Slot machines

Stephen15

Why are they something that's just never really taken off here in Ireland widespread as they're only really in certain locations such as in seaside places like Bray and Tramore or a few casinos here and there such as on O'Connell Street and the likes they're not really that common in Ireland to the same extent as other countries. The UK for example where nearly every pub and bookies shop has one and even some chip shops and the likes also on the continent they seem quite popular in bars and cafes. What's the reason they're not so popular here?

tea and coffee

They're more or less illegal here under gambling laws.

ToddyDoody

I think the place that had them in Tramore is long gone.

Fun memories using one as a child, forget that whole having to be 18 thing.

Is it usual for real slot machines to operate on 2 pence coins?

Stephen15

tea and coffee wrote: »

They're more or less illegal here under gambling laws.

But then how come you still get them in the likes of Bray, Bundoran and Tramore. If so why are our gambling laws so strict compared to other countries surely there'd be a gap in the market if the laws were relaxed and they would bring in revenue for the state.

Your Face

There's no sport in them.

Ubbquittious

There are just not enough thickos around in this country who'll throw their money into a vending machine that doesn't sell anything

TheValeyard

I'm really glad our pubs over here do not have them. Hate to see them when drinking in UK pubs

Stephen15

Ubbquittious wrote: »

There are just not enough thickos around in this country who'll throw their money into a vending machine that doesn't sell anything

You could say that about the lotto which you're effectively just buying a piece of paper as the chances of winning are so slim.

punisher5112

Remember was over in UK a while back and 3 yokes came in. They pretended to be playing the machine but were really actually cons and managed to clean out around £80.

ToddyDoody

punisher5112 wrote: »

Remember was over in UK a while back and 3 yokes came in. They pretended to be playing the machine but were really actually cons and managed to clean out around £80.

How did they do that?

punisher5112

ToddyDoody wrote: »

How did they do that?

They were fiddling at it for a good 10 minutes.

I believe they plugged something in and got the machine to return takings.

Hal3000

I won 250 sheets on the slots in Salthill. I blew 200 of it on those fortune tellers in the booths on the prom. The other 50 went behind the bookies counter.

punisher5112

Hal3000 wrote: »

I won 250 sheets on the slots in Salthill. I blew 200 of it on those fortune tellers in the booths on the prom. The other 50 went behind the bookies counter.

These like in the film BIG

ToddyDoody

punisher5112 wrote: »

They were fiddling at it for a good 10 minutes.

I believe they plugged something in and got the machine to return takings.

Jesus. Skin you alive they would.

Hal3000

punisher5112 wrote: »

These like in the film BIG

Shimmy shimmy Cocoa pop...

This is it

Worked in a pub when I was youngerand have seen far too many poker/slot machines turned over after some poor lad lost a few days wages in it. Delighted they're gone from most pubs

Snotty

In the late 90s I worked in a not very busy bar in the UK and they had one machine and it would take in £700 per week, I would have been earning £150 a week, so that machine paid for all the staffs wages for the owner.

Cienciano

Ubbquittious wrote: »

There are just not enough thickos around in this country who'll throw their money into a vending machine that doesn't sell anything

But there's 2 or 3 bookies on every main street

ToddyDoody

Cienciano wrote: »

But there's 2 or 3 bookies on every main street

Errrrr...

'So what?'

punisher5112

Cienciano wrote: »

But there's 2 or 3 bookies on every main street

Cleaning up.....

Where does people think most of the file money goes.... Oh and bars...

ToddyDoody

punisher5112 wrote: »

Cleaning up.....

Where does people think most of the file money goes.... Oh and bars...

What's file money?

the_syco

Stephen15 wrote: »

You could say that about the lotto which you're effectively just buying a piece of paper as the chances of winning are so slim.

The lotto funds charities. The machines fund the pubs.

The machines are usually programmed to only let a low percentage of players win, so chance may not always favour the bold.

janfebmar

Its great that they are not more popular here. Gambling is an awful addiction for some unfortunate people, and can have devastating effects on their families.

Poor Uncle Tom

the_syco wrote: »

The lotto funds charities. The machines fund the pubs.

The machines are usually programmed to only let a low percentage of players win, so chance may not always favour the bold.

It's all gambling, don't buy into the placating platitudes of the government backed variety.

Charity begins at home, not by buying a lotto ticket.

pure.conya

Ubbquittious wrote: »

There are just not enough thickos around in this country who'll throw their money into a vending machine that doesn't sell anything

i wouldnt bet on that

The Highwayman

In Germany they are everywhere

Spielhalle, they are especially prevalent in poor areas. Losers in there all day and night, very depressing.

Coillte_Bhoy

I cant understand why they are not banned outright, an utter cancer on society.

punisher5112

ToddyDoody wrote: »

What's file money?

Dole, dang autocorrect

Pinch Flat

Bray and trampre were special economic zones set up in the 1960s. Only in them could you have a slot machine legally.

rex-x

ToddyDoody wrote: »

I think the place that had them in Tramore is long gone.

Fun memories using one as a child, forget that whole having to be 18 thing.

Is it usual for real slot machines to operate on 2 pence coins?

Tramore has more slots than ever!

rex-x

rex-x wrote: »

Tramore has more slots than ever!

skooterblue2

the_syco wrote: »

The lotto funds charities. The machines fund the pubs.

The machines are usually programmed to only let a low percentage of players win, so chance may not always favour the bold.

The lotto is a direct tax on stupidity and it is proportional. I worked for a subcontractor. For every ticket sold I estimate it was an eight of the prize money, that is based on the person only buying two lines. So if it was a roll over ...... they got to keep the money and more tickets were sold again.

Once the ticket sales plateaued the jackpot would be won and it would start again.

skooterblue2

janfebmar wrote: »

Gambling is an awful addiction for some unfortunate people, and can have devastating effects on their families.

Now you hit the nail on the head. Its about addiction, not about fun or gaming, there is no skill. If you were ever to enter a gaming place they are full of losers who are addicted to the thrill of the spin and the sound of the ping. It sends a reward of Dopamine to the brain and which is quickly used up and its back on the machine again.

Fiance sells lotto scratch cards in the shop, and parents are buying them for kids.

I used to work with a sad sap, we used to "Tony the Liar". So many people used to call him it I thought his name was "Tony DeLoire". He used to tell me about the time he had 5 numbers when the lotto was 8 million and he was married to a solicitor and he had two girls and they were living in a scenic well to do area outside the city.

The truth was he was a gambling addict and used to spend 80 euro a week on lotto and he was married to an ordinary girl in a factory, they had no kids and lived in a council house in an ordinary country town. I was reckoning the gambling was covering up more serious head problems. When the recession hit last time I saw him, he was packing up the wife and kids and moving to Australia and letting the house until everything blew over.

And you are wondering why they called him "Tony the liar"?

antodeco

skooterblue2 wrote: »

When the recession hit last time I saw him, he was packing up the wife and kids and moving to Australia and letting the house until everything blew over.

The kids he doesn't have and the council house he doesn't own?

ceadaoin.

skooterblue2 wrote: »

Now you hit the nail on the head. Its about addiction, not about fun or gaming, there is no skill. If you were ever to enter a gaming place they are full of losers who are addicted to the thrill of the spin and the sound of the ping. It sends a reward of Dopamine to the brain and which is quickly used up and its back on the machine again.

Nonsense. Plenty of people enjoy gambling and aren't addicted. Same as how not all people who drink are alcoholics.

skooterblue2

antodeco wrote: »

The kids he doesn't have and the council house he doesn't own?

Yeah so he was telling me. Australia doesnt want to know a 50 year old man who is only a general operator and with no money. I just let it in one ear and out the other.

skooterblue2

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Nonsense. Plenty of people enjoy gambling and aren't addicted. Same as how not all people who drink are alcoholics.

I am talking specifically about slot machines. I was in betting shop once but it wasnt as bad. I saw one sad sap betting on a horse, he had his glasses like Jack Duckworth with the plaster on the hinge. I have a friend who used to be like that, luckily when he got married the wife knocked it on the head.

whisky_galore

They're no loss. Hate the sight of them.

Now if we could get rid of Paddy Power outlets, a blight on the streetscapes.

skooterblue2

whisky_galore wrote: »

They're no loss. Hate the sight of them.

Now if we could get rid of Paddy Power outlets, a blight on the streetscapes.

If only we could .... but the real betting is on the mobile app so you dont have to go down to the shops. Financial institutions also keep an eye on this and if you have a gambling app they wont give you a mortgage.

ceadaoin.

skooterblue2 wrote: »

I am talking specifically about slot machines. I was in betting shop once but it wasnt as bad. I saw one sad sap betting on a horse, he had his glasses like Jack Duckworth with the plaster on the hinge. I have a friend who used to be like that, luckily when he got married the wife knocked it on the head.

I enjoy the slots myself, and know plenty of non addicts who do too but where I live they are fun and you can actually win a decent amount on them. The whole experience is going to a casino or bar, having a few drinks, nice food and a gamble. It's not just sitting in a dark corner pressing a button. I agree that the ones in betting shops in Ireland are **** and depressing, and the fruit machine things they have in the UK pubs are even worse. I don't understand those at all and you can only win pennies on them it seems. In particular the roulette machines seemed designed to get people addicted. These are the only kind I've seen people have a problem with and its when I've been back in the UK. I used to work in the head office of a major UK bookmaker and each of those machines generated thousands per week and each shop had several of them. Those and the high roller customers were their bread and butter at the time

skooterblue2

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I enjoy the slots myself, and know plenty of non addicts who do too but where I live they are fun and you can actually win a decent amount on them. The whole experience is going to a casino or bar, having a few drinks, nice food and a gamble. It's not just sitting in a dark corner pressing a button. I agree that the ones in betting shops in Ireland are **** and depressing, and the fruit machine things they have in the UK pubs are even worse. I don't understand those at all and you can only win pennies on them it seems. In particular the roulette machines seemed designed to get people addicted. These are the only kind I've seen people have a problem with and its when I've been back in the UK. I used to work for ladbrokes in the head office and each of those machines generated thousands per week and each shop had several of them.

I am sure you can win decent amounts on them, just like the lotto. But do you win? My sad sap of an uncle lost 3 farms betting on slow horses and grey hounds when he should have been looking after his own farm.

ceadaoin.

skooterblue2 wrote: »

I am sure you can win decent amounts on them, just like the lotto. But do you win? My sad sap of an uncle lost 3 farms betting on slow horses and grey hounds when he should have been looking after his own farm.

Yes I do win sometimes, decent amounts. But I don't lose more than go I in prepared to lose and I don't expect or need to win. It's a bit of fun. I won't be losing my house that's for sure! It's possible to gamble within your limits, not everyone goes off the rails

worded

The Highwayman wrote: »

In Germany they are everywhere

Spielhalle, they are especially prevalent in poor areas. Losers in there all day and night, very depressing.

Lotto scratch ticket sales are best in poor areas also

Irish Guitarist

What should be illegal are those coin pushers. A couple of years ago I wasted almost a tenner on one before I figured out how they worked. There's a compartment inside them where most of the money you should win goes instead of coming out. They're far worse than slot machines because they give the false hope that it's possible to win a decent amount of money.

skooterblue2

Irish Guitarist wrote: »

What should be illegal are those coin pushers.

How can they be made illegal when there is a UK station broadcasting a gameshow where these coin pushers are the sole attraction of the game? They actually focus how to focus on timings and positions to push the most coins. Its unconsciously hinting to you, "learn the game and there is easy money here".

skooterblue2

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Yes I do win sometimes, decent amounts. But I don't lose more than go I in prepared to lose and I don't expect or need to win. It's a bit of fun. I won't be losing my house that's for sure! It's possible to gamble within your limits, not everyone goes off the rails

Every gambler will tell you about their wins and never the losses. I have known gambling addicts and they bet on anything. They dont seem to realise the house is stacked against them. I have seen a guy eventually lose his house through gambling, little by little until he lost the run of his finances through credit cards. Every gambling addict is similar to a criminal in that they believe that they are going to get that one sweet tip/job and once after that they will go straight or be even with the bookie.

I realise I have have an addictive traits to my personality hence I stay away.

4068ac1elhodqr

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I enjoy the slots myself, and know plenty of non addicts who do too but where I live they are fun and you can actually win a decent amount on them. The whole experience is going to a casino or bar, having a few drinks, nice food and a gamble. It's not just sitting in a dark corner pressing a button.

Disagree with this, slots are specifically singularly designed for 'sensory dopamine-reward overload'. It is exactly 'sitting in a dark corner pressing a button'. There is zero skill, knowledge, ability nor even any social factoring in these.

ceadaoin. wrote: »

I agree that the ones in betting shops in Ireland are **** and depressing, and the fruit machine things they have in the UK pubs are even worse. I don't understand those at all and you can only win pennies on them it seems. In particular the roulette machines seemed designed to get people addicted.

The RNG on any of these is hard-set to sub-96 ROI% (or less), never more. Roulette is not as bad, less sensory and slower. Again little skill in any of these, and punters are always, always at a disadvantage from the getgo.

ceadaoin. wrote: »

These are the only kind I've seen people have a problem with and its when I've been back in the UK. I used to work in the head office of a major UK bookmaker and each of those machines generated thousands per week and each shop had several of them. Those and the high roller customers were their bread and butter at the time

Agree with this, after recent reg changes in the uk (FOTB max reductions), they're talking of closing thousands upon thousands of shops (and about 10,000 staff), which shows just how much they were creaming.

Circa 50% of all action is online now, and 'non-real-world' (non-sports/events), is the fastest grower, so expect to see plenty more ads for the horrid virtual stuff (bingo, games{slots}, casino) as bookies try to recover massive uk FOTB revenue losses, and share prices that have taken a kicking.

Esel

^ Good post. What are RNG and FOTB?

ceadaoin.

Jay Uninterested Candlestick wrote: »

Disagree with this, slots are specifically singularly designed for 'sensory dopamine-reward overload'. It is exactly 'sitting in a dark corner pressing a button'. There is zero skill, knowledge, ability nor even any social factoring in these.



The RNG on any of these is hard-set to sub-96 ROI% (or less), never more. Roulette is not as bad, less sensory and slower. Again little skill in any of these, and punters are always, always at a disadvantage from the getgo.



Agree with this, after recent reg changes in the uk (FOTB max reductions), they're talking of closing thousands upon thousands of shops (and about 10,000 staff), which shows just how much they were creaming.

Circa 50% of all action is online now, and 'non-real-world' (non-sports/events), is the fastest grower, so expect to see plenty more ads for the horrid virtual stuff (bingo, games{slots}, casino) as bookies try to recover massive uk FOTB revenue losses, and share prices that have taken a kicking.

I know there is no skill involved, I never said there was. I'm not worried that my once a fortnight or so gambling habit is going to bankrupt me.

I'm in the US where online betting has just opened up and for now it's all about sports betting, especially in play which is a new thing here and growing a lot.

I do agree that the industry in the UK has become quite predatory. Back when I worked there they were buying up high Street locations just to get more machines in because there was a limit per shop. That's why there would be multiple shops along the same street. Obviously the tightening of legislation around them left them screwed after relying on it for so long

raze_them_all_

skooterblue2 wrote: »

If only we could .... but the real betting is on the mobile app so you dont have to go down to the shops. Financial institutions also keep an eye on this and if you have a gambling app they wont give you a mortgage.

This is false.

bodhrandude

Esel wrote: »

^ Good post. What are RNG and FOTB?

RNG means Random Number Generator, not too sure what FOTB means though.