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Myth-Busting UNLV Study Reveals that Gamblers Can’t Detect Slot Machine Payout Percentages
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As casino operators optimize the house advantage, a new UNLV study contradicts long-held beliefs about a player’s ability to detect differences in how much – and how often – a slot machine pays.
It’s a common sight on casino floors: patrons jumping from slot machine to slot machine before eventually hunkering down at a game that’s due for the next big payout. But can players – even the regulars who frequent a particular property – really tell the difference between the house edge on one game from that of another?
Nope. At least not according to a series of recent studies led by Anthony Lucas, a UNLV Hospitality College professor and former gaming industry operations analyst.
For the past several years, Lucas and colleague Katherine Spilde from San Diego State University have taken to casino floors on multiple properties in the U.S., Australia, and Mexico to investigate. Their results contradict long-held beliefs by casino operators about a player’s ability to detect differences in how much – and how often – a slot machine pays.
“I think some operators are naturally and understandably cautious of new information that challenges traditional industry practices,” said Lucas. “But we must consider how we know what we know. This is where our work takes on a Moneyball-like aspect – questioning the wisdom of widely held beliefs when data show that a new way of thinking may be better.”
In their latest study, the UNLV-led research team compared two pairs of reel slot games at a “locals” casino in suburban Sydney, Australia, where all wagering occurs on electronic gaming devices.
Their process is relatively straightforward: take two identical slot machines, positioned in similar places on a casino floor, but vary the par – the percent of total coin-in that the machine keeps over time. For example, if the par on a game is set at 10 percent, the machine would be expected to retain $10 of every $100 wagered, on average, over the long term. But in the short term, this rarely happens, increasing the difficulty of par detection.
For this study, researchers compared the daily performance of pairings for the games “Tokyo Rose” and “Dragon’s Fortune X” over a nine-month period. The pars within each pairing ranged from 7.98 percent on the low end to 14.93 percent on the high end.
Researchers measured daily coin-in for each machine as well as its T-win, a formula that multiplies coin-in and par to calculate a machine’s expected value, or its theoretical win. If, over the course of the nine-month test, regular players could detect a difference in the pars, this comparison would reveal whether (and how much) players migrated from higher par to lower par games.
As Lucas predicted, differences between the high and low par games remained stable throughout the length of the study, which meant that there was no statistically significant indication of play migration.
And while the lower par machines had more coin-in over the course of the study period, the T-win was greater on average for the high par machines. The positive impact from the elevated T-win on revenue for the higher par machines more than compensated for the decline in coin-in on those machines.
“Casino operators should take note of the substantial increases in T-win, as they are responsible for optimizing revenues, not coin-in,” said Lucas.
The results were also consistent with findings from the team’s previous studies, which analyzed 11 pairs of games over 180 days at gaming properties in U.S., Mexico and Australia.
So, other than busting one of gaming’s great myths, why does this matter?
Pars are an important factor for casinos looking to optimize revenues, as the bulk of slot revenues come from reel slots, and a lion’s share of a casino’s overall profits come from slot operations. While there are exceptions to this rule, it is true for most of the world’s casinos.
“Ultimately, operators are responsible for optimizing slot revenues, which is no simple task,” Lucas said. “Knowing which par will produce the greatest win is most helpful, but the optimization issue becomes more complex when the possibility of player detection is introduced.”
That’s where industry perspective is mixed, as operators have expressed concerns that short-term gains from higher pars could lead to long-term losses as players leave perceived “tight” slot floors for the greener pastures of their competitors.
To account for this concern, researchers extended length of time from previous work, from six months to nine months. They also expanded the difference in pars between matched pairs from 4.9 percent in the initial study to 6.95 percent in the current study.
In a concurrent study, the researchers compared the Australian data with four, two-game pairings at two similarly situated casinos in Mexico. Par differences for those games were even more drastic – ranging from 7.98 to 8.9 percent.
Despite these factors, in both instances the results still found no evidence of players moving away from higher-par machines to their low-par counterparts, and the high-par games continued to post substantially greater revenues.
“Put simply, our results suggest that greater pars produce greater revenues, without the risk of brand damage resulting from ‘price’ detection,” Lucas said.
Full Study
The study, “Impacts of increased house advantages on reel slots,” was recently published online in the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.
Source: Latest News on European Gaming Media Network
This is a Syndicated News piece. Photo credits or photo sources can be found on the source article: Myth-Busting UNLV Study Reveals that Gamblers Can’t Detect Slot Machine Payout Percentages
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GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth
Join Jeff Gross and his legendary co-hosts on September 23 and September 30
GGPoker, the World’s Biggest Poker Room, today announced it will live stream the final table action of two of the most prestigious events from the ongoing WSOP Online 2025 tournament series. The broadcasts will be available on GGPoker.tv, the brand’s official YouTube channel, and will feature the debut of poker legend Phil Hellmuth as a live GGPoker.tv broadcast host.
The first broadcast, on September 23, will showcase the high-stakes drama from the final table of the $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event, arguably online poker’s most important annual tournament. This landmark event will be co-hosted by frequent GGPoker anchor Jeff Gross and the 17-time WSOP bracelet winner, Phil Hellmuth. Known for his “poker brat” persona and unparalleled tournament record, Hellmuth’s inclusion will provide viewers with an unprecedented look into the mind of one of poker’s greatest champions.
The action continues on September 30, with the final table of the $10,300 GGMillion$ High Rollers event. Joining Jeff Gross for this broadcast will be GGPoker Global Ambassador and fellow poker icon, Daniel Negreanu. Negreanu, with his engaging style and deep understanding of the game, will provide expert commentary and analysis, making this broadcast another must-watch for poker fans everywhere.
“We are incredibly excited to bring the WSOP Online 2025 action directly to our fans with these two live broadcasts,” said Paul Burke, Head of Public Relations at GGPoker. “Having Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu on air alongside Jeff Gross to break down the action will be a true treat. This will be more than just watching a final table; it’ll be a masterclass in poker strategy from two of the best to ever play the game.”
The post GGPoker to Broadcast WSOP Online 2025 Final Tables Live, Featuring GGPoker.tv Broadcast Debut of Poker Legend Phil Hellmuth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ta ‘Xbiex, Malta, September 2025: The Wildz Group is pleased to announce an impressive new addition to its flagship Wildz platform: Video-On-Demand product Wildz TV.
Wildz TV is a rich content offering that takes into account the popularity of Video On Demand (VOD). The service delivers rich media entertainment created by guest presenters that enhances the iGaming user experience within the sportsbook and online casino verticals.
As the first Wildz Group brand to provide a full sportsbook offering that accompanies its popular online casino within the same platform, Wildz is the ideal space to boost the enjoyment even more by introducing VOD content. Aligning with the brand’s ‘GET MORE’ payoff line, this complete entertainment suite provides streaming, live chat and 24/7 customer support, setting the bar high for one-stop leisure gaming.
Embracing the trend
VOD content is sweeping the globe as the preferred option chosen by customers seeking to make the most of their leisure activities, allowing them exclusive access to content suited to their tastes (Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ being notable examples). According to Markets dot com, in 2023 the VOD market size was valued at USD 146.6 billion, and it’s forecast to balloon to USD 270.3 billion by 2028, with a CAGR of 13%. It made sense to the Wildz team that this trend will inevitably dominate gambling entertainment, too, leading to the creation of a VOD tier of video action in Wildz TV.
Wildz hosts the phenomenal team at Gämblerscast to showcase how this works. They’re renowned for their razor-sharp commentary and insights. Viewers can enjoy Gämblerscast episodes, explore dedicated Gämblers Picks for selected sports and even dip into the Gämblers Favourite Slots.
About Gämblerscast
The collective at Gämblerscast has been amassing a growing following of enthusiasts on Twitch, YouTube and TikTok. As gambling enthusiasts, they know exactly how to create content that appeals to players, including insights, observations, humour and plenty of fun. This winning combination makes them a great fit as the first-ever team to be hosted on Wildz.
The added value of VOD
Players get the opportunity to access exclusive content for a modest premium, content that’s designed to match their interests. While Hulu and Paramount+ (for example) cater to mass markets, sites such as Wildz TV can provide niche content.
Contained behind a paywall, VOD entertainment is perfect for gambling as it underscores the importance of providing access to content according to Responsible Gaming principles and guidelines. Better yet, this source of revenue for entertainers offers a more sustainable form of entertainment that allows others to explore their creativity, too.
Jani Koskinen, Chief Marketing Officer at Wildz Group, says, “VOD is the way forward for gambling platforms seeking to acquire, entertain, engage, and retain players. We’ve seen a great impact from hosting the Gämblerscast team and premium sports events, and we anticipate quality engagement as we explore the benefits of offering rich and exclusive media to our customers. Welcome to the future of iGaming entertainment!”
Wildz TV is yet another reason players are moving to Wildz and sticking around for more quality gambling entertainment.
The post WILDZ INTRODUCES CUTTING-EDGE ENTERTAINMENT WITH WILDZ TV appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Ubisoft and BLAST are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Six Invitational, the biggest event in the BLAST R6 calendar, will take place at the Adidas Arena in northern Paris for the very first time.
Reopened in 2023 following major renovations, this state-of-the-art venue has quickly become one of Paris’s premier destinations for sport and entertainment. Designed with fan experience in mind, the Adidas Arena regularly hosts top-tier basketball games, concerts, and cultural events, and was a key stage during the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
With cutting-edge broadcast capabilities, spacious backstage areas for players, and infrastructure built for live streaming and large-scale digital productions, the Adidas Arena is also positioning itself as one of the most esports-friendly venues in Europe.
“The Six Invitational is not just a tournament, it’s a celebration of the Rainbow Six community,” said Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST. “Bringing the event to Adidas Arena allows us to create an unforgettable experience for players and fans in one of Europe’s most exciting venues.”
“Hosting the Six Invitational 2026 in Paris, at the Adidas Arena, is a milestone for Ubisoft and for French esports,” said François-Xavier Deniele, VP, Esports & Competitive Gaming, Ubisoft. “France has become a leading hub for competitive gaming, and bringing Rainbow Six’s biggest event here highlights our commitment to the community.”
About the Tournament
The Six Invitational will span three distinct phases, each crafted to deliver intense competition and compelling narratives.
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Phase 1: Group Stage20 qualified teams will be divided into four groups of five. Each team will face the others in Best-of-3 matches. The top four teams from each group will advance.
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Phase 2: Playoffs16 teams will enter a double-elimination bracket, with all matches played in Best-of-3 format. Teams knocked to the lower bracket will have one final lifeline to stay in the competition. By the end of this phase, only six teams will remain.
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Phase 3: FinalsThe final six teams will battle in front of a live Parisian crowd at the Adidas Arena. Across two days of Best-of-3 matches, the field will narrow to the last two contenders, who will face off in a Best-of-5 Grand Final to crown the world champion.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the Six Invitational 2026 will go on sale this week. Ticket categories include the ELITE Merchandise Bundle (€300), Carré Or, and multiple standard categories ranging from €75 to €175 (3-day passes), with 1-day passes starting from €30.
The post Adidas Arena Set to Welcome the 2026 Six Invitational appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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