Dear Mark,

As an avid slot player, I have a theory which I would like you to evaluate. We all know that slot symbols are picked by a RNG and that each spin is independent of the previous one, but what if the RNG is not always playing with a "full deck" so to speak. Is it possible that at certain times the computer can remove certain winning combinations from the mix, thus not permitting the RNG to select them? The pick that it does make would still be random but somewhat limited.

Stan S. 

Let’s be flat-footed about this, Stan: Can a one-armed bandit be programmed to cheat players? Yes, you bet! It’s a mere matter of programming skills. And are the casinos willing to do it? Here’s where brains come into play. For a moment, Stan, stare at these letters: LAD, WMH, HET, LVS, They are the stock market symbols of such companies as Ladbrokes, William Hill, Harrah’s Entertainment, and Las Vegas Sands Corp., that trade on the World’s Stock Markets. Since most casinos are publicly traded companies, be reasonably certain that they are not interested in exposing their gaming license to loss through any faintest whiff of a semi-inkling that they’re fixing the slot machines so that Stan cannot strike it rich.

The main reason why casinos don’t play the game of deception is that they already legally have a license to print money. Huh? Yup, it’s how they reap their profits—paying players less than the true odds. Every game offered to the player is set up mathematically in the casino’s favor. For instance, when you flip a coin there is a 50/50 chance of your winning, but not with casino games. Instead of getting even money for every pound you win on a wager, you are paid 94p, or 83p or maybe even 75p, which, by the way, are the typical payoffs on different denomination slot machines.

Finally, gaming regulations at sites where you’re likely to play, and all the casinos listed in our online casino directory require that all slot machines have random outcomes.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “Why people think they can beat a computer chip really blows my mind. ” -- Thomas Grey

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