The common presumption regarding
Slots machines is that they function
according to random generation of
the machines. Any player can
therefore be a winner at any time.
Win mainly depends on your skill and
employment of different game odds
and strategies. Hence, Slots
machines cannot ever refuse
occurrence of any winning
combination.
Different regulatory authorities and
agencies conduct independent surveys
of Slots machines. This is to
protect players from any rigging of
machines and ensure correct payouts.
The underlying question here is the
effectiveness of these regulatory
checks.
How far do these checks determine
and locate any discrepancies, if
existing?
Four American states - Mississippi,
Montana, Nevada, and New Jersey have
their individual testing facilities
for their electronic Slots machines.
All other states offering legalized
gambling rely on Gaming Labs
International. This is an
independent testing firm.
All Slots machines have computer
chips within. These function
randomly and deliver any results in
a game. Although this is what they
essentially should do, in reality it
is not so. Most computer chips have
in-built programs. These programs
have specific features within. One
of these features is a near-miss
option. This feature does not affect
the playing odds or the game odds of
your Slots game.
Nevertheless, it does not allow
formation of a winning combination
too. The miss is so minute that you
feel that you just missed the
winning combination. This lures you
in following your strategies and
employing further deviations from
the earlier strategies with the hope
that this time you are sure to win.
Machine manufacturers or programmers
install such features knowingly.
This is a tactic to keep the players
on the machines for a longer time.
This proves beneficial to the
casino. However, this is a case of
cheating by the casino.
Another feature is to install such
mechanism on dollar machines. Hence,
players tend to fall into the trap
by the casinos. They spend longer
times at such dollar machines doling
out lots of money. In the end, they
do not ever win the accurate
combination. Instead, the casino
owner is laughing all the way to his
bank.
Responsibilities of Regulatory
Agencies
Although Gaming control has the
responsibility of ensuring fair game
play, yet most regulations of the
Gaming control are not in force.
Many employees overlook the errors
or near-miss features in Slots
machines while on their routine
checks. Sometimes, regulatory
agencies ask them to do so. Gaming
control employees have to approve
the slots machines as being in
perfect condition.
Some casinos undertake the
responsibility of programming their
machines and computer chips in
accordance with the regulations of
the Gaming council. When confronted
with the near miss feature easily
prevalent in almost every Slots
machine, Company officials do not
undertake any responsibility and
wash their hands-off the matter.
They argue that Slots machines are
according to the laws and
regulations of the Gaming board.
They refuse to clarify implicitly if
such a feature is available within
the game regulations.
Casinos can undertake different
technical variations in their
machines if they offer a minimum of
75% payout in their Slots games.
This gives a free hand to the
casinos to implement their own rules
or make changes in the existing
rules and laws. Therefore, it puts a
question mark about the reliability
on the slots machines about whether
their payout is true or is it
manipulated.
