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Slot machine as we know them today are the result of the machine manufacturers applying new technology to one of the most popular forms of gambling.
I think we should all remember that exposure to any form of gambling should be limited to responsible adults of legal age.
Slots have been described as captivating by many gamblers who choose this type of gambling as their game of choice. Advertisers have been banned from using sublime seduction to induce the consumer. It is about time that slot machines be very carefully examined by experts to determine exactly what the gamblers find to be captivating about the slots.
Defining Slots-For-Tots.
The new Millennium has begun with a new controversy for legal gaming: whether some slot machines might be unduly attractive to children.
The issue became news in October, 1999, when the Nevada Gaming Commission (ANGC@) made public its growing unhappiness over gaming devices with cartoon themes. In December, the NGC circulated proposed regulations. On January 27, 2000 the NGC met and adopted amendments to NGC Regulation 14, prohibiting slot machines with themes derived from products marketed to children.
The mass media loves stories like this. Headlines of AChildren At Risk!@ always sell papers, especially tabloids. Television news shows want action and color: one slot machine is worth a thousand talking heads. Even radio could get in on this story, throwing out familiar names, like Betty Boop7 and South Park7.
Gambling is a sexy issue, so long as it does not get too complicated. It also gives rise to strong emotional reactions, especially from its opponents, the Aanti's.
The enormous success of Wheel of Fortune7 led manufacturers to look for other well-know brand-names. The issue over age-appropriate gaming devices was inevitable, since so many of our best-loved trademarks come from our childhood: Monopoly7, The Three Stooges7, Elvis Presley7. The whole point of branded slots is to tap in to our warm, fuzzy feelings of nostalgia. Such selling-by-association is certainly nothing new: movies like Star Wars7 may make more money from toys and other products than from the movie itself. But it is relatively new to legal gambling.
Regulators face a myriad of problems when an issue like kiddie-theme slots is raised in the press.
It would be natural to think the first question to be resolved is whether the problem really exists This is not as easy as it seems. Exactly how does one discover whether children are being unduly enticed into gambling by machines with themes?
What is the standard? Would it be enough to show that merely one child in the country put money into a particular slot machine? How do we prove that the child would not have made the bet, but for the lure of the brand name?
It is very difficult to show that something is true beyond any doubt, like the claim that certain games create underage gambling. But it is nearly impossible to prove the opposite, that something is not true. What evidence would you use to show a slot machine is not unduly attractive to children?
Since we are forced to deal with probabilities, should regulators be concerned if there is only a slim possibility the claim is true? For a politically explosive issue like this, regulators will, often unconsciously, follow the path with the least downside risk to themselves.
If regulators ban certain slots that should not have been banned, the loss to casinos, manufacturers and players is small and difficult to measure. But, if they allow a device they should have outlawed, there is the possibility of scandal B such as pictures of kids playing slots on national T.V. B that will raise questions about the regulators' own competence.
Although there may be a bias in favor of imposing new standards, in the name of protecting children, there is also a bias against making any new rule. The first question a good regulator, or lawyer representing an interested party, will ask is whether these regulators have the power to issue regulations such as these.
Major constitutional challenges make news. But the day-to-day world of making regulations involves questions of procedure and delegation.
What procedures should the regulators use to guarantee due process -- that all interested parties have a fair and equal opportunity to have their say -- not just now, but when new machines are invented in the future? The easiest format is to allow presentations of evidence and arguments at hearings open to the public.
The delegation doctrine is also fundamental to our democratic system. Regulators are appointed, not elected. The only power they have is the specific, limited power given them by the legislature or governor.
The NGC found a law passed by the Nevada Legislature to justify its action. Section 463.350 of the Nevada Gaming Control Act makes it a crime for a licensed operator to allow anyone under 21 to gamble. The NGC declared its new rules Awill further the enforcement of 463.350 by establishing standards for gaming device themes.
Is it necessary to have a prohibition on these games at all? Regulators of riverboat casinos, which can easily prevent any child from boarding, will probably find it unnecessary to issue new rules about gaming themes. In other cases self-regulation will work: You are not going to see any Pokemon slot machines.
How does a regulator define what games are prohibited? A rule that simply lists cartoon characters and other kiddie attractions, obviously will not work: there are too many and they are constantly changing.
The NGC had to take three pages to describe what themes it was making illegal. The regulators used a mix of general statements and specific examples. Banned are themes Abased on a product that is currently and primarily intended or marketed for use by persons under 21." These include TV programs, cartoons, books, board games, movies and video games less than 21 years old with AG@ and similar ratings.
Exceptions are allowed where Athe theme is attractive to adults because of its nostalgic appeal.@ The regulators also gave themselves the power to Arestrict the time, place and manner in which an approved gaming device may be displayed.@ And they grandfathered-in Aany themes that were used in connection with gaming devices@ already approved.
Being a regulator may seem like child=s play, but usually it is hard work.
[Professor Rose can be reached at his Web Site: www.GamblingAndTheLaw.com]
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The Standard deviation slots strategy is perhaps the most advanced of all slots
playing tactics. It involves using a mathematical equation to determine on what
spins the machine is most likely to yield a win. Although some people prefer
to use the precision of actual mathematical formulas in these strategies it
is not necessary, and with a little practice can be done quite quickly in your
head. Here are the steps to make the strategy work.
1. The 1st step is to choose a Slot machine, or game, that uses "Equal-Ratio"
play. This means any slots game that gives you the same payout percentage
for every level of play. For example, if you bet 4 dimes (40 cents) the jackpot
will be exactly 4 times the jackpot than if you had bet 1 dime. The standard
deviation strategy will only work on slot games that have this kind of payout
percentage structure.
2. The Standard Deviation strategy enables you to calculate the "standard
deviation" of the number of spins between wins. In order to accomplish
this, the player must bet with a minimum amount in order to establish, on average,
how many spins you must make before a win will happen. So have a pen and notepad
ready and play for a while. Record the number of spins you make before you get
a win. Make sure you repeat the cycle after every win about ten times. For instance,
if you spin 8 times and on the 9th spin you make a win you would write down
9.
3. Once you have about 10 wins recorded take the average of all the numbers
and you have the standard deviation for that game. So if you find that the
wins happen about 10 to 20 spins apart the standard deviation would be 15. You
would then know that in order to maximize your chances of winning for that game
all you have to do is continually bet minimum amounts for 14 spins, then on
the 15th you would bet the maximum. It might not work out every time, but it
will give you the edge you need to ensure you are playing with the maximum possibility
of winning.
NOTE: For the purposes of simplicity the exact formula for the standard Deviation
strategy is not given here. Doing it on the cuff and in your head is a much
more convenient way and is still just as accurate to produce a marked increase
in your number of wins. Just remember it takes time. The longer you stay playing,
the bigger the increase in the number of wins will be.
Also it is important to keep in mind that for best results you should employ
this strategy only on those slots games with the highest payout percentage.
If you have carefully selected a slot machine with a payout percentage around
98 percent, you have the ability to create a slot game with an ultra high payout
percentage. Combined with careful game selection the standard deviation strategy,
this is an extremely powerful way to get the most wins.
One Play Strategies
This is a simple but very effective strategy. Like Standard Deviation, in order
to make the One Play Strategy work, you must also choose slots games that offer
Equal-ratio payouts. This method works best with games that offer the biggest
jackpots, and you play only the maximum bet. These are the steps.
You start if any one play wins a payout at 1x-3x (1 to 3 times the amount bet)
then you make 1 more play.
If any one play wins 4x or more, then you make 3 more plays.
Otherwise you stop playing immediately.
Take note of those slots where such strategies might seem to work, and those
games where they do not work.
Note: there are a lot of people who don't believe in One Play slot machine
strategies. They usually say that it is impossible to win by just using one
kind of bet. The best thing to do is try the method out for yourself, if it
works for you than it does not mater what anyone else thinks about the strategy.
Also here are some things to consider when deciding whether to use the One Play
Strategy.
There will always be times when a slot game does not pay for awhile, and then
"pays off" in the end. However there also are times when a slot machine
game will just keep on paying.
Even a jackpot does not last very long if you go around feeding slot machines
that do not feed you back.
If you can keep, on average, 1x from every 3x win, you will do better than
to win the largest jackpot.
.
The
Booster. is a three-wheel, single-payline progressive slot machine game with
exciting features. Before spinning, you must place a bet. High rollers
who like the game of slots will like the Booster - you can bet from 1
up to 10 half dollar coins ($0.50 - $5.00) on the main payline per
single spin. There is only one payline at the Booster game. The payoff
for the payline is based on the coins bet.
The BOOST
symbol is wild and can substitute for another symbol in the payline.
Every time the BOOST symbol is going to appear, the game is
interrupted and you can select either to keep the current bet placed
or "boost" your bet 10 times (you "boost" your bet by clicking the
smaller lever). This allows amazing winnings per single spin. Also, no
bet is lost at the Booster game. Every bet which does not win is added
to the special Fund. The Fund can be cashed anytime for 10% of its
value or you may choose to try to recover ALL of your bets by risking
and attempting to win the entire amount during a special WIN/LOSE
spin.
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