Published
OnlineCasinoIndustry

UNLV study urges operators to adapt approach to gambling

A study has shown that the common strategy, known as lowering the house edge, makes no difference for the gambler.

need forchange

The house edge represents the casino’s long-term advantage when comparing the amounts wagered with the amounts paid out.

Professors from the The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Anthony Lucas and A. K. Singh, conducted the research and found that even when the house edge is more than doubled, there was no statistical difference in the number of spins observed for the individual gambler.

The study, which was based on a simulation of 100 years of weekly play, analysed the outcomes produced by reel slot machines with hidden-yet-different house edges, under identical wagering rules.

The conclusion was that, despite big differences in the house edge, the number of spins on the games was “remarkably similar."

Lucas explained: “If individual players don’t see results from their play that allow them to detect differences in the house edge, there is an opportunity for gaming operators to keep a greater portion of the wagers. Even subtle changes in the frequency of big jackpots can make important contributions to the overall slot revenue.” 

Therefore, with new generations of games hitting the market and players becoming more interested in the nuances of their gaming experience (while looking for a better return on their bets), casino operators and game makers should revisit their understanding of how game mechanics affect the individual gambler’s experience, as per the study.

Lucas concluded: “Change is understandably difficult for all of us in this business when you’re up against decades of firmly entrenched explanations of how slot machines work. As a result, it’s going to take some time for any new thinking on the subject to gain traction.”

Premium+ Connections
Premium

RISK

 
 
Premium

Lynon

 
Premium

GammaStack

 
Premium

Sport Generate

 
Premium

1xBet Partners

 
Premium

PIN-UP Partners

 
Premium

Imagine Live

 
Premium

Digitain

 
Premium

Galaxsys

 
Premium

Revsharks

 
Premium Connections
Consultancy

SCCG Management

Executive Profiles
Zeal Network SE

Stefan Tweraser

VIP Play

Les Ottolenghi

Scientific Games

Keshav Pitani

Social & App

Spribe CEO exclusive: Simplicity is the foundation

Spribe CEO David Natroshvili speaks to Gambling Insider abou...

Redefining iGaming: A history of crash games

Crash games is a growing vertical that has taken gambling by...

A certain something: What makes crash games special?

Crash games. They’re simple, they’re easy to learn and,...

Smarter innovation to shape the future

Spribe CCO Giorgi Tsutskiridze discusses the past, present a...

Facing Facts: The corner of quarterly contemplation

With Q1 reports out across the industry, Gambling Insider co...

Taking Stock: A guide to key stock prices across the industry

Gambling Insider tracks prices from some of the industry’s...

15 years of Gambling Insider: From the Founders

Over the last 15 years, Gambling Insider magazine has interv...

15 years of Gambling Insider: The Awards over time

Global Gaming Awards Event Manager Mariya Savova gives us he...