A new low in low-stakes gaming

Click on any photo for a larger version.


I spent three days last week at Mohegan Sun. I was thinking about a trip log and I may yet do one, but I just had to post about this.

I really have little interest in slots, but this caught my eye: Quarter cent slots. No, not 25¢, but 1/4¢!

Kudos to whoever made the correct decision to have the signs say "1/4¢" rather than ".25¢"

Admin note: removed link to www.djteddybear.com/images/2012_mohegan_sun_xmas/large/IMG_1920.jpgAdmin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/2012_mohegan_sun_xmas/thumbs/IMG_1920.jpg

Interestingly, max play (20 credits x 25 lines = 500 credits = $1.25) is still higher than what some basic 25¢ machines charge (3 credits x 1 line = 75¢).

Admin note: removed link to www.djteddybear.com/images/2012_mohegan_sun_xmas/large/IMG_1921.jpgAdmin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/2012_mohegan_sun_xmas/thumbs/IMG_1921.jpg

Here's a cool shot I got while my wife was playing, and the machine was paying a win. Note that the fractional part of the payout is blurry. That's because I caught it as it was displaying +1/2 and the shutter remained open to catch +3/4.

Admin note: removed link to www.djteddybear.com/images/2012_mohegan_sun_xmas/large/IMG_1924.jpgAdmin note: removed image www.djteddybear.com/images/2012_mohegan_sun_xmas/thumbs/IMG_1924.jpg


Golden Opportunity for slot lurkers! When you cash out, it doesn't pay the fractional cent, but leaves it in the machine. As a result, these machines often have up to 3 credits in them, waiting for the next player. OK, maybe not a "Golden" opportunity, but surely a Copper opportunity, if the lurker plays the credits and wins.

Although I wasn't looking, I only saw this one bank of 12 machines at 1/4¢. While my wife played, I checked the other machines. 9 of them had at least 1 abandoned credit. I played them all. Won a couple cents on two of them, but then tried to parlay it into real money and lost. The wife didn't do any better, but her $10 buy in lasted a while....

Quote: DJTeddyBear

I was thinking about a trip log

Yes, do one... it's been too long since I've been there.

The fractional amount reference reminds me of the movie Office Space - where the employees who found out they were to be fired the next day install software whereby all fractional amounts of pennies will be deposited into their account. Over time, these fractions can start adding up, but, probably not worth the time it would take

This idea of fractional cent betting HAS to spread!!! Especially on multi line machines. What's next, 1000 lines, 5000 lines?

Quote: aceofspades

The fractional amount reference reminds me of the movie Office Space - where the employees who found out they were to be fired the next day install software whereby all fractional amounts of pennies will be deposited into their account. Over time, these fractions can start adding up, but, probably not worth the time it would take

In the early 60's a computer programmer stole millions doing that on a bank's main computer.

And wasn't that Richard Pryor's scheme in Superman III?

I have played games where you can play 2 lines for a penny, but you can never have a fractional cent balance. This a first to me. If I ever make it to the Mohegan Sun and these still exist, I am going to put a dollar in the machine, so I can deconstruct it...lol

deleted

I play these games sometimes. They're a good way to kill time without getting into trouble. Not sure I'd call them any opportunity for lurkers though, since the best you can do is work it up to a few cents.

Who is the manufacturer of these fractional cent games?

They have similar at Mohegan Pocono: 99 lines for 30 cents. Not sure if it's exactly the same, but it is less than a cent per line. I played a couple of them. You always win something, even if it's only 6 cents.

Quote: AlanMendelson

Who is the manufacturer of these fractional cent games?

They appear to be "Five Times Pay" which I believe is an IGT game.

Yes, these are IGT. I saw fractional denom IGT machines about 6 yrs ago at GLI.

Quote: Mosca

They have similar at Mohegan Pocono: 99 lines for 30 cents. Not sure if it's exactly the same, but it is less than a cent per line. I played a couple of them. You always win something, even if it's only 6 cents.

Those machines are not new. Mohegan Sun in Connecticut has had them for 4 or 5 years. Put a $5 bill in and get 2000 credits. Nevermind, I have to go watch some paint dry.

Quote: Mosca

They have similar at Mohegan Pocono: 99 lines for 30 cents. Not sure if it's exactly the same, but it is less than a cent per line. I played a couple of them. You always win something, even if it's only 6 cents.

1/4 cent slots.... always win something ... I can see these becoming valuable marketing gimmicks.

Quote: aceofspades

The fractional amount reference reminds me of the movie Office Space - where the employees who found out they were to be fired the next day install software whereby all fractional amounts of pennies will be deposited into their account. Over time, these fractions can start adding up, but, probably not worth the time it would take

The idea at the very least predates the movie.

It formed one of the first points of the first episode of the TV show Profit (highly recommended - just 9 episodes, but what episodes). Every third, seventh and ninth of a cent rounded down to the nearest hundredth. Do it to the budget of a large enough corporation...

Quote: AlanMendelson

This idea of fractional cent betting HAS to spread!!! Especially on multi line machines. What's next, 1000 lines, 5000 lines?

15,245,687 Lines at 10 Credits per Line on a 1/478956th cent machine for a Max Bet of $318.31081!

The ER will be about 88%!

Make it 14 credits per line and you've got a winner.

Quote: P90

Make it 14 credits per line and you've got a winner.

But the player betting $445.635127 a spin will still think he is playing a penny-fraction machine and will get ER of 88% compared to 92-94% on a $0.25 Denom, we can't fleece them that bad! $300-$375 is just fine!

Quote: Mission146

But the player betting $445.635127 a spin will still think he is playing a penny-fraction machine and will get ER of 88% compared to 92-94% on a $0.25 Denom, we can't fleece them that bad! $300-$375 is just fine!

Ah... I had a more sinister reference there.
To a group quite keen to skin their sheep. But not to derail the thread further...

You actually can bet a single credit per spin on these.