“The Safe at Play Slot
Machine Tutorial is an ingenious CD ROM computer
program that provides insight into the inner-workings
of slot machines. This highly interactive program
has great potential for use in problem gambling
prevention and treatment programs, as it illustrates
to gamblers the truly random nature of winning.
There are no clever strategies that gamblers
can use—winning is a matter of pure chance,
and the Slot Machine Tutorial demonstrates
this reality in an interesting and entertaining
way. The Slot Machine Tutorial is a very useful
tool for therapists and prevention programmers
to have in their toolbox of interventions aimed
at helping problem gamblers.”
Harold
J. Wynne, Ph.D.
Wynne Resources
"The Slot Tutorial is
a valuable tool for care givers as a fine demonstration
of how random number generators determine the
results of an event and the only factor that
determines the difference in outcome, is when
you press the spin button. Slot Tutorial makes
it simple to understand for both the care giver
and the client."
Sol
Boxenbaum
CEO - Viva Consulting Family Life Inc.
“ I
tend to put quite a bit of emphasis on the
randomness. I also drill in the hold and the
churn (not discussed as such but it is the
continual play of credits until all money is
gone). Emphasis again is on how irrational
they are approaching the machines.
I point out the virtual reels as a possible reality but then also
note that even without the deception, what they see is not what they
think they see. Even without the extra number of near misses, the
hold and churn still get to them in the end.”
Henry
R. Lesieur, Psy.D., Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry
Rhode Island Hospital
" We
recently conducted a mall display that featured
using the slot tutorial which we projected
onto a screen. We found that shoppers were
curious and attracted by the sound of the slot
machine. We were pleased with the response.
We also had available handouts outlining the
outcomes and payback/hold. Several people expressed
that they found the tutorial demonstration
very useful in correcting misunderstandings
they held and heightened awareness of risks.
We found that once one or two people stopped
to observe, a small group would begin to form.
In general, clients seem to greatly benefit
from being able to see how the RNG operates.”
Steve
Chiasson
Problem Gambling Counsellor
Pinewood Centre, Oshawa, Ontario
“I
am using the slot tutorial to teach undergraduate
psychology majors about probability and gambling.
They have to keep track of their wins (losses)
and answer several questions. How do slots
work? If they just won are they due to win
again? All students take the self-report on
gambling problems. It is a very effective teaching
tool for teachers of psychology, courses on
gambling, and probability statistics.”
Barry
Fritz
Psychology Department
Quinnipiac University
Mt. Carmel Avenue
Hamden, CT, USA 06518
The “game planit (safe@play
Slot Machine tutorial) was used in two studies
by 2 honours students during the academic
year 2001-2002. One study involved making
3 groups of students depressed by using a
musical induction technique. 2 groups were
then allowed to play the game planit VLT
for 15 minutes (one for money). A third group
just sat and stared at the screen. Ratings
of depression decreased the most for the
group that played the game planit VLT (safe@play
Slot Machine tutorial) for money. A second
study involved providing the educational
game planit (safe@play Slot Machine tutorial)
package to one group of student participants
and a video on vacationing in Switzerland
to the other. Both groups were allowed to
play real VLT machines for money in the lab
before and after this manipulation. Measures
of irrational thinking were also taken before
and after the manipulation. Results were
that irrational thinking and use of the stop
button decreased more in education group.
These results were presented at conferences
Acadia University and at a gambling conference
in Texas. Information from both studies will
be used in the design of two PhD studies
this year.”
Richard
Nicki, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair
Department of Psychology
University of New Brunswick
“I use the slot tutorial
when I facilitate workshops at the local treatment
centre, at health fairs and community presentations.
Most people are amazed to find out how the
slots really work. They have been really interested
in the mapping-to actually know how many symbols
pay out and the number that don't.”
Mary
Drake
Responsible Gaming Outreach Worker
Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association
“We use the Slot Tutorial
when we set up a table at a conference or at
venues where we're trying to attract and engage
an audience from passersby. Frequently users
are pleasantly, though sometimes reluctantly,
surprised when their misconceptions and irrational
ideas about slot machines are revealed to them
as they play. We think the tutorial has great
potential as tool for educating gamblers and
preventing gambling problems. “
Chris
Armentano
Director
State of Connecticut Problem Gambling Treatment Program
“We
make fairly extensive use of the slot tutorial
particularly with prevention audiences. We
find it particularly useful in illustrating
the randomness of electronic gambling by using
the RNG. It is very important to dispel the
myths about gambling particularly around the
issue of randomness. It is also useful in showing
people live"near misses" and working
with them to examine how they look good but
mean nothing.
Don
Ward
Prevention Education Consultant
Gambling Services
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
“We use the tutorial
with individuals and also as a part of a psycho-educational
group. Patients have reported to me that the
tutorial "really opened their eyes" about
the random nature of slots. I try to make sure
that patients come away with a few main points:
First that the RNG is constantly running, and every time they play
it is as though the machine has never been played before. The RNG
doesn't "know" who (or if anybody) is sitting in front
of it; doesn't "know" how much of "your" money
it has taken; doesn't "know" when the last jackpot was,
etc.
The other point I try to stress is the "tricky" way that
the virtual reels are mapped, for example having so many numbers
mapped to the "space" in-between the two 7's”.
Robert
Breen, Ph.D.
Department of Psychiatry
Rhode Island Hospital
"Once people have a basic
grasp on how randomness and house advantage
work ( the slot tutorial is a great aid in
that process} I show them how to calculate
their average cost per hour. By comparing the
average cost per hour to people's actual experience,
and discussing what effect randomness has had
on the results, we are able to compare the
costs of various games over time. They can
also see how different rates (both in time
taken and amount wagered) of play affect the
cost. A great number of people I have spoken
with find this approach informative and easier
to understand."
Al
Daly
Addictions Foundation of Manitoba
