IGT Server Based Gaming

[Nate]

How do you maximise a machines earning potential without changing the RTP?.

Easily...

1. Adding Mystery Jackpots
2. Adding Progressive Jackpots
3. Changing Location
4. Changing Min Coin Size
5. Running Promotions


Nate

[De Beuker]

Ok, but now look back at the first post of this thread.

How do you make slots looser during the week and tighter during the busy weekends without changing the RTP?

[cheetahwind]

You really don't, I've noticed in some casinos. More people are lucky on the weekend. While others are more lucky at the beginning of the week. I used to work for an Indian casino. Trust me we had ten times more jackpots go off during the weekend. Than during the week. The only reason why slots may seen tighter or looser during the weekend is. Varying on what machine your playing, how recently it paid out, and how fast you are to hit that button to determine your fate.
Otherwise honestly, it's really a matter of people walking when they are ahead. Versus getting greedy and thinking there going to walk our millionaires. I watched one guy have his machine up to well over $2,000. Then he squandered it all away hoping for that $25,000 win. I could have thought of a few things to do with that $2,000. Yeah $25,000 is nicer, but hmmm $2,000 isn't a bad chunk of change either.
Since I now live in a state where progressives are getting smaller. There really aren't many chances to win big. So really the only time I see myself getting greedy is when I go Vegas or Atlantic City.
But getting back on the topic about being able to maximize there income.
That's what I was talking about by being able to change there slot machine interface to slot themes that more patrons seem to enjoy. Cause it's a widely known statistic. The longer you play any game in a casino. The more of an edge the casino has on you. So if they notice more people are playing Gems Wild Tiles that day over lets say Wolf's Run. They can decrease the amount of Wolf's Run machines, and change the theme to Gems Wild Tiles. Without the need to go through each individual machine and change the themes that are going over too well.
It's basically allowing them to save the headache of having to reprogram each machine individually. For once allowing a direct download to the machine of the new machine interface versus having to go around and doing it all by hand.
Yet it's still my understanding unlike what people are thinking here. I really don't think they could just change the payout without having the state or the indian gaming commission standing right there. Verifying that there not setting the payout ratio too low. Just because everytime we did any game change, payout ratio change, or anything that changed the game just a bit. We had to have it done in front of the state and indian gaming commission first. You could just change something that critical without someone actually verifying and approving it first.

[Seventh777]

Easily...

1. Adding Mystery Jackpots
2. Adding Progressive Jackpots
3. Changing Location
4. Changing Min Coin Size
5. Running Promotions


Nate

None of those ^^ are associated with real time adjustments, which is what the software designers are describing, and none of the above are a 100% guarantee of increased revenue, there is only one way to increase revenues generated by slot machines in times of adverse trading, to what the income has to be to cover overheads, wages, taxes, profit, etc, etc.

[Seventh777]

You really don't, I've noticed in some casinos. More people are lucky on the weekend. While others are more lucky at the beginning of the week. I used to work for an Indian casino. Trust me we had ten times more jackpots go off during the weekend. Than during the week. The only reason why slots may seen tighter or looser during the weekend is. Varying on what machine your playing, how recently it paid out, and how fast you are to hit that button to determine your fate.
Otherwise honestly, it's really a matter of people walking when they are ahead. Versus getting greedy and thinking there going to walk our millionaires. I watched one guy have his machine up to well over $2,000. Then he squandered it all away hoping for that $25,000 win. I could have thought of a few things to do with that $2,000. Yeah $25,000 is nicer, but hmmm $2,000 isn't a bad chunk of change either.
Since I now live in a state where progressives are getting smaller. There really aren't many chances to win big. So really the only time I see myself getting greedy is when I go Vegas or Atlantic City.
But getting back on the topic about being able to maximize there income.
That's what I was talking about by being able to change there slot machine interface to slot themes that more patrons seem to enjoy. Cause it's a widely known statistic. The longer you play any game in a casino. The more of an edge the casino has on you. So if they notice more people are playing Gems Wild Tiles that day over lets say Wolf's Run. They can decrease the amount of Wolf's Run machines, and change the theme to Gems Wild Tiles. Without the need to go through each individual machine and change the themes that are going over too well.
It's basically allowing them to save the headache of having to reprogram each machine individually. For once allowing a direct download to the machine of the new machine interface versus having to go around and doing it all by hand.
Yet it's still my understanding unlike what people are thinking here. I really don't think they could just change the payout without having the state or the indian gaming commission standing right there. Verifying that there not setting the payout ratio too low. Just because everytime we did any game change, payout ratio change, or anything that changed the game just a bit. We had to have it done in front of the state and indian gaming commission first. You could just change something that critical without someone actually verifying and approving it first.

It`s a relatively simple way to balance the books, let`s take a look at the last year of how slots have completely changed, we have all felt the pinch and noticed how the payouts have dramatically reduced (mostly due to features being so hard to hit, and when we do hit them they are not worth a toss), this has been right across the board of each and every major software provider from Rival, RTG, MG and many more.

So, how do they balance the books?, simple, nearly every single slot that has been released since May`ish last year has had an outrageously high Jackpot and even more so -a chance to hit an outrageously high feature, these all come with expanding wilds, stacked wilds, various multipliers and ofc the obligatory 243, 1024, 3125 winning lines, to the average slot player these look absolutely mouth watering, but, and it`s a huge but, the variance is so high on these that when you play them you need an oxygen mask, for 94-96 out of 100 players playing these, they are going to go broke, the other few players will balance the books (around 94%-96%), so, how does this help the casinos through bad times?, again the answer is simple, if, as many of us do when playing low-mid variance range slots, notice a no win situation, we give up and withdraw, but, with these new *super slots* you are constantly chasing your starter balance, and by the time you have tried your luck at 2 or 3 of them, your balance has gone.

These new slots IMHO are a lot easier for casinos to regulate the monthly revenue needed to keep afloat, than the lower max payouts slots that will cover a w/r bonus with cash left at the end to withdraw, if, as was the norm, it looked like a no brainer session for the player today.

Just my $2, and this really does seem to me what has happened the past year.

[Nate]

None of those ^^ are associated with real time adjustments, which is what the software designers are describing, and none of the above are a 100% guarantee of increased revenue, there is only one way to increase revenues generated by slot machines in times of adverse trading, to what the income has to be to cover overheads, wages, taxes, profit, etc, etc.

I disagree,

All of them can be changed in real time (Apart from the location). In the case of location not being applicable, game changes are possible via server.

Nate

[Nobunaga]

This is a very interesting thread about how the age of slots have changed forever.

How does this tinkering of the machines affect video poker machines?

I assume it would affect the machines the same way as it does for the IGT slot machines?

Many people play video poker and would be nice to know how video poker machines, that are made by Bally and other companies, fits into all of this tinkering.

Thanks.

Nobunaga

[the Shamus]

Hi Folks:

The IGT version of Server-based gaming allows the payback percentage of machines to be changed from a central location. There are certain guidelines about changing it. For example, I don't think it would happen in the middle of a player using a machine.

The idea is for a casino to capitalize on supply and demand. When demand for machines is higher on the weekend, you can pay back less to the player.

How is the payback percentage changed? The same way it is changed manually. The symbols on the virtual reels are adjusted. For example, if you want to lower the payback percentage, remove a few WILDS from the virtual reels. This method ensure the paytable and random number generator are never touched. This also illustrates why available payback percentages on amchines are often odd numbers (eg. you can not just select the payback you want).

As far as setting machines to what the casino wants -- most casinos with this IGT server-based setups allow the players to choose multiple games (4 is very common).

Hope this helps.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

[the Shamus]

This is a very interesting thread about how the age of slots have changed forever.

How does this tinkering of the machines affect video poker machines?

I assume it would affect the machines the same way as it does for the IGT slot machines?

Many people play video poker and would be nice to know how video poker machines, that are made by Bally and other companies, fits into all of this tinkering.

Thanks.

Nobunaga

Hi Nobunaga:

Video poker is a different beast. For one thing, it is considered a skill-based game. You can figure out the payback percentage (according to optimal play), by examining the pay table. In order to modify the payback on video poker, you would have to change from a 52-card deck ... and that would not be legal (as far as I know).

The real way for the casino to make more on video poker is by forcing the bet larger, or awarding less comp for play (relative to slots). Another way is by changing the rules of the game --- think of COMMUNITY GAMING poker, or 100 Hand Poker.

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\

[the Shamus]

Hi cheetahwind:

While it may seem like casinos are more lucky on certain times of the week, or during certain parts of the day ... they are not (at least if you exclude server-based gaming). The CLASS III slots are completely random ... and during busy times, there is a greater likelihood of more wins. By percetage of players, there is really no difference.

re:You really don't, I've noticed in some casinos. More people are lucky on the weekend. While others are more lucky at the beginning of the week. I used to work for an Indian casino. Trust me we had ten times more jackpots go off during the weekend. Than during the week. The only reason why slots may seen tighter or looser during the weekend is. Varying on what machine your playing, how recently it paid out, and how fast you are to hit that button to determine your fate.

re: The longer you play any game in a casino. The more of an edge the casino has on you.

Over the long term, players will put more in than they take out. One player session on any given evening is like a blink of an eye in a 10 million spin cycle. However, all of those spins add up over your lifetime.

re: They can decrease the amount of Wolf's Run machines, and change the theme to Gems Wild Tiles.

If both machines are set to pay back 90% to players, one machine could pay back better on a given day, but over the long term, they will pay back the same to players. The game does not make a difference. Math will take care of it.

re: I really don't think they could just change the payout without having the state or the indian gaming commission standing right there.

It seems surprising, and yet, IGT's server-based gaming allows it. Whether every jurisdiction allows it is another question. Apparently, changing payback percentage (from a gaming commission perspective) is not the big deal we thought it was (when replacing a hardware chip was necessary).

/\/\/\/\ the Shamus /\/\/\/\