Slotland Fraudulent "Video Poker" Games

[caruso]

Changed what? Since the initial changes that were made, I see nothing different:

http://www.slotland.com/faq.html#slotmachines

"We offer six different slot machines and three stylish card games at the moment."

This implies that the card games are NOT slot machines. You can argue the semantics of that to the ends of the earth, but the fact remains: to say that the card games are "additional" to the slots implies that they are NOT slots.

http://www.slotland.com/faq.html#cardgames

"Our pay table for this game is very generous"

Again, you can argue the semantics of that because the paytable is ostensibly "full pay", but since we know this game is a 95% slot, the payout of this "paytable" equates to a 6/5 JOB game - the worst out there, and the LEAST generous. So in fact, what you "claim" is the direct OPPOSITE of the truth.

Everything in the SL descriptions is marketing hype and very, very dishonest. However, I acknowledge that changes were made a while back to make it a bit less flagrantly misleading than before.

[chalupa]

SlotMarty, I'm happy to see that you are revisiting this. I would be even happier if you revisited my personal situation and reimbursed me for some of my outstanding losses.

The Jacks Or Better screen is improved -- most importantly, you removed the statement that your games "conform to the Nevada Gaming Rules".

(However, I note that statement IS still on your home page. Since Nevada gaming rules require video card games to act like real cards, you should remove this false statement from everywhere on your site.)


Unfortunately the Jacks Or Better game page is still not clear enough. The critically important note about Jackpot wins is still buried in a page reached by clicking a link "for more details containing poker rules". The vast majority of players visiting your site already know how to play video poker, so they have no reason to click on that link.

Simply put, f you are going to have a "video poker" game that acts like no other on the planet, you need to be explicit about it.

As a minimum, that means putting the disclaimer about the jackpot where it belongs -- on the pay table on the main playing page. I suggested this waaaay back in my first post and it would be trivial to do. See the attached screen mock-up as an example.

Note that the same issue applies to WildHeart and SpaceJack, and could be very easily solved in the same fashion.

[SlotMarty]

Hi Vesuvio, Caruso, Chalupa, and all other Casinomeister and Slotland members!

Thanks for all your thoughts and feedback. I will try to sort all your suggestions out and make a single list of proposed changes. It won't be easy though, as you seem to contradict with each other on a few points. I can almost guarantee that you won't be all 100% satisfied at the same time; what fits one of you, might be totally unacceptable for the other two. Anyway, I will do my best and I will suggest your proposed changes to our management and try to win my (and your!) argument. I will definitely keep you informed here at Casinomeister.

[Vesuvio]

Originally Posted by SlotMarty

It won't be easy though, as you seem to contradict with each other on a few points.

I can't see any contradictions - it's simply there are so many things wrong at present we picked up on different issues! (e.g. I'd missed the 'generous pay table' lie that Caruso spotted)

All you need to do is make it 100% clear to players that what you offer is a slot machine based on video poker and not a video poker game. That should be extremely simple to do and was suggested many months ago. The only reasonable explanation for the delay is that you see this as a way of fradulently attracting players who don't want to play slots into your casino.

[chalupa]

Ditto what Vesuvio said. No contradictions here. The more disclosure and honesty the better.

Marty, I'm going to take you at face value and assume you are sincere, and wish you the best of luck presenting it to management.

But look, this is all really pretty silly. It's ridiculously obvious that the site is deceptive. And it's equally clear that management has known about it forever. And that they don't care about making it right for the players, except probably for the fact that they have taken some heat here and have been removed from the Casinomeister recommended list. They have dragged their heels and made only modest changes hoping that would be enough to take the heat off.

I believe the reason why Slotland does NOT want to be above-board is that the "video poker" games are a huge money-maker for them, suckering in players who would never play a high casino edge game otherwise.

Further, I would bet that when these "video poker" games are played at max coins going for the jackpot, that Slotland makes an even higher percentage than on their normal slot machines.

This is because a good video poker player will happily throw away paying hands or better drawing hands to draw for the inflated royal flush jackpot, incorrectly assuming the royal flush is paid at true odds. Since the lesser-paying hands are far more common and account for about 97% of the payout in video poker, throwing away these hands has a HUGE adverse affect on the player's results.

So Slotland attracts a good player they would otherwise not get, and since that player thinks he's playing a positive expectation game he continues to pump money in despite short-term losses... while all along he is playing a game that's even WORSE than a slot machine! What a deal for Slotland!!


Look... I believe if Slotland was truly ethical that they would have thanked me for taking the time to bring this to their attention months ago, reimbursed me for my losses, and immediately modified the web site. As a business owner, that's what I would have done if I found out I was inadvertently deceiving my customers.

So I'll believe Slotland's sincerity when I see it on their site, and when they make me whole for my losses incurred while playing under their deception.

[casinogossip]

I haven’t watched this issue close enough – I had erroneously assumed that it was headed to resolution late last year. It is now clear to me that the issue has not been resolved and that the necessary measures to put an end to the predicament have not been taken.

As such we are in the process of removing any and all referral links to Slotland and would request that our colleagues do the same.

[caruso]

That's a commendably honourable stance to take, CG - particularly when you look at the Slotland affiliate programme on offer, and, presumably, the dollars you'll be turning your back on:

http://www.slotland.com/pintro.html?...PvMliRN2BV2ojr

Slotland pay their affiliates 25% OF DEPOSITS. Is this a record?

For every $100 a player deposits, Slotland hands over $25 straight away.

This tells you the kind of money-farm this is.

Anyway, kudos to the SL rep for bumping this evil-titled thread back from the wasteland, although I'm also confused by his suggestion that there was any player-disagreement on show - I see blanket consensus.

[chalupa]

Are you still with us SlotMarty?

(5 weeks later, no change that I can see.)

[jamiester]

From the Gambling Commission

http://www.gamblingcommission.com/guidelines.asp

Qualifications Summary

The 10 abiding factors of the Gambling Commission Standards which monitor randomness, fairness and ability and guarantee to pay winners are listed below.

1. Consistent random mathematical testing of software pass rate.
2. Posted rules of each casino member are accurately followed.
3. Each free trial version of software must offer the same rules and odds of paid version.
4. Payout odds and percentages must be true at all times.
5. Game device simulations (cards or dice) must statistically react exactly like real world version of device.
6. Wagers must be honored despite power failures or player interruptions.
7. Ample cash reserves must be sustained in order to pay winners.
8. Player disputes must be addressed quickly and accurately.
9. Player transaction logs will be thoroughly maintained.
10. Casino representatives must be available to discuss player account activity.

I don't know if anybody takes the Gambling Commission seriously (it looks like they haven't updated their homepage since 2000) but this is the "independant organization" which Slotland claims validates the fair gaming credentials. It seems to me that Slotland violates at least rule 5 on its JOB, SpaceJack and other card games. Why would the Gambling Commission continue to certify them if they clearly are in violation of ones it parameters? Or is that a nieve question? I am new to here and have been losing what I consider to be an excessive amount on slots at Slotland. I am in the middle of an inquiry with them so I won't go into that too much yet. I like Slots despite the generally horrible returns. I'm willing to play at 93 or 95% but not 85%.

[KasinoKing]

Originally Posted by jamiester

I like Slots despite the generally horrible returns. I'm willing to play at 93 or 95% but not 85%.

Welcome to the forum! Hope you stick around.

If you like slots, why don't you play at one of the Meister's reputable sites - a good MG for example?
Slotland has always struck me as 'a bit dodgy' at best!
I have successfully cleared several 100%+ "slots only" bonuses at MG's, and come out on top!

Good luck, have fun and be careful!