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Slot Machines In Entire Casino Refused To Pay Off - Even When You Won

#1

The following appeared on page B1 in the April 30, 2004 Sacramento
Bee Newspaper. Cache Creek is an Indian Casino near Sacramento:

"Cash out: Gamblers at the spectacular new Cache Creek Casino Resort
ran into the ultimate challenge — slot machines that refused to pay
off, even when you won. For several hours the other day, customers
in the expanded Yolo County gambling joint, run by the Rumsey Band
of Wintun Indians, couldn't get any love from hundreds of one-armed
bandits. The machines refused to recognize winning reel
combinations. Money would go in. Luck would align. And nothing would
come out. The breakdown embarrassed the casino, an upgraded entry in
Northern California's booming Indian gambling scene. "There were
some problems, but they were resolved," said Doug Elmets, Cache
Creek casino spokesman. "Basically, it involved the server within
the computer network that operates the machines. With the casino's
remodeling process, the old server had to be switched over to a new
server. When that process was happening, the machines weren't able
to process winners," Cache Creek officials scrambled to make
everyone feel like a winner — even losers. But a couple of gamblers
didn't want to hear excuses. "They didn't stop taking money in. They
just stopped paying it out." one gambler whined. Everyone was made
whole. Well, at least the winners were made whole."

Can this happen in Nevada?
Has this _ever_ happened anywhere esle?

L. Wluiki

#2

lwluiki wrote:

The machines refused to recognize winning reel
combinations. Money would go in. Luck would align. And nothing would
come out ... "Basically, it involved the server within
the computer network that operates the machines ... "They didn't
stop taking money in. They just stopped paying it out." one gambler
whined.

Can this happen in Nevada?

I expect it could ... but only because I suspect the story has
distorted the facts. Since it's the server that was at fault I'd
think what happened is that the machines are TITO and wouldn't print
tickets for cashouts since those are centrally processed.

If actual machine wins are centally processed for each play then these
are the equivalent of video lottery terminals (VLT's). But I thought
these only applied to games such as video poker, to produce results
that don't adhere to standard playing card deck probabilities and
ensure a larger house win. No need for VLT's when it comes to other
slots.

In any case, if the machines literally "stopped paying on wins", I
would think that word would spread like a California wildfire and no
one would be inserting additional cash.

- Harry

#3

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that all machines in the casino were VLT's. If that is not a good reason to never play in that casino again , then nothing is. I would never trust any machine in a casino that I hadn't seen in a Nevada casino.

Regards
A.P.

···

----- Original Message -----
  From: Harry Porter
  To: vpFREE@yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Saturday, May 01, 2004 5:36 AM
  Subject: [vpFREE] Re: Slot Machines In Entire Casino Refused To Pay Off - Even When You Won

  lwluiki wrote:
  > The machines refused to recognize winning reel
  > combinations. Money would go in. Luck would align. And nothing would
  > come out ... "Basically, it involved the server within
  > the computer network that operates the machines ... "They didn't
  > stop taking money in. They just stopped paying it out." one gambler
  > whined.
  >
  > Can this happen in Nevada?

  I expect it could ... but only because I suspect the story has
  distorted the facts. Since it's the server that was at fault I'd
  think what happened is that the machines are TITO and wouldn't print
  tickets for cashouts since those are centrally processed.

  If actual machine wins are centally processed for each play then these
  are the equivalent of video lottery terminals (VLT's). But I thought
  these only applied to games such as video poker, to produce results
  that don't adhere to standard playing card deck probabilities and
  ensure a larger house win. No need for VLT's when it comes to other
  slots.

  In any case, if the machines literally "stopped paying on wins", I
  would think that word would spread like a California wildfire and no
  one would be inserting additional cash.

  - Harry

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

#4

Albert Pearson wrote:

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that all machines in the
casino were VLT's.

No, Calif Indian casinos have regular class III gaming - most
slots are from Nevada approved manufacturers - IGT, etc. And Cache
Creek is no exception, at least it wasn't when I was there last year
(before the remodel).
Most likely Harry's surmise that the TITO system went down and
didn't allow winners to "Cache out", is correct.
Skip

#5

In case no one's pointed it out: In terms of VP, there's nothing worth playing at Cache Creek anyway. If I were a local I might go there once in a while, but there's no reason to drive there from any great distance.

In my opinion, if you MUST play a northern California casino, Thunder Valley is the only choice. All the VP is short pay, but they have progressives that get fairly high every now and then (a bank of quarter machines were up over $3500 last December when I visited). They also have better restaurants and in general a nicer atmosphere to play in.

carlos

PS Not that I pay attention to these things, but the scenery at TV is better than many LV casinos I can think of, too. ;>

Albert Pearson wrote:

If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that all machines in the
casino were VLT's.

No, Calif Indian casinos have regular class III gaming - most
slots are from Nevada approved manufacturers - IGT, etc. And Cache
Creek is no exception...[etc]

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

···

Skip Hughes <skip-hughes@earthlink.net> wrote:

#6

Jackson Rancheria in Jackson, CA might be a better choice. Although
not as swank as TV, it's still a nice place and they have dollar 9/6
JB progressives and a pretty good slot club. Last year they had full
pay Super Aces and some other goodies in quarter 3/5 plays, but
they're gone at last report. Cache creek really is awful.
Skip

Carlos Lebron wrote:

In case no one's pointed it out: In terms of VP, there's nothing
worth playing at Cache Creek anyway. If I were a local I might go
there once in a while, but there's no reason to drive there from
any great distance.

In my opinion, if you MUST play a northern California casino,
Thunder Valley is the only choice. All the VP is short pay, but
they have progressives that get fairly high every now and then (a
bank of quarter machines were up over $3500 last December when I
visited). They also have better restaurants and in general a
nicer atmosphere to play in.

carlos

PS Not that I pay attention to these things, but the scenery at TV
is better than many LV casinos I can think of, too. ;>

Albert Pearson wrote:

> If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that all machines in the

> casino were VLT's.

No, Calif Indian casinos have regular class III gaming - most
slots are from Nevada approved manufacturers - IGT, etc. And Cache

Creek is no exception...[etc]

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

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Skip Hughes <skip-hughes@earthlink.net> wrote:

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#7

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Harry Porter" <harry.porter@v...>
wrote:
Since it's the server that was at fault I'd

think what happened is that the machines are TITO and wouldn't print
tickets for cashouts since those are centrally processed.
- Harry>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I've noticed, at times, that TITO takes a while to update the
server. If I "cash out" and move quickly to the adjoining machine,
it may take 10-15 seconds for my TITO to be accepted. I've always
assumed that's due to my original cashout waiting in the server queue
to be processed. If the server goes down not only would TITO fail to
print, but also fail to read TITO input.

I wonder what would be the delay if everyone in a crowded casino,
simultaneously, did a TITO cashout?