Art Kendall <Arthur.Kendall@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
> If a machine allows up to 9 lines to be played at once, is there a
> different expected long run result if I play 1 line 9000 times than if
> I play 9 lines 1000 times? Is any difference in results attributable
> to the way the machine is set up, or is it _solely_ a function of
> which pseudorandom numbers are generated?
>
> Art
<snip>
The long term return in dollars is determined by the payback
percentage set in the machine. That is independent of how may paylines,
how much you wager per payline, etc.
That being said, the frequency of hitting any winning combination will
of course vary depending upon how many paylines are played, since the
positioning and frequency of the symbols on the reels are not independent.
Since not every winning combination pays the same return value, this is
where the internal weighting tables come in. The higher paying
combinations will of course be weighted to occur less frequently and
that is how the target long term payback percentage is achieved.
How this occurs will depend upon the specific implementation in the
machine and the internal weighting tables that are used. These details
are typically not part of the published patent filings and are
proprietary to the manufacturer, though the regulatory oversight folks
will have confidential access to this information.
In the situation where you are playing multiple paylines, bear in mind
that the total return for any winners achieved, can in fact be less than
the total amount wagered for that spin. For example, I have seen
machines with 30 or even 50 paylines on machines with 4 and 5 reels. If
you bet $0.01 per payline, your total wager in the latter case is
$0.50. If on the same spin, you hit one winner that pays $0.20 and
another that pays $0.10, you still have a net loss of $0.20 even though
you had two winning combinations.
The casino will determine the payback percentage for particular machines
within the regulatory framework and the manufacturer will modify the
internal configuration according to the casino's request. As noted, this
is controlled in firmware, such that a PROM chip or similar can be
replaced with chips containing differing internal weighting
tables. There can be two identical slot machines (same manufacturer,
same game) next to each other, each of which has different payback
percentages set.
This is one of the reasons that you may see folks moving from one
machine to another. Though it may very well not be an informed decision
based upon the actual payback percentage. It may be their perception of
the payback percentage based upon a short term run of non-winners or a
short term run of declining credits.
The key to keep in mind is that Vegas is not Vegas because the average
person comes away with a net gain... ;-)
No matter what game on the casino floor you play, the odds ALWAYS favor
the house. There are ways to minimize the house advantage, such as
'basic strategy' and card counting (which is not illegal) in blackjack
whereby you can reduce the house advantage to under one
percent. Of course, this is why the casinos have gone to using multiple
decks and auto-reshufflers to make card counting more difficult.
However, don't get caught card-counting, because it is within
the rights of the casino to ask you to leave, never to return. They can
refuse service to anyone. This is the subject of the current film "21",
which is in turn based upon the book "Bringing Down the House" about the
blackjack teams from MIT.
Even with roulette, there are two green sections on the wheel (0 and
00), so that playing 'red'/'black' or 'odds'/'evens' does not yield a
50/50 split with the house. And of course, to suck you in to the
roulette table, there are now LED displays showing the most recent run
of numbers for those who don't understand independent trials...
In general, there are games that intrinsically have more or less
advantage to the house, which is why experts will steer you towards one
game or another. Another thing to keep in mind is the potential for
comps, which have intrinsic value. If you play slots alot and are a
member of one of the 'frequent gambler' clubs, you can accrue points for
discounts, room upgrades, free meals or even free rooms, which of course
have a net dollar value. The same for table games, where you can get
rated based upon your wagering and play. The more you are willing to
risk, the more likely the casino will do what it takes to make money on
your play over time.
HTH,
Marc
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