Q&A Ask Me Anything about Slots (AMA) 2020 with Trancemonkey

[funnymunny]

In the UK, it has to. In other markets, i'm not so sure. I know that some manufacturers definitely run different maths on free play than real money, but how many of the "big guys" do, i'm not sure

Just to add to this, many of other Tier1 Regulators (e.g. IoM) specify as a licensing condition that the same must be used in free and real play.

Can't speak for all, but the "big guys" game providers I've worked for also all use the same maths for both versions of their games.

 

[trancemonkey]

In reply to: test-labs would see that the top award was never paid, and this would fail compliance. , not in this instance:

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Edge-bug (as in this thread)?

What top award are you talking about? The top single biggest advertised prize or the max win... It's an important distinction

 

[deleted-user-20240310]

@trancemonkey , the link I sent shows that even games tested by test labs can be faulty. I guess in this case the correct term is max win? However, this game was missing wilds on reels:

This proposition had been amply demonstrated in June 2009 when several customers realized that certain wild symbols were not appearing on reels 1 and 5 in three games: Diablo 13, Wild Sevens, and Dougies Delights. These missing icons substantially reduced the return to player and made it impossible to win the jackpot.

So I guess it is basically not the same thing as @dustypine asked . But the fact is RTP was lower than it should've been and max-win or 'top-prize' couldn't be won. This was just to comment on:

The test-labs would see that the top award was never paid, and this would fail compliance. Also, the game wouldn't run to the correct RTP if it was ignoring outcomes.

 

[trancemonkey]

Interesting - i was not aware of this situation. I can't comment on this precise issue, as i don't know enough details BUT what is a possible explanation here is that they released the game in unregulated markets first without having had it tested by GLI. There are many of these in both online and land-based - in these markets there are no checks on the software. This would also explain how a fix was deployed so quickly.

Unless you know where the casino is based (what jurisdiction) it is hard to know whether the game is tested or not. We always test our games with GLI even if they will go in to an unregulated market (as we use the same software in all markets) but in theory we COULD release some of our games in to markets in europe without any testing.

I know this might seem like a "get of of jail" answer, but it's just factual...

 

[deleted-user-20240310]

@trancemonkey, no idea which casino or market this incident took place - I found this on Google after someone mentioned the case on another thread! The site behind the link has flags of USA, Canada and Australia so probably around these markets (I personally haven't event heard of TopGame -provider, but I have heard about Pragmatic Play which purchased them)....

Just a couple more questions to clarify:

- ... the game in unregulated markets first ... Do you mean games from unregulated markets can be brought to regulated markets without testing or did I misunderstand?
- So, a game can have different software for different markets. For example MGA casinos can have way more 'near' misses than UK, even though the game otherwise seems the same (as this is not prohibited in MGA rules)?

 

[trancemonkey]

Q1... No.. the other way around is true, but to go to a regulated market it would have to be tested

Q2... In theory yes, but as tests are expensive, this is unlikely.

 

[4048]

Hey Trancemonkey,

You have previously stated that gamble features has 100% RTP, and I thought this was a legal requirement.

The new game "Wild Love" by Endorphina (some starburst-ish game) has a gamble feature with 84% RTP.

As you can see in the picture this isn't a simple black-or-red gamble feature, so maybe it's an exception from the rule, but what are your thoughts about it?

Edit: You can see the dealer's card before agreeing to the gamble so I guess you could call it skill-based, does that make the RTP okay?

 

[trancemonkey]

Hey Trancemonkey,

You have previously stated that gamble features has 100% RTP, and I thought this was a legal requirement.

The new game "Wild Love" by Endorphina (some starburst-ish game) has a gamble feature with 84% RTP.

As you can see in the picture this isn't a simple black-or-red gamble feature, so maybe it's an exception from the rule, but what are your thoughts about it?

Edit: You can see the dealer's card before agreeing to the gamble so I guess you could call it skill-based, does that make the RTP okay?

View attachment 165768

Hey... Thanks for bringing this up. All I can say is that in the regulated markets that I operate in, we have to make all our gambles 100% RTP - at least this is my understanding and what compliance tell me. This is because without the gamble running at 100%, the overall game would not hit its target RTP and could trigger RTP monitor warnings.

Endorphina - I'm not sure they operate in the UK or other highly regulated markets, but I might be wrong. I'm very focused on land based currently, so my apologies for not being up to speed on this

 

[sh33k]

hello everyone! I am a new member here and a new player too! I prefer slots because is very relaxed to begin with! Can you suggest me something? Also, is there any strategy for this?

 

[TheAddict]

@sh33k
Suggest you compare rtp of whatever game you like over multiple casinos before playing it, preferably choosing a casino that get the casinomiester approval, or at least multiple members approval in the forum threads) and if you want to maximize that length of relaxation as a new player, to probably avoid bonanza.

edit. Also, Hi!

 

[slotmaster]

Hope trancemonkey is o.k., have not seen him here for awhile.

 

[Jono777]

Sure he will be, maybe a sore head from banging his head up against the proverbial brick wall!

 

[slotmaster]

Sure he will be, maybe a sore head from banging his head up against the proverbial brick wall!

Well if he just accepts the slots are rigged....

 

[trancemonkey]

Hope trancemonkey is o.k., have not seen him here for awhile.

I'm still lurking occasionally... I'll be at ICE next week.

 

[sh33k]

8

@sh33k
Suggest you compare rtp of whatever game you like over multiple casinos before playing it, preferably choosing a casino that get the casinomiester approval, or at least multiple members approval in the forum threads) and if you want to maximize that length of relaxation as a new player, to probably avoid bonanza.

edit. Also, Hi

Thanks for advices! I am playing bonanza !

 

[sh33k]

Hi trancemonkey! Nice to see you back and upbeat again!

Of course the question everyone wants to ask or know, Are slots rigged?

(I am a new poster in this thread, does that count?

Surely there is something set up on their part... we just can't tell it easily! I can not figure it out! many times when I win I win more, other times when I win then I lose!

 

[sh33k]

Do you think there is a specific strategy for the slot ???? I would like to hear your opinions...

 

[The Reel Story]

Surely there is something set up on their part... we just can't tell it easily! I can not figure it out! many times when I win I win more, other times when I win then I lose!

Asked and answered many times over No, but they all have a mathematical model that statistically ensures that they make profit. That's how slots work (see below for a playlist of video's I have done explaining how slots work and what RTP is)

Do you think there is a specific strategy for the slot ???? I would like to hear your opinions...

No, there are no strategies. It's just random and over time, you will always lose.

 

[slotmaster]

Do you think there is a specific strategy for the slot ???? I would like to hear your opinions...

Hit the spin button at the right time.

 

[JkG]

hello everyone! I am a new member here and a new player too! I prefer slots because is very relaxed to begin with! Can you suggest me something? Also, is there any strategy for this?

I'm just gonna say I used to find it relaxing cos I would grind away a few quid slow as anything and be lucky to win a thing. Thing is when I did win recently,I got a great big happy surprise win,.not life-changing but a nice bonus to a hard month where I'm awaiting going abroad for treatment. Yet it doesn't ever go your way if you win anything over 1k it seems..the company I've been playing with for years now want everything but my kitchen sink as proof I owned an OLD debit card on my account.
You will find casinos online infuriating and frustrating and disappointing so by all means play to distract and relax like I did but just to let you know that stuff happens constantly too.

 

[sh33k]

Hit the spin button at the right time.

hahaahhaah! hello! i try it always!

 

[sh33k]

Asked and answered many times over No, but they all have a mathematical model that statistically ensures that they make profit. That's how slots work (see below for a playlist of video's I have done explaining how slots work and what RTP is)



No, there are no strategies. It's just random and over time, you will always lose.

hello! in the end I believe that!

 

[sh33k]

I'm just gonna say I used to find it relaxing cos I would grind away a few quid slow as anything and be lucky to win a thing. Thing is when I did win recently,I got a great big happy surprise win,.not life-changing but a nice bonus to a hard month where I'm awaiting going abroad for treatment. Yet it doesn't ever go your way if you win anything over 1k it seems..the company I've been playing with for years now want everything but my kitchen sink as proof I owned an OLD debit card on my account.
You will find casinos online infuriating and frustrating and disappointing so by all means play to distract and relax like I did but just to let you know that stuff happens constantly too.

hello! thasnks for advices! i agree with you..I play enough to relax even without real money I would like to learn from some more experienced than me ways to lose less! anyway, everything is a risk.. let's try to have the least amount, and everything with limits!

 

[Itaghai]

Hi @trancemonkey,
This thread already got a good share of replies so I'm sorry if I ask something that was already been asked but I didn't went through the whole thread.

I assume you might work with slots somehow, right? As some of my questions are related to the engine of a slot.

1. Which changes are made to a slot to apply different RTPs? Is it changes to the reels, hit frequency, or anything else?
2. How do the providers manage the RTP, is it per region or global?
   1. As an example, if a slot with the same RTP is available in casino A and casino B, and in casino A it already paid 10 max wins and the overall RTP is over 100% meanwhile in casino B there haven't been any max wins and the RTP is bellow 90%, is this something that can happen? If so, will the casino A be in dept or the provider is the one that has to manage the profits/losses of the casinos?
3. The slots aren't totally random, right? Is there any specific algorithm or mathematical law that they follow?
4. Does the RTP of previous sessions influence the current session in a slot? Or even the IP address?
5. Which software is more commonly used to develop a slot? I, as a developer, if I wanted to develop a slot just for fun, is there anything I should know in advance?

 

[The Reel Story]

Hi @trancemonkey,
This thread already got a good share of replies so I'm sorry if I ask something that was already been asked but I didn't went through the whole thread.

I assume you might work with slots somehow, right? As some of my questions are related to the engine of a slot.

1. Which changes are made to a slot to apply different RTPs? Is it changes to the reels, hit frequency, or anything else?
2. How do the providers manage the RTP, is it per region or global?
   1. As an example, if a slot with the same RTP is available in casino A and casino B, and in casino A it already paid 10 max wins and the overall RTP is over 100% meanwhile in casino B there haven't been any max wins and the RTP is bellow 90%, is this something that can happen? If so, will the casino A be in dept or the provider is the one that has to manage the profits/losses of the casinos?
3. The slots aren't totally random, right? Is there any specific algorithm or mathematical law that they follow?
4. Does the RTP of previous sessions influence the current session in a slot? Or even the IP address?
5. Which software is more commonly used to develop a slot? I, as a developer, if I wanted to develop a slot just for fun, is there anything I should know in advance?

I can answer some of these (Used to work in the industry, whereas Trance still does, but my answers should still suffice). Video at the end of the post that helps add detail to my answers)

1. All of the above. I have a video about RTP (which has some practical examples), but paytable, reel sets (which impacts hit frequency), adding symbols, removing symbols, changing multipliers. Depends on the game, but there are ALLLL sorts of things you can do (which is why making a slot that 'feels' good to play is actually quite challenging)

2. Slot developers create multiple versions of their slots, each with different mathematical models that produce different RTP's. These are integrated onto a Slot Providers platform (dev and provider may be the same) and then it is up to a Casino which version they want to put on their website. The casino cannot chop and change the RTP at will. If they want to change the version they have live, there are some regulatory hoops.

Losses are the Casinos responsibility, however there are some nuances depending on the contract with the slot provider. Normally slot commercials work on a revenue share basis, so if a slot makes a 100k profit, the slot provider takes 10k and the Casino takes 90k. If there is a loss, depending on the contract, the Casino may 'roll those over' and offset against future profits. So if a slot made a 10k loss one month, and a 100k profit the month after, the Casino would pay out based on 90k profit.

3. They are totally random, but they are based on a set of rules that ensure the Casino always wins overall. Best example I can give is the following.

I have a dice. It is random.
You pay £1 to play
If you roll a 6, I will give you £5, anything else and I keep your money.
The result is random, but statistically, the RTP is 80%, because 6 rolls cost you £6 but statistically will only return £5.

So it's the rules that introduce the concept of RTP on to a truly random result.

4. No. TRTP isn't a 'thing', it's just a result of the mathematical model of the slot (see the video).

5. We used to use Flash for the front end and Java for the back end. When Flash died, it was HTML5 for the front end (which is still true) and Java for the back end. I imagine Java is still a popular choice, but basically any language that can build a web service would do.