vpFREE2 Forums

ALERT - progressive feed problems - Atlantis, Reno

#1

On Monday Oct. 14 around midnite, I was playing a $.25 bonus poker
progressive at Atlantis. There are 7 machines in the bank (near the
gift shop). I was at the second from the left. Two of the other six
were being played.

Both other players left within a minute of each other, and I had the
bank to myself.

I decided to check the feed rate of the progressive.
I played 5 hands - the meter didn't move.
I played 20 hands - the meter still didn't move.
I went to another machine - the meter moved $.01 every second hand or
so.

Went back to the first machine - played 5 hands. No movement.

Called for a slot attendant, explained situation.
She called for a supervisor - I explained again.
The suit got on his walkie-talkie, and called for a tech.
They played a few hands and observed.
The tech took the machine apart, tinkered for a couple of minutes,
and took the machine out of service.

The suit apologised for the "malfunction", and they all left.

I went to the machine right beside it (3rd from the left). Guess what
- no meter movement!

I then played and tested all 7 machines. 5 were incrementing the
meter, 2 weren't.

Next morning, I sat at the Xanadu bar for coffee. As I was the only
person on the bank, I decided to test the meter. Guess what - very
first machine I tried (number 111607) didn't increment. Number 111606
was ok.

I then went to my favorite bank of .25 DB prog (beside the wave
machine). 2 of the first 3 incremented, 3rd didn't. At this point
other players arrived, and I could no longer test effectively.

SUMMARY

I tested 3 banks of progressives - all had some machines which
incremented the meter, and some which didn't. 3 for 3 is hardly
conclusive, but it is incriminating.

I would ask anyone planning a trip to Atlantis in the near future to
test some other banks and report back.

I don't imagine the casinos are breaking any laws here, but this
definitely has a tainted smell to me.

In normal circumstances where multiple machines are busy, as long as
one machine is incrementing, the other players can't tell if any
given machine is adding its share to the jackpot.

Any other relevant experiences out there?

Are they breaking any Nevada Gaming regulations re: progressives?

Should I put then on notice about this problem? What do you folks
think?

Brian

···

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#2

If you put them on notice it will give them a chance to fix a problem that they were not aware of .
If they are honest they will want to fix it because it is the right thing to do.
If they are dishonest they will want to fix it because they have been caught.
Either way it gets fixed.

Regards
A.P.

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: Brian Lavoie
  To: Tom Sims VP Group
  Sent: Saturday, October 19, 2002 1:48 AM
  Subject: [vpFREE] ALERT - progressive feed problems - Atlantis, Reno

  On Monday Oct. 14 around midnite, I was playing a $.25 bonus poker
  progressive at Atlantis. There are 7 machines in the bank (near the
  gift shop). I was at the second from the left. Two of the other six
  were being played.

  Both other players left within a minute of each other, and I had the
  bank to myself.

  I decided to check the feed rate of the progressive.
  I played 5 hands - the meter didn't move.
  I played 20 hands - the meter still didn't move.
  I went to another machine - the meter moved $.01 every second hand or
  so.

  Went back to the first machine - played 5 hands. No movement.

  Called for a slot attendant, explained situation.
  She called for a supervisor - I explained again.
  The suit got on his walkie-talkie, and called for a tech.
  They played a few hands and observed.
  The tech took the machine apart, tinkered for a couple of minutes,
  and took the machine out of service.

  The suit apologised for the "malfunction", and they all left.

  I went to the machine right beside it (3rd from the left). Guess what
  - no meter movement!

  I then played and tested all 7 machines. 5 were incrementing the
  meter, 2 weren't.

  Next morning, I sat at the Xanadu bar for coffee. As I was the only
  person on the bank, I decided to test the meter. Guess what - very
  first machine I tried (number 111607) didn't increment. Number 111606
  was ok.

  I then went to my favorite bank of .25 DB prog (beside the wave
  machine). 2 of the first 3 incremented, 3rd didn't. At this point
  other players arrived, and I could no longer test effectively.

  SUMMARY

  I tested 3 banks of progressives - all had some machines which
  incremented the meter, and some which didn't. 3 for 3 is hardly
  conclusive, but it is incriminating.

  I would ask anyone planning a trip to Atlantis in the near future to
  test some other banks and report back.

  I don't imagine the casinos are breaking any laws here, but this
  definitely has a tainted smell to me.

  In normal circumstances where multiple machines are busy, as long as
  one machine is incrementing, the other players can't tell if any
  given machine is adding its share to the jackpot.

  Any other relevant experiences out there?

  Are they breaking any Nevada Gaming regulations re: progressives?

  Should I put then on notice about this problem? What do you folks
  think?

  Brian

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

#3

RE: Meter movement.
If there is a meter that relates to a four of a kind, or another
smaller jackpot, which does not move, it will probably also not go
down if the small jackpot is hit.

ie: quad pays 150 coins instead of 125, hit it and it remains at 150,
etc.
This gives opportunity for increased payouts until a machine which
does advance hits the jackpot in question.

···

On Fri, 18 Oct 2002 22:48:09 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

On Monday Oct. 14 around midnite, I was playing a $.25 bonus poker
progressive at Atlantis. There are 7 machines in the bank (near the
gift shop). I was at the second from the left. Two of the other six
were being played.

Both other players left within a minute of each other, and I had the
bank to myself.

I decided to check the feed rate of the progressive.
I played 5 hands - the meter didn't move.
I played 20 hands - the meter still didn't move.
I went to another machine - the meter moved $.01 every second hand or
so.

Went back to the first machine - played 5 hands. No movement.

Called for a slot attendant, explained situation.
She called for a supervisor - I explained again.
The suit got on his walkie-talkie, and called for a tech.
They played a few hands and observed.
The tech took the machine apart, tinkered for a couple of minutes,
and took the machine out of service.

The suit apologised for the "malfunction", and they all left.

I went to the machine right beside it (3rd from the left). Guess what
- no meter movement!

I then played and tested all 7 machines. 5 were incrementing the
meter, 2 weren't.

Next morning, I sat at the Xanadu bar for coffee. As I was the only
person on the bank, I decided to test the meter. Guess what - very
first machine I tried (number 111607) didn't increment. Number 111606
was ok.

I then went to my favorite bank of .25 DB prog (beside the wave
machine). 2 of the first 3 incremented, 3rd didn't. At this point
other players arrived, and I could no longer test effectively.

SUMMARY

I tested 3 banks of progressives - all had some machines which
incremented the meter, and some which didn't. 3 for 3 is hardly
conclusive, but it is incriminating.

I would ask anyone planning a trip to Atlantis in the near future to
test some other banks and report back.

I don't imagine the casinos are breaking any laws here, but this
definitely has a tainted smell to me.

In normal circumstances where multiple machines are busy, as long as
one machine is incrementing, the other players can't tell if any
given machine is adding its share to the jackpot.

Any other relevant experiences out there?

Are they breaking any Nevada Gaming regulations re: progressives?

Should I put then on notice about this problem? What do you folks
think?

Brian

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