Slot Machines Research Articles

Two-Phase DC-Biased Vernier Reluctance Machines

This article proposes a novel two-phase dc-biased current Vernier reluctance machine (DCBVRM) equipped with concentrated windings. Compared with the existing three-phase DCBVRMs, the number of power electronic switching devices has been greatly reduced without sacrificing performance. Consequently, the overall system cost is greatly reduced, and thus, it is competitive for low-cost applications such as household appliances. To highlight the advantages of the proposed topology, the theories of coil connection, current configuration, and so on are illustrated, and some electromagnetic characteristics, such as flux density, back electromotive force, and electromagnetic torque, are predicted by finite-element analysis (FEA) with two eight-stator slot machines. Finally, the comparison with three-phase counterpart shows that the proposed eight stator slots, seven rotor slots, and two-phase machine can exhibit 21% higher torque with much lower inverter cost.

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A qualitative study of participant experience with skill gaming machines in comparison to electronic gaming machines

ABSTRACT New variants of electronic gaming machines (EGMs) are being developed that incorporate gaming elements. Policies to govern the use of skill gaming machines (SGMs) must be predicated on evidence of their impact, which is currently lacking. Focus groups (N = 21) were conducted with university students, regular EGM players, and community members who played an EGM and SGM. Participants clearly perceived that SGMs involved a skill component, although most did not have a good understanding of how SGMs work. There was evidence of greater immersion in SGMs, but this was restricted to the feature in which money was not gambled and time was limited. Participants reported a mixture of both negative and positive emotions during play on both SGMs and EGMs reflecting some consumers enjoying the gaming-elements to a greater extent. The results indicate that SGMs would likely appeal to a subset of consumers and most consumers would not have a good initial understanding of these machines.

Taxing Gambling Machines To Enhance Public and Private Revenue

SUMMARYElectronic gambling (‘slot’) machines are a key component of the global gambling industry. We introduce a theoretical framework which shows that under reasonable assumptions, shifting from a per‐machine licence fee to a gross profits tax (GPT) on machine revenue can help to resolve policy tensions between industry profitability, economic growth and government revenue. We test the theory using data on recent changes to gambling taxation in the UK, in particular the move to a gross profits‐based Machine Games Duty (MGD). Our results reveal that the shift from licence fees to a revenue‐neutral MGD led to a significant increase in the number of machines, as predicted by the theory, and in machine revenue. These results provide useful guidance for all parties involved in the gambling taxation debate, especially those jurisdictions that are considering or are open to a change to their gambling tax system.

Lot scheduling on a single machine to minimize the (weighted) number of tardy orders

We consider a single machine lot scheduling problem. A number of customer orders of different sizes may be processed in the same lot. We consider first the setting that splitting orders between consecutive lots is allowed. We focus on minimizing the number of tardy orders. A polynomial time solution algorithm is introduced for this problem. We then study the extension to minimizing the weighted number of tardy orders. This problem is NP-hard, and a pseudo-polynomial dynamic programming is provided and tested. We also study the setting of no-split. The problem of minimizing the number of tardy orders in this context is proved to be strongly NP-hard, and an efficient heuristic is introduced.

A comparison of fraud to fund gambling with fraud for other reasons

In order to compare the characteristics, including diagnosed mental disorder, of people who commit fraud offences to fund gambling with those who committed fraud for other reasons, we examined a complete series of reports prepared for legal proceedings by two of the authors from between January 2002 and June 2019. A total of 160 fraud offenders were located, of whom 48 (30%) reported offending to fund gambling. Females made up 47.5% of the total sample and 43.8% of the gamblers. Of the problem gambling group, 44% had diagnoses of anxiety or depression, 44% had substance use disorder, 17% had bipolar and other psychosis, and 38% reported childhood trauma. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of diagnosis of mental illness or previous criminal convictions compared to the non-gambling group. Two thirds reported only gambling on poker machines. Only 19% of gamblers reported seeking treatment prior to being charged.

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The Frantic Seeking of Credit during Poker Machine Problem Gambling: A Public Health Perspective.

(1) Background: Financial harms associated with problem gambling are substantial and result in suicidal ideation, depression, anxiety and relationship damage, causing distress for problem gamblers and their families. This paper examines Electronic Gaming Machine gamblers’ frantic use of credit during episodes of gambling as a substantial public health burden. (2) Methods: This qualitative study comprised 29 participants purposefully selected who participated in either focus groups or in-depth interviews, which were analysed using thematic, textual analysis. (3) Results: Ready access to credit in the gambling venues enabled problem gamblers to engage in desperate credit transactions to continue to gamble. Many showed frantic, repeated patterns of e-credit withdrawal, which may be typical of gambling while “in the zone”, when it is highly likely that the gamblers are not able to make informed decisions about the use of credit. This pattern of the electronic withdrawal of cash may well be recognisable electronically by financial institutions in real-time, as part of a duty of care potentially owed by banks to their customers. It would provide an opportunity for the identification of people at financial risk due to gambling and systemic intervention to limit the financial harm at a time when financial decision-making is impaired. (4) Conclusions: Although this finding needs further confirmation, there are significant implications for harm minimisation and early intervention for affected PGs. It also raises the issue of the ‘duty of care’ owed to PG customers by financial institutions.

Exploration of the physiological response to an online gambling task by frequency domain analysis of the electrodermal activity.

Online gambling has dramatically increased over the last decades, thus the study of the underlying physiological mechanisms could be helpful to better understand related disorders. Specifically, physiological arousal is well-known to play a key role in gambling behavior. In the present study, unconventional frequency feature of the electrodermal activity (EDA) was extracted (EDASympn) and compared to the most common heart rate variability (HRV) spectral parameters (LF, HF, HFn, LF/HF) to measure arousal during an online gambling session. 46 subjects played online slot machines for 30 minutes, while EDA and ECG were recorded. In the analysis the gaming session was divided into three 10-minutes-long phases. A one-way repeated measures analysis of variance was carried out for each spectral parameter, with the game phases as within-subjects factor. All the calculated parameters showed significant differences between the initial phase of the game and the last two (p < 0.001). In particular, EDAsympn displayed a reciprocal trend with respect to HFn: an initial increase (decrease for HFn) was followed by a plateau phase. LF exhibited a significant difference also between the second and the third phases. EDA frequency-domain analysis appears to be a promising method for physiological arousal assessment, by showing the same discriminative power of HRV spectral components. Further research is needed to emphasize these findings.Clinical Relevance-This promotes the use of a new and easy-to-implement method to assess sympathetic activity.

Validation of the problematic social casino gaming scale

ABSTRACT Few investigations have focused on problematic social casino gaming. Social casino games are a type of video game that feature gambling elements. Unlike gambling machines, social casino games present with a number of added interactive features that render them more like video games. Therefore, problematic social casino gaming may present with symptoms that reflect both problem video gaming and problem gambling. To investigate the overlap, this study examined a new measure – the Problematic Social Casino Gaming Scale (PSCGS) – in 436 social casino game players. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a single-factor structure that was further supported by confirmatory factor analysis. The PSCGS demonstrated high internal consistency. The latent profile analysis of the PSCGS classified participants into three groups, representing different levels of problematic social casino gaming. Players classified as high severity played social casino games more frequently, were more likely to spend money on social casino games, and evidenced greater severity of problem video gaming and problem gambling than other players. Collectively, results provide initial evidence of the psychometric properties of the PSCGS and characteristics of problematic social casino gaming. Such findings could inform future research into the etiology, nature, and course of problematic social casino gaming.

Slot Machine Warfare: China’s Campaign to Undermine American Military Plans in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The Department of Defense (DOD) has proposed establishing several live-fire training areas in the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands (CNMI) to address dozens of training deficiencies impacting Pacific forces. Capitalizing on local resistance to the proposal, the People’s Republic of China has waged a campaign of political and economic warfare in the CNMI through proxy casino companies to inflame opposition among residents and assert greater influence in the region. This article examines the DOD’s joint training proposal, China’s political and military efforts to undermine it, and important considerations should the plan move forward.

Slot Machine Warfare: China's Campaign to Undermine American Military Plans in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

The Department of Defense (DOD) has proposed establishing several live-fire training areas in the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands (CNMI) to address dozens of training deficiencies impacting Pacific forces. Capitalizing on local resistance to the proposal, the People’s Republic of China has waged a campaign of political and economic warfare in the CNMI through proxy casino companies to inflame opposition among residents and assert greater influence in the region. This article examines the DOD’s joint training proposal, China’s political and military efforts to undermine it, and important considerations should the plan move forward.

The Relationship Between Gambling Event Frequency, Motor Response Inhibition, Arousal, and Dissociative Experience

Speed of play has been identified as a key structural characteristic in gambling behaviour, where games involving higher playing speeds enhance the experience of gambling. Of interest in the present study is the consistent finding that games with higher event frequencies are preferred by problem gamblers and are associated with more negative gambling outcomes, such as difficulty quitting the game and increased monetary loss. The present study investigated the impact of gambling speed of play on executive control functioning, focusing on how increased speeds of play impact motor response inhibition, and the potential mediating role arousal and dissociative experience play in this relationship. Fifty regular non-problem gamblers took part in a repeated-measures experiment where they gambled with real money on a simulated slot machine across five speed of play conditions. Response inhibition was measured using an embedded Go/No-Go task, where participants had to withhold motor responses, rather than operating the spin button on the slot machine when a specific colour cue was present. Results indicated that response inhibition performance was significantly worse during faster speeds of play, and that the role of arousal in this relationship was independent of any motor priming affect. The implications of these findings for gambling legislation and gambling harm-minimisation approaches are discussed.

Weighing up the risks and benefits of community gambling venues as recreational spaces for people with lifelong disability

BackgroundCommunity gambling venues (pubs and clubs) are commonly associated with leisure and recreational options in Australian communities. While these venues offer a range of activities and facilities, including social opportunities, sporting facilities, live entertainment, they also contain gambling products that are known to cause significant harm to individuals, their families and communities. Although researchers have explored how adults and children engage with these venues, there is limited understanding about the potential risks and benefits of these venues for people with lifelong disability.MethodsSemi structured interviews were conducted with nineteen people aged 20–70 years with lifelong disability (includes in this context intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, and learning disability), predominately intellectual disability. The interviews occurred in a large Australian city and explored interviewees’ experiences and attitudes towards pubs and clubs. Using a range of visual prompts (if needed), participants were asked to describe their engagement in different activities offered within the venue. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, with a thematic analysis used to identify themes across the group.ResultsMost participants attended venues with family, friends, and supporters, with a few attending on their own. Participants described socialising in the venue, going for reduced price meals, and attended for a range of activities including recreational activities, live entertainment and sport. Some participants also valued being a member of venues, and the interactions with staff members. While participants were cautious about the consumption of alcohol, most had gambled, particularly on electronic gambling machines (EGMs, pokies, or slots). Some participants stated that they had experienced problems with gambling.ConclusionsWhile many people with lifelong disability have positive experiences in pubs and clubs, some are vulnerable to the harms associated with risky products such as gambling within the venue. While it is important to acknowledge the positives associated with recreational facilities and encourage engagement in leisure activities for people with lifelong disability, further consideration is needed to ensure people are informed and protected from the harms associated with gambling and other products that are provided within these spaces.

Skill-Based Electronic Gaming Machines: a Review of Product Structures, Risks of Harm, and Policy Issues

Skill-based gaming machines (SGMs) add interactive and/or skill features to electronic gaming machines (EGMs), often modelled on elements from arcade, video, online, or mobile games. Availability of SGMs is expanding in the USA and internationally, but evidence of the impacts of these machines is lacking. To provide direction to policymakers and the scientific community, this review critically evaluates the relevant literature and suggests future avenues for research and consumer protection measures. Early data suggests that SGMs are most appealing to younger demographics and are likely to attract participation from regular gambling or gaming populations, potentially those with pre-existing problems. Studies of skill elements within other gambling activities indicate that players tend to overestimate their level of control in gambling situations that are determined by chance. Skill involved in SGMs could elicit illusions of control in players, which may contribute to the development of gambling problems. The impact of introducing SGMs is still relatively unknown. There is limited robust ecologically valid research on the use of these machines within gambling venues. It is possible that, like other new gambling activities, the introduction of SGMs may lead to harm. Vulnerable populations may include young adults, those with pre-existing problems, and those already involved in gambling and video/mobile gaming. Preliminary consumer protection strategies include player education techniques and account management tools, paired with an empirical evaluation framework. Future studies, including laboratory and field trials, are needed to examine if SGMs more strongly appeal to at-risk gamblers, to determine whether players recognise skill versus chance components, and understand the relationship between involvement, increased cognitive distortions, and problem gambling.

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The ‘gambling turn’ in digital game monetization

This article examines how ‘gambling’ secured a central economic and cultural position in the development of modern digital games. We first trace how developers have monetized ‘games’ and ‘play’, from slot machines to PC, console and mobile platforms, before considering the recent controversy over ‘loot boxes’ as an emblematic case study of the ongoing gamblification of digital play. We argue that (1) the rising costs of development and marketing for ‘blockbuster’ games, (2) an overcrowded marketplace and (3) significant shifts in the corporate culture of the games industry are creating cultural conditions which legitimize gambling as a form of digital game production and consumption. This is evidenced in developers’ capacity to innovate around legal challenges and player demand for further customization and rewards. What emerges is a question about the future direction of game development and the impact of a logic of money, rather than play, which now underwrites it.

Pushing the Limits of Increased Casino Advantage on Slots: An Examination of Performance Effects and Customer Reactions

This field study examined performance data from reel slot games located in two casinos. The paired design incorporated games that appeared identical to the players but featured substantially different, yet concealed, pars (i.e., prices). The results revealed significantly elevated revenues for the high-par games, despite egregious price hikes, while also failing to provide compelling evidence of rational play migration to the low-par games. The latter result suggested that frequently visiting players were not able to detect differences in the pars of games, even over lengthy sample periods. These outcomes were produced by the greatest par gaps of any paired-design study. These expanded gaps also generated the greatest revenue gains within this research stream. Increasing pars may represent a rare opportunity for operators to increase revenues, without concern for eventual brand damage or loss of market share. Limitations regarding the current uses of reel pars are also revealed.

Demographic Insights into the Decline in Electronic Gaming Machine Participation in South Australia

Participation in electronic gaming machine (EGM) gambling has declined sharply in Australia over the last two decades. At the same time, there has been a gradual slowing and decline in revenue from this form of gambling. In this paper, we use data drawn from a series of population surveys in a single jurisdiction (South Australia) to gain insights into these changes. In particular, we examine whether changes in EGM participation have been reflected similarly in different demographic groups. The results indicate that there have been declines in every age group, in both men and women, and at different levels of household income. However, the decline has been greater in some groups than others, including for women, for middle aged groups (46–64 years), and for those living in the metropolitan area. The paper discusses some of the socio-demographic explanations for these changes. In particular, we highlight the role of population ageing and its potential implications for the long-term future for this form of gambling. EGM gamblers are now older and are not necessarily being replaced by a new generation of younger gamblers, which has implications for the industry and the State government finances as well as gambling-treatment services. At the same time, the evidence we present here does not, however, indicate a strong trend towards a concentration of EGM gambling in more vulnerable groups (e.g. disproportionately in lower income groups or the unemployed).

High Recreational Gamblers Show Increased Stimulatory Effects of an Acute Laboratory Gambling Challenge

Gambling in moderation is a socially acceptable behavior and over 60% of the Swedish population gambles every year. It has been seen that slot machines are one of the most addictive and problematic forms of gambling and contribute highly to an addictive behavior. It is unclear why some individuals intensify their gambling behavior over time to extreme levels while others do not. Initial positive response of a drug or as in this case a gambling behavior, most likely influences the likelihood of continuing use in non-addicted individuals. Therefore, we wanted to investigate if recreational gamblers show an altered subjective response to an online gambling challenge, e.g. to casino gambling. The present study was designed to examine the subjective effects after an acute gambling challenge, in healthy recreational gamblers compared with non-gamblers. Eighty-two subjects participated in the study. They were challenged with an acute online slot machine gambling challenge and self-report questionnaires of mood and blood pressure were taken before and after gambling. The gamblers, and more specifically the high recreational gamblers, reported increased stimulative effects after the gambling challenge in comparison to the non-gamblers. Findings suggests that gamblers experience significantly higher arousal effects to an acute online slot machine challenge. This response may be a uniquely predictive behavior for increased risk of gambling addiction.