7 ms·

With a mechanical slot machine I can understand the reel thing. But with electronic screens, software making up reels, how do I know that the software does not

With a mechanical slot machine I can understand the reel thing. But with electronic screens, software making up reels, how do I know that the software does not fool me even more? Take the given example with first slot 1/16, second 1/32 and third 1/44 chance of winning big. Now assume the generated numbers are really random, and that day or week the machine has given two big prices. Then a third big number combination is created, and here a new rule takes over, changing one of the numbers so the price is smaller. Is this regulated or how does this work?

kopos 9y ago
It is highly regulated. The software has to go through stringent gaming reviews every year, the RNG has to be re-certified, the software cannot be updated without prior regulatory approval, the game math has to be certified. You cannot change rules based on prior winning strategy. Theoretically two spins can payout the jackpot (but the probability is very very low), and the casino has to pay them out as long as they were valid spins.
pc86 9y ago
Gambling software in casinos is regulated extremely closely.
- shardis 9y ago
  I've personally seen casino multi game slots that have had either options built in to them via admin panels or grievous enough software issues that mis-wired multi use buttons could allow a player to either lose horribly or continually win/compound upon wins. The coin or credit in/out stat counters would also be affected and be pretty much worthless. These issues just throw ANY concept of magic "odds" chips right out the window. They're not regulated that closely at all.
socialist_coder 9y ago
One of the regulations is that each reel is independent. You cannot change any reel outcome based on what the other reels are doing, and you cannot change any reel outcome based on past results. I'm not 100% sure this is the case but I'm pretty confident.
- kopos 9y ago
  Not necessarily. The math for video slots can be changed to handle that functionality, but it has to be fair and RNG driven. And of course has to be audited.
joezydeco 9y ago
From a USA point of view: it's highly regulated at the state level. State gaming commissions hire third-party labs to audit the mathematics and software to make sure everything matches what the manufacturer says it does. Things like changing the odds dynamically is never allowed. The casino may load up a new program with different odds or mechanics, but for any particular game the odds must match what is published to the gaming board. Now, this doesn't necessarily apply for non-governmental casinos, like ones on indian reservations. They are their own enforcers. Use that information as you will.
- majos 9y ago
  > From a USA point of view: it's highly regulated at the state level. State gaming commissions hire third-party labs to audit the mathematics and software to make sure everything matches what the manufacturer says it does. Can you point me to more info on this "auditing" process? For all the recent coverage of "algorithmic fairness" (an area where I do some research) I'm not aware of any other usecases where mandatory software audits are common, so this is interesting. Who are these labs?
  - joezydeco 9y ago
    One of the most popular labs in this line of work is GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) http://www.gaminglabs.com/ http://www.gaminglabs.com/ Here's a doc from their site about RNG testing: http://www.gaminglabs.com/pdfs/GLI%20Comp%20Sub%20Req%20V1.2.pdf http://www.gaminglabs.com/pdfs/GLI%20Comp%20Sub%20Req%20V1.2...
    - majos 9y ago
      Thanks, this is pretty thorough. Do you by chance know how these verification systems arose -- goverment intervention or, somehow, from within the industry? It's remarkable to me that good software verification practices (well, trusting this document and knowing only a little about verification in general) is up and running for casinos, not banks or other important software users.

kopos 9y ago

It is highly regulated. The software has to go through stringent gaming reviews every year, the RNG has to be re-certified, the software cannot be updated without prior regulatory approval, the game math has to be certified. You cannot change rules based on prior winning strategy. Theoretically two spins can payout the jackpot (but the probability is very very low), and the casino has to pay them out as long as they were valid spins.

pc86 9y ago

Gambling software in casinos is regulated extremely closely.

shardis 9y ago
I've personally seen casino multi game slots that have had either options built in to them via admin panels or grievous enough software issues that mis-wired multi use buttons could allow a player to either lose horribly or continually win/compound upon wins. The coin or credit in/out stat counters would also be affected and be pretty much worthless. These issues just throw ANY concept of magic "odds" chips right out the window. They're not regulated that closely at all.

socialist_coder 9y ago

One of the regulations is that each reel is independent. You cannot change any reel outcome based on what the other reels are doing, and you cannot change any reel outcome based on past results. I'm not 100% sure this is the case but I'm pretty confident.

kopos 9y ago
Not necessarily. The math for video slots can be changed to handle that functionality, but it has to be fair and RNG driven. And of course has to be audited.

joezydeco 9y ago

From a USA point of view: it's highly regulated at the state level. State gaming commissions hire third-party labs to audit the mathematics and software to make sure everything matches what the manufacturer says it does. Things like changing the odds dynamically is never allowed. The casino may load up a new program with different odds or mechanics, but for any particular game the odds must match what is published to the gaming board. Now, this doesn't necessarily apply for non-governmental casinos, like ones on indian reservations. They are their own enforcers. Use that information as you will.

majos 9y ago
> From a USA point of view: it's highly regulated at the state level. State gaming commissions hire third-party labs to audit the mathematics and software to make sure everything matches what the manufacturer says it does. Can you point me to more info on this "auditing" process? For all the recent coverage of "algorithmic fairness" (an area where I do some research) I'm not aware of any other usecases where mandatory software audits are common, so this is interesting. Who are these labs?
- joezydeco 9y ago
  One of the most popular labs in this line of work is GLI (Gaming Laboratories International) http://www.gaminglabs.com/ http://www.gaminglabs.com/ Here's a doc from their site about RNG testing: http://www.gaminglabs.com/pdfs/GLI%20Comp%20Sub%20Req%20V1.2.pdf http://www.gaminglabs.com/pdfs/GLI%20Comp%20Sub%20Req%20V1.2...
  - majos 9y ago
    Thanks, this is pretty thorough. Do you by chance know how these verification systems arose -- goverment intervention or, somehow, from within the industry? It's remarkable to me that good software verification practices (well, trusting this document and knowing only a little about verification in general) is up and running for casinos, not banks or other important software users.