Slot Machine technology on Celebrity

[centma]

(no, not about slot machine odds or what slot machine payback percentages are industry-wide or on cruise lines)

 

The gaming industry seems to have migrated to networked slot machines with cash in/electronic payment in but paper (or electronic) payout via receipt. The coin-based in/out slot machines are either gone or relegated to lower tier casinos.

 

The original use of networked card-input slot machines seems to have been solely for "Frequent Players" clubs of various sorts, but now provides casinos with many other benefits.

 

My last experience with cruise slot machines, after 4 years, was on a Carnival Fantasy-class ship this January that had networked machines, used the cruise card to maintain an electronic bank (separate from charging), and used either the cruise card charge mechanism or cash US bills to put money in. The casino cashier would convert any balance in the system to cash for you (hmm, never a real "problem" for my style -- never any longer term payout).

 

I found the "electronic bank" mechanism based on the charge card electronic ID very convenient for my own slot machine entertainment...it meant that I could pop into the casino for some amusement without carrying cash...this would otherwise be the ONLY reason to carry any bills on board.

 

What pay-in/pay-out technology does Celebrity use for their casino slot machines? Presumably there might be a difference across older and newer ships, depending upon what investment in equipment Celebrity has made.

 

I was just attempting to set my expectations for an upcoming cruise on Summit. I enjoy 5 cent (or less) slots in a pay-for-entertainment mind set.

[derf5585]

I thought you were going to talk about the rumor that slots are looser on the first night of the cruise. As you say the slots are networked. And by using flash memory the payout chip can be reprogrammed from corporate headquarters via satellite.

[dkjretired]

I thought you were going to talk about the rumor that slots are looser on the first night of the cruise. As you say the slots are networked. And by using flash memory the payout chip can be reprogrammed from corporate headquarters via satellite.

 

Using current technology, the payout cannot be changed. I have heard the rumor you mention but have also see a dozen variations of it, first night, last night, at sea days, after dinner, etc. I realize that there is very little control by outside agenicies except for a group of cruise lines who have banded together but in last based casinos it is illegal to change the payouts on a machine unless Casino Control officials approve it and are present when they do it. It involves the changing of a very expensive chip. Just to point out how difficult it is to change the machine. Current machines are set at the factory and not changed. They don't have to, they will always win anyway...

 

To answer the original question, the technology he mentions I believe is on the S class ships, not sure about the rest of the fleet.

[derf5585]

it is illegal to change the payouts on a machine unless Casino Control officials approve it and are present when they do it. .

 

Does Casino Control have jurisdiction over cruise ships?

[dkjretired]

Does Casino Control have jurisdiction over cruise ships?

 

No they don't, I said that if you read my post. I was only giving that as an example of how difficult it is to change the odds. It is simply not cost effective to do so particularly in view of the fact that they don't have to...Check the internet, you will find numerous places that explain slot technology, its readily available from independent sources. Changing odds is the #1 myth of slot machines according to Simply Slots magazine and Casino Player magazine, two independent magazines....

[dkjretired]

I believe the older ships such as Mercury and Century are still using money but I could be wrong. Seem to remember a recent post on this. Century and Constellation are going into drydock in a couple of weeks so who knows if there will be changes...

[RichS10]

As of last November, the Mercury slot machines took your Twenty Dollar bill, paid out their meager winnings in coins and then sucked all of them back up before you were allowed to leave the machine.

 

If you attempted to leave the machine with any coins, security would escort you back to the machine and watch you until all your coins were gone. Then you could put in another Twenty. No bathroom breaks were allowed between Twenties. :) ;)

[dkjretired]

As of last November, the Mercury slot machines took your Twenty Dollar bill, paid out their meager winnings in coins and then sucked all of them back up before you were allowed to leave the machine.

 

If you attempted to leave the machine with any coins, security would escort you back to the machine and watch you until all your coins were gone. Then you could put in another Twenty. No bathroom breaks were allowed between Twenties. :) ;)

 

Good one Rich.....

[ccruisequeen]

I love the Carnival "player's Bank" system-put in the first money & let it add up til the last night of sailing. I'm hoping it's the same system on the Millie, or I'm going to need a huge change purse for my winnings- $40 in quarters is Heavy!:eek:

[kitty9]

Slot machines are controlled by what's known as an RNG, or a random number generator, and it's that chip that controls the payouts of a slot machine. I suppose that cruise ships could order a specific RNG for their slots, ones that pay out less, but I'm not sure about that. It's not easy to change these chips, and it's not a matter of just hooking it up to a computer and changing anything, but since these slots seem to be tighter than the ones you find in Vegas, and because the casinos answer to no one, they can have their machines set in any manner they wish.

[greeneg]

Essentially the slot machine transfers money from your pocket/account to the Casino's. :)

[kitty9]

I love the Carnival "player's Bank" system-put in the first money & let it add up til the last night of sailing. I'm hoping it's the same system on the Millie, or I'm going to need a huge change purse for my winnings- $40 in quarters is Heavy!:eek:

 

Celebrity's machines are not like that. They have been changing out their machines to be the ones like they have in Vegas where you put in cash, not coins but bills, and receive a slip of paper when you cash out. You can use that slip just as you would paper money. Celebrity doesn't have anything like adding your losses on a player's bank.

[dkjretired]

Slot machines are controlled by what's known as an RNG, or a random number generator, and it's that chip that controls the payouts of a slot machine. I suppose that cruise ships could order a specific RNG for their slots, ones that pay out less, but I'm not sure about that. It's not easy to change these chips, and it's not a matter of just hooking it up to a computer and changing anything, but since these slots seem to be tighter than the ones you find in Vegas, and because the casinos answer to no one, they can have their machines set in any manner they wish.

 

You are correct, the cost of the RNG makes it prohibitive to purchase them to change out while the machines are in use. As I said in an earlier post, in land based casinos it is illegal to do this and the cruise casinos pretty much follow the same rules as the land based casinos. The machines are generally set from about low 80s% payout to high 90s% payout. This payout is determined over a long period of time. The trick is to find the one with the high 90s. When they order a machine they tell the manufacturer at what percent they want it and an RNG is put to reflect that. They don't have to do anything else, they will get their money in the long run...

[barefoot cruiser]

since I am also wondering...I will ask specifically..does anyone know if the Mille is coin slots or ticket redemption. i love the whole ticket redemption...if nothing else for the lack of handling coins(and germs...EWW!!)

 

to the OP: you think $40 is heavy, when I went on the RCl's Navigator, as I passed through the casino I put a quarter in a slot for fun and suddenly had $125 worth of quarters...two of those big cups full:eek:. wasn't complaining how heavy they were, as I walked from one end of the casino to the other where the cashier was:D

[Doughnut Dolly]

Mercury is still using coins and according to a casino gentleman I spoke with Celebrity has no plans on revamping or updating the machines on the Mercury. The slot machines are all older machines, none of the new game machines and the payoff comes out of the machines in coins for anything under $250, above that they pay by hand.

[ikelmay]

The machines are generally set from about low 80s% payout to high 90s% payout. This payout is determined over a long period of time. The trick is to find the one with the high 90s. When they order a machine they tell the manufacturer at what percent they want it and an RNG is put to reflect that

 

I would love to know what percentage cruise ship slots are set at - I would be amazed if they are even at 80% judging by my dismal experience with them.......... unfortuantely it still doesn't stop me from thinking I'm going to be the next big winner. Duh

[dkjretired]

I would love to know what percentage cruise ship slots are set at - I would be amazed if they are even at 80% judging by my dismal experience with them.......... unfortuantely it still doesn't stop me from thinking I'm going to be the next big winner. Duh

 

I don't think there is anywhere that those figures are published as they are for land based casinos. I am sure they are above 80% but the key is to find those that are and that is very difficult...

[AAAAmerican]

 

SUMMIT has the OLD OLD and Older machines.

 

 

I hope they have the hand wipes now too.

 

 

When you do deposit your monies on nickel machines penny one and maybe one day on her they will have the select your amounts...

 

 

Odds as we all know are for the house.

 

One of my friends holds a few US Patents on the machines.

 

It does not have the ability of simply opening up the machine and changing odds. They do open the machine to clear the cache and then clear all of our petty cash after each ship docks.;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(no, not about slot machine odds or what slot machine payback percentages are industry-wide or on cruise lines)

 

The gaming industry seems to have migrated to networked slot machines with cash in/electronic payment in but paper (or electronic) payout via receipt. The coin-based in/out slot machines are either gone or relegated to lower tier casinos.

 

The original use of networked card-input slot machines seems to have been solely for "Frequent Players" clubs of various sorts, but now provides casinos with many other benefits.

 

My last experience with cruise slot machines, after 4 years, was on a Carnival Fantasy-class ship this January that had networked machines, used the cruise card to maintain an electronic bank (separate from charging), and used either the cruise card charge mechanism or cash US bills to put money in. The casino cashier would convert any balance in the system to cash for you (hmm, never a real "problem" for my style -- never any longer term payout).

 

I found the "electronic bank" mechanism based on the charge card electronic ID very convenient for my own slot machine entertainment...it meant that I could pop into the casino for some amusement without carrying cash...this would otherwise be the ONLY reason to carry any bills on board.

 

What pay-in/pay-out technology does Celebrity use for their casino slot machines? Presumably there might be a difference across older and newer ships, depending upon what investment in equipment Celebrity has made.

 

I was just attempting to set my expectations for an upcoming cruise on Summit. I enjoy 5 cent (or less) slots in a pay-for-entertainment mind set.

[derf5585]

Slot machines are controlled by what's known as an RNG, or a random number generator, and it's that chip that controls the payouts of a slot machine. I suppose that cruise ships could order a specific RNG for their slots, ones that pay out less, but I'm not sure about that. It's not easy to change these chips, and it's not a matter of just hooking it up to a computer and changing anything, but since these slots seem to be tighter than the ones you find in Vegas, and because the casinos answer to no one, they can have their machines set in any manner they wish.

 

There are two functions of a slot machine one is the RNG and the other is the PAYOUT. They may be on the same chip. One does not have to take the chip out to reprogram it. Using flash memory would do the trick

 

Flash memory is a non-volatile computer storage that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed

from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory

 

Weather this is done or not I do not know.

What I am saying is that it could be done.

 

I need patents:D

[BOB AND PINKIE]

Cruise ship slots are just like Las Vegas

If you don't like the payouts on the machines, just walk

to the casino on the next ship over.

[Waterlily777]

since I am also wondering...I will ask specifically..does anyone know if the Mille is coin slots or ticket redemption. i love the whole ticket redemption...if nothing else for the lack of handling coins(and germs...EWW!!)

 

to the OP: you think $40 is heavy, when I went on the RCl's Navigator, as I passed through the casino I put a quarter in a slot for fun and suddenly had $125 worth of quarters...two of those big cups full:eek:. wasn't complaining how heavy they were, as I walked from one end of the casino to the other where the cashier was:D

 

Millie was paying out coins in December. (Well, not to me ;)).

[dkjretired]

There are two functions of a slot machine one is the RNG and the other is the PAYOUT. They may be on the same chip. One does not have to take the chip out to reprogram it. Using flash memory would do the trick

 

Flash memory is a non-volatile computer storage that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed

from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_memory

 

Weather this is done or not I do not know.

What I am saying is that it could be done.

 

I need patents:D

 

Not with the current machines on cruise ships or land based casinos...If you read your wikepedia article you would have noticed that in all the examples of uses listed, they did not list slot machines....

[dkjretired]

Cruise ship slots are just like Las Vegas

If you don't like the payouts on the machines, just walk

to the casino on the next ship over.

 

Wouldn't that be swim.....

[Huddler]

Couple of questions:

1. Does Celebrity contract out the running of their casino's like Princess and HAL to an independant contractor?

2. If you want to get money to gamble with, can you just get them to charge it to your onboard account?

[Huddler]

Millie was paying out coins in December. (Well, not to me ;)).

Coin payouts? Really? That is surprising that they would be this far behind everyone else with TITO, or just using your shipboard card to debit/credit.