TECHNOLOGY: Deceptive Slot Machine in Lost Wages

Friday, September 28, 2007

I found a series of deceptive slot machines in Las Vegas. (Unusual, because the Nevada Gaming Commission is unusually strict with stuff like that.) They were high top modern ones … penny slots … with 210 coins max bet. The deceptive part was that they reset after an idle period to indicate 1 coin – 1 line – 1 (something). Regardless of what the last play was. No accident I watched it happen. (Where’s a video cam or camera when you need one!)

It’s deceptive because there are slot players, like myself, who look for slots where the last player “tapped out”. Some people will play a slot down to their last credit. A 1/1/1 is a sign that some one just played out their allotment for that machine without winning. (Akin to the “jump in one’s grave” strategy where they watch you lose and then as soon as you leave, they play and hit “your jackpot”. Argh!) Some players, like myself, don’t like to play slots where someone has one big as indicated by a big cash out. (Not completely reliable.) Some players, like myself, like to play machines where there’s a big last bet and no big cash out. (Indicating a big player tapped out on the machine without hitting.)

So, I’ll be looking into what it takes to make a complaint to the NV state gooferment.

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HERE’S THE RESPONSE TO MY INQUIRY

From: Howie, Gordon [mailto:GHowie@gcb.nv.gov]
Sent: Monday, September 24, 2007 7:42 PM
To: reinkefj
Subject: Slot Machine Question

Mr. Reinke,  Unfortunately there is no requirement that I am aware of that a slot machine keep the information displayed relevant to what the prior player was wagering or cashed out.  In reality and statistically the information you think you gain some insight from has nothing to do with the outcome of the next game played. There are a lot of changes in the way modern gaming devices present the games and some do not keep any prior information available for the review of another patron who is trying to find just the right machine.  We are also receiving a lot of questions about why the tokens and coin hoppers are being replaced with ticket in / ticket out.  It is all part of the technology which is changing very rapidly in the industry. 

If I can be of any additional assistance please feel free to contact me.  

Gordon R. Howie, Jr.
Special Agent, Enforcement Division
Nevada Gaming Control Board
702-486-2020

Important: This communication, including any attachments, may contain confidential information and is intended only for the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. Any review, dissemination, or copying of this communication by anyone other than the intended recipient is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-Mail and delete all copies of the original message.

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So shut up and just lose your money quietly?

It was a prompt reply.   :-)

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4 Comments | Technology | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

LINKEDIN: New photo feature … … not working

Friday, September 28, 2007

My attempts to upload my pic keep timing out.

YMMV!

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UPDATE:  As of about 1100 edt on 28Sep07, the feature is now working.

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Leave a Comment » | LINKEDIN | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

FUN: Marriage is … …

Friday, September 28, 2007

Marriage is a three-ring circus.

The engagement ring.

The wedding ring.

The suffering.

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Posted by reinkefj

NEWJERSEY: The Guv’s going to the pawn shop …:

Friday, September 28, 2007

http://www.nj1015.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=8024&z=1

Corzine’s Monetization Scheme Still Not Ready
Thursday, September 27, 2007 – Millennium Radio

*** begin quote ***

Cynics claim that Governor Jon Corzine is intentionally delaying the unveiling of his state asset monetization plan until after November’s elections because polls show voters oppose the very concept. Generating cash for the state by monetizing the toll roads has been the most critiqued possibility and surveys reveal voters fear huge toll increases. Those same cynics say by withholding the scheme, Corzine is protecting his fellow Democrats from backlash at the polls. Corzine says the plan simply isn’t ready yet.

*** end quote ***

The Guv is going to the pawn shop with NJ taxpayer’s assets. And, he’s going to do it immediately after the election.

Any one who votes for a Democrat is a fool.

Not that the Republicans are any different, just that it will put a sharp slap up to the side of their head.

After the election, the roads paid for will be sold to the Guv’s friends on Wall Street by the Guv’s friends on Wall Street. The money will go down the Trenton rat hole.

What a joke!

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Posted by reinkefj

POLITICAL: How do we get to truly representative gooferment?

Thursday, September 27, 2007

I’m tired of voting in elections where my choices never matter. If I was King, I would decree that you only vote for your block captain. (If you’re in an apartment, then your floor.) And, the block captains elect a neighborhood ElCalde. Those votes would be population weighted. The the block captain would have 22 votes representing the people on my block. I’d pay taxes to the “block captain”. And, then I’d have some one to hold accountable for the abuses. Every thing would be organized geographically summing up to the next higher level. I’m sure that would be a much better system of representative gooferment. With a lot less fuss ‘n’ muss. And campaign cost would drop dramatically.

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Posted by reinkefj

Recommended: Best ‘Free’ Show in Vegas

Thursday, September 27, 2007

For perspective, I am the ‘luddite’ friend that John refers to and makes fun of on his blog.  But what I wanted to tell you about was the best ‘free’ show in Las Vegas.  John and I, along with our ‘fraus’ (a Johnism), were vacationing in LV last week and we went to Bill’s Gambling Hall & Saloon (for LV old-timers this is the old Barbary Coast Casino, behind the Flamingo).  In the lounge area where there is a small stage they have an Elvis impersonator act that is the best I have seen (The Las Vegas Review and Vegas.com agrees with me as they voted him ‘Best of Vegas; and Elvis Impersonator of the year in 2006).  The guy sits in a huge specially built chair, since he is probably 450 lbs.  But the good news is that he has lost over 400 pounds in the past couple of years, all on his own without surgery.  So you can imagine how big he was when he started to diet.  But his size has nothing to do with the experience, this guy has a great show that runs for an hour, takes requests, involves the audience, and here is the best part….he sounds fantastic.  He has a superb voice with great range, and you come away feeling ‘entertained’….and all for free, or the price of a beer if you want one. 

Here is his website, which lists the day/time when he performs.

  http://www.bigelvis.biz/ 

If you ever appreciated Elvis’ music, don’t miss this one!  Enjoy.

P.S. And thanks to my friend John for letting me ‘post’ on his blog.

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2 Comments | RECOMMENDED | Permalink
Posted by frenchync

INTERESTING:Make meaningless pins, and passwords, self-referential

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Lesson Learned: Casino loyalty card need a pin that one can remember. Use the card number!

Those casino loyalty card are really meaningless. I’m not sure if the staff can see the pin, but under no circumstances should you use your bank pin. Or, one used with anything important. So, I suggest that you use the first four digits or the last four digits.

Who cares?

You’ll never forget it. Because the card carries its own pin for you. Just don’t tell anyone and it’ll be fine. And, if someone guess, so what?

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Posted by reinkefj

PRODUCTIVITY: Put key info printed in several places

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Lesson Learned: Put the itinerary and all key numbers on paper that you can carry in the wallet. Make copies and put it in several key places.

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2 Comments | Productivity | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Making men look … …

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Has anyone noticed the trend in TV advertising that makes men, particularly fathers, look stupid, inept, or bad.

Example: T-mobile has the Dad do 5 * 5 = 26 and the Mom says “that’s why you have to stay in school”.

Now they wouldn’t dare target an ethnic minority for this type of treatment! So why is it OK to assign this role to men?

I am not going to buy any product, or family of products, that advertises in this fashion. And, I urge you to do the same. And, as I spot them, I’m going to point them out. I invite you to do the same.

So, if you use T-Mobile, then don’t call me.

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Add Thomas English Muffins — make Dad who ate Mom’s looks like a dishonest ass!

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1 Comment | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

RANT: Hotel stuck us in an out building. Argh!

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Lesson Learned: Find out about the hotel; arriving at night leaves you no, or poor, room choices.

By way of background, Frau has a heart condition and I have allergies. When we booked the Golden Nugget, it was because of the hotel footprint. It was a few feet from the car valet, elevators, and the rooms were all close to the elevator. We requested a non-smoking room close to the elevator. Never heard anything negative from the travel agent; nor the hotel. Best we could do considering all the factors was to arrive at the hotel at 1800 local time.

Guess what?

Not only was there no non-smoking room, and there was no room in the main part of the hotel. (I didn’t even know they HAD an out building!)

What a surprise!

Eventually a non-smoking room was found in the “South Tower” (probably from the casino pit’s hold for comps) that was a long city block from where we wanted to be. The hotel staff was unappologetic and unsympathetic. Argh!

I pointed out that if I hadn’t shown up at all, they would charge me for that room, so why did I NOT have that room? Blank stare!

If rooms are assigned at check-in, then why do I have to be physically there to check in? What good is a reservation? Not much. So, what I envision is that they are in the business of selling rooms on a first-come first-serve basis. Show up with or without a reservation and they will sell you a room. First come and you get the pick of the litter. They may know that they have to give me a room, so they probably don’t sell “my” room. But they do give away “my” room. Argh!

Don’t like? Tough!!

If it wasn’t that we selected their hotel for some very specific medical reason, I would NOT be so upset. I’d have been better off going the next day in the morning and I would have gotten “my” room.

So my “They Suck” award goes to … … the Golden Nugget and my travel agent for their inability to deliver on their moral, and possibly legal, commitment.

I’d like to chat with the IT folks and see why they can’t do it right fmpov.

Lesson Learned: Make sure you are getting what you pay for!

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Leave a Comment » | Ranting | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

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