Your mind plays tricks on you!

[Joe_Schober]

The recent discussion about whether deuces come up more often when playing DW reminded me of a thought experiment my wife and I did.

When playing SpinPoker, we found that when holding, say, trip aces (rank doesn't matter, just using it as an example), that we noticed a relatively high number of aces in the "spinning reels" animation after hitting Draw but before the reels stopped. We wondered if the software recognized this situation and intentionally altered the animation (which would presumably be legal, as long as the final results weren't altered) or if it was just an illusion.

So we did the simple, obvious experiment: next time we were drawing to trip aces, we thought really hard about, say, 5's while redrawing. Sure enough, we saw lots of 5's in the spinning reel animation.

Try this experiment sometime on SpinPoker, we found it to be easily reproducible and kinda amusing.

It's pretty obvious that your mind just does what you bias it to do. When you're drawing to that 4th ace, your mind becomes quite eager to find one in the spinning pattern.

This is similar to the "hearing your name at a noisy party" phenomenon: your mind is very attuned to the sound of your name, so when it recognizes that sound it gives you a jolt, even though most other sounds of similar volume are lost in the din.

And this all relates to the initial topic, where if you're playing deuces wild, your mind pays extra attention to those deuces (either their absence or their presence).

(No, I'm not a psychologist, and I'm not even qualified to play one on TV...)

--Joe

[Don_the_Dentist1]

(No, I'm not a psychologist, and I'm not even qualified to play one

on TV...)

--Joe

But did you stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night?

Don the Dentist

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Joe Schober <afljoeys@...> wrote:

[brucem]

The recent discussion about whether deuces come up more often when
playing DW reminded me of a thought experiment my wife and I did.

When playing SpinPoker, we found that when holding, say, trip aces
(rank doesn't matter, just using it as an example), that we noticed

a

relatively high number of aces in the "spinning reels" animation

after

hitting Draw but before the reels stopped. We wondered if the
software recognized this situation and intentionally altered the
animation (which would presumably be legal, as long as the final
results weren't altered) or if it was just an illusion.

So we did the simple, obvious experiment: next time we were drawing

to

trip aces, we thought really hard about, say, 5's while

redrawing.

Sure enough, we saw lots of 5's in the spinning reel animation.

Try this experiment sometime on SpinPoker, we found it to be

easily

reproducible and kinda amusing.

It's pretty obvious that your mind just does what you bias it to

do.

When you're drawing to that 4th ace, your mind becomes quite eager

to

find one in the spinning pattern.

This is similar to the "hearing your name at a noisy party"
phenomenon: your mind is very attuned to the sound of your name,

so

when it recognizes that sound it gives you a jolt, even though

most

other sounds of similar volume are lost in the din.

And this all relates to the initial topic, where if you're playing
deuces wild, your mind pays extra attention to those deuces

(either

their absence or their presence).

(No, I'm not a psychologist, and I'm not even qualified to play one

on

TV...)

--Joe

This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the player
the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
Viewers never did find out the answer to the question. Personally,
near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is done
intentionally.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Joe Schober <afljoeys@...> wrote:

[Chandler]

If I recall correctly programming near misses is against current
Nevada Gaming Regs.

Chandler

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the player
the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
Viewers never did find out the answer to the question. Personally,
near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is

done

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "brumar_lv" <brumar_lv@...> wrote:

intentionally.

[Harry_Porter]

brumar_lv wrote:

> This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
> Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
> intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the player
> the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
> not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
> Viewers never did find out the answer to the question. Personally,
> near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is
> done intentionally.

cmayhem2001 replied:

If I recall correctly programming near misses is against current
Nevada Gaming Regs.

I expect the interview that may be in question here is one aired in
1998 by ABC Primetime Live. The segment that aired discussed "near
misses", along with the American Coin gaffing and an extensive
interview with convicted cheat Ron Harris.

Steve Bourie reviewed the segment and topic in an article for the
American Casino Guide.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Tips/Slots-Honest.shtml

Bourie conducted an extensive interview with a NV Gaming Control Board
rep in which the near-miss topic is explored. It's made clear that
any mechanism that would result in a distorted number of win
combinations on lines adjacent to the payline (i.e. inflated relative
to the win frequency for the payline itself) would be illegal.

- Harry

[Mickey]

Near misses were programmed into the RNG's, usually two sevens on the
line and the third either above or below. Slots were notorious for
it. It was known as the "teaser." Gaming caught up with it several
years ago and outlawed it. Now you rarely see a teaser for the top
line.

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Joe Schober <afljoeys@> wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the player
the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
Viewers never did find out the answer to the question. Personally,
near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is done
intentionally.

[Bill_Coleman1]

Hi Harry and Mickey,

Just a small clarification:

There is NO regulation that specifically outlaws this practice in so many words. There is a beautifully written umbrella reg that prohibits any activity that would bring either the State of Nevada or the gaming industry into disrepute. Near misses would do just that.

This regulation controls all aspects of virtual reels (which are not specifically referred to in the law or regs).

Bill

···

At 07:18 PM 12/13/2007, you wrote:

brumar_lv wrote:
> > This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
> > Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
> > intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the player
> > the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
> > not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
> > Viewers never did find out the answer to the question. Personally,
> > near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is
> > done intentionally.

cmayhem2001 replied:
> If I recall correctly programming near misses is against current
> Nevada Gaming Regs.

I expect the interview that may be in question here is one aired in
1998 by ABC Primetime Live. The segment that aired discussed "near
misses", along with the American Coin gaffing and an extensive
interview with convicted cheat Ron Harris.

Steve Bourie reviewed the segment and topic in an article for the
American Casino Guide.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Tips/Slots-Honest.shtml

Bourie conducted an extensive interview with a NV Gaming Control Board
rep in which the near-miss topic is explored. It's made clear that
any mechanism that would result in a distorted number of win
combinations on lines adjacent to the payline (i.e. inflated relative
to the win frequency for the payline itself) would be illegal.

- Harry

[brucem]

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Harry Porter" <harry.porter@...>
wrote:

I expect the interview that may be in question here is one aired in
1998 by ABC Primetime Live. The segment that aired discussed "near
misses" ... and Bourie conducted an extensive interview with a NV

Gaming Control Board

rep in which the near-miss topic is explored. It's made clear that
any mechanism that would result in a distorted number of win
combinations on lines adjacent to the payline (i.e. inflated

relative

to the win frequency for the payline itself) would be illegal.

- Harry

I guess my mind is playing tricks on me too. It wasn't 60 Minutes or
Morley Shafer, and I never would have guessed that show was NINE years
ago. Thanks for the clarification!

[Chandler]

I didn't see the segment and don't recall the Bourie ACG bit. I
just remember reading an article about a flap with a Japanese
manufacturer that programmed near misses. Nevada 1. Japanese slot
manufacturer 0.

Chandler

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "Harry Porter" <harry.porter@...>
wrote:

.

cmayhem2001 replied:
> If I recall correctly programming near misses is against current
> Nevada Gaming Regs.

I expect the interview that may be in question here is one aired in
1998 by ABC Primetime Live. The segment that aired discussed "near
misses", along with the American Coin gaffing and an extensive
interview with convicted cheat Ron Harris.

Steve Bourie reviewed the segment and topic in an article for the
American Casino Guide.
http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Tips/Slots-Honest.shtml

Bourie conducted an extensive interview with a NV Gaming Control

Board

rep in which the near-miss topic is explored. It's made clear that
any mechanism that would result in a distorted number of win
combinations on lines adjacent to the payline (i.e. inflated

relative

···

to the win frequency for the payline itself) would be illegal.

- Harry

[nightoftheiguana2000]

Regulation 5:
http://gaming.nv.gov/stats_regs/reg5.pdf
The board and the commission deem any activity on the part of any
licensee, his agents or employees, that is inimical to the public
health, safety, morals, good order and general welfare of the people
of the State of Nevada, or that would reflect or tend to reflect
discredit upon the State of Nevada or the gaming industry, to be an
unsuitable method of operation and shall be grounds for disciplinary
action by the board and the commission in accordance with the Nevada
Gaming Control Act and the regulations of the board and the
commission. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
following acts or omissions may be determined to be unsuitable methods
of operation:
1. Failure to exercise discretion and sound judgment to prevent
incidents which might reflect on the repute of the State of Nevada and
act as a detriment to the development of the industry.
4. Failure to conduct advertising and public relations activities in
accordance with decency, dignity, good taste, honesty and
inoffensiveness, including, but not limited to, advertising that is
false or materially misleading.
8. Failure to comply with or make provision for compliance with all
federal, state and local laws and regulations pertaining to the
operations of a licensed establishment including, without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, payment of all license fees,
withholding any payroll taxes, liquor and entertainment taxes and
antitrust and monopoly statutes.
9. (a) Possessing or permitting to remain in or upon any licensed
premises any cards, dice, mechanical device or any other cheating
device whatever, the use of which is prohibited by statute or
ordinance, or (b) Conducting, carrying on, operating or dealing any
cheating or thieving game or device on the premises, either knowingly
or unknowingly, which may have in any manner been marked, tampered
with or otherwise placed in a condition, or operated in a manner,
which tends to deceive the public or which might make the game more
liable to win or lose, or which tends to alter the normal random
selection of criteria which determine the results of the game.
10. Failure to conduct gaming operations in accordance with proper
standards of custom, decorum and decency, or permit any type of
conduct in the gaming establishment which reflects or tends to reflect

Hi Harry and Mickey,

Just a small clarification:

There is NO regulation that specifically outlaws this practice in so
many words. There is a beautifully written umbrella reg that
prohibits any activity that would bring either the State of Nevada or
the gaming industry into disrepute. Near misses would do just that.

This regulation controls all aspects of virtual reels (which are not
specifically referred to in the law or regs).

Bill

>brumar_lv wrote:
> > > This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
> > > Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
> > > intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the

player

> > > the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
> > > not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
> > > Viewers never did find out the answer to the question.

Personally,

···

on the repute of the State of Nevada and act as a detriment to the gaming industry. --- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, Bill Coleman <vphobby2@...> wrote:

At 07:18 PM 12/13/2007, you wrote:
> > > near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is
> > > done intentionally.
>
>cmayhem2001 replied:
> > If I recall correctly programming near misses is against current
> > Nevada Gaming Regs.
>
>
>I expect the interview that may be in question here is one aired in
>1998 by ABC Primetime Live. The segment that aired discussed "near
>misses", along with the American Coin gaffing and an extensive
>interview with convicted cheat Ron Harris.
>
>Steve Bourie reviewed the segment and topic in an article for the
>American Casino Guide.
>http://www.americancasinoguide.com/Tips/Slots-Honest.shtml
>
>Bourie conducted an extensive interview with a NV Gaming Control Board
>rep in which the near-miss topic is explored. It's made clear that
>any mechanism that would result in a distorted number of win
>combinations on lines adjacent to the payline (i.e. inflated relative
>to the win frequency for the payline itself) would be illegal.
>
>- Harry

[nightoftheiguana2000]

Depends how you define "near misses". And of course the Bill Clinton
defense: "it depends what the definition of is is".

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "cmayhem2001" <chandler_re@...> wrote:

If I recall correctly programming near misses is against current
Nevada Gaming Regs.

Chandler
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "brumar_lv" <brumar_lv@> wrote:
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
> Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
> intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the player
> the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
> not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
> Viewers never did find out the answer to the question. Personally,
> near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is
done
> intentionally.
>

[simon_gevurtz]

the one aways from the royal are common, they are frustrating but a fact of vp life

nightoftheiguana2000 <nightoftheiguana2000@yahoo.com> wrote: Depends how you define "near misses". And of course the Bill Clinton
defense: "it depends what the definition of is is".

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "cmayhem2001" <chandler_re@...> wrote:

If I recall correctly programming near misses is against current
Nevada Gaming Regs.

Chandler
--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "brumar_lv" <brumar_lv@> wrote:
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> This reminds me of a segment on 60 Minutes several years ago where
> Morley Safer interviewed a casino executive. He asked if slots
> intentionally display "near misses" all the time, giving the player
> the impression they nearly hit a big jackpot. The executive would
> not comment directly, saying only that the outcome is random.
> Viewers never did find out the answer to the question. Personally,
> near misses make it more interesting to play, so I imagine it is
done
> intentionally.
>

---------------------------------
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

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

[brucem]

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "nightoftheiguana2000"
<nightoftheiguana2000@...> wrote:

Depends how you define "near misses". And of course the Bill Clinton
defense: "it depends what the definition of is is".

I believe the interview referred to slot machines, not VP. The rarely
hit symbols like Red 7, Double Diamond, etc. can be placed anywhere on
the reel. The question, as I understood it, was whether the
manufacturers intentionally position these rarely hit symbols right
above or below the most common symbols, like a Blank, Cherry, or One
Bar. If that's true, it's likely the rare symbols will freguently
appear on the screen right above or below the lesser paying symbols,
giving the impression of a "near miss".

I don't see how a "near miss" could be programmed into VP except
possibly Spinpoker as mentioned earlier.

[Chandler]

Universal Distributing, owned by the Okada family. Kazuo Okada a
major investor in Wynn. I was pretty sure of the connection, but
wasn't sure if my mind was playing tricks on me. Ain't Google
wonderful?

Chandler

···

--- In vpFREE@yahoogroups.com, "cmayhem2001" <chandler_re@...> wrote:

I didn't see the segment and don't recall the Bourie ACG bit. I
just remember reading an article about a flap with a Japanese
manufacturer that programmed near misses. Nevada 1. Japanese slot
manufacturer 0.

Chandler