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Old Bob Dancer Situation.. or What would do?

<But if a casino plays straight with me I would not
take advantage of
a malfunction.>

A little more information but it probably wouldn't
influence your decision. I don't think it was
technically a malfunction. The two machines in
question were formally $5 and $20. Other $1 machines
were moved in around them and the panels on the two
were changed to $1, but apparently the part of the
program that awards points were not changed.

Throughout the casino different video poker machines
award different points for the same amount of money
bet. Very few people seem to realize or even care what
their cash back is. Of course I don't think they ever
intended for anyone to get so much on a $5 play. In
some quarter machines they give from 1/2 point up to
2.2 points for $1.25 played. I think in this case they
are taking advantage of those players who do not
understand what the difference can do for you.

···

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What if it had gone the other way - ie - the casino changes a machine
from $1 to $20 and forgets to increase the cashback rate?

If you played for a few hours at a $20 machine, received points at
only a $1 rate, and then asked for more points, do you really think
they'd honour their mistake?

Here's a real-life example. Casino Rama - Orillia, Ontario. I was
checking the pay schedules in their "high-limit" room (read $5).
Noticed a player's points were very low, and accumulating slowly.

Waited for her to finish, and took that machine. I checked my point
balance, sat down and played 10 hands, and checked points again -
they were awarding at only the 50-cent rate. Checked others - the
whole bank was like that. Called for a slot person, who called for a
supervisor, who called for a tech, who called for a manager. I played
a few more hands to prove it to them.

That was over a year ago - since then I've had several phone
converations with the slots manager - he initially stalled, saying he
was waiting for someone to return from vacation - then resorted to
avoidance - he simply quit returning my calls.

I returned twice for concerts, and each time checked these machines -
still awarding points at 1/10 of the posted rate. On the first trip I
filled out a complaint form with the slot club. No reply.

My conclusion - they know about it, are content to rip off their own
customers, and practice deceit by posting rates they know are wrong.

Now, for those of you who would take the moral high road on Danny's
issue - don't you think that's being a little naive?

Danny, if I had been in your situation, I would have taken advantage
of the situation - but at a reduced rate. Maybe an hour or two every
day, to "stay under their radar".

PS - I won't be around to finish this conversation - coming to town
tomorrow for 8 days - hope to see you all at the VPFREE luncheon,
business issues allowing.

Brian

···

--- Danny Perry <epoh73@yahoo.com> wrote:

A little more information but it probably wouldn't
influence your decision. I don't think it was
technically a malfunction. The two machines in
question were formally $5 and $20. Other $1 machines
were moved in around them and the panels on the two
were changed to $1, but apparently the part of the
program that awards points were not changed.

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM).
http://calendar.yahoo.com

Casinos do NOT play straight with you or with anyone else.

They advertise "up to 99+%, etc" and you will find ONE out of 10
machines that do that. Misleading at best.
They advertise "Tax Free Jackpots at $1199" Also misleading.
Double points on the 3rd, so as to lure the social security recipients
in.

EVERYTHING they do is done to separate you from your money.

···

On Thu, 12 Jun 2003 19:22:49 -0700 (PDT), you wrote:

<But if a casino plays straight with me I would not
take advantage of
a malfunction.>

A little more information but it probably wouldn't
influence your decision. I don't think it was
technically a malfunction. The two machines in
question were formally $5 and $20. Other $1 machines
were moved in around them and the panels on the two
were changed to $1, but apparently the part of the
program that awards points were not changed.

Throughout the casino different video poker machines
award different points for the same amount of money
bet. Very few people seem to realize or even care what
their cash back is. Of course I don't think they ever
intended for anyone to get so much on a $5 play. In
some quarter machines they give from 1/2 point up to
2.2 points for $1.25 played. I think in this case they
are taking advantage of those players who do not
understand what the difference can do for you.

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When Summerlin Resort opened (about a dozen name changes ago), a bank
of machines was set to give more points than management had intended.
  The bank was played heavily, and management reacted by having all
the players on the bank (including one who didn't even have a card in
the machine) arrested. They rescinded all points and demanded the
return of money already cashed out, threatening to prosecute those who
refused for fraud.

The casino called in the Nevada Gaming Commision, which backed the
casino. Players who refused to pay off the casino were forced to hire
lawyers, at cost greater than paying the casino blackmail; and the
players' claims were eventually made worthless by the (first)
bankruptcy filing.

Do not expect fairness or balance. If the casino makes a mistake that
benefits the player, and then claims malfunction, the player will not
win in Nevada without going to court. If the mistake benefits the
casino, the player won't succeed in any claim, as cashback is
considered a complimentary, which the casino can revoke at will.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Danny Perry <epoh73@y...> wrote:

I don't think it was technically a malfunction.

--
Randy Hudson <ime@panix.com>