20 replies to this topic

[martyn]

Hi, Is 70% payout the lowest setting possible on fruit machines, and is it a legal minimum?
thanks,
Martyn

[renoufchr]

the legal min is 72%

[nails]

the legal min is 72%

there has been much rumor that seafront arcades and even nobles have had their % on a low 70 via a special chip.

ive never come across any such chip, but would be in the opinon they did exist.

[americancola]

Even lower on ferries because they're exempt from mainland UK law.

Also most traveling fairgrounds have been known to operate on less than 72%.

[JAZZEE01]

A big chain like nobels, do they even get checked out for this stuff?

[Bencrest]

When did the legal minumum move from 70% to 72%?

The stupid arcade in Spalding

(I can call it stupid because it really is laughable, it's had the same Jackpoteers machine in since it was in it's old location 5 years ago, and the other high tech is a Dough and Arrow with loads of missing bulbs)

... has it's Top Slot and Party Time set to 70%. After all, that was legal a couple of years back, and I wasn't aware it was now illegal?

[gambogaz1]

70% must be the legal minimum as loads of the new 50p play for Extra 6% are around here on a basic 70%. It's a right Skank! The machines before where on 74 - 78% so know you have to pay more just to get back to the alright percentages. Best I've seen is 1 78% with the plus 6% available

[skabaz]

70% is the legal minimum

baz

[skabaz]

best place for hi tec % is bookies like ladbrokes and william hill as they had theirs on at 80% min but most have been replaced by fobt's

baz

[Alec]

I'm sure the 70% is actually just a guideline set by an elected body - I don't think it's actually enforcable by law.

Could be wrong though.

[markjbevan]

How do you guys know the exact payout percentage of machines on location?

The labels on the machine say "average payout at least......."

I was always under the impression that a lot of places leave the percentage label at "at least 70%" because they dont bother to change it, but the actual percentage might be more.

Just my thoughts,

Mark

[Arcade8]

ive never come across any such chip, but would be in the opinon they did exist.

Fruit Machines at CMJSLeisure.com

[skabaz]

any half decent company will label their machines with the correct % stickers.
we label all ours with 78% which is what they are set on unless otherwise told.

but

for every good law abiding company theres a total dodgebag company which i could name but wont.

baz

[DJDONKEY]

Even lower on ferries because they're exempt from mainland UK law.

Some of Club roms set's have a fixed 65% payout which I guess are used on ferries.

Lucky in my local, they have their's stickered up at 82% for 30p play and claim to pay more at 50p stake. Have to admit they do give a good game and good £100+ streaks

[markjbevan]

Actually, I raised this as a complaint with Quicksilver before - they have a noticeboard in their locations saying what you should expect from them....... some of the things were "free drinks" etc, but one of the lines read "most generous percentages in the area. I noticed they deliberately hide the percentage label on the machines, either by removing it or usually placing another sticker over the top.

I wrote a complaint asking how they can state they have the best percentages without displaying them - and they put me in touch with the area manager. I had a chat with her but I think I was fobbed off, and didn't bother pursuing it.

Has anyone else had the same experience or noticed the same thing?

To be honest I dont spend much money there - probably less than £20 in the last year so it doesnt really bother me, it was more a matter of principle!

[markjbevan]

PS: In reply to the original question, see extract from Gaming Commision website:

Q: Is there a minimum percentage payout for a gaming machine?
Gaming machines are subject to an agreed minimum percentage payout. For jackpot machines sited in casinos, it is 80%, for those sited elsewhere, 71%. For AWP and all–cash machines, it is 70%. It should be noted that the minimum percentage payout of a machine is calculated over many thousands of plays of the machine and is not necessarily linked to the total amount of money staked.

Machines FAQs · Gambling Commission

[VampUK]

it was more a matter of principle!

You was looking for free credits, go on admit it.

[markjbevan]

In follow up to my last post, Ive just found the following statement in a Gambling Commission document:

PERCENTAGE PAYOUT LABEL
Percentage payout labels displayed on the face of S.31 and S.34 machines are to be clearly visible to the player in the following form:

THIS MACHINE HAS AN AVERAGE PAYOUT OF 70% OR GREATER

http://www.gamblingc... Guidelines.pdf

Does this mean Quicksilver are breaking the rules by not displaying this clearly on their machines?

Cheers,

Mark

[TheMission]

PS: In reply to the original question, see extract from Gaming Commision website:

Q: Is there a minimum percentage payout for a gaming machine?
Gaming machines are subject to an agreed minimum percentage payout. For jackpot machines sited in casinos, it is 80%, for those sited elsewhere, 71%. For AWP and all–cash machines, it is 70%. It should be noted that the minimum percentage payout of a machine is calculated over many thousands of plays of the machine and is not necessarily linked to the total amount of money staked.

Machines FAQs · Gambling Commission

And there it is. The Gambling Commission is referring back to the BACTA standards - but not any legal requirement.

[Bencrest]

Can I just say that, to be completely honest, I've yet to come across machines that don't reach and sit at their target percentage eventually.

A machine which is set to 78% will - after a while - settle to 77.9>80.1%. It'll drop slightly below normally prior to a streak, and may go slightly over post-streak.

Also, note that the manufacturers (well, major and reputable ones - Barcrest Group, BFG and it's subsidiaries) will only release a machine which conforms to these rules laid out by BACTA / Gaming Commission.

Therefore even though you can say 'well 70% is only a statement from BACTA, not a law', the machines intentional lowest hard-coded percentage target is 70%. To go below this would be an (as far as I am aware) illegal modification of the machines software, and it is NOT possible to go below 70% without carrying out some form of ROM hack.