Are Slot Machines illegally trying to psych you out?

Question

Did you see the article about the slot machines in Canada http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9012094&source=NLT_AM&nlid=1
that try to psych gamblers into thinking they are on a winning streak. They said that the casinos do not check for those kind of tricks in the machines. Do you wonder if the machines you are playing have the same trick and do you think that the gambling commissions should be testing to be sure?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

The machines the article refers to are video slots. The moment you press the spin button, the Random Number Generator in the machine determines the outcome of that spin. It will take a second or two for the machine to visually display that to you. During that time, while the reels are "spinning", thousands of symbol combinations flash across the screen. Of course winning symbols will appear.

I think this is a huge over-reaction by Canadian Gaming authorities. I suggest they would be equally distressed if the player NEVER saw a winning symbol/combination flash across the screen.  

What's interesting is the machine manufacturer's response:
The 3 game themes cited as offering subliminal messages are their worst performing games as far as player popularity. So, if there is some imbedded message in these games.......it isn't working!

aSchway · Answer

I think people who play slot machines should realize that the odds of you winning in the long run on a slot machine are very low. Yes, you may end up winning a small amount every so often, but slot machines are just there to eat up your money. They will go off when you least expect it, and the winners win big, and the losers - well they lose big.

Candi-O · Answer

There is definitely a psychological element, but for the most part, its not illegal, per se

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Are Slot Machines illegally trying to psych you out?

3 Answers