So Slot Machines Can Be Skill Games Now?

I've long believed that Nevada doesn't let slot machines be games of skill, that they must only be games of chance. Yes, a player can employ a strategy to enhance that chance, like in video poker, but that seems different to me somehow from what we do with regular slots, which is to drop a $20 in and hope for the best.

Well, I now think I was wrong. During a recent visit to The D, I saw a new slot called "Centipede".



It's based on the old video game. Like most modern slots, it has a basic game where you try to line up the reels to form paying combinations. Get lucky, and you'll trigger a bonus phase. What's weird is the bonus phase is, basically, the game "Centipede". And the better you are at Centipede, the more money you win (apparently).

The console includes a joystick right in the middle, and you use the buttons around it to shoot at the centipedes, spiders, mushrooms, and whatnot that appear, just like the old video game.





Here's the warning language printed on the front of the machine:

In the "Centipede" Bonus, Player Skill Affects The Consolation Prize and the Number of the Bonus Meter Values Awarded.

And some language in the help section of the game adds this:

AFTER EACH BONUS, A VALUE OF 4 TO 40 CREDITS TIMES THE TOTAL BET FROM THE INITIATION GAME, LESS ANY NON-BONUS-METER CONSOLATION PRIZE, IS DISTRUBUTED TO THE BONUS METERS. BONUS METER VALUES HAVE UPPER LIMITS. IF AN UPPER LIMIT FOR A METER IS REACHED, THE VALUE ASSIGNED TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THAT METER AFTER A BONUS IS NOT DISTRIBUTED TO ANY METER.

Uh what?

Anyhow, if you rock at Centipede, you'll win more money! Had no idea that was even legal!

very interesting. I knew about the 'banked slots' and took advantage of this until the randomness went bad for me. of course, iirc, the original centipede had a trackball and not a joystick. I suspect that'd be another hurdle for the centipede-playing elite. I have to say, I'd be tempted, especially if i could play 40 dollars a whack. okay okay, 40 cents a whack. hi mom.

I did notice when I was doing the second part of the Slot promotion at Binion's (that starts at the front entrance to the casino), you were able to stop each one of the reels on your own. That was certainly different, although those machines weren't at least directly for pay. You end up with a receipt for whatever "prize" you get based on your ending score.

My score was 21, so the "prize" that I ended up with was a Free Photograph Of Me In Front Of $1 Million.

RecVPPlayer

I guess some slot Bonus rounds could be considered a game of skill since you get to select a few picks to reveal your bonus/number of free games, etc.

No, that's pure chance, no skill whatsoever.

Basically the complete opposite of a game of skill.