsolete.
[edit] Common misunderstandings
[edit] "Hot" and "Cold" machines
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. Such slot machines are never "due to be hit" if they haven't
paid out a jackpot in a while. (Exception: UK-style AWP and Japan-style Pachisuro 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 [citation needed]).
[edit] Placement
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.
[edit] Payout changes
In most jurisdictions, casinos cannot alter the machine's payout percentage by time of
day, day of week, or remotely via a computer.
Using a slot club card does not affect the machine's payout percentage. The card just
allows the casino to keep track of the amount wagered by a player and issue
complimentaries accordingly.
[edit] Missed opportunities
Consider these two scenarios:
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. This is
because the random numbers being generated are constantly changing thousands of times per
second. It is impossible to assume that the instant you would have made the play would be the
same for the other opportunity, thus getting different results from the machine. See Random
Number Generator above.
[edit] Addiction
Main article: Problem gambling
Slot machines, like other gambling devices and games, can be addictive to some individuals.
[edit] Trivia
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.
The Liberty Belle's slot machine collection was due to be auctioned off on July 8,
2006 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
The first MegaJackpot system was introduced by International Game Technology in
1986. It is known as a Wide Area Progressive system.
The term "One-Armed Bandit" was also used in slang in the US Navy and other navies
to describe a single-armed missile launcher, such as the US Navy Mk. 13. Missile
launchers with aiming arms are now becoming obsolescent as vertical launching
system-equipped ships replace them in large numbers.
"One-Armed Bandits" was also the title of the pilot episode of The Dukes of Hazzard.
[edit] References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
^ How Slot Machines give Gamblers the Business, from The Atlantic
^ Charles Fey article
^ Article on 2006 changes to video slots
^ Description of how Near-Miss works
^ http://www.pc.gov.au/inquiry/gambling/finalreport/index.html|See Chapter 8,
Productivity Commission Report no.10
6. ^ Fairplay campaign
[edit] Bibliography
Brisman, Andrew. The American Mensa Guide to Casino Gambling: Winning Ways
(Stirling, 1999) ISBN 0-8069-4837-X
Grochowski, John. The Slot Machine Answer Book: How They Work, How They've
Changed, and How to Overcome the House Advantage (Bonus Books, 2005) ISBN 156625-235-0
Legato, Frank. How to Win Millions Playing Slot Machines! ...Or Lose Trying (Bonus
Books, 2004) ISBN 1-56625-216-4
[edit] See also