Ask the Slot Expert: Do VLTs have RNGs?

20 Jun 2012

By John Robison

John,

I am a regular reader of Casino City Times and enjoy your slot expertise. Previously, you answered a perplexing question for me, and I thank you.

I live on Long Island, close to Aqueduct (Resort World) and somewhere a seed was planted that the VLT machines there and in Yonkers do NOT have RNGs in them. Can you please explain just what is going on in these racinos?

Slot machines, the kind (Class III) you find in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Tunica, are really simple devices. The random number generator (RNG) in the programming running the machines is used to select a symbol on each reel to land on the payline. The machines may communicate with a central server, but only to report accounting and security information.

The video lottery terminals (VLTs) in New York's racinos, on the other hand, are much more complex. As you stated, they don't have their own RNGs. They have to put a slot machine face on what is actually a lotto drawing or scratch-off game -- the kind of gambling games they're authorized to run. When you press the Spin button on a VLT, the machine has to request the central computer to tell it what the result should be.

VLT slot machines are no better or worse than slot machines with their own RNGs. A 92 percent payback machine is a 92 percent payback machine. It doesn't matter how the results are determined.

A VLT video poker machine is a slot machine. Your skill at playing video poker is irrelevant. The central server has already determined what the result of your hand will be and it doesn't matter how you play the hand. VLT poker machines have some sort of bonus feature to award you the amount the central server has said you will win if your hand doesn't play out that way.

Jackpots for all,
John

Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question.

This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net.

Ask the Slot Expert: Do VLTs have RNGs? is republished from CasinoCityTimes.com.

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	Ask the Slot Expert: Do VLTs have RNGs? 20 Jun 2012 By John Robison <a href='https://ad.casinocity.com/adclick.php?n=a21efcd1'><img src='https://ad.casinocity.com/adview.php?what=-site:vendors/width:250/RON&n=a21efcd1' border='0' alt='' /></a> John, I am a regular reader of Casino City Times and enjoy your slot expertise. Previously, you answered a perplexing question for me, and I thank you. I live on Long Island, close to Aqueduct (Resort World) and somewhere a seed was planted that the VLT machines there and in Yonkers do NOT have RNGs in them. Can you please explain just what is going on in these racinos? Slot machines, the kind (Class III) you find in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Tunica, are really simple devices. The random number generator (RNG) in the programming running the machines is used to select a symbol on each reel to land on the payline. The machines may communicate with a central server, but only to report accounting and security information. The video lottery terminals (VLTs) in New York's racinos, on the other hand, are much more complex. As you stated, they don't have their own RNGs. They have to put a slot machine face on what is actually a lotto drawing or scratch-off game -- the kind of gambling games they're authorized to run. When you press the Spin button on a VLT, the machine has to request the central computer to tell it what the result should be. VLT slot machines are no better or worse than slot machines with their own RNGs. A 92 percent payback machine is a 92 percent payback machine. It doesn't matter how the results are determined. A VLT video poker machine is a slot machine. Your skill at playing video poker is irrelevant. The central server has already determined what the result of your hand will be and it doesn't matter how you play the hand. VLT poker machines have some sort of bonus feature to award you the amount the central server has said you will win if your hand doesn't play out that way. Jackpots for all, John Send your slot and video poker questions to John Robison, Slot Expert, at slotexpert@comcast.net. Because of the volume of mail I receive, I regret that I can't reply to every question. This article is provided by the Frank Scoblete Network. Melissa A. Kaplan is the network's managing editor. If you would like to use this article on your website, please contact Casino City Press, the exclusive web syndication outlet for the Frank Scoblete Network. To contact Frank, please e-mail him at fscobe@optonline.net. Ask the Slot Expert: Do VLTs have RNGs? is republished from CasinoCityTimes.com.