Gaming Gurus: Strategy Expert Article Archive - Page 395

2011 Global Gaming Expo, part 1

For three days, I watched the hunters stalking their prey. They'd raise their rifles, fire, lights would flash . . . and bonus credits would appear on the screen. "We're kind of blurring the line between the slot and the arcade game," said Boris Hallerbach, Megajackpots product manager for International Game Technology. The line-blurring game is Big Buck Hunter, and it drew solid crowds waiting for their chance to take plastic rifle in hand throughout the three-day October run of the Global Gaming Expo at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. It's not a game for everyone...read more

Protect yourself at all times, part III

[The following article is excerpted from Frank's new book Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players!] It continues Frank's look at the ways the criminal enemies of the player go about their nefarious business. Knock, Knock: The guy is trailing you in the hallway...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Does the amount I bet affect the outcomes on a slot machine?

Hi, Say I played $2 on a penny slot and got five progressive symbols, which paid $500. There's a $4 bet button and the combination pays $1,000 with a $4 bet. If I would have hit the bet $4 button at the precise time that I hit the bet $2 button, would I have won the $1,000 or would it have been a different outcome based on the amount of bet? Another question: On the picking bonuses, does it matter which choice I make or does the machine already know what it is going to pay you for that bonus? Thanks, Jon Dear Jon, A jurisdiction's slot-enabling legislation usually prohibits Random Number Generator (RNG) functions from being influenced by the amount bet, so the amount you bet wouldn't have affected your outcome...read more

Problem with accidentally taking money left on a slot machine

Frank, My mother-in-law went to Yonkers Racino five days ago, sat at a slot machine, put money/voucher in, played for a bit then cashed out and went to another slot and did the same. She then went to another slot and all of sudden two security guards told her she stole a man's money left on the first slot she played...read more

Cutting Back with the Joneses

I attended a party the other night and the topic of conversation turned to an article that appeared in a national newspaper. According to the article, fear of an uncertain economic future is creating a new cultural mindset in which less is more and people are devising ways to cut back on their spending...read more

A shuffle through the gaming mailbag

Q. I was playing craps, and some of the others were playing something called the "Fire Bet." When the shooter made a point, they'd put a fire disk on that point. Once the shooter made a couple of points, the guys started to get excited, but I think I only saw it pay off once...read more

Ask the Slot Expert: Do the RNGs in online slots run constantly?

Hi, I saw a show on the making of slot machines. The man said a slot machine at a casino is constantly going through codes. When the button is pushed, whatever code it's on is what the outcome on the wheel is. What about internet slot machine games? Are they the same, going by codes that are constantly running? I have been playing this slot machine game on here and wonder if it's the same. http://www.freeslots.com/Slot22.htm Thanks for your time to answer my question, Pat Dear Pat, The constantly running RNG (random number generator) is an anti-cheating measure...read more

Casinos can't change slot paybacks easily

When a casino changes its blackjack rules, or the type of shuffler used, or the number of decks in play, it's right there in the open. Players can evaluate the game by what they see. Same deal in video poker. When a game is changed, players can look at the new pay table and know exactly what kind of play experience they're getting. Slot machines are different...read more

Protect yourself at all times, part II

[The following article is excerpted from Frank's new book Cutting Edge Craps: Advanced Strategies for Serious Players!] It continues Frank's look at the ways the criminal enemies of the player go about their nefarious business. Credit: In order not to carry wads of cash around the casino before playing, getting credit is a good way to go...read more

Would I Have Hit the Jackpot Too?

I took your slot class at the WWC. I remember you saying that the number generator in the slot machine is constantly "churning" numbers and that it is possible to hit back-to-back jackpots. My question is if someone walks up to the slot machine and puts in $100 and spins four times and hits the jackpot, would I have hit the same jackpot had I put the same amount into the machine and hit the same sequence of plays? It is not the number of hits but the timing of the spin that activates the numbers generator. Therefore, I would have had to hit the spin buttons at the exact same times as the other player to win...read more