Slot Machines in Las Vegas

Slots used to return about 90% plus on the dollar. Government operated lotto about 50% on the dollar. Been close to two decades and always knew I'd lose, in the case of a casino it was a way to waste time and get pulmonary diseases. Always thought gambling was a tax on stupidity.
Dave Ramsey has stated lotto is a way for the government to get back some of the welfare money it doles out monthly. Issue is, the revenue from lotto typical goes to organizations that provide a lot of donations to politicians, and special interest groups. Lotto revenue doesn't go back to a government's welfare line of accounting.
 
After I left the cops in NJ, I entered the private sector and had a good gig and long run as head security and risk management guy for a very well known international retailer. Retired from there and took a keep busy gig as security director for a casino in MD. The state of MD took 67% of total gambling revenue the casino produced.
While I had seen sadder more depressing things as a cop, I'd not seen anything like the gambling addiction. Old ladies with their oxygen carts just working those machines for hours. People gambling away their kids college tuitions, mortgage payments, car payments...and the whole state run "gamblers anonymous" type programs...what a charade. The states and casinos want those gambling addicts...it's integral to their business and profitability.
Everything from the music, the carpeting, the air you breath within, the light level....is all carefully orchestrated to keep you inside the casino.
The surveillance department literally sees EVERYTHING. They have LPRs(license plate readers) and they all share any/all personal information about patrons.
The best part about that job was quitting.
 
ALL of the electronic machines are controlled from Chicago. If you get a card, I mean a membership card, or CREDIT card, they can tie you to the machine and entice you to return by varying the odds in real time. If anyone thinks these machines are honest and above board, they are fooling themselves.

My sister loved to gamble. She would ALWAYS count her winnings, but never adjusted those numbers with her losses.
I don't think that it is legal to change the odd. Well maybe they can do a better than regulated odds but I do remember the code for the slot machines are regulated.

About gambling. My dad used to always win in the casino because he would have the discipline to stop when he was on a winning streak and ahead of the game, before the law of large number come back and hit him the other way, and then just cash out and watch other people play afterward.

Human psychology is why people have addiction to gambling, sugar, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and adult entertainment. I don't think this is something we can evolute out of easily, and I don't know why we haven't evolute out of it in the last 5000 years yet, but in order to win we have to know when to stop and if possible how our brain works and do the opposite of what gets us into trouble. Not everyone can do it, and it is better to avoid it all together. It is easier to find a source of dopamine that's healthy and stick to it.
 
Dave Ramsey has stated lotto is a way for the government to get back some of the welfare money it doles out monthly. Issue is, the revenue from lotto typical goes to organizations that provide a lot of donations to politicians, and special interest groups. Lotto revenue doesn't go back to a government's welfare line of accounting.
The lotto is a tax on the poor. Heck, I can dream too, but I can also do elementary statistics. I have never bought a lottery ticket. I've played at Christmas parties where they give everyone a ticket. That serves to reinforce my fear of losing. I hate gambling.

When someone wins big; it is the Lotto's best advertising possible!
 
The lotto is a tax on the poor. Heck, I can dream too, but I can also do elementary statistics. I have never bought a lottery ticket. I've played at Christmas parties where they give everyone a ticket. That serves to reinforce my fear of losing. I hate gambling.

When someone wins big; it is the Lotto's best advertising possible!
I would say that Lotto is a tax on those who are bad at math.

Poor economic conditions and poor math skills might be correlated, but Lotto is more about not being able to do math.
 
I know 2 people that did win big on slots. One guy won 3 million. The other was $60k.

I don't seem to have that kind of luck. If I win enough to pay for gas and dinner I cash out and leave.

Last year my wife won $1200 but that's no where near what she has lost in the past.

Seems every time we go to a casino someone does win big. People screaming and jumping for joy. Never us though
 
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The lotto is a tax on the poor. Heck, I can dream too, but I can also do elementary statistics. I have never bought a lottery ticket. I've played at Christmas parties where they give everyone a ticket. That serves to reinforce my fear of losing. I hate gambling.

When someone wins big; it is the Lotto's best advertising possible!
Issue with the lotto is where the revenue goes.

If lotto proceeds went 100 percent to a state's general fund, then I would concur it is a tax on the poor. Lotto funds are typically tied to a lot of special interests, often masked/masqueraded as going to education/scholarships. The truth is much of lotto revenue goes to costs identified as administrative, but in all honesty it is money laundering to people with very special ties to state government officials.

Kind of like government giving funds to provide daycare to infants in Minnesota. Almost none of the funds made it for the caring of in need infants. But the government can market to its supporters all the billions spent on infant children in need in Minnesota.

Actually very sad, sick, and evil.
 
The lotto is a tax on the poor. Heck, I can dream too, but I can also do elementary statistics. I have never bought a lottery ticket. I've played at Christmas parties where they give everyone a ticket. That serves to reinforce my fear of losing. I hate gambling.

When someone wins big; it is the Lotto's best advertising possible!
Really? So if the odds aof winning are 1;350M you won't buy 1 play when the JP is $700M or more?
 
I would say that Lotto is a tax on those who are bad at math.

Poor economic conditions and poor math skills might be correlated, but Lotto is more about not being able to do math.
Perhaps look at the lotto buyer demographics. And from a percentage standpoint, the less advantaged financially spend a higher percentage of their income on the lotto.

As you point out, why would anyone play with such unlikely odds of winning? Dreaming, desperation, hope springs eternal...

I've offered my thoughts on teaching personal finance starting in grade school many times. Give people a fighting chance.
All this scares the heck outta me.
 
It is an insult to the mathematically non challenged people. I would be upset and walk away faster if I see a 4c win instead of a lost.
That’s just it. Shows what I know about slots… thought you put a quarter in, you win, or you don’t. And if you win you don’t get a fraction of your quarter… the machines don’t give a nickel for some line combo….

Sure, now it’s all electronic and there are more ways to win and all that, but yeah, I was taken aback to see it paying pennies on the 75c spins.
Vegas is far from what it used to be. It is no longer focusing on cheap fun, and with that, cheap tourists who focus on slot machines, etc.
That is why their tourism is down (among other factors). Because if it is not cheap fun, there are far better places in the world to spend your money.

It does seem to be going to the extreme. I’ve never stayed in Vegas. I stay in Henderson. I have gone to some casino buffets and enjoyed them though… I don’t need to pretend to put on airs there.

I would be more inclined to go do skk on me blackjack or whatnot if they had $5 tables. $20? Those obnoxious slot payouts?!? I’m even less inclined to step foot in (other than the buffet or $1.99 margaritas ;)
 
About gambling. My dad used to always win in the casino because he would have the discipline to stop when he was on a winning streak and ahead of the game, before the law of large number come back and hit him the other way, and then just cash out and watch other people play afterward.
Thank you. My wife operates like that. I'm gonna stick my neck out and be the odd man out in this conversation. My wife is disabled, with a Scooter chair, and her quality of life is fragile. She enjoys playing slot machines and we visit Michigan Casinos (all non-smoking) about 6 times a year. While I wrestle with the idea of supporting these businesses, it gives my wife precious entertainment pleasure. We make a day out it, get a meal, sometimes a show. I don't spend a dime, other than an occasional drink (sometimes coffee) while watching a football game, etc. I'm a people watcher and get relaxation, a change of pace, etc. during the visit (yea, I know, odd).

For us it's a form of entertainment. A change of pace from our rural lifestyle. An adventure of sorts. People engage in other common entertainment and lifestyle choices that are marginal, so I question the level of "getting on the high horse" in this thread. I.E., our professional sports in the U.S. is appalling, yet how many of us support it, even if just on television? How many people drive "luxury" cars and trucks that are really unnecessary, but provide hollow satisfaction? I acknowledge the badness of casinos and the lottery, but occasionally step out of the box and indulge responsibly. So be it.
 
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Would this be more accurate?

Now, now, poor people used their welfare money and/ or minimum wage job income to pay a sizeable portion of my kids college...
Certainly could be. I wonder how much of my income tax went to their welfare. No income tax and I could have paid for many more college degrees. Circular financing deal - Income tax -- welfare -- palmetto scholarship so they can pay more income tax - rinse / repeat.

No one put a gun to there head and told them to buy any tickets either way. I buy them on occasion - can't win if you don't play. :ROFLMAO:
 
That’s just it. Shows what I know about slots… thought you put a quarter in, you win, or you don’t. And if you win you don’t get a fraction of your quarter… the machines don’t give a nickel for some line combo….

Sure, now it’s all electronic and there are more ways to win and all that, but yeah, I was taken aback to see it paying pennies on the 75c spins.


It does seem to be going to the extreme. I’ve never stayed in Vegas. I stay in Henderson. I have gone to some casino buffets and enjoyed them though… I don’t need to pretend to put on airs there.

I would be more inclined to go do skk on me blackjack or whatnot if they had $5 tables. $20? Those obnoxious slot payouts?!? I’m even less inclined to step foot in (other than the buffet or $1.99 margaritas ;)
We would ditch the kids with grandparents and stay on the strip, which turns into dinner and sleeping to get some rest from the kids. I stayed, I think, in every decent hotel on the strip, and it changed a lot over the years. Now, Park MGM is non-smoking. I think several others are too. That is not aimed at retirees from Arkansas who came there to try his/her luck. Airplane tickets? Holy moly. We were in Vegas three times last year, in May, November, and December. We drove all three times. We lowered rent twice last year, as the economy there has been on a downward spiral since last year.
 
That’s just it. Shows what I know about slots… thought you put a quarter in, you win, or you don’t. And if you win you don’t get a fraction of your quarter… the machines don’t give a nickel for some line combo….

Sure, now it’s all electronic and there are more ways to win and all that, but yeah, I was taken aback to see it paying pennies on the 75c spins.


It does seem to be going to the extreme. I’ve never stayed in Vegas. I stay in Henderson. I have gone to some casino buffets and enjoyed them though… I don’t need to pretend to put on airs there.

I would be more inclined to go do skk on me blackjack or whatnot if they had $5 tables. $20? Those obnoxious slot payouts?!? I’m even less inclined to step foot in (other than the buffet or $1.99 margaritas ;)

They actually do have small line payouts. But it’s really just a dog and pony show. They have to figure payouts first where they know the average theoretical payout, and then create line combinations to create the payout from tables. Even physical reels are really electronic, where they have brakes to stop the reels precisely. It’s the electronics that choose the outcome and not mechanical randomness.

I’ve actually played $1 blackjack in the 90s. It was all night at the Sahara, where I was staying in a business trip. And just one table. Other than that one table, $5 was the minimum. While the stakes were low, it was kind of fun and the dealer probably enjoyed it better than the higher minimum tables. Nobody got depressed over losing $20 in an hour.
 
I would say that Lotto is a tax on those who are bad at math.

Poor economic conditions and poor math skills might be correlated, but Lotto is more about not being able to do math.
Tell that to my friends grandparents who won $12 million playing Lotto 649. Or another friends parents who won $1 million. One of my mom’s best friends won $250,000. My ex wife had a boyfriend in high school who won $200,000 (and promptly bought his parents a new house back then!). My ex wife’s uncle won $200,000 as well.

The odds are a little better with our lotteries up here plus there is no income tax on the winnings.

I spend a little bit of money on the lottery but I am pretty good at math. I would rather spend a couple of bucks on lottery tickets than $15 for a pack of cigarettes
 
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