A woman plays an electronic slot machine at at the reopening of the Bellagio hotel and casino Thursday, June 4, 2020, in Las Vegas. Casinos in Nevada were allowed to reopen on Thursday for the first time after temporary closures as a precaution against the coronavirus. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Gambling in Alberta is about to get a whole lot easier. According to officials, the province has been approved to run 24-hour slot machines in Alberta. While gamblers may be jumping for joy at this news, addiction experts are a little worried. According to the Calgary Sun, experts with Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis have stated that casinos in the province will now be allowed to run 24-hour slot machines. Classic Slot Games: For the nostalgic veterans who enjoy the traditional casino-style games, we supply over 400 3-reel free slots no download games and two-dimensional machines. They are usually not abundant with bonuses, but they are easy to use as they consist of a few lines and rows.
Casinos were allowed to open June 12 under Phase 2 of Alberta's relaunch strategy.
The province has outlined four requirements these kinds of businesses must meet in order to help reduce the risk of COVID-19 spread while operating. However, the exact protocols and methods of meeting these requirements are left up to each individual company to determine and implement.
That has led to some reports of crowded venues, casino patrons not staying two metres apart and game stations not being sanitized between uses.
READ MORE: Las Vegas rolls the dice, reopens 23 casinos with coronavirus measures in place
Alberta Health Services told Global News that as of June 18, there have been two complaints regarding casinos in Edmonton, three complaints about casinos in Calgary and 17 general inquiries about casinos without identifying a specific facility.
No orders have been issued and AHS has not issued fines since that power rests with police or peace officers.
READ MORE: Albertans who break coronavirus health orders could pay up to $500K fine
Under Phase 2, there are no capacity restrictions but businesses are asked to monitor for physical distancing, space out stations or install physical barriers, supply hand sanitizer for guests, and 'regularly clean and disinfect' high-touch surfaces. Table games remain closed. There are no specific rules around cleaning frequency or mandatory mask-wearing.
Under current chief medical officer of health orders, businesses and entities are required to:
Implement practices to minimize the risk of transmission of infection among attendees;
Provide procedures for rapid response if an attendee develops symptoms of illness
Ensure that attendees maintain high levels of sanitation and personal hygiene
Comply, to the extent possible, with the Workplace Guidance for Business Owners. This guidance, and any other applicable Alberta Health guidance, can be found at: https://www.alberta.ca/biz-connect.aspx.
'Operators must comply to the extent possible with the guidelines,' said Tom McMillan, communications director with Alberta Health.
In some cases, Alberta's guidelines provide options for meeting a goal, he said. For physical distancing, for example, the guidelines suggest limiting people who come in, having a staff member at the door or having one-way flow.
'They don't have to implement all of these measures but still need to achieve the goal of safety,' McMillan explained.
'The rule for distancing is that if you can't maintain two metres then you need some other mitigation such as a barrier (like cashiers have) or a mask (like servers and personal service workers have).'
AHS said Public Health Inspectors have been responding to complaints from the public and follow up on critical violations where there is risk of COVID-19 transmission. Inspectors try to work with operators first before taking enforcement action. If there is non-compliance, the inspector would refer the matter to police or peace officers who have the authority to issue a $1,000 penalty for violating the chief medical officer of health's directives.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: What you can and can’t do during Phase 2 in Alberta
Christian Vincent went to a casino in Calgary the first day it was open. He said the place was packed.
'I think this was the busiest this casino has ever been,' he said, adding he didn't see any staff at the front entrance monitoring capacity and physical distancing 'wasn't happening.'
Vincent said he did see a table with hand sanitizer and wipes on it, plastic between slot machines and an employee cleaning the bathroom. He said he didn't see anyone wearing a mask.
Vincent said he sat at one machine -- with his mask on -- for about 40 minutes. There were machines on either side of him, one of which had four different people use it while the other had three, and neither was wiped down between patrons, he said.
'For me, the biggest concern I have is [that] their number one client is senior citizens,' he said.
Vincent said he raised his concerns with staff at the casino, then also notified Alberta Health and Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis.
READ MORE: Province orders Alberta casinos to close amid COVID-19 pandemic
A spokesperson for AGLC said the volume of public inquiries is higher than usual but couldn't confirm if AGLC has received a call or inquiry about casino concerns specifically.
Heather Holmen said all COVID-19 Public Health Order Violations are regulated by AHS.
'If a licensee is found in violation of any AHS policies or regulations, AGLC may consider a violation under the Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act,' she added.
At the River Cree Resort and Casino, plastic barriers were installed between every slot machine, sanitization stations added and masks supplied to staff and patrons.
Marketing director Jayne Behm said the casino more than tripled its cleaning staff, created an 'extreme clean team' for wiping down high-touch surfaces and has redeployed employees from other departments (like valet) to walk the floor and remind guests to physically distance.
READ MORE: Disinfected dice — How Las Vegas plans to reopen
River Cree bought fabric and disposal masks for its staff, Behm said. They're mandatory for food and drink servers, front-line staff and those working in the cash cage, she added.
'All hand pays are done at the cash cage now.'
Behm added staff there have masks, Plexiglass has been installed at every station as a physical barrier and the station is to be wiped down in between every guest. She said River Cree is also in the process of implementing a slide tray system so that IDs, cards and cash can be passed through while limiting contact.
The casino has a real-time capacity monitor with sensors at every entrance and a display to let guests know if there's room for them to enter. It has an occupancy cap to allow for physical distancing, Behm said, but the casino hasn't had to limit capacity at this point.
Alberta's chief medical officer of health was asked twice last week about public health guidelines and casinos specifically. Dr. Deena Hinshaw was asked why Alberta included casinos in Stage 2 while places like B.C. have kept them closed until a later stage.
She explained that when Alberta was considering which sectors of the economy and services to reopen and in what stage, officials considered how analogous those businesses were to others that had already opened and hadn't caused many concerns, like shopping malls and retail.
'When we looked at casinos as an option, we looked at the different protocols that had been put forward by that particular group of operators with respect to how the cleaning and disinfection, distancing, and/or barriers could be put in place,' Hinshaw said on Friday.
'And we looked at the types of activities in casinos.
'So, for example, in this stage, we're not allowing table games to proceed given the fact that there's more interaction, there's potentially more chance of transmission. So it is mostly those seated activities that are taking place in casinos with the expectations that operators will follow all of the distancing, the barriers, the sanitization and masking if distancing is not possible.'
She said it's the same expectation for any operator in any sector that chooses to open at this time.
READ MORE: Hinshaw reiterates Alberta health orders stand as 48 new COVID-19 cases identified Wednesday
'The guidelines set out what is necessary to create safe environments and operators are required by the order that moved us into Stage 2 to have measures in place that protect staff and patrons from infection,' she said June 17.
'They are required to follow the guidance to the best of their ability.'
'So what I would say with respect to these locations where there are reports of the guidance not being followed, is that those organizations are incurring upon themselves liability, that they're incurring upon themselves the chance for a large outbreak to happen, and I would encourage them to really consider carefully whether or not they would wish to take that on themselves and especially where there are large groups gathered and masking is not happening and distancing is not happening, that that really does put us all at risk.
'It puts the community at risk.
'So again, it's something that they would be required to go back and look at the order to determine if they are meeting those four requirements that they are legally required to meet,' Hinshaw said.
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Today, I’m going to answer another reader question which I received recently by email. It comes from Sarah in Scotland who wants to know “Are slot machines rigged?” I’ve copied the email directly below with her permission.
Dear GamblingSites.org team,
I’m Sarah McKeown, and I’ve been a long-time reader of your blog. I’ve found lots of interesting content over the years. I even won a healthy jackpot after playing one of your recommended jackpot slots.
However, I’ve been keeping a record of my bets versus my wins, and I’ve noticed that no matter how many big wins I have, I always end up losing it all again over the long term. Can you tell me if slot machines are rigged? Can casinos fix slot machines to make sure players lose?
Any insights you can share with me would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Sarah McKeown
Sarah, I’m going to answer your questions directly. Yes, slot machines are rigged. However, they’re not rigged in the way you think they are
In this post, I’ll explain how slot machines work, why you lose in the long-term, and I’ll give you some useful tips for beating slot machines more often. Let’s begin!
Are Casino Slot Machines Rigged?
I guarantee you that if you walk through any Vegas casino, or any casino in the world for that matter, and ask every slots player if they won, the vast majority of them will tell you no.
It’s difficult to understand how this could be the case unless slot machines are rigged. And if they are, how in the heck is that legal? Are casinos actively keeping slot machines rigged so that you can’t win? If so, what about all those stories of players who won huge jackpots?
This can all seem rather confusing, but it’s not. The simple answer is that the vast majority of players lose, and a few lucky players win. Each machine is programmed to pay out less than what’s put into it, ensuring that the casino makes a continuous profit over the long run. This could be anything from a 2% advantage on the best slot machines, to a 10% or greater advantage on some of the big-money jackpot slots.
So, in a nutshell, casino slots are rigged to make sure the casino makes a profit, but that does not mean you can’t win on any given gaming session.
Gaming commissions would never allow casinos to run games you can’t win, nor would it be good for business. Players would soon figure out that the games were unwinnable and would stop playing.
Let’s take a closer look at how slot machines work. This will help you understand that while the house always wins, you can win, too.
How Slot Machines Are Rigged
Understanding how slot machines are rigged requires you to understand how they work. Each slot has its game odds, but they all use a similar method of paying out jackpots. Here are some important things to know about slot machines.
Understand Slot Machine RTP
RTP is an acronym for “return to player.” If you read slot machine reviews, you’ll usually find each game has a specific RTP published by the developer. For example, on NetEnt.com, you can find the RTP of Starburst and other games.
RTP is a percentage.
For Example:Based on Starburst from above, the RTP is 96.09%. What does this mean in terms of money, jackpots, and wins and losses? It means that, for every £100 bet on these games, players win back £96.09.
It’s important to remember that this does not mean you’ll make back £96.09 for every £100 you bet on Starburst. It means that the casino returns £96.09 to all players spinning the reels at every casino which offers Starburst. This includes all of the small wins and losses each player wins on every spin. In the long run, the casino will make £3.91 on every £100 bet on that game, regardless of what happens in the short term.
Hopefully, this concept of RTP helps you understand how slot machines are rigged in favor of the game developers and casinos but are not rigged in absolute terms. You can win when playing slots, but you can’t win in the long run.
Understand Random Number Generators
Even though the house has a built-in advantage on slot machines, it’s clear that some players do win massive jackpots. Just take a look at this story about a British soldier winning a record-breaking jackpot from a £0.25 spin.
Lots of players wonder when the best time to play slot machines is, which slots are “loose,” and all sorts of other questions. They hope that figuring out the answers will help them win slots more often, but the truth is that this is all a waste of time.
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Slot machines decide when to pay out in accordance with a Random Number Generator (RNG). Believe it or not, it’s possible for a slot machine to pay out a jackpot on two spins in a row, although it is unlikely. A Random Number Generator is a piece of software which spits out billions of numbers per second, and if it happens to spit out a number associated with a jackpot, you’ll see the high-value symbols line up across a payline and you win.
There’s no way to manipulate RNGs. You can’t cheat online slot machines no matter how hard you try. Some smart players note that RNGs can’t be truly random since humans create them, but for all reasonable and practical purposes, you can’t manipulate them.
Perhaps, someone will someday spot a pattern in the apparent randomness by using a quantum computer to crunch numbers. But until then, just assume they’re random.
While the slots developer can control the RTP via programming, it can’t control the RNG. There are third-party games testing organizations such as eCogra which test RNGs and verify that they are fair. This doesn’t mean all slots developers play fair, but big names like Microgaming and NetEnt do.
How to Win at Slots — Tips and Tricks
Now that you understand how slot machines work, and how they are rigged without being unfair, it’s time to turn the tables on the casinos. I’ve learned a lot about slot machines throughout my career as a player, and I’m going to share my best tips on how to win slots more often.
Pick Slot Machines With a High RTP
One of the first and most obvious tips is to select high RTP slot machines. These games pay back the most to players in the long run, so you’re better off playing them even if the jackpots are smaller.
Very often, the jackpots are smaller. Since the casinos have less risk to deal with when a smaller jackpot is involved, they can afford a higher payback percentage to players. It makes sense, doesn’t it?
So, which slot machines have the highest RTP? Here are five to get you started.
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- Blood Suckers by NetEnt – 98%
- Rags to Riches by Cryptologic – 98%
- Good Girl, Bad Girl by Betsoft – 97.8%
- Kings of Chicago by NetEnt – 97.8%
- Wolfpack Pays by NextGen – 97.8%
Those slots have a variety of excellent bonus features, decent jackpots, and higher than average RTPs. If you want to get the most bang for your buck as a long-term player, it’s wise to play them.
Pick the Right Volatility for Your Bankroll
There’s a top-notch article on slot machine variance and volatility here. If you want a more detailed breakdown of what they are, check that out.
Slot machine volatility is important to understand because it will tell you which slots are suitable for your bankroll. Volatility indicates both how often a slot should pay and the average size of the payouts.
- Low volatility slots pay smaller amounts more often.
- Medium volatility slots pay decent amounts fairly often.
- High volatility slots pay less frequently, but wins are more explosive.
If I had a smaller bankroll, say £20, I’d start by playing a low volatility slot such as Starburst. I find that it’s a good slot to build your bankroll with. Once I double up, I usually switch to a higher volatility slot with bigger payouts which occur less frequently.
Managing your bankroll effectively is about the only slot machine strategy which works. Therefore, knowing the volatility of a game is useful information.
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Use Free Spins With Low Wagering Requirements
Most online casinos offer free spins bonuses for new players. Lots of them also offer free spins to loyal players who spin slots daily or weekly.
I’ve learned the hard way that not all free spins bonuses give me an advantage. Sometimes, the wagering requirements are so high that the bonus is a liability. This is especially true if it comes with predatory terms such as that I can’t withdraw my deposit until I meet the wagering requirements. Yes, such bonuses exist, I’ve seen it all over the years I’ve been playing!
There are other free spins bonuses you will want to take. They’ll give you a chance to beat the house with its own money and have these characteristics.
- They won’t require excessive minimum deposits.
- The wagering requirements will be low, around 20x or less.
- You’ll be able to keep all of what you win when you wager the bonus.
Free spins with low wagering requirements are available at lots of top UK casinos. There are even casinos with no wagering requirements, and they’re especially popular in the UK market.
Final Words
Thanks for writing to me with this question, Sarah. It’s given me a chance to cover lots of ground with regards to slot machines, and I hope that it answers your question. Are slot machines rigged? Yes, the house has a mathematical advantage which you can’t alter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t win.
Beating slot machines is a case of picking the right games, managing your bankroll effectively, and getting lucky. Don’t forget the last part! Luck is essential. There’s no effective way to beat the slots every time. Happy spinning, and don’t forget to pick up a casino bonus before you begin!