Table Of ContentSlot Machines: Fun
Machines or Tax
Machines?
A Technician Reveals the Truth
About One-Armed Bandits
Ian B. Williams
ISBN: 978-1-55270-569-8
Written by:
Ian B. Williams
Published in Canada by:
Productive Publications, P.O. Box 7200
Station A, Toronto, ON. M5W 1X8
Phone: (416) 483-0634 Fax: (416) 322-7434
Canadian Web Site: www.ProductivePublications.ca
American Web Site: www.ProductivePublications.com
Front Cover Art:
Copyright free clip art from Corel Gallery 200,000
Corel Corporation, 1600 Carling Ave.,
Ottawa, Ont. K1Z 8R7
Copyright eBook version in pdf format © 2013 by Ian B. Williams
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without written permission of the author.
How This Book Will Help You
Whether you are a beginner to playing slot machines or a longtime pro, you will discover
exactly how a slot machine works. You will understand the principals of slot machine
design; learn how to read a slot's pay table properly; understand slot machine tenns; know
how to read the player metres, and how to effectively playa slot machine.
In essence, you will be able to look at any slot machine, understand the payout system; the
type of machine; make an educated decision on whether to play it; play it effectively, and
not lose one red cent to any mistake that you may have made before. You will get a better
enjoyment out of playing slots; you will not lose as much money, and you will have a
better casino experience.
The author notes that only a few years ago the estimated revenue of all U. S. casinos was
fifty one billion dollars per year and it is not inconceivable that the world take from slot
machines may be well over one trillion dollars annually! Since statistically slot machines
count towards approximately seventy percent of the casino's take when the casino also has
table and other games, U.S. slots could be bringing in thirty five billion dollars a year
alone! Even the Canadian casino industry pulls in billions of dollars per year. And all of
the previous figures do not take into account bingo, lotteries, and other gambling activities.
Yes, slot machines, casinos, and other government sanctioned or controlled gambling
operations bring in a mind-staggering amount ofm oney (more than the national worth of
some countries), and in most cases a percentage goes directly into government coffers.
Like gasoline, tobacco, and alcohol, gambling is a definite cash cow for the government.
In this context, Ian Williams examines the social implications of slot machines in our
society; both the positive and negative.
Ian B. Williams is a certified electronics technician and a trained slot technician, who
worked for several years in the casino industry as a Slot Machine Technician. He has
extensive knowledge of the real, true technical aspects of slot machines, video slot and
video pokerlBlackjack machines, and slot machine communications systems.
He is extremely well qualified to write this fascinating and very objective book: Slot
Machines: Fun Machines or Tax Machines? A Technician Reveals the Truth About
One-Armed Bandits. Read this book and learn from him!
DISCLAIMER
No representation is made with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the
contents of this book and both the author and the publisher specifically
disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any
particular purpose and in no event shall either be liable for any loss of profit
or any other commercial damage, including but not limiting to special,
incidental, consequential or other damages.
Contents
Introduction .................................................. 1
Chapter 1 A Short History of Slots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11
Chapter 2 A Quick Slot Glossary .............................. 15
Chapter 3 Parts of a Slot Machine ............................. 35
Chapter 4 How a Slot Machine Works: All the Nitty-Gritty .......... 39
Chapter 5 Probability, Odds, and Percentages:
Slot Machine Mathematical Theory .................... 45
Chapter 6 Types of Games ................................... 55
Chapter 7 The Paytable ..................................... 61
Chapter 8 Read the Machine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Chapter 9 Let's Play A Machine! .............................. 69
Chapter 10 How to Play Slot Machines ... and Not Lose Your Shirt ...... 75
Chapter 11 ". .. butthe machine is broken!" ........................ 81
Chapter 12 Don't Become Prey to a Flea ......................... 85
Chapter 13 The Right PocketlLeft Pocket Rule .................... 89
Chapter 14 General Casino Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Chapter 15 A Note About Progressives ......................... 109
Chapter 16 Slot Tournaments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 113
Chapter 17 Video Slots and Video Poker Machines ................ 115
Chapter 18 Slot Machines, Fun Machines, Tax Machines. . . . . . . . . . .. 117
Chapter 19 Final Thoughts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 129
v
Introduction
Before I started working in the casino industry in North America, I was like
most people; probably like you; when it came to understanding certain things
about slot machines. I had never played them before, but I knew what I had
read and heard over the years. Books would tell me to look for hot machines,
and beware of cold cycles. I'd have to use a "guaranteed formula" to fmd that
loose sucker. Also, I was warned to watch that attendant; don't let them
tighten that machine up. Play in cycles, one coin, three coins, one, one, two,
three, and one, and I may hit a jackpot. "Always works for me," they would
say.
Then I went to school and put my knowledge of electronics and computers
to use. I learned about slot machines and graduated as a Certified Slot
Technician. I now understood how slots were manufactured and
programmed, and everything about how they work. This was information the
casino industry really didn't want us to know, such as how the manufactures
program the machines and how to repair the machine right down to
component level on the circuit board. In fact, I have the knowledge to make
my own slot machine, program it, and have it certified by any government
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Slot Machines, Fun Machines or Tax Machines?
regulating body. I was amazed at how simply designed a slot machine
actually is.
After graduating from the course, I went to work at a casino as a technician,
installing, maintaining, and repairing slot machines. During the course of my
day, I'd talk to players, and I'd watch them play. Sometimes, I'd be in a
machine, making a repair or replacing a lightbulb.
"Tightening her up?" a customer would ask.
"Oh sure!" I'd reply jokingly. "Putting in that special winning lightbulb!"
I'd go along with customers. It was fun and I found it amusing. However,
after a few months of all of this, it started me thinking. I kept hearing the
same comments--all day--every day.
"These machine are too tight."
"Can you loosen it?"
"I never win at these machines."
2
Introduction
"These slots are looser than everywhere else!"
"Direct me to a hot machine. "
"Check this machine! I haven't won anything all day. There's something
wrong with it."
"I put in over one thousand dollars in this machine and it hasn't paid me
anything. You guys owe me!"
I'd check the machine. There would be nothing wrong with it. I'd close the
door, watch the guy put a coin in, and spin. He'd win a coin.
"Thanks for loosening it up for me. Now it's hot. Now I'll win."
Sure thing, buddy. But I didn't do anything to the machine. I can't believe
that I also used to think like this.
Did customers really think this way, as I did, before I worked here? They
sure did and they were fanatic about it. They'd complain that we were ripping
them off, yet they'd be there every day spending their money. I'd see people
spend five thousand dollars to win a thousand-dollar jackpot. Players would
3
Slot Machines, Fun Machines or Tax Machines?
come with hordes of cash and go home broke. I watched, I listened; I took
the insults, the putdowns, and the accusations. I talked to customers, in
depth. I'd find that they were playing slots to make money, not to have fun.
I found them losing when they didn't have to. To tell you the truth, I was a
bit shocked.
These weren't the gambling addicts either, who were even worse. These were
regular people who were out for some recreation but seemed doomed right
from the start. I noticed what they did wrong; how their mistaken beliefs
about slots helped to drain their bank accounts, pay my wage, and make
hundreds of millions of dollars for the casino. And employees were no
different. They also would patronize other casinos and state the same things
to those technicians that our customers were telling me. What was wrong?
Well, firstly a casino stays in business by repeat business. Regular players,
who play once a week--twice a day--whatever, are what keep casinos alive
and people employed. It is better for a casino in the long-run to have a
customer come in every other day and spend twenty dollars than it is for a
customer to come in once, lose a thousand, and not come back for months.
As such, most casinos employ cards that players can use to accumulate
points. This keeps people playing. The more they spend; the more points or
complimentary services they may quality for. The industry seems to feed on
itself, with a vicious circle of getting the people in; getting them to spend
4
Introduction
their money; rewarding them for doing so; then offering the same or more to
keep them coming back. Secondly, with all the false and misleading
information that is bountiful in a slew of books, TV specials, and news
reports, players feel that they aren't getting a fair shake or using the right
system when they play. This is where the problems lie. Myths,
misconceptions, false beliefs, and the casino industry itself fuelling all of
these.
I analysed the situation and came up with the following reasons for all those
things I talked about earlier. Myths and mistaken beliefs about slot machines
are imbedded in most people's minds from books and articles they have read;
television shows they have watched, and comments they have heard from
other players. All these comments, systems, and methods are what have been
made up to justify the act of not hitting a jackpot. People use slots as a way
to invest rather than to have fun. Most players distrust casinos, slot personnel
in general, and slot technicians in particular. People get quite upset when
they don't win. Players seem to think that slot machines are set up to pay at
certain times of the day; on certain combinations of coins in, programmed to
pay by a computer; pay when someone pushes a button in the back room;
stop paying if paying out too much, and if hot; will go cold, and if cold; will
go hot.
5
