Ask The Slot Expert

Dear John,

You have told me that the processors in the video poker machines in Nevada are "sealed" by the manufacturer of the machines and the casinos aren't allowed to "monkey around " with the program. The Nevada Gaming Commission keeps an eye on this. What about the casinos in Tunica and Indiana? Do the gaming commissions inspect the machines in those states as well as they do in Nevada?

I might be interested in buying one of Frank Scoblete's crap shooting books, where will I find them?? I'm not inclined to sending my credit card number on the net, but I might over the phone.

Thank you,
Gene

Dear Gene:

I don't know the regulations in Indiana and Mississippi specifically, but, as a general rule, Nevada has the most lenient rules of any gaming jurisdiction.

You need a Manufacturer's License to legally open the processor drawer (it's really just a locked box) on a slot machine in Nevada. Almost every casino has a Manufacturer's License, so they can open the drawers. But every machine is subject to inspection. A technician takes the chips out of the machine and compare them electronically with the reference chips. He'll discover any tampering that may have been done to the program.

Other jurisdictions are much stricter. In some, a gaming control representative must be present when a slot technician opens the drawer. In others, only the gaming control board has keys to open the processor drawer. I've heard of one jurisdiction that even seals the processor drawer with evidence tape.

Other jurisdictions inspect their machines more frequently than Nevada does theirs. There are just too many machine in Nevada to inspect them all regularly. I think it's Minnesota that requires that every machine be inspected no less frequently than once every three years.

Finally, all of these "new" jurisdictions had the benefit of learning what worked and what didn't work in Nevada and in New Jersey. I think it's safe to say that a machine from any of the major manufacturers (IGT, Bally, WMS, Silicon Gaming, Aristocrat, Atronic, etc.) is going to be a fair machine wherever you find it in the U.S.

You can order Frank's books over the phone from Paone Press at 1-800-944-0406. His books are also available at any bookstore. The bigger ones usually stock them. Any store can order them for you.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos!
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@home.com.

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