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Those Sensational Slots
It's man against machine, but does man really have a chance?

Many years ago casino executives were surprised to discover that the money they were making at the table games was beginning to decline, and the profits generated by the slot machines was growing. After all, slot machines were really just a few toys they kept around to entertain the wives of the high rollers while their husbands were busy at the tables. It didn't make any sense that slot machines should be supplanting table game revenue.

But the casino executives just weren't paying attention. With computers becoming a vital part of every day life, young people developing an attraction to video games, and instant gratification turning the modern world upside down, it was only natural that slot machines would begin to become the casinos main profit center.

By the mid-1980s, slot machines had matched table games in popularity, and by the time the decade turned, the so-called "one-armed bandits" had clearly become the casino's favorite game. Today, more than two-thirds of casino revenue in the United States is derived from the slot machine.

Those same casino executives didn't try to change the trend, however. They were delighted that slot machines were exhibiting such popularity. After all, the money derived from slot machines is guaranteed, while table game revenues are subject to the ebb and flow of Lady Luck. Sure, casinos have the advantage at the table games, but because the games themselves are volatile, the money won or lost on a monthly basis can vary widely. So slot machines became their cushion, with table games making up the difference between a great month or simply a good month.

The casinos can count on slot machine revenues because the machines are simply computers. The profit can be programmed into the machines by the use of a random number generator that determines just how much of the money played in that particular machine will be returned as winnings.

So why should casino customers play the slot machines, since the casino is guaranteed to win? The same random number generator that provides the casino with its guaranteed profit, also gives the player the opportunity to win.

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