February 7th, 2012 at 2:15:45 PM
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For a given machine, do the probabilities change depending on the denomination you select? or the number of lines played? Clearly the payouts may change, but what about the probabilities? For instance, does regulation require casinos to set machines to a single set of probabilities?
February 7th, 2012 at 2:24:10 PM
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It is actually more often the case that the probabilities change but the payouts do not. Probability changes are effected by reweighting reels, which is invisible to the player, while paytable changes are readily perceived. And no, regulations don't require a single model in a game. There are almost always multiple game models available for configuration by the operator.
"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
February 7th, 2012 at 2:43:36 PM
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Generally, the return is not affected by the number of lines played. There might be some exceptions, but I'm not aware of any.
Most multi-denom games can be configured to have a different paytable for every available denomination. As ME said, the number of credits won for a winning combination won't change, but the frequency of the symbols change.
Most multi-denom games can be configured to have a different paytable for every available denomination. As ME said, the number of credits won for a winning combination won't change, but the frequency of the symbols change.
I heart Crystal Math.
February 7th, 2012 at 3:14:15 PM
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Quote: CrystalMathGenerally, the return is not affected by the number of lines played. There might be some exceptions, but I'm not aware of any.
All I can think of offhand are situations where there's a black-out pay. Like a progressive or added bonus for matching all 9 squares on a 3x3 slot, where you have to play all 8 lines to get the bonus.
"So as the clock ticked and the day passed, opportunity met preparation, and luck happened." - Maurice Clarett
February 7th, 2012 at 3:17:41 PM
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Sure, the idea of a max-coin (or max-line) bump is well known and goes all the way back to 3-reel single line multipliers. But I think the OP was asking about shifts in overall RTP based on denom (e.g. 25c vs $1), not on # lines played.
"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
February 7th, 2012 at 3:38:29 PM
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Quote: MathExtremistSure, the idea of a max-coin (or max-line) bump is well known and goes all the way back to 3-reel single line multipliers. But I think the OP was asking about shifts in overall RTP based on denom (e.g. 25c vs $1), not on # lines played.
I'm curious about both, thanks everyone for these replies. The blackout payout mentioned by rdw4potus is a good example of probabilities changing based on lines played.
Let me ask a narrower followup question: Do the reels change depending on how many lines you play? For instance, in the youtube video from Wizard's Deconstructing Jackpot Party article, he bets 9 lines, one coin per line, at the penny denomination. Suppose I sit down at Jackpot Party the moment wizard gets up from the seat (so there's no chance that the Wynn has changed the machine settings in between). Furthermore, let's assume Wizard's analysis is in fact correct. Finally, let's assume there isn't any blackout payout or special payout that can only happen when a certain number of lines are being played.
Will I be up against the same outcome distribution (I mean on a line by line basis) as the Wizard was even if I play only 2 lines, instead of 9? What if I still play 9 lines, but play 5 coins per line instead of just one?
February 7th, 2012 at 9:09:10 PM
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On every game I've ever tested or done math for (hundreds of games from many manufacturers), the reels did not change based on the number of lines played or on the bet per line.
There is a manufacturer I've seen called U1 and they make a game where the return percentage varies with the bet and it tells the player exactly what the return is at that wager. I don't know if they do it by changing pays or by changing reels; I didn't look at the games very closely because I don't like the idea.
There is a manufacturer I've seen called U1 and they make a game where the return percentage varies with the bet and it tells the player exactly what the return is at that wager. I don't know if they do it by changing pays or by changing reels; I didn't look at the games very closely because I don't like the idea.
I heart Crystal Math.