We get a lot of questions about what casinos can and can’t do. So let’s tackle one head on with this question:
Can casinos control the percentage on games as to which ones have better odds?
Ken S.
Whenever we get a question about odds, we answer it in two ways, as some players mean payback when they say odds, while some mean odds! So to ensure we answer the question we’ll go both ways.
Can Casinos Control the Odds on a Slot?
The odds of a win or a loss on a particular game is based on the design of the game itself. Each slot will be conceived with some X number (it differs by game) of possible outcomes, and some percentage of those will be winners, and the rest losers. The random number generator’s job is to generate numbers that lead to those outcomes within the stack. This is important because this can impact the feel of a game, and determine things like the game’s overall volatility.
Because that stack is conceived by the slot designers, casinos have no influence over how often a machine will pay, because it’s determined by the game’s design. Some games purposefully offer winning combinations more often, with less money offered for those wins (we call this a lower volatility slot), while some will offer less winning combinations but they’ll tend to pay more when they occur (traditionally known as a higher volatility slot).
Casinos can’t make specific outcomes happen at specific times, as that would overrule the random number generator, which regulations set specific rules around. As such, they can’t control the odds of a win.
Can Casinos Control the Payback on a Slot?
What casinos do have control over is the payback percentage setting of a slot machine. They determine what a machine will pay back over the long term, as players complete millions of spins on the slots.
So while they can’t control what happens from spin to spin, the fact that the range of outcomes are limited and known, and will occur roughly as often as any other thanks to how the random number generator works, casinos can have a good idea of what percentage of the bets will be won by the casino over the long run.
So they absolutely can decide how much money they want to make over time as a percentage – they can’t control how often hits happen or when they happen. Their access and control is limited by a combination of regulations and game design.
Even with that limitation, slots are among the most profitable games offered by the casino, a combination of high house advantage and low staffing requirements.
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