Biloxi Visit May/2014

[BillyJoe]

Just returned from a week in Biloxi. Weather was terrific. Played two rounds of golf. Had a great time.

Now, here is a summary of my VP gaming results.


That's right, not a single handpay, and no pics to share. I did OK at the table games, but once again, an overall losing gaming trip.

I attended the Southern Gaming Summit that was in Biloxi last week. It was interesting. I met and talked with the gaming commissioners of both Mississippi and Louisiana. Also, I talked at length with a very knowledgeable IGT technology guy. I asked all three about VP, and what capabilities the casino may have to adjust payouts outside of the stated pay tables. They all said the same thing - they can't.

The IGT guy actually showed me the setup screen on a VP machine at the Expo, and what the casino tech can and can't do. As I had observed previously, the tech can pick payouts that are loaded into the machine, by denom and game. He can ONLY choose from what is loaded, however. The pay tables displayed are set according to the payout selected from the list.

Both Gaming Commissioners said that their staffs test all machines on a casino floor, including VP, at least once a year. These are unannounced visits. Among other things, they check for tampering, and also that there are no sub-programs running on the machines.

Next trip is the MGM NOIR cruise on RCL's Oasis of the Seas to the Western Caribbean, stopping in Nassau, St Thomas and St Marteen. Won't do a lot of gaming on the ship, except for the organized tournaments. Should be a great time.      

[Tedlark]

  billyjoe its too bad you didn't hit any handpays but I'm glad to hear that the table games saved you somewhat.    Its interesting what you wrote about your conversations with the state Gaming Commissioners and the IGT executive; they restated what has been repeated here many times by many people.    I'm hopeful that you will have many rolls of film for your camera on your NOIR cruise. Please remember to take some pictures of any local scenery that you feel we will be interested in admiring.    Did you get written statements from those people you talked to?

[BillyJoe]

  billyjoe its too bad you didn't hit any handpays but I'm glad to hear that the table games saved you somewhat.    Its interesting what you wrote about your conversations with the state Gaming Commissioners and the IGT executive; they restated what has been repeated here many times by many people.    I'm hopeful that you will have many rolls of film for your camera on your NOIR cruise. Please remember to take some pictures of any local scenery that you feel we will be interested in admiring.    Did you get written statements from those people you talked to?
Well, if by 'local scenery' you mean the two-legged variety, I am not sure that some of our Forum readers would appreciate that as a post.

As far as the Commissioners, I asked if I could take a 'selfie' with them, but they both declined, stating that they preferred little publicity. They said, though, that I could come visit them on Tennessee Avenue any time I wish.

[Tedlark]

  Scenery would include such things as: mountains; white cloud formations in a blue sky background; a longneck Red Stripe just out of the cooler; a dirt road leading nowhere in particular, etc.    I don't understand your Tennessee Avenue reference, can you please elaborate?

[Lucky Larry]

Sometimes we just have to enjoy ambiance of playing. Better luck next time bj.

[mammajamma]

billyjoe wrote..."Also, I talked at length with a very knowledgeable IGT
technology guy. I asked all three about VP, and what capabilities the
casino may have to adjust payouts outside of the stated pay tables. They
all said the same thing - they can't."what would you expect?Also, if paytables can't be altered, then what about when it was mentioned by a poster that he noticed one machine wasn't like it's neighbors so a tech came over and changed the one payout?Just inquisitive......

[onemoretry]

if paytables can't be altered, then what about when it was mentioned by a poster that he noticed one machine wasn't like it's neighbors so a tech came over and changed the one payout?Just inquisitive.


He didn't alter a paytable, he selected a different one.

[Casino Knight]

I will endeavor to take a picture of the set up screen on a IGT VP game, to hopefully settle this non-issue at my next opportunity......Unless someone beats me to it.

CK

[BillyJoe]

    I don't understand your Tennessee Avenue reference, can you please elaborate?
No

[Tedlark]

billyjoe wrote..."Also, I talked at length with a very knowledgeable IGT
technology guy. I asked all three about VP, and what capabilities the
casino may have to adjust payouts outside of the stated pay tables. They
all said the same thing - they can't."what would you expect?Also, if paytables can't be altered, then what about when it was mentioned by a poster that he noticed one machine wasn't like it's neighbors so a tech came over and changed the one payout?Just inquisitive......


   As billyjoe mentioned, the paytables can be changed but only to other paytables allready programed into the machine.