Re: Anyone here know how an one-armed bandit (slot machine) works?

On Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:20:09 -0500, gfretwell@xxxxxxx wrote:

On Sat, 4 Nov 2006 22:10:17 -0500, krw <krw@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In article <lb6lk25d5rb1e5jif86b114rc5388fmh0d@xxxxxxx>,
joebloe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx says...
On Wed, 1 Nov 2006 09:49:15 +0100, "Frithiof Andreas Jensen"
<frithiof.jensen@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Gave us:

Being a computer, it *cannot* be completely random


A single element computerized random number generator isn't. Sure.

HOWEVER, when multiple elements are tied together it certainly can
be. Such as spinning the wheel at a random speed and from a random
start point, and stopping them at a random point. Those three nearly
purely random elements seriesed together can easily be argued to be
purely random as to the end result. Then, there are multiple wheels
as well, adding still more elements to it, making it even closer to
true randomness.

Be careful even here. Oscillators tend to lock to each other which
degrades or kills randomness. Truely random numbers are very
difficult to produce and verify.

Another good one would be giving the customer a button to press for
the stop point on each wheel.

Same issue.


They have shows on cable about these machines from time to time. One
thing they make clear is the result is already in the machine before
you push the button.

I have seen lots of cable shows. All are true of course. I must
correct you however, the result is actually determined when you push
the button, not before.

The random part is not knowing which machine is
about to pay off. The gaming commission only verifies that these
things pay off a statistical number of times, not whether there is a
pattern to the payout. They want the player to know the machine is
playing them and most players try to outsmart the machine. You may
trick the machine now and then but at the end of the day there will
always be more money in there than there was in the morning. It is a
statistical enivitability and the casinos know it. They want big
winners, that brings in big losers.

Very smart. If I have a coin, and you pick heads, there is a 50%
chance you will win. If i flip a coin with 2 heads, then you will
always win. If i run a business, do you think i will chose the 2
headed coin?

You cannot trick a modern machine. The probability is fixed. If you
win you are lucky. Beleive it or not, sometimes the machines loose.
Were the casino wins is that the big better wins big then usually
spends the winnings.
.