Electronic Gambling Machines
- Electronic gambling machines (EGMs) are computers utilising sophisticated techniques, designed to maximise spending and “time on device” per user. EGM designs very successfully employ psychological principals to maximise users’ bet sizes and machine usage. These characteristics have the effect of increasing the addictive potential of EGMs.
- Instant Racing, known generically as historical race wagering, is an electronic gambling system that allows players to bet on replays of horse races or dog races that have already been run. Some Instant Racing terminals resemble slot machines. Instant Racing is a product of PariMax Holdings, a subsidiary of the Stronach Group.
- Riverwind is THE immersive electronic gaming experience of the metro. With over 2,700 games to take for a spin, chances are you’ll be discovering a new favorite. Three-reel and 5-reel games? High-limit games? And if you love video poker and blackjack, we’ve got that covered, too.
Black Series Electronic Casino Slot Machine Coin Bank - Ages 8 Jackpot. Casino Slot Machine Electronic Novelty Coin Bank Sharper Image Ages 8.
How can we better support your business through COVID-19 recovery? Take our survey and let us know.
The roadmap to easing COVID-19 restrictions indicates that gaming and gaming venues can open in Stage 3 (3 July 2020).
Licensed monitoring operators (LMOs) will be progressively bringing gaming sites back online before midday 3 July 2020. LMOs will contact licensees with any issues or concerns that relate directly to their site.
Powering on gaming machines
If you turned your gaming machines off, you should take care when powering them back on. In particular:
- ensure gaming machines are individually powered off before turning the mains power on
- turn mains power on
- power each gaming machine on one at a time
- turn on site controller and other communications equipment.
Gaming machines that are already powered on should remain on and should be largely unaffected.
End-of-month reporting (Forms 42, 61 and 75)
Venues that have not operated gaming machines for a full calendar month are not expected to complete the monthly variances record (Form 61) and monthly self-assessment (Form 75). These forms are still required where gaming machines have operated for part of a month.
Similarly, where a venue's accounting system does not automatically generate a monthly gaming machine reconciliation report (Formc42), the licensee is not required to prepare this form for months where no gaming has occurred.
Email gamingcompliance@justice.qld.gov.au if you have any questions about this.
Unclaimed ticket in, ticket out (TITO) tickets
Under the Gaming Machine Act 1991, licensees are required to remit to the Queensland Government any gaming machine payments that are unclaimed after 12 months. After this period, any person wanting to redeem their TITO tickets at the venue are referred to us to make the payment to the player.
Any person with an unclaimed ticket that is more than 12 months old can still present it to the venue to redeem. If the monies have been remitted to us, preferably the venue should redeem the ticket and send us the relevant documentation for reimbursement.
Alternatively, the venue can give the relevant documentation to the patron to complete and send to us to receive their payment directly.
Also consider…
- Learn about the support and relief for liquor and gaming licensees.
- Read more COVID-19 advice for liquor and gaming licensees.
- Use the COVID-19 business assistance finder tool to find other support and assistance.
- Last reviewed: 25 May 2020
- Last updated: 3 Jul 2020
General enquiries 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
- Licence and permit enquiries
1300 072 322
OLGRlicensing@justice.qld.gov.au
- Gaming compliance enquiries
- Liquor compliance enquiries
- Media enquiries (07) 3738 8556
Speaking of casinos, (land-based or online), there are two types of slot machines they feature; Class III and Class II. The two slots machines operate differently. The Class II slot machines are common in slots parlors. They are attached to Native American Casinos or horse racing tracks. Owing to improved tech tools, Class II slot machines have become more sophisticated. So much so that casual punters have a hard time telling them apart from Class III slot machines.
But you are in luck. In this piece, we shall scrape off the confusion by explaining the basics and answering some common questions related to Class II slot machines.
So, let’s get to it.
What Exactly Are Class II Slot Machines?
It’s simple. The Class II slot machines are designed to replicate Class III slot machines while remaining within the confines of the regulatory guidelines. The Class system is clearly stated and defined in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by the Federal Government. The Act defines all Class II games as bingo regardless of whether computer, electronic or any other tech gadgets are used with it and if it is played in the same room with bingo or any games similar to bingo.
The immediate consequence of this regulatory Act was that the high stake bingo games were legalized. Yes, the bingo games held in halls were super popular at some point. But with time, as developers sought to upgrade their gaming experience, they leaned towards a casino-like environment and experience. Though they managed to incorporate Class III casinos in some of their gaming options, they were met with a lot of resistance and legal issues.
It was during this time that Class II slot machines were designed. Since their inception, key players in the industry have been working around the clock to replicate Class III machine experience in Class II jurisdictions. Engineers have been contracted to build in-house systems while slot manufacturers were brought on board to create games that would run on the designed systems
How do they Work?
It’s true, aside from the LED bingo card which displays your card patterns for every spin; it’s really hard to differentiate the Class II from the Class III. The big part of the difference lies in how the game operates. So let’s peep under the hood and see how Class II slots machines are designed to meet legal requirements of being a bingo game.
First, there is usually a 20-millisecond window. Any person that presses the ‘Play’ button during this window enters into a common draw. For this draw to run there needs to be a minimum of two players (there is no maximum number). If there are only two players, one of them will get the winning pattern.
So here’s what happens when a video or slot poker is brought into the picture. Designers extrapolate odds of specific bingo games to video or slot games’ results that have similar odds. Usually, there are extra algorithmic processes that are in play which help to determine the outcomes but usually, the end results are similar – you pull the machine handle and the reels spin.
From the moment you pull the handle to the millisecond before they stop, you become one of the participants in a multiplayer bingo game. The results of the bingo game are ‘reported’ by the reels when they halt. If you are lucky, you’ll win some cash. So now if you think about it, you’ll have had a Las Vegas slot machine experience while in the background, the machine meets all the requirements which make it legal in Class II slot machine jurisdictions – areas where bingo is legal but RNG machines are not.
Now, most casinos that run the Class II slot machines claim that their odds are similar to those of Class III machines. This is how they explain it – it’s more like a scratch-off lottery card. But instead of scratching you’ll be pulling a handle.
And though this analogy is close to the real thing, it’s not quite accurate.
What do Class II Slots Look Like?
While they look extremely similar to Class III machines, the main way in determining if it is a Class II machine is to look on the display for a bingo table. It will look quite obvious and will indicate that the machine is using bingo logic rather than the typical RNG of a Class III machine.
Here’s an example below – notice that there is a bingo table located at the bottom right of the display.
Should You Play Class II Slot Games?
This is a really good question. And believe it or not, it’s pretty common. But despite this, its answer is not straight forward. But here’s something that will help you make that decision.
Gambling experts insist that Class II games are similar to lottery scratch tickets than Class II machines. You see, with lottery scratch tickets, the prize is determined before the printing of the tickets. Class II games may have shorter realization times but unfortunately, they aren’t random. The moment you pull the slot handle, the outcome of whether you have won or not and what prize you have won has already been made. The reels are only there to deliver the news.
Why do Casinos Prefer Class II Slot Machines?
Why is it that modern casinos seem to have a mix of Class II and Class III slot machines and games? And why is it that even with the mix, they are skewed towards class II games?
Well, first, the IGRA granted casinos self-regulating powers when it came to Class II games. However, with Class III games, they must be officially undergo rigorous testing through third parties and approved goverment organizations. This is to ensure that the randomness and reliability of the machine is deemed fair.
Electronic Slot Machines For Sale
Second, casinos don’t have to pay taxes on the revenues generated from the Class II games. But on the Class III games, they are obligated to pay taxes.
Thirdly, the odds on winning in a Class II game are worse because you are put against a large pool of players to win instead of relying on RNG.
There you have it. Everything you need to make an informed decision. Hopefully, after reading this Class II and Class III slot machines don’t confuse you anymore. So with that go have a ‘happily ever after’ gambling experience.