Nevada Gaming Comission

[Magicmike009]

How does the NGC regulate videopoker and other slots in casinos? Also, do casinos have the ability to change the payout of machines?

[DaBurglar]

How does the NGC regulate videopoker and other slots in casinos? Also, do casinos have the ability to change the payout of machines?to answer your second part first, about payouts of machines.....short answer is YES casinos regularly alter payouts on both slot and Video poker machines, but it is within clearly specified limits and parameters set by the state gaming authority......generally Slot machines have a MINIMUM required payout (I am not sure what Nevada's current minimum is but lets say for arguments sake it is 92%....that means for EVERY dollar in the casino takes 8 cents......Atlantic City's is a ghastly 83% I believe!    Now of course a casino can set the slots to payout HIGHER than the state mandated minimum, and many machines in a typical Vegas casino usually have a payout set somewhat higher than the minimum, but there is no way for a player to know this, and I am almost certain Nevada casinos are NOT required to tell a patron what a specific SLOT machine is set to payout.Video doh doh Poker machines are much more straight forward (or at least that is what we have been lead to believe  lol)    ALL  a player must do to determine the payout is look at the exact paytable for the game he/she/it wants to play!    And from that you can surmise what the expected payout will be.....of course, this assumes all else with the VP machine is kosher, and in the case of Nevada I think you can rest easy knowing video poker is kosher.....not so with Atlantic city and other casino markets!As to the first part, HOW this all takes place, that is truly complicated and involved and some of us (like me) can only provide a SMALL portion of what the overall TOTAL process involves or might look like.....I can tell you that Nevada has the most extensive and well developed casino regulatory agency in the WORLD, and obviously has the most agents and employees (by far).......Atlantic City on the other hand, currently is regulated by a agency that has seen extensive cutbacks and layoffs, and has in fact been "folded" into other state agencies (in New Jersey obviously.....I believe the STATE police are actually now responsible for much of the enforcement duties the gaming agency is responsible for.....)

[Vman96]

Fyi, Nevada's current slot/VP minimum is 75%, the lowest in the country that dictates a minimum payout.

As for VP, they are allowed to change paytables, which is the only way to legally increase or decrease the house edge. As far as testing for fairness, ROM chips are occasionally tested for randomness as required by state law.

[OTABILL]

As for VP, they are allowed to change paytables, which is the only way to legally increase or decrease the house edge.

Not quite. Casinos can, and have, changed the meter rate on VP progressives.

[Vman96]

Yeah, but I would still consider that a paytable change. It was the only change I noticed at my local last trip. The progressive meter for 4 deuces looked a lot slower. Game unlikely to break 100% very much now.   :(

[DaBurglar]

Thanks VMAN....I was totally unaware that Nevada Slot Minimum was now at 75%!!!!!Can you tell me when this actually came about (i.e  how long its been 75%)??   Also, where did you actually LEARN it was 75%???   I just want to know WHERE to look next time I am uncertain!!