server based slots

Las Vegas Sun is carrying an article on server based gaming that you may be interested in. It says ARIA is 50% server based games right now and headed to 100% by this summer.

Stupid me, I thought most of the slots on the strip were already server based.

i think the casino's primary concern would be on how susceptible running a server would be to cheating. if someone could hack the server and change the payback percentages on the machines to the player's advantage, it would be difficult to pinpoint who was actually part of the scam since there would be numerous machines connected to this server.

Quote: ruascott

Stupid me, I thought most of the slots on the strip were already server based.

Most slots used EPROMs ore erasable programmable read only memory, which is a type of memory chip that retains its data when its power supply is switched off. The machine comes with a selection of cards with different EPROMs that correspond to different payback percentages. EPROMs were initially developed as far back as the early 1970's and are essentially considered archaic by the information processing community.

But the gambling community, especially the gaming commission is very comfortable with EPROMs. Right now you have to open a machine, replace the chip, fill out some paperwork for the commission, in order to change percentages. At one point you also needed a representative there, but I'm told that hasn't been true for a long time. In anticipation of a busy weekend the slot manager could only change a handful of machines (if any at all). While the IT community has most phased out these chips because they are slow and manually intensive, the gaming community is keeping them for the exact same reason.

Although it would be easy enough to put a code on the video screen showing which EPROM is in the cabinet, I think that they don't do it because it would be valuable information to sell by an employee. You are forced to physically unlock the cabinet and look inside.

Since slot players are highly distrustful of casino operators anyway, they are somewhat consoled by the fact that the probabilities cannot be changed without some physical effort.

Revenue at ARIA casino seems to be pretty bad for the first quarter, just barely above the MIRAGE. I would bet that having the first casinos floor with all server based slots will hurt, rather than help. While player may appreciate a little note popping up on their slot machine saying Paco, you have just won a free buffet they are going to be upset the first time a note pops up that say Paco, we are detecting two player cards with your name on it being played at the same time. Are you illegally trying to scam us for extra player points? or Paco, if you don't play the machine in 10 seconds we are going to alter the payback schedule in our favor., etc.

Quote: pacomartin

While player may appreciate a little note popping up on their slot machine saying Paco, you have just won a free buffet they are going to be upset the first time a note pops up that say Paco, we are detecting two player cards with your name on it being played at the same time. Are you illegally trying to scam us for extra player points? or Paco, if you don't play the machine in 10 seconds we are going to alter the payback schedule in our favor., etc.

LOL Hal-9000 slot machines

Quote: teddys

LOL Hal-9000 slot machines

Not until it locks you out of the casino and attempts to kill you ;)

Seriously, they sound more like the advertising seen in "Minority Report"

Quote: teddys

LOL Hal-9000 slot machines

Ten Best Hal-9000 quotes

*) I'm sorry, Frank, but I don't think I can answer that question without knowing everything that all of you know.

*) Sorry to interrupt the festivities, Dave, but I think we've got a problem.

*) Five by five, Frank.

*) Hello, Dave. Shall we continue the game?

*) Dave, I don't know how else to put this, but it just happens to be an unalterable fact that I am incapable of being wrong.

*) Too bad about Frank, isn't it? It's a bad break, but it won't substantially affect the mission.

*) I don't like to assert myself, Dave, but it would be much better now for you to rest.

*) Hey, Dave, what are you doing?

*) You are destroying my mind... Don't you understand?... I will become childish... I will become nothing.

*) Daisy, Daisy, give me your answer do. I'm half crazy all for the love of you...

I hated that movie when it came out. I was only age 11, and I loved Arthur Clarke novels. The movie made no sense to me at all. I kept asking my dad to explain it to me, but he was as lost as I was. The voice of HAL is still alive, he's now 82 years old.

Hmm .. a slot machine that says creepy things would be different.