What Is A Class Ii Bingo Slot Machines
I found a few older threads about Class II gaming but I'd like to get another more-technical discussion going. Class II games make up a huge chunk of all the Oklahoma casinos I've been to (especially VGT and Multimedia Games) and I'd like to get a greater understanding of the inner workings.
There's a couple good articles out there on Class II gaming devices, like this one. Based on this article and a few others, here's what I understand about these glorified bingo games:
You put money in and hit spin. In effect you are randomly generating a bingo card and entering a live-draw bingo game along with anyone else who recently hit the spin button (so you always need at least 2 people playing). In effect you are playing against others, but here's where things get murky (at least for me)...
One thing I don't get: for the game you're participating in, does the central server determine what game-ending pattern it's going to award next and then the first person to get that wins that predetermined prize? Everyone in a game would have to be competing for the same game-ending pattern, no?
Which leads to my next question: what if the casino is dead and it's only you and a friend playing? Wouldn't either of you win all of the prizes? I think there may be a limit on ball draws to prevent this but it certainly seems that your luck would be highly dependent upon how busy the casino is (and in fact I seem to anecdotally do better on these machines when it's not crowded).
Anyone out there have a greater understanding of Class II games?
In many of the strategy articles about gaming machines–video poker, video keno, slot machines, etc.–we emphasize the role of the random number generator (RNG) and with good reason. The RNG is the ‘brains‘ of these machines and understanding how it works is essential. It’s essential not only in terms of developing a proper strategy and selecting the right machines but it’s also important to dispel many of the incorrect and potentially costly player myths. Once the player understands that the concept of randomness on these games is legit he no longer holds on to long-running superstitions and conspiracy theories.
Class II Slot Machines According to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988, tribal casinos can’t offer traditional slot machines. Instead, they are only allowed to offer gaming machines that relate to bingo or poker.
There is one major exception to the ‘RNG based‘ gaming machine and that is a Class II slot machine. These machines (which can also include video poker and keno-style games) operate differently from the slot machines that we’ve been discussing. You won’t find many of them online but they’re fairly common in US land-based casinos due to the downright silly gambling laws in some jurisdictions. Throw in the always absurd involvement of the Federal Government and you’ve got the ‘Class‘ system for casino games. For this reason alone, it’s a good idea to understand the definition of and differences between Class III and Class II slot machines.
CLASS III SLOT MACHINES
Class Ii Bingo Slot Machines
We’ll talk about the Class III slot machine first since it’s the easiest to explain. It’s easy because it simply refers to the type of slot machine that we’ve been discussing extensively in the strategy articles on this website. You won’t hear the ‘Class’ system discussed in casinos in Las Vegas since it is derived from and refers to properties and jurisdictions under the auspices of The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This act establishes three classes of games. Class I gaming is defined as “traditional Indian gaming, which may be part of tribal ceremonies and celebrations” and social gaming for minimal prizes. This class falls under the jurisdiction of individual tribal councils and doesn’t concern us.
Bingo Based Slot Machines
We’ll skip Class II for the moment–Class III gaming is anything that doesn’t fall under Class I or Class II. Simply put, Class III is traditional ‘Las Vegas’ or ‘casino-style’ gambling. The table games like roulette, blackjack and craps would all fall under Class III as would the slot machines and video poker games you’d find in any Las Vegas casino. As far as it concerns slot machines, these are the RNG based games that we’ve described in the previous content in this section. While each individual machine is programmed to pay back a certain percentage of what it takes in it is otherwise completely random. You have the possibility of winning a jackpot on any spin of the wheel if the random numbers generated by the machine fall in your favor.