4 ms·

It isn't so much that they are addicted (though they are), but that someone will take their spot while they are up.

by HappySweeney 4y ago

jonny_eh 4y ago
That's just a rationalization they tell themselves.
- HappySweeney 4y ago
  It's more than that. In a game like roulette, probability has no memory. In slots, the payout must come eventually, and playing losing rounds only brings you closer to that. There are slots players just waiting for others to go bust so they can swoop in. Also, one would hope that those that are so addicted that they are fine to just haul-off and piss themselves would be able to think ahead and simply wear a diaper.
  - drekipus 4y ago
    > In slots, the payout must come eventually, and playing losing rounds only brings you closer to that. Riiiigggghhhhttttt
    - bigtunacan 4y ago
      The payout is always less than the take, but the parent is correct. In most areas (of the US at least) casino slot machines are pretty tightly regulated to have to pay out a certain percentage of the take. To give an example, slot machines in Nevada must pay out a minimum of 75% of the take. Additionally, no programming/odds updates or machine resets may be made to the slot machine until the machine has sat idle for a minimum of 4 minutes; and if an update/reset is being made the machine _must_ clearly display that this is occurring. So the sick thing here is that each loss does in fact bring you closer to the winning spin. One of the only real strategies of slot machines (in the sense that there can be a strategy to a game of luck) is to stand around idling watching other people lose, then after someone leaves a machine with a bad run you immediately drop in to the spot and start playing the same machine.
      - guelo 4y ago
        The 75% isn't calculated per player or per session. It's the theoretical minimum payout over the long run. Basically it's just code that does win = rand() < .75
        whoisburbansky 4y ago
        Why does the GP's comment strike you as implying that the minimum is calculated per person or session?
        bigtunacan 4y ago
        Yeah, I was a bit confused why they thought that is what I was implying. I was just trying to explain high level how it works. I previously worked on a couple of online "slot machines" and several of my former colleagues write software now for WMS on physical machines.
        guelo 4y ago
        > each loss does in fact bring you closer to the winning spin To me that implies that the machine is keeping track of a period of time to make sure it pays out 75% during that period. Each spin is random and independent of whether it's been on a losing streak or not.
        bigtunacan 4y ago
        Ok, I can see what you mean. This is also why when I made the comment about a "strategy" I put this in parenthesis "(in the sense that there can be a strategy to a game of luck)". My intent was not to imply that each individual losing pull increases the odds, but more that if you just keep rolling the same two dice long enough eventually it's going to come up snake eyes. And this leads to people (especially gambling addicts) continuing to pull that lever after they are long past what they can afford. They know if they just keep pulling the lever (or more likely pushing the bet max button these days) that eventually it has to pay. But the reality is the casinos are predators that feed on that behavior. Most casinos actually have a much higher takeout rate than the legally required minimums as well; it's very common that they are set closer to the 90-97% range. It's generally observed that a higher takeout will result in more money for the house. With a higher takeout people are more likely to keep winning a bit and feel like they are getting lucky, so they will actually spend more money than if the aren't hitting at all.

It isn't so much that they are addicted (though they are), but that someone will take their spot while they are up.

jonny_eh 4y ago

That's just a rationalization they tell themselves.

HappySweeney 4y ago
It's more than that. In a game like roulette, probability has no memory. In slots, the payout must come eventually, and playing losing rounds only brings you closer to that. There are slots players just waiting for others to go bust so they can swoop in. Also, one would hope that those that are so addicted that they are fine to just haul-off and piss themselves would be able to think ahead and simply wear a diaper.
- drekipus 4y ago
  > In slots, the payout must come eventually, and playing losing rounds only brings you closer to that. Riiiigggghhhhttttt
  - bigtunacan 4y ago
    The payout is always less than the take, but the parent is correct. In most areas (of the US at least) casino slot machines are pretty tightly regulated to have to pay out a certain percentage of the take. To give an example, slot machines in Nevada must pay out a minimum of 75% of the take. Additionally, no programming/odds updates or machine resets may be made to the slot machine until the machine has sat idle for a minimum of 4 minutes; and if an update/reset is being made the machine _must_ clearly display that this is occurring. So the sick thing here is that each loss does in fact bring you closer to the winning spin. One of the only real strategies of slot machines (in the sense that there can be a strategy to a game of luck) is to stand around idling watching other people lose, then after someone leaves a machine with a bad run you immediately drop in to the spot and start playing the same machine.
    - guelo 4y ago
      The 75% isn't calculated per player or per session. It's the theoretical minimum payout over the long run. Basically it's just code that does win = rand() < .75
      - whoisburbansky 4y ago
        Why does the GP's comment strike you as implying that the minimum is calculated per person or session?
        bigtunacan 4y ago
        Yeah, I was a bit confused why they thought that is what I was implying. I was just trying to explain high level how it works. I previously worked on a couple of online "slot machines" and several of my former colleagues write software now for WMS on physical machines.
        guelo 4y ago
        > each loss does in fact bring you closer to the winning spin To me that implies that the machine is keeping track of a period of time to make sure it pays out 75% during that period. Each spin is random and independent of whether it's been on a losing streak or not.
        bigtunacan 4y ago
        Ok, I can see what you mean. This is also why when I made the comment about a "strategy" I put this in parenthesis "(in the sense that there can be a strategy to a game of luck)". My intent was not to imply that each individual losing pull increases the odds, but more that if you just keep rolling the same two dice long enough eventually it's going to come up snake eyes. And this leads to people (especially gambling addicts) continuing to pull that lever after they are long past what they can afford. They know if they just keep pulling the lever (or more likely pushing the bet max button these days) that eventually it has to pay. But the reality is the casinos are predators that feed on that behavior. Most casinos actually have a much higher takeout rate than the legally required minimums as well; it's very common that they are set closer to the 90-97% range. It's generally observed that a higher takeout will result in more money for the house. With a higher takeout people are more likely to keep winning a bit and feel like they are getting lucky, so they will actually spend more money than if the aren't hitting at all.