Casinos Unlikely to Tighten Slots
I don't think you have to worry about this just yet also for two reasons. First of all the slot machines have a computer chip in them that determines the pay back percentage. These are preset at the factory. In order for a casino to change the pay back, they would have to change the chip. In most jurisdictions there is paper work that has to be filled out and submitted to the Casino Control Commission for each machine if the chip is changed. It is time consuming and the chips are very expensive. Of course a few years from now when some casinos switch to the server based slots they will be able to change the payback with a few mouse clicks.
Secondly, even if the casinos could easily change the playback of the machines I doubt they would do it. Tighter machines would probably drive away more customers. Since business is down they should be doing everything possible to keep the players they still have.
Comments
Bill,
I think your about a year or 2 behind the times.I faithfully read your articles,and find some are interesting,but I enjoy playing slots.And I play probably more than i should.And I also have noticed while playing that you just don’t see the payoffs,like you used to.I’m very convinced that the slots are tighter.And when you start seeing server-based being introduced,its going to be worse.The reason I feel this,is all about casino profit.Thats the bottom line.I think your going to see if they can change the percentage,by a click of a mouse,your going to see alot less payouts.I don’t want to sound negative about something i enjoy.I just call them the way I see it.Keep up the good articles. I do enjoy them,but don’t always agree…..
I agree that tightening slots is a bad idea since the casinos don’t want to drive more customers away but also cutting down on comps is pretty much the same thing.
I used to go to Atlantic City quite often as I live on the east coast but since the economy is so bad I have cut down on my trips and have not gone for quite a while.
Now the comps stil do arrive in my mailbox but the Saturday night comps seem to be a thing of the past and Sun-Thurs is all that is being offered.
Bill,
I agree with Dave that the slots are tighter than ever. I have gone to Vegas 3 or 4 times a year for the past 8 years, but I can’t seem to win anything at slots. Thank goodness for a little blackjack luck. I enjoy slots, butI am smart enough to know you can’t beat them. I am a professional tax preparer and consistently see situations like a woman I had last week who came in with W2-G’s ( winnings ) of
$ 15,540 but had overall losses of $ 43,000 for the year…..You can’t beat em
The slots are already tight. We won’t have to wait 2-3 years. I go to Atlantic City, haven’t won a jackpot in ages & comps Sunday to Thursdays. I used to love AC. I am definitely going to the new casinos in PA, Yonkers, CT. Adios Atlantic City.
You have to remember that the casinos are constantly buying new machines. And they are buying the new machines with a lower pay back. Bill is right that they are not changing the chips on the exsisting machines.