Should slot machines stop screaming,"Big Winner!" ?

I thought this topic warrants it's own thread, but Admins, you can move this post to the gambling miscellanous thread if it really belongs there.

I think they should. I remember someone who was just minding his own business playing near me won $5,000 on a Quick Hits machine at a $5 bet when he got 9 Quick Hits symbols. The machine screamed,"Big Winner! Big Winner!" Along with big flashing. A huge crowd crowded around to see. He had an uncomfortable look that clearly read, "Great. Now a bunch of people know that I won $5,000! I just might end up screwed!" I don't blame him especially with recent reports of people being mugged and robbed of their winnings. Someone even got mugged for a $50 win! O.O Imagine a $5,000 win! A guy minding his own business playing his machine got knocked out of his chair by a crowd that rushed by when a woman playing won $80,000 playing WOF. The woman was unnerved and smartly asked the Casino staff to pay her in the back in private with a check. Most people do not want complete strangers knowing they won thousands of dollars on a machine. Who could blame them(Look at my recent sentences).

Nathan,

If you win a handpay which is a pretty common occurance, the whole ordeal should not take more than 10 minutes from the time of verification (unless the slot staff are completely swamped). Unless it's a HUGE amount, I think most people stop, check to glance how much the handpay is, and then move on. If one feels uncomfortable with all the cash that has been won, he or she may ask security to escort he/she to the car at any time. The casino will happily oblige. I've done this several times. However, in a very unlikely event, there is a possibility of bad people waiting to trail your car and rob you once you get home. I guess you're SOL by that point.

Maybe a possible mitigation method would be to ask a slot host that you'd like to celebrate a big win and stay at the hotel? Get a room comp'd by the hotel. Hang out there until some time has passed, and then head home.

I've noticed the slot techs have been very congratulatory, but a bit more discreet than years prior... so perhaps they're trying to not draw the crowd, I dunno.

My beef isn't with the machine going "BIG WINNER" when you hit a jackpot, at least that's not a lie... my beef is when you win your bet back (so you don't win anything) and the machine goes "KA-CHING KA-CHING WINNER WINNER!" It's this type of blatant psychological hook that attempts to mislead patrons to thinking they're winning when they're not that I think should be illegal.

If it's below a handpay, hit the "spin" button again, and it will stop that.

If it's a handpay and you're worried about your safety, ask for a check.

Quote: Romes

I've noticed the slot techs have been very congratulatory, but a bit more discreet than years prior... so perhaps they're trying to not draw the crowd, I dunno.

My beef isn't with the machine going "BIG WINNER" when you hit a jackpot, at least that's not a lie... my beef is when you win your bet back (so you don't win anything) and the machine goes "KA-CHING KA-CHING WINNER WINNER!" It's this type of blatant psychological hook that attempts to mislead patrons to thinking they're winning when they're not that I think should be illegal.

Showboat 2012 : 8 free spins on wizard of oz slot. Not one penny won on any spin

Screen in huge letters proclaims: CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HUGE WIN OF 0 CREDITS

Quote: darkoz

...CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR HUGE WIN OF 0 CREDITS

The machine paid you by giving you this unforgettable story!

I'm waiting for the Willy Wonka machines to do this when people lose

Quote: GlenG

I'm waiting for the Willy Wonka machines to do this when people lose

I actually think one of the versions of Wonka did this when you won nothing on a bonus.

Quote: SiegfriedRoy

Nathan,

If you win a handpay which is a pretty common occurance, the whole ordeal should not take more than 10 minutes from the time of verification (unless the slot staff are completely swamped). Unless it's a HUGE amount, I think most people stop, check to glance how much the handpay is, and then move on. If one feels uncomfortable with all the cash that has been won, he or she may ask security to escort he/she to the car at any time. The casino will happily oblige. I've done this several times. However, in a very unlikely event, there is a possibility of bad people waiting to trail your car and rob you once you get home. I guess you're SOL by that point.

Maybe a possible mitigation method would be to ask a slot host that you'd like to celebrate a big win and stay at the hotel? Get a room comp'd by the hotel. Hang out there until some time has passed, and then head home.

That's a good idea. :) You can even ask a host to personally escort you to your hotel. It's harder to be attacked for money when you have a host escort. :)

I learned the hard way yesterday that the handpay level at casino Nova Scotia is $500. I was chasing a set of big free games amounts on a Harley Davidson slot, put in $480, played for 5 min, hit the mini games, and won $60. Remembered that I hate that game and pushed cash out $503.25. It locked up and played the jackpot music. About 50 people congratulated me on my "win" while I was waiting to be paid. I don't know what the attendant thought was going to happen, but he made me wait 25 minutes and then broke the last $100 into small bills like I might want to tip $38.25 or something.

Quote: rdw4potus

I learned the hard way yesterday that the handpay level at casino Nova Scotia is $500. I was chasing a set of big free games amounts on a Harley Davidson slot, put in $480, played for 5 min, hit the mini games, and won $60. Remembered that I hate that game and pushed cash out $503.25. It locked up and played the jackpot music. About 50 people congratulated me on my "win" while I was waiting to be paid. I don't know what the attendant thought was going to happen, but he made me wait 25 minutes and then broke the last $100 into small bills like I might want to tip $38.25 or something.

That last sentence was messed up on his part. I would have said something passive aggressive like,"Geez, I started with $480 and am only up about $23! I can't believe I am getting a handpay on basically my own bankroll money!" If he isn't dense he should pick up that you are not going to tip him when you are only up roughly $23. ;)

Quote: rdw4potus

I learned the hard way yesterday that the handpay level at casino Nova Scotia is $500. I was chasing a set of big free games amounts on a Harley Davidson slot, put in $480, played for 5 min, hit the mini games, and won $60. Remembered that I hate that game and pushed cash out $503.25. It locked up and played the jackpot music. About 50 people congratulated me on my "win" while I was waiting to be paid. I don't know what the attendant thought was going to happen, but he made me wait 25 minutes and then broke the last $100 into small bills like I might want to tip $38.25 or something.

It may have been annoying at the time, however, I would be keeping extra close attention to their promotions. There could be a situation where you are loving the low their threshold for hand pays are.

It's actully a good thing IMO.

I was just recently thinking of the possibility of manually lowering the sound on the slot machine to minimize unwanted attention.That should work, right? :)

As I sit quietly playing Video Poker and minding my own business, personally I do not care for the super loud shrieking of the Caveman Keno game. At least I think that is where the shrieking is coming from.