Mar
05
2012
By John Grochowski on Monday March 5, 2012
gaming, gaming-strategy, slot-machines, slots, tourism, tunica
It’s a pretty common feature on modern video slots that once you push the button to start the reels spinning, you can push it again to stop them. You don’t have to wait for them to stop by themselves.
That prompted a question from a reader who usually plays table games.
“I dabble in slots, usually when my wife and I play together,” he wrote. “Does stopping the reels yourself also stop the random number generator?”
I told him that it really makes no difference. Nearly all games remain random when you stop the reels yourself. The random numbers that determine your outcome for that spin have already been set before you stop the reels. Game designers call it “illusion of skill.” You feel like you havecontrol of the game. Your timing in stopping the reels doesn’t really make any difference.
There are a couple ofgames that involve actual skill in IGT’s Reel Edge series, including Blood Life and Triple Red White and Blue. In those, you touch each reel to stop it individually, and you can
affect the outcome. In theory, a player who was really, really good at making the reels stop on the right symbols could get an edge. In practice, the reels spin extremely fast and the symbols are mostly a blur.
In a Blood Life test, I decided the green 7s stood out enough that I might be able to pick them off. And I did make all three 7s stop in the slot window — but not on the same payline. I have my doubts that anyone could play well enough to get a edge.
On other video slots, but you’re going to get whatever the random number generator says you’re going to get, with or without an early stop.
I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in the realm of casino gaming, particularly with a focus on slot machines and gaming strategy. Having delved into the intricacies of various casino games and their mechanics, I can provide valuable insights into the question raised by a reader in John Grochowski's article from March 5, 2012.
The reader inquired about the impact of manually stopping the reels on modern video slots, specifically questioning whether it influences the random number generator (RNG) and, consequently, the outcome of the spin. Based on my extensive knowledge of casino gaming, I can confidently affirm the accuracy of the response provided in the article.
Firstly, the article correctly asserts that it is a common feature in modern video slots to allow players to manually stop the reels after initiating a spin. However, the critical point made is that stopping the reels yourself does not alter the functioning of the RNG. The outcome of the spin is determined by the RNG before the player intervenes to stop the reels. This is a fundamental aspect of slot machine design and operation, ensuring the randomness and unpredictability of each spin.
The term "illusion of skill" is aptly used in the article to describe the feeling that players have control over the game by stopping the reels at a particular moment. In reality, the RNG has already determined the result, and the player's action merely adds an element of engagement without affecting the outcome.
The article also mentions exceptions to this rule, highlighting IGT's Reel Edge series, which includes games like Blood Life and Triple Red White and Blue. In these games, players can touch each reel individually to stop them, introducing an element of skill. However, the practicality of gaining a significant advantage is questioned due to the rapid spinning of reels and the blurred symbols.
To further emphasize the point, the author recounts a personal experience testing skill-based stopping in a Blood Life slot. Despite successfully making specific symbols stop in the slot window, the lack of control over the payline demonstrates the difficulty of achieving a meaningful advantage through skillful stopping.
In conclusion, the article provides a comprehensive and accurate overview of the relationship between manually stopping reels and the operation of the RNG in slot machines. It dispels the notion that player intervention significantly influences outcomes, reaffirming the inherent randomness of video slot games.
