Casino Ethics: Slots
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9 members have voted
November 10th, 2011 at 8:55:40 AM
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Are casinos ethical with the design of slots?
Arguments for yes:
The players love them
Arguments for no:
There is no way to tell the house edge on a slot machine
Studies have shown that the intermittent reward system causes addictive behavior
Every aspect of slot design, lights, colors, placement, sounds, etc, are designed to increase play
Slots are designed to show you missed a jackpot by one reel being slightly off; you'll get it next spin!
Other arguments?
Arguments for yes:
The players love them
Arguments for no:
There is no way to tell the house edge on a slot machine
Studies have shown that the intermittent reward system causes addictive behavior
Every aspect of slot design, lights, colors, placement, sounds, etc, are designed to increase play
Slots are designed to show you missed a jackpot by one reel being slightly off; you'll get it next spin!
Other arguments?
November 10th, 2011 at 9:17:44 AM
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Slots provide a method of entertainment. It is gambling at its purest. However, state lottery, scratch tickets, and even racinos tell you what the house take is on a bet. That information is available to you, sometimes in the race program, sometimes on the back of the ticket, sometimes on their website. It's not calculable on a slot machine.
Most slot machines have a number for the problem gambling hotline imprinted somewhere on their slot machines.
However, because the casino doesn't tell you the edge on each machine and the variance, you don't have the information available to determine what you will probably lose over time. And slot machines are probably addictive. And it's usually played by those in the lower segment of income. Slot machines (generally) are really an entertainment tax on the poor. Unethical.
Would you go to a golf course or bowling alley and not know after you've bowled or golfed how much it's going to cost?
Most slot machines have a number for the problem gambling hotline imprinted somewhere on their slot machines.
However, because the casino doesn't tell you the edge on each machine and the variance, you don't have the information available to determine what you will probably lose over time. And slot machines are probably addictive. And it's usually played by those in the lower segment of income. Slot machines (generally) are really an entertainment tax on the poor. Unethical.
Would you go to a golf course or bowling alley and not know after you've bowled or golfed how much it's going to cost?
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You want the truth! You can't handle the truth!
November 10th, 2011 at 9:22:41 AM
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On one line slots, it is easy to design in near misses. On multi-line games, the probability of being above or below the line is identical to the probability of being on the line, so it's not a near miss.
The one game that I think is unethical in it's display is Wheel of Fortune. The top box wheel spins and displays many near misses, and the probability of getting a specific award is not evenly distributed.
This is generally interpretted to mean that a die will have 1/6 chance of landing on each side and each card in a deck will have a 1/52 chance of being drawn. But, for some reason, it doesn't apply to this wheel which simulates a live casino game (money wheel).
The one game that I think is unethical in it's display is Wheel of Fortune. The top box wheel spins and displays many near misses, and the probability of getting a specific award is not evenly distributed.
Quote: GLI-11 regulations
4.3.6 Live Game Correlation: Unless otherwise denoted on the payglass, where the gaming device plays a game that is recognizable to be a simulation of a live casino game such as Poker, Blackjack, Roulette, Etc., the same probabilities associated with the live game shall be evident in the simulated game.
This is generally interpretted to mean that a die will have 1/6 chance of landing on each side and each card in a deck will have a 1/52 chance of being drawn. But, for some reason, it doesn't apply to this wheel which simulates a live casino game (money wheel).
I heart Crystal Math.
