Gambler denied $58M jackpot over slot machine ‘software error’

[Hurricane Hank]

Obviously, none of you has ever worked in a Casino, at least in Canada.

As stated, every machine has "any malfunction voids all plays and pays" on it.
Most machines, not all, have a max payout. So IF that jackpot was over the max allowed (I don't know the particulars of this situation) it was quite clearly a malfunction.
For the games that are co-mingled with other casinos, or any progressive machine, the casino doesn't give a shit about paying the money. That jackpot money has been slowly built while people were losing, and the casino was winning. They already have their cut. Their only concern is that the jackpot is won fairly.

"Casinos never check for malfunctions when people keep losing." WRONG again. In Ontario, casinos are required by law to pay a certain percentage, depending on the machine. Many times, if people complain, technicians are used to verify that the payout percentages are set correctly. In addition, the AGCO, which controls gaming, have their own people who periodically check all machines in order to ensure compliance. Rama has been fined a couple of times for compliance issues.

Huge jackpots are great advertising tools. It is never money out of the casinos pocket, at least in Ontario.

I can only speak for Ontario, not Austria. But huge jackpot wins are great advertising.

 

[Aardvark154]

And that is why I don't play ANY electronic machines or slots. I don't trust the damn things

Not to mention that for those who are good at mathematics there are card games where you can through intelligent play increase your chances against the house. For slot machines it is fixed odds, and the odds most definitely are in favour of the house.

 

[newtohobby]

Exactly what he said.

Obviously, none of you has ever worked in a Casino, at least in Canada.

As stated, every machine has "any malfunction voids all plays and pays" on it.
Most machines, not all, have a max payout. So IF that jackpot was over the max allowed (I don't know the particulars of this situation) it was quite clearly a malfunction.
For the games that are co-mingled with other casinos, or any progressive machine, the casino doesn't give a shit about paying the money. That jackpot money has been slowly built while people were losing, and the casino was winning. They already have their cut. Their only concern is that the jackpot is won fairly.

"Casinos never check for malfunctions when people keep losing." WRONG again. In Ontario, casinos are required by law to pay a certain percentage, depending on the machine. Many times, if people complain, technicians are used to verify that the payout percentages are set correctly. In addition, the AGCO, which controls gaming, have their own people who periodically check all machines in order to ensure compliance. Rama has been fined a couple of times for compliance issues.

Huge jackpots are great advertising tools. It is never money out of the casinos pocket, at least in Ontario.

I can only speak for Ontario, not Austria. But huge jackpot wins are great advertising.

 

[fuji]

Whenever I'm in Los Vegas I find a single zero roulette wheel and put all my gambling money down on one spin, usually just $500. If I win, it will be $17500, so far I've lost. One of these days I will have a really nice time in Los Vegas (1 in every 36 trips I imagine). That's mostly because I hate casinos, and can't stand the idea of sitting in one any longer than I have to. Time consuming things like card games are not on. With one spin at the wheel I can lose my money quickly and move on to doing something I enjoy more--but I still get to say that I gambled! If you say you went to LV and didn't gamble people look at you funny.

The single zero table is stacked against you but not nearly as badly as the double and triple zeros. They aren't common anymore--most of them are doubles. Ontario even has triples, but you can still find a single zero table if you look for one. For my single spin I take the time to find a single zero table.

 

[Yoga Face]

Whenever I'm in Los Vegas I find a single zero roulette wheel and put all my gambling money down on one spin, usually just $500. If I win, it will be $17500, so far I've lost. One of these days I will have a really nice time in Los Vegas (1 in every 36 trips I imagine). That's mostly because I hate casinos, and can't stand the idea of sitting in one any longer than I have to. Time consuming things like card games are not on. With one spin at the wheel I can lose my money quickly and move on to doing something I enjoy more--but I still get to say that I gambled! If you say you went to LV and didn't gamble people look at you funny.

The single zero table is stacked against you but not nearly as badly as the double and triple zeros. They aren't common anymore--most of them are doubles. Ontario even has triples, but you can still find a single zero table if you look for one. For my single spin I take the time to find a single zero table.

Best bet is one big hand of twenty one

 

[fuji]

Best bet is one big hand of twenty one

Not really. Achieving favourable odds in blackjack requires sitting there and playing out multiple hands waiting for the good opportunities to split or double. I really want to be out of there in under 5 minutes.

Also blackjack pays out 2:1, whereas roulette pays out 35:1 so in a single hand of blackjack you win/lose a relatively small amount of money. It takes multiple hands, and again, time I don't want to spend there, to win or lose a significant amount. Unless you are suggesting I come along and risk $10k on one hand or something--but I am only willing to put $500 at risk, which means my maximum payout on one hand is $500, big deal. With roulette the payouts are far less frequent but far bigger--if I really do turn $500 into $17500 that will actually change the quality of my entire trip to Vegas (I will plan to blow the whole $17500 before I leave, the idea is to leave the $500 in Vegas one way or another).

I agree that if you are going to spend hours in the casino then blackjack is probably a good choice--maybe even the best choice--but like I said, I hate casinos. I want to be out of there in under five minutes, so I walk in, put all my money on zero, and then whether I win or I lose, I leave.

 

[Yoga Face]

Unless you are suggesting I come along and risk $10k on one hand or something

That is exactly what I suggest

If you get to split or double down the odds are in your favor so take extra $$$$$ just in case

In any one hand the odds are around 52/48 % so very close to 50/50

 

[fuji]

If you bet on zero on a single zero roulette table you have a 1 in 37 chance of getting a 35 to 1 payout. That is also very close to 50/50, but you only have to risk $500 for a chance to win $17500. At the blackjack table you have to risk $17500 for a chance to win $17500, with only slightly better odds.

 

[Yoga Face]

If you bet on zero on a single zero roulette table you have a 1 in 37 chance of getting a 35 to 1 payout. That is also very close to 50/50, but you only have to risk $500 for a chance to win $17500. At the blackjack table you have to risk $17500 for a chance to win $17500, with only slightly better odds.

So in roulette you bet say 34 times and lose
You got one bet left and you win
You are back to where you started

In roulette you have to win in the beginnings of your play to win (what are the odds now ?)

There is a bet that is fifty fifty in craps

Most of the crap plays are sucker bets but

I believe it is when you bet the dealer will not crap out



The most fun is to bet on a NFL game

This one bet will last for hours and if the game is close you will be screaming and jumping up and down

Again, when you bet the spread a history check of the spread will prove to be just under 50/50

 

[fuji]

So in roulette you bet say 34 times and lose

It doesn't matter how many times you play, the odds are the same every spin. On a single zero table the house edge is 1/37, or roughly 50.7/49.3 odds (for the house) if you want to put it that way.

You are missing the point that my goal is to exit the casino no more than 5 minutes after I enter the casino. Blackjack has slightly better odds, but only if you are willing to spend hours sitting at the blackjack table, which I'm not. At blackjack you risk smaller amounts of money over a longer period of time. The longer period of time makes it un-fun, for me.

 

[Yoga Face]

It doesn't matter how many times you play, the odds are the same every spin. On a single zero table the house edge is 1/37, or roughly 50.7/49.3 odds (for the house) if you want to put it that way.

You are missing the point that my goal is to exit the casino no more than 5 minutes after I enter the casino. Blackjack has slightly better odds, but only if you are willing to spend hours sitting at the blackjack table, which I'm not. At blackjack you risk smaller amounts of money over a longer period of time. The longer period of time makes it un-fun, for me.

You miss the point To win any money of significance you have to win on the first few rolls which is very unlikely other wise you win your losings back

Blackjack over the long term is a losers play

One hand is the only way to go

 

[fuji]

You miss the point To win any money of significance you have to win on the first few rolls which is very unlikely other wise you win your losings back

What do you mean "few rolls", I am making a single bet, $500 on one number, and leaving after one spin of the wheel. I either lose $500 or win $17000, on that single spin, and then I leave.

 

[Yoga Face]

What do you mean "few rolls", I am making a single bet, $500 on one number, and leaving after one spin of the wheel. I either lose $500 or win $17000, on that single spin, and then I leave.

OK I did not realize it was a one bet proposition

In this scenario I would say the best bet is 500 on blackjack and let it ride until you have your 17000 or go bust
(or quit early which is a nice option you do not have in roulette)

So you have to win 5 times in a row ( assuming no splits or double downs)

I would go with the 5 hands of blackjack over the one spin of a wheel

Another way is to bet football straight up (no points) and hope Miami beats Greenbay and take the odds

This way your bet is enjoyed over a longer period of time

 

[zz000ter]

I never win at the casino. I'm claiming software error.

Bingo! We have a winner

 

[fuji]

In this scenario I would say the best bet is 500 on blackjack and let it ride until you have your 17000 or go bust

So, this means you can't use basic strategy, and in that case the odds of blackjack are far worse than the odds at the roulette table. Blackjack only has better odds if you are willing to sit there and play a strategy over a long period of time.

 

[Yoga Face]

So, this means you can't use basic strategy, and in that case the odds of blackjack are far worse than the odds at the roulette table. Blackjack only has better odds if you are willing to sit there and play a strategy over a long period of time.

You still use stategy of when to hold or split or double down over five (or less) hands
folding needs to be incorporated into the mix possibly extending into another hand

The negative is if you want to play intelligently you may have to anti up more money for a split, perhaps thousands if your 8K is split with aces :hand: but this also increases your winnings

If each hand is a 51/49 shot then the odds of winning 5 in a row is one in 32+ which is very close to 1 in 37 but in BJ you can quit half way through and take your 8K winnings or so where as in roulette it is all or nothing

BJ seems more exciting for that reason and the fun is extended over twenty minutes or so with a crowd cheering you on

 

[Hurricane Hank]

Next time fuji, go to the craps table.
Play $100 on pass line, and $100 on 5,6,8,9. If the shooter gets on a roll, you could make a bunch.

 

[Yoga Face]

Or you could just go short on a derivative

The odds are against you as you are betting against smarter people but the odds are about the same as in Vegas I would venture to guess

 

[Yoga Face]

Next time fuji, go to the craps table.
Play $100 on pass line, and $100 on 5,6,8,9. If the shooter gets on a roll, you could make a bunch.

The pass line is only the 50/50 in Vegas besides

I go with craps that way you can say



"Ah shit I just crapped"

 

[Secret-Obsessions]

I remember one time at Casino Rama i was at the tables and 20 feet from me a woman won 9 million on a slot. Within 5 seconds of the bells going off she had 5 security guards grab her and escort her to the back. She was in the papers. Apparently she was also already extremely well off.