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  1. Sin City
  2. Lore

10. Slot Machine Rules

Slot Machines in Sin City

Slot machines are casino games controlled by random outcomes rather than player skill. Modern machines use digital reels, stored credits, betting lines, bonus features, and programmed payout rates.

Before play, Franz should establish:

  • Minimum and maximum wager

  • Number of active lines

  • Available credits

  • Whether the machine has a jackpot

  • Whether bonus rounds or free spins are available

  • Whether the machine is legal, private, or illegally modified

Players should choose their wager before each spin.

Resolving Slot Machine Spins

For ordinary play, roll 1d100 for each spin and apply the result below.

d100Result01–50No payout51–70Return half the wager71–85Return the wager86–94Win twice the wager95–98Win five times the wager99Win ten times the wager100Trigger a jackpot or bonus result

A payout includes the returned wager unless otherwise stated.

Example: A character wagers 10 GP and rolls 90. They receive 20 GP total.

This table represents an ordinary casino machine. Individual machines may use different payout tables through their item or POI records.

Jackpots and Bonus Results

When a player rolls 100, Franz may resolve one of the following:

  • Award 25 times the wager

  • Trigger a bonus round

  • Award several free spins

  • Activate a progressive-jackpot chance

  • Produce a special result listed in the machine’s record

For a progressive jackpot, roll another 1d100:

  • 01–85: Win 25 times the wager

  • 86–97: Win 100 times the wager

  • 98–99: Win 500 times the wager

  • 100: Win the advertised progressive jackpot

Large winnings may trigger identification checks, tax records, machine inspection, surveillance review, and attention from casino management.

Franz should establish the actual jackpot amount before the spin when it could become important.

Wager Size and Multiple Lines

A player may increase the wager by activating more paylines or increasing the amount bet on each line.

Larger wagers increase both possible payouts and losses. They do not improve the chance of winning unless the specific machine states otherwise.

For quick play, treat the listed wager as the total amount risked on the spin rather than resolving every individual payline.

A machine may require a maximum wager to qualify for its largest jackpot. This condition must be visible or explained before the player spins.

House Advantage and Player Skill

Slot machines favor the casino over repeated play.

Normal slot play requires no skill check. Intelligence may help a character:

  • Understand the payout table

  • Recognize misleading jackpot advertising

  • Compare machines

  • Identify unusually poor payout rules

  • Notice a machine behaving incorrectly

Suggested checks include:

  • DC 10: Understand the displayed wager and payout

  • DC 12: Compare two ordinary machines

  • DC 15: Recognize suspicious or misleading settings

  • DC 18: Identify evidence of mechanical or software manipulation

A successful check provides information. It does not change a fair random result.

Repeated spins should not become an unlimited source of money. Over time, the house advantage normally causes losses.

Machine Credits and Cashing Out

Machines may accept:

  • Casino chips

  • Cash

  • Player cards

  • Digital casino accounts

  • Printed vouchers

A cash-out voucher may contain:

  • Amount

  • Machine number

  • Time

  • Casino location

  • Transaction code

Large cash-outs may require identification or review at the casino cage.

Stolen vouchers may be traceable through cameras, player accounts, timestamps, or machine records.

Cheating and Machine Manipulation

Possible methods include:

  • Counterfeit vouchers

  • Stolen player cards

  • Hacked casino accounts

  • Altered machine software

  • Insider access

  • False maintenance credentials

  • Physical tampering

  • Manipulated sensors

  • Intercepted payout signals

  • Coordinated distraction and voucher theft

Modern machines are usually secured through locked cabinets, internal logs, surveillance, access controls, and restricted maintenance systems.

Cheating may require:

  • Intelligence with technical tools

  • Dexterity for physical tampering

  • Charisma (Deception) for impersonating staff

  • Stolen credentials

  • Insider cooperation

A successful intrusion may alter one machine or one account. It should not automatically compromise the entire casino network.

Detecting Slot Cheating

Casino staff may detect manipulation through:

  • Unusual payout patterns

  • Machine error reports

  • Access logs

  • Camera footage

  • Open cabinet sensors

  • Voucher inconsistencies

  • Employee records

  • Statistical review

  • Missing or altered hardware

Casinos may allow a suspicious player to continue while security gathers evidence.

Possible consequences include confiscated winnings, detention, a permanent ban, police involvement, private questioning, blackmail, or faction retaliation.

Faulty and Rigged Machines

A machine may malfunction because of:

  • Software errors

  • Damaged components

  • Network failure

  • Improper maintenance

  • Deliberate modification

  • Power interruption

A displayed jackpot may be disputed if the machine records show a malfunction. The casino may inspect the machine before paying.

An illegally operated machine may use concealed settings that provide worse odds than advertised.

Detecting a rigged machine normally requires observation, records, technical access, or repeated results rather than a single unlucky spin.

Quick Slot Session

For a short session, the player chooses a stake and risk level:

  • Cautious: Small repeated wagers

  • Standard: Moderate wagers

  • Aggressive: Large wagers and jackpot-focused machines

Roll 1d20:

  • 1–6: Lose most of the session stake

  • 7–11: Moderate loss

  • 12–14: Break roughly even

  • 15–18: Moderate profit

  • 19: Major profit

  • 20: Jackpot or major bonus opportunity

Aggressive play increases the size of both losses and winnings. Cautious play reduces both.

Using Slot Machines During Play

Franz should state the wager, available credits, jackpot conditions, and result of each important spin.

Slot machines work well as background gambling, money-laundering tools, sources of surveillance footage, targets for hacking, disputed jackpots, planted evidence, and meeting places inside busy casinos.

The player controls how much to wager and when to stop.