Title:
Sign of Zodiac Player: You are player number 1646 Description: This is a 5 column, 3 reels slot machine with Zodiac theme
Can Slot Machines Be Set Against You
This was also one of the most frequently asked questions I heard when preparing this book. Unfortunately the answer to this question is “Yes” they can. From a practical standpoint however, there is no credible reason why a licensed casino would ever set slot machines to cheat customers. I will explain this is more detail as we discuss this question, but first let me describe the most common methods, (old and new) of setting a machine against a customer.
As I described in the previous question on “Hot & Cold” machines, there was in mechanical slot machines, a star-wheel which determined the amount the machine would pay. The star wheel resembles the blade of a standard carpenter’s power saw, but with much wider and deeper cuts .In the old days some unscrupulous slot operators would block the opening on the star wheel of the index that paid the big jackpot. (All of the necessary symbols were present on the slot machine reels... but the reel could not stop on the Casino star wheel In the index necessary to pay the jackpot.) Nevada State law says that all jackpots advertised must be capable of being hit and paid. The intentional blockage of a star wheel is of course, a violation of state law and can result in heavy fines, terminations and/or the loss of gaming license for the casino and/or its’ employees. This particular method went the way of the mechanical slot machine and is no longer a real consideration. (Keep in mind also, that the State of Nevada Division of Gaming Enforcement or the Audit Division of the Gaming Board can, and does inspect slot machines on a regular but random looking basis. Something as blatant as a metal guard over a star wheel payoff index was very easy to spot and is very strong evidence. An old mechanical slot machine could not possibly wear out that way. The metal blocker was an absolute indication of intent to cheat players.) Some old-time slot operators had devised methods whereby the slot machine hopper would not pay the entire amount of a medium to large payoff.
Suppose a slot machine payoff was to be 25 coins. The machine was rigged to pay between 20 and 23 coins.., a short payoff. If the customer was diligent enough (as my mother would be), to count each payoff and complain (as my mother would), they would simply be paid the extra coins. The excuse would be that the machine had malfunctioned and would be repaired as soon as possible.... and “Thank you for bringing this problem to our attention.” If the customer did not count the payoff or complain (as my father wouldn’t), the slot operator made an extra profit on each player by short paying.
One very old method which could still be used today involves the change girl or slot booth attendant. The method is known as “Short Rolling” a customer. The change person or slot booth attendant would secretly open a roll of dollar tokens. They would remove one coin from the roll and then carefully rewrap the rest to look like a full roll. For each roll sold, the attendant would pocket one dollar. If a customer complained (as my mother would), she was given a dollar with the excuse that the coin rolling machine in the count room must have made a mistake. (For your Information, surveillance or outside companies will routinely check the buy-ins and cash-outs of slot employees to keep them honest.)
The newer slot machines are no longer mechanical. The electronic slot machines in today’s casinos are controlled by random number generators and EPROMS. The source code and a master EPROM chip must be approved for use by the Electronic Services Division of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. The master EPROM is used as a comparator by which any similar slot machine EPROM can be tested. One local Las Vegas slot machine company was accused of tampering with the EPROMS of video draw poker machines in local bars. The allegation was that the company had altered the EPROM program to prevent certain cards from being dealt once the machine had paid out over a particular amount. This incident only effected local bars and local establishments, and did not effect any casino. This company has since been fined and put out of business.
It is important to understand that casinos have no need or desire to cheat customers. Today’s casinos are not the old saw dust joints of early Nevada where taking from a customer went right into the pocket of the owner or boss. In today’s casinos the owners and/or bosses are not allowed by law, to count the money. Today’s casino owner is for the most part, a publicly held and traded corporation. Even a hint of scandal could be disastrous to the management, stock and gaming license of a casino and in fact jeopardize the corporations interests in the other gaming areas of the country or the world.
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