Ask The Slot Expert

In Oklahoma the "real casinos" are illegal. We do have "bingo" slot machines. Do these machines have a Random Number Generator?

I know certain machines can be "hot" or "cold" in real casinos, but I can't figure out these bingo machines. The one I like to play is Beach Vacation. I cannot find a maker on these machines, but other machines are multimedia.

Is there anything you can tell me about these?

Thank you. I enjoy reading all the helpful tips.

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

I've never heard of a machine called Beach Vacation and I wasn't able to find it searching the Internet.

In any case, I can't imagine a machine built in the last 15 or so years that doesn't use an RNG to determine the outcome.

It's buyer beware in unregulated casinos. There's no telling whether the machines in your "casinos" are fair.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

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I play 8/5 video Joker Poker 2 pair or better in Atlantic City, where the jackpot is 5-of-a-kind. I've read Frank's book Victory At Video Poker which I found informative. I play mostly the Triple Play progressive machines.

My question is the following: Is the strategy the same for the triple play machines as it is for regular 5-of-a-kind machines? I've been following the strategy which appears on page 83. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks!

The strategy for a video poker paytable is the same regardless of the number of hands. So, you use the same strategy for single play, triple play, and even one hundred play.

Best of luck in and out of the casinos,
John

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Dear John,

I am programming a multi-line slot machine.

I am looking for professional reference (book, web-site, etc.) for slot design methodology -- where I can understand how to build the math engine of the slot machine; e.g. percentage, hit frequency, volatility.

Can you help me with a direction for such refernce?

Thank you, Alon

Dear Alon,

Casino Operations Management by Kilby and Fox has everything you need in its slots section.

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