Slot machines don't have synthetic reasoning capabilities
Dear Mark,
Does the slot machine know once I've won three or four small
jackpots in a row to stop paying me because it has already
paid me too much money? Roger B.
The machines are not programmed to say to themselves; "Oh
no, I've been paying Roger way too much money. Time to stiff
this loser."
Slot machines, Roger, do not operate by artificial intelligence
as you suggest in your question, but are preprogrammed to
pay out a certain percentage on a random basis with all kinds
of streaks-good and bad-appearing. All symbols are selected
by a random number generator (RNG) and this small internal
chip knows nothing about cycles. What the programming does
tell the casino operators is that after millions and millions
of decisions, "X" amount of money will be earned
by the casino and lost by the players. But no one, Bob, not
even the machine, knows what the actual "sequence"
of wins and losses will be.
Dear Mark,
Is it true that in Canadian casinos there is no tax taken
from jackpots? Randal H.
True, Randal, all winnings are passed on to the player.
But, American players like you who play at Casino Niagara
and win more than $10,000 are required to report it at the
border.
Dear Mark,
Recently a dealer flipped over a blackjack and yelled out
"red snapper." Is that some sort of insider lingo?
I've never heard it before. Noreen R.
A snapper is an archaic term for blackjack. A red snapper
is a blackjack composed of two red cards.
Dear Mark,
Is it true that baccarat is a very erratic, risky game and
the casinos bottom line can be in jeopardy by a high roller?
John Z.
If ever, John, there were a scenario where a casino owner
would climb to the top of his casino and leap, it would be
when a whale-a heavy hitter who has just as much money as
the casino-sits down on a baccarat game and begins kicking
rear end.
For the bigger joints in Las Vegas, baccarat represents a
large percentage of their annual win. But baccarat can be
extremely volatile, both in volume and in the casino's hold
percentage.
What's interesting is that only a small number of high rollers
contribute to the total baccarat revenue. It is estimated
that the very highest of high rollers (those with credit limits
of more than $1 million and the potential for $1 billion annually
in casino play) number no more than 200 planetwide. So why
do they play baccarat? Because of the game's intensity-40
to 60 hands an hour-and its favorable odds-under 1.25% for
the house. I've seen single bets on a baccarat game at $100,000
a whack. Hoo ahh! Multiply that by 50 hands per hour and you
have $5,000,000 in play that could possibly swing against
the house. Too bad, so sad, the megabucks sheik from Saudi
Arabia is glad.
Given the above factors, baccarat's high betting limits and
favorable odds to the player, yes, John, it is a very risky
and unpredictable game for the casino.
Dear Mark,
While playing blackjack, if the dealer miscounts the player's
total and starts to pay off on a losing hand, is the player
expected to correct the dealer? Lane B.
The short answer is no. You do not have to inform the dealer
that he has made a payoff mistake. When I pitched cards, players
never informed me that I had made an error (of course I'm
exaggerating just a little bit, but that's how I remember
it!).
Nevertheless, Lane, virtue, honesty, even altering your karma
comes into play. Only you can decide where your integrity
lies.
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