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Was there ever reality in this slot machine myth?
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| May 25th, 2011 at 2:18:54 PM permalink | |
| Zaphod77 Member since: May 24, 2011 Threads: 0 Posts: 7 | Read "Scarne on Gambling" it's pretty well documented in there. It only worked on EM slots, and only before the manufacturers redesigned them to stop it. It's heyday was back in the 50s. Reportedly a $5 pamphlet was sold on it, and there was a school in vegas that was teaching it for a bit. The story is completely believable in my opinion, and has been corroborated by many sources. With the old slots, pulling the handle actually provided the power to spin the reels, and until the addition of the variator, the only source of entropy was the pulling of the handle itself. the variator is documented here http://www.myslotnotes.com/okPDF/bally/bally%206000%20intro%20part%203.pdf This part didn't exist until sometime in the 50s, when the manufacturers realized they needed it. |
| May 25th, 2011 at 3:10:09 PM permalink | |
| MathExtremist Member since: Aug 31, 2010 Threads: 45 Posts: 2514 |
The purely mechanical games, the ones based on spring tension, payout fingers, and perforated reels, those were susceptible to mechanical manipulation. But since stepper motor control took over from ratchet-and-pawl, the actuating arm has been nothing more than a trigger for the motors, no different than pressing the spin button. It's entirely vestigial, as it were. "In my own case, when it seemed to me after a long illness that death was close at hand, I found no little solace in playing constantly at dice."
-- Girolamo Cardano, 1563 |
| May 25th, 2011 at 3:23:40 PM permalink | |
| buzzpaff Member since: Mar 8, 2011 Threads: 82 Posts: 2830 |
Thanks Me Now in addition to expanding my limited knowledge of mathematical, you are adding to my vocabulary ! " I am a data analyst and I use vestigial all the time to describe anything that used to serve a purpose, but no longer does. " Excuse me for thinking you were showing off LOL Buzz Paff |
| May 25th, 2011 at 6:14:49 PM permalink | |
| kenarman Member since: Nov 22, 2009 Threads: 10 Posts: 335 |
I would doubt that the casinos would let that much money get away from them with faulty machines. The coin counters would certainly screw up occasionally though. I ran into one in Caesars LV once and my wife and I milked it for close to a $1000 for the few days we were there. It was our ATM when the gambling money got low. Justified the rip in our minds by the fact we couldn't win on anything else and Caesars ended up getting it all back anyway. "Computers are useless they only give answers" Picasso |
| August 28th, 2011 at 8:55:15 PM permalink | |
| shaferdaniel Member since: Aug 28, 2011 Threads: 5 Posts: 29 | Hey Wizard/Math Extremist/Anyone in the know about Slot Machine Design: Do either of you know if Wheel of Fortune builds up for a bonus spin of the wheel? I just spent 1.5 hours lurking the Wheel of Fortune quarter slot machines at McCarran. Whenever someone ground through $10-$40 and left without hitting the bonus wheel spin, I put in a $20 bill and played max bet (5 lines) until I hit the wheel myself. 8 out of 8 times I hit the bonus wheel spin before burning through my $20. I repeat, 8 out of 8. I profited between $2.75 and $20 each time I cashed out -- and got on my flight with $85 profit! Imagine that on a dollar machine... So please explain: Slots: horrible odds Wheel of Fortune: progressive machine with horrible odds McCarran: tightest slots Yet, I kept hitting the bonus spin quick enough to make a profit 8 out of 8 times... Was it luck or are WOF machines designed to build up to that bonus wheel spin?? THANKS (I posted this on a different thread, forgive me, I'm getting ready to go back to Vegas to try my luck!) |
| August 28th, 2011 at 9:54:34 PM permalink | |
| MathExtremist Member since: Aug 31, 2010 Threads: 45 Posts: 2514 | It was luck. The WoF machines at McCarran and throughout Nevada do not accumulate state without letting you know about it. All of the "normal" games have completely independent spins. For what it's worth, my father has had unusually good luck at the McCarran machines too... "In my own case, when it seemed to me after a long illness that death was close at hand, I found no little solace in playing constantly at dice."
-- Girolamo Cardano, 1563 |
| August 28th, 2011 at 10:08:12 PM permalink | |
| shaferdaniel Member since: Aug 28, 2011 Threads: 5 Posts: 29 | Thank you MathExtremist. You really know your sh*t. And I feel an instant bond with your father! Are there any variable state games on the Strip these days? |
| August 29th, 2011 at 4:15:34 AM permalink | |
| SOOPOO Member since: Aug 8, 2010 Threads: 49 Posts: 1322 |
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| August 29th, 2011 at 4:57:43 AM permalink | |
| FleaStiff Member since: Oct 19, 2009 Threads: 75 Posts: 4799 | I don't know if they needed to prevent payout manipulation or simply to prevent damage to the innards from those who where trying to pull the arm in a manner they merely thought was going to be manipulative. I don't even think slot machines are called one armed bandits anymore because many lack any handles at all. Casinos still watch though: early sixties I think, a change girl noticed a man was standing really close to a slot machine and was winning. He had an electronic cigarette lighter creating intense static intended to affect the chips. |
| August 29th, 2011 at 5:17:58 AM permalink | |
| FleaStiff Member since: Oct 19, 2009 Threads: 75 Posts: 4799 | It was luck. Even at the airport slots concession, major jackpots still take place. Lightning can and does hit just about anywhere. After all, those machines are still subject to the state law requirement of 75 percent payout rate. And probably are set quite a bit higher than that. They may be the lowest paying machines in town but that does not mean that lightning will not strike there. |
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