Calculating Slots Return Blind?

Sometimes it seems that casino operators can be just as superstitious as players. They love and encourage people taking notes at the craps and baccarat table, because this simply means that the player is pursuing some kind of betting strategy which will keep them at the table longer. But they get upset at people taking notes at a slot machine, when presumably the result will be the same.

I suspect that the Wizard gets more grief because people heard about his survey, but they haven't taken the time to read his method of operation. They just don't want him taking notes.

I think that server based machines will allow the casinos to reveal the settings. The mystery setting will be replaced with progressive increases in the payback. For example you may sit down at a machine and it reads 83%. But after five minutes of play it is readjusted to 90%. Then it begins to slowly increment by a 1% every 15 minutes at first, and then every hour. The player is rewarded for his longevity. Each increase in the percentage will be accompanied by some change in the paytables (most often on the jackpot setting).

I think that this type of system will remove widespread fears that machines have been tightened up following the recession. It will also remove fears that the casinos will misuse the server settings to screw players.

It will also reward longevity in play, with more players trying to crank their machine up to a high percentage. I hope that it doesn't involve the increased used of adult diapers (but anything is possible).

It may have to involve the use of loyalty cards and an upper time limit of 4 hours. Otherwise there would be slot teams that would try and keep a machine isolated and running for weeks on end to try and keep the house average as low as possible. The players would think in terms of "sessions" and the reward would be very high returns for the last hour.

Quote: pacomartin

It may have to involve the use of loyalty cards and an upper time limit of 8 hours. Otherwise there would be slot teams that would try and keep a machine isolated and running for weeks on end to try and keep the house average as low as possible.

As long as it never went above, say 98%, they'd encourage people to play in teams, and continue to lose money on a continuous basis. Bac is less than 2% house edge, and I doubt they mind people playing that for hours on end.

Quote: pacomartin

Sometimes it seems that casino operators can be just as superstitious as players. They love and encourage people taking notes at the craps and baccarat table, because this simply means that the player is pursuing some kind of betting strategy which will keep them at the table longer. But they get upset at people taking notes at a slot machine, when presumably the result will be the same.

I'd be happy if they let you take notes at the blackjack table.

Quote: pacomartin

I think that server based machines will allow the casinos to reveal the settings. The mystery setting will be replaced with progressive increases in the payback. For example you may sit down at a machine and it reads 83%. But after five minutes of play it is readjusted to 90%. Then it begins to slowly increment by a 1% every 15 minutes at first, and then every hour. The player is rewarded for his longevity. Each increase in the percentage will be accompanied by some change in the paytables (most often on the jackpot setting).

As the law stands, this would most likely be illegal, even if it's just twiddling with the jackpot. Server based machines have to be idle for at least four minutes before the payout is adjusted. Even if the pay table isn't changed, and the jackpot goes up to twiddle the return, some enterprising lawyer will figure out a way to successfully argue that they're a type of single-machine progressive, and there are other laws in place that prohibit progressives from just disappearing, as they would likely do once the machine goes idle.