IGT Server Based Gaming

[bowlingbob]

From IGT's website which was revamped yesterday to make it easier to navigate but I found this interesting in an advertisement of their new sbX software for casinos which allows casinos to make changes to the machine without having to physically go to the machine. One of the main things they can do is change the payback percentage. And I quote this:

Change Payouts: Make slots looser on slower nights and tighter on holiday weekends.

http://media.igt.com/marketing/Promo...lexibility.pdf

Now I guess I know to stay away from the casinos on weekend/holiday nights when they are busy.

[takethemoney]

My wife used to work at a very large land based casino as a slot attendant. They actually staff less people during peak play, simply because the machines just don't seem to hit as many jackpots during the busiest times. Seemed highly suspicious to her and I. It was almost like having all these sheep, so lets just slaughter them all. Years after the the casino opened I met a contractor who does electrical wiring, installs computer switches, hubs, etc. Supposedly all the machines have a cat 5 cable, or similar running into the bottom of them, which connects to a computer node. The man refused to do the job when he analyzed the potential purpose this system was going to be used for. He would only say he wanted no part of it and would say nothing further on the matter. I asked, do you think they would use this to cheat the players? He said read into it what you will, but these people are no angels and I'm saying nothing further.
These are IGT machines, WMS, Aristocrat and Bally machines, mostly.

It bit them in the ass one night. Something in their system malfunctioned and some 200 machines all jackpotted within an hour of each other. People were waiting hours to get paid, even into the next shift.

I also know that the land based casino near me changes chips and logic boards in their machines at will. I have observed this being done in the early morning hours when there are few patrons. If a machine has been set by the provider at, say, 93% payout, it would seem such tampering would be ill intended. Unfortunately, these so called gaming boards are a joke outside of Nevada and Atlantic City. I suspect there is really very little oversight, if any.

[Nate]

Years after the the casino opened I met a contractor who does electrical wiring, installs computer switches, hubs, etc. Supposedly all the machines have a cat 5 cable, or similar running into the bottom of them, which connects to a computer node. The man refused to do the job when he analyzed the potential purpose this system was going to be used for. He would only say he wanted no part of it and would say nothing further on the matter. I asked, do you think they would use this to cheat the players? He said read into it what you will, but these people are no angels and I'm saying nothing further.
These are IGT machines, WMS, Aristocrat and Bally machines, mostly.

Remember - Slot machines need network cables in order for them to track play and give guests rewards. Network cables are common in B&M's - They are used to transfer data from the PTU (Player Tracking Unit). Through this they are also able to link them to progressives and give out random jackpots, update player card balances...etc. Settings (NOT RTP) can also be changed for progressives. They also send meters to the server so that revenue reports and errors can be analysed.

I also know that the land based casino near me changes chips and logic boards in their machines at will. I have observed this being done in the early morning hours when there are few patrons. If a machine has been set by the provider at, say, 93% payout, it would seem such tampering would be ill intended.

The only reason that a motherboard would be changed in a B&M is if the MB is faulty. RTP settings can be changed on the machine software and therefore do not need any chip to be replaced. Also bear in mind that machine changes / game changes and any technical work will always be done when it is quietest in order to give the guest the best experience.

B&M Casinos are regulated more efficiently than online Casinos. There is a wealth of infomation on this subject all over the internet.

[the Shamus]

Remember - Slot machines need network cables in order for them to track play and give guests rewards. Network cables are common in B&M's - They are used to transfer data from the PTU (Player Tracking Unit). Through this they are also able to link them to progressives and give out random jackpots, update player card balances...etc. Settings (NOT RTP) can also be changed for progressives. They also send meters to the server so that revenue reports and errors can be analysed.



The only reason that a motherboard would be changed in a B&M is if the MB is faulty. RTP settings can be changed on the machine software and therefore do not need any chip to be replaced. Also bear in mind that machine changes / game changes and any technical work will always be done when it is quietest in order to give the guest the best experience.

B&M Casinos are regulated more efficiently than online Casinos. There is a wealth of infomation on this subject all over the internet.

Hi Nate:

Good posts. The entire thread is good really. Server-based gaming does have the potential to allow a casino to change return to percentage on the fly. The real question is whether casinos who have server-based gaming are actually doing it.

If there are making changes, we are likely talking about a few percentage points. Still -- as a player, I don't like the idea of a game being changed intra-day ... what would someone say if a table game was being modified intra-day without notifying anyone?

In fact -- it is not even clear to me what the regulation is around this.

The suggestion that 200 machines jackpotted at once doesn't make sense. The server changes the payback percentage, not determine wins ... at least, not by my understanding.

However, I have seen TITO break down, and cause everything to be a hand pay -- evening if it is 5-cents owing.

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

[Seventh777]

This got me thinking about a local bookies I used to go to, a smallish outfit named Bobby Swift, which has just closed it`s shop near me due to adverse trading etc.

Anyway`s long story short, as is the norm these days with UK based Bookmakers, a very high percentage have multi game video machines, which if you ever use a bookies you will notice they are played 24/7/365 and the main shops have at least six of these machines to cater for the high demand. Now going back to the Bobby Swift shop that I have used for over 10-15 years, at least 6-8 of these years this bookies was adorned with 2-4 of these slots, in this time I would estimate I have put over 5k in these, but not once have I ever hit the UK maximum payout allowed (£500), nor have I ever seen anyone hit one, or no-one else i`ve spoke to who plays these has hit the jackpot either, i`m not saying that these would not payout, but, they would never, ever, give up a jackpot, bearing in mind this bookies had the resident Chinese guys feeding these as they do, like money is going out of fashion lol.

In comparison, I hit the jackpot on two consecutive Wednesday`s on the exact same machine (Rainbow Riches) in a Ladbrokes shop, I have also hit 4 jackpots over the years in a local Corals also, in fact I would bet a pound to a penny that if anyone spent the afternoon in a busy bookies they would witness at least one jackpot from these slots.

So where is all this leading me lol, in the nutshell - when I read this thread the 1st thing that sprung to mind was the absence of any known jackpot, from the 2-4 machines over 6-8 years from this Bobby Swift shop, so I googled the name and tried to find out what software they use, to see if it would throw any light on this jackpot anomaly, but, I had no joy, so, if anyone out there has some knowledge on the hardware/software that land based bookies use, please post it here .

Thx in advance.

P.S.

If it is any help, I remember that three of the slots were/are MGS ones - Dino Might, Wheel of Wealth, and Double Magic.

[Simmo!]

If it is any help, I remember that three of the slots were/are MGS ones - Dino Might, Wheel of Wealth, and Double Magic.

I've not seen these machines, but if the games used were MGS then my money would be on the machines being supplied by Betstone. They are tied in to MG, even share offices in the IOM I think and have a number of kiosks with exclusive MG games.

More info: http://www.betstone.com/

[Seventh777]

I've not seen these machines, but if the games used were MGS then my money would be on the machines being supplied by Betstone. They are tied in to MG, even share offices in the IOM I think and have a number of kiosks with exclusive MG games.

More info: http://www.betstone.com/

Thx Simmo, I will have a good look around it later when I have time.

[rockycatt]

From IGT's website which was revamped yesterday to make it easier to navigate but I found this interesting in an advertisement of their new sbX software for casinos which allows casinos to make changes to the machine without having to physically go to the machine. One of the main things they can do is change the payback percentage. And I quote this:

Change Payouts: Make slots looser on slower nights and tighter on holiday weekends.

http://media.igt.com/marketing/Promo...lexibility.pdf

Now I guess I know to stay away from the casinos on weekend/holiday nights when they are busy.

What better time to take the wool from the sheep than when there all in the barn

[cheetahwind]

Actually server based gaming only refers to being able to change the game interfaces. They can't change the payback without changing the random number generators chip, that's already installed the in machine. The point of this concept is to allow operators to install new games on the fly. Without the need to actually access the machine. The way it used to be done was they had to actually open the machine, either change the software chip or put in a new CD rom. Load the software, test it, make it sure it worked, blah, blah, blah.
Now with this new technology they can change game faces without the need of actually opening the machine itself. It doesn't mean they can change the pay back ratio. It just means they can change the game without needing to insert the new game disc or chip.
Like for example. If you know you have a group of people who like to play Wolfs Run or Cleopatra coming to your casino. More than oh say State Fair or Gems Wild Tiles. Then for that day they can instruct the machines to have more of those machines available than the others. Just so you can people to actually sitting at your slots versus any other form of entertainment. I personally think it's a neat concept, just can also lead to alot of people also throwing around conspiracy theories.

[Seventh777]

Actually server based gaming only refers to being able to change the game interfaces. They can't change the payback without changing the random number generators chip, that's already installed the in machine. The point of this concept is to allow operators to install new games on the fly. Without the need to actually access the machine. The way it used to be done was they had to actually open the machine, either change the software chip or put in a new CD rom. Load the software, test it, make it sure it worked, blah, blah, blah.
Now with this new technology they can change game faces without the need of actually opening the machine itself. It doesn't mean they can change the pay back ratio. It just means they can change the game without needing to insert the new game disc or chip.
Like for example. If you know you have a group of people who like to play Wolfs Run or Cleopatra coming to your casino. More than oh say State Fair or Gems Wild Tiles. Then for that day they can instruct the machines to have more of those machines available than the others. Just so you can people to actually sitting at your slots versus any other form of entertainment. I personally think it's a neat concept, just can also lead to alot of people also throwing around conspiracy theories.

I just had a look around the site Simmo gave me a link to, and noticed this..


# Real-time flexibility with floor configurations – operators can manage games and maximise machine earning potential with real time information

# BetStone’s Vision Business Intelligence Tool – Vision allows operators and casinos to track performance on games and machines, delivering real time information tracking, enabling them to maximise their investment

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



Global experience in Server Based Gaming: – this BetStone warns is crucial to ensure their provider can adapt to new trends ahead of other markets

How do they adapt when new market trends are the result of global recession?