BAR-7-N-Grapes-Orange

November 28, 2021 9:18 AM

Many slot machines on Native American reservations actually, and somewhat surreptitiously, play Bingo! Why? - What are "Class II" machines? - Some of its consequences. - Is it fair?

Note: I don't play slot machines, viewing the proper role of a computer in entertainment being a thing that goes pew-pew and waka-waka rather than could bankrupt you or attract the attention of big guys in bad suits. This information is presented because slot machines are interesting, but I don't suggest playing them.

While the results to the player are mostly the same, there are some consequences of Bingo-based "Class II" slot machines:

• These machines display a bingo card somewhere on the screen, often off in a corner, and the results of spinning the wheels are actually cooked up to match the results of the Bingo game,
• since Bingo is considered to be a multiplayer game, multiple machines are typically networked together, getting their calls from a bingo server,
• sometimes when playing them, during slow times at the casino, the wheels will spin for a while longer than usual, or else a machine will lock down and display that it's waiting for other players, since there must be at least two people participating for it to really be a bingo game, and
• because, despite appearances, the game played is actually Bingo, among everyone in each networked game session (which can begin and end in mere seconds), only one (or maybe more, in case of ties?) of these networked players can actually win. In practice, this means, the fewer people playing at an exact moment, the easier it is to win, but also the less you'll win.

Also along these lines are horse racing machines, which, again, look like slot machines, but the races in questions are physical horse races. Not currently running ones, but historical ones.

I found out about these from a Dave's Garage video where he was able to get cellphone footage of the secret internal menus of such a bingo-based machine after he won a jackpot.

posted by JHarris (4 comments total)

So fascinating. Thank you for sharing these articles! I'm not a gambler and it would never have occurred me to be curious about this and now I'm happily rabbitholing.
posted by potrzebie at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2021

This is really interesting!
My favorite detail, from the "is it fair?" link:

A Class II video poker game is actually better for the strategy novice, because the game will often correct your bonehead moves. If the bingo result determines you win the a certain prize, you will get that prize even if you make the wrong choice...let’s say your winning bingo pattern translates to the prize for four-of-a-kind, and you are dealt 10♣ J♣ Q♣ J♥ J♠. Even if you screw up and decide to go for the royal, the game will not let you. A “Genie” will appear on the screen and change your hand to four Jacks.

posted by What is E. T. short for? at 10:13 AM on November 28, 2021 [2 favorites]

Does Uncle Slayton know about this?
posted by TedW at 12:03 PM on November 28, 2021

I think it is fair to say, casinos aren't.
posted by Bee'sWing at 12:44 PM on November 28, 2021 [3 favorites]