Thanks for taking the time to post Rob, but I'm afraid there's something just not right about the games at the moment - I notice today also that the bonus payout on the oceans treasure shell pick game is much lower - another paytable change?
I'm taking a break from Rival for a while, as Im just not getting reasonable value for money. Its off to MG or RTG for a fresh crack I think.
I dont like the paytables being changed without anything being mentioned (as you said it was a few weeks back without warning). If this happened at an MG casino there would be hell to pay I would think.
Again, its nothing personal, I just wont play where I dont have a fair chance to win.
If more bonus rounds are given, it makes sense that the win from each will, on average, be less.
Problem is, this makes players feel uneasy about the games they are playing, how can they know they are getting a fair return, as after all, previous payouts will bear no relation to what can be expected in the future.
One way to ease fears is to get an independent determination of theoretical return from an independent body, and publish it for each game where it is not obvious from rules (such as card games). Publish the dates and changes made to each game, so that there is openness rather than rumour as happens when RTG games seem to go cold all of a sudden.
Currently, players know there have been changes, and if they experience rapidly vanishing deposits now, they will assume these changes have vastly increased the house edge, and will look elsewhere.
Microgaming benefits from the assertion that individual operators cannot change the paytables, and accusations tend to get directed to MG having made an across the board change. If MG change too much, they will get caught out by audited payout figures, although this does not stop individual slots being messed with (they already have different payout percentages, as demonstrated by Zoozie, I believe Thunderstruck is close to 95%, whereas Tally Ho is nearer to 96%).