Here’s another one of those times where people can’t believe that statistical deviation is a thing, which is a core underpinning of how a slot machine can work in the short term:
I believe the casinos loosen and tighten how the machines are paying. There is no way on Earth you can get 10-12 handpays one day and lose your shirt on another. I play a lot, and it’s so drastic and obvious. On fire one day, losing your shirt the next.
Sandra B.
Ask yourself these questions: Why would casinos have any reason to loosen and tighten slots? What benefit do they get out of it, especially if they’re not marketing the times the slots are looser to draw in players?
If this is true, why aren’t you getting up and leaving the moment you “realize” it’s a lose your shirt day, if it’s so obvious and dramatic? Are you up overall on slots as a result of this system – if not, why not?
Casinos want you to play the games that are built with a house edge so they can make money. Why would casinos purposely let you have that many jackpots without taking money back to make money themselves? Are you suggesting they set slots above 100% payback for… some reason?
Here’s an idea: Why not set every machine to make a certain percentage of money over time, and let them do their thing? Oh wait… that’s what they do instead. Simple, effective.
Here’s an experiment. Flip a coin 1,000 times and record how often it’s heads vs. tails. On occasion, there will be groups of heads or groups of tails, despite the odds being 50/50 of each happening on any flip. Your lose your shirt days and handpay days are those outlier moments where something unusual happens.
Slot volatility is such that with millions of outcomes running the gamut from a losing spin to a top jackpot, and the randomness of slots being able to trigger any one of those outcomes on any spin, is the simple and easy explanation to why not only is it possible, but it’s virtually bound to happen on occasion.
Casinos have limited control over slots, by design and by regulation. The difference in the amount of money they’d make by changing the payouts by a percentage point or two isn’t enough for all the hassle (paperwork, opening machines up with multiple staff, even gaming commission involvement in states where that’s required) to take your money just a bit faster over time.
Instead, it’s easier to just select the payback level that will help the casino reach its intended revenue and profit numbers over time. If a game isn’t performing, it’s easier to replace it than lower the payback and still have players avoid it.
Blaming the casinos for your good or bad luck may make you feel better, but it’s not how they work. If you’re that distrusting of the casinos, there’s probably better ways to spend your entertainment dollar and get more fun out of the process. If you think they’re purposefully trying to ruin your visit, why give them your money?
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