This is the fear of many gaming machine distributors, who in the last few days have urged their Trade Associations to press industry manufacturers and regulatory bodies to give clear answers and remove all misunderstandings. The distributors are saying that the facts are clear to all: AWPs are systematically emptied by players who shine more for their suspect behaviour than for their good run of luck.

The result is that, irrespective of the claims by distributors who continue to claim the 100% reliability of their machines, they are often compelled to withdraw some types of machines from shops following specific requests from the shop owners who claim to have suffered losses following excessive winnings by so called ‘expert' players.

 What can be said then of the gaming room operators, whose task nowadays seems to be to supervise bets placed by customers of Chinese origin, now claimed to be the number one enemy because of their skills in achieving above average winnings.

Myth o reality, it does not change the issue. Make hay while the sun shines, says a well known proverb, and for many operators time has run out. Even the new generation machines (comma6A) appear to be defenceless against the ‘slot machine wizards' and we need to employ appropriate countermeasures.

We could begin by clearing the air by setting aside the belief in ‘miracle tricks' aimed at putting these machines out of action, about whose security and defences AAMS has stated its views on numerous occasions.

 The first thing to do therefore is to ascertain whether the problem is a real one, and does not belong to folklore. Having taken for granted that many shrewd players make use of somewhat unorthodox systems in order to win (with little relation to precise gaming strategies), the next thing to do is to take action on the machines.

 In this respect the problem should be solved with a modification to the device. An apparently small problem but one not easy to solve, because the machine manufacturers need first to obtain the permit of the Certification Authority and then of AAMS, allowing them to modify a machine already in place. This having been achieved, one could start to modify all the machines already distributed, both those targeted by ‘astute' players and those that have not attracted their interest. As a second radical solution, one could even think about a re-certification following the replacement of the cards, with all the costs, the waste of time and losses that such a solution would entail. It is easy to anticipate that the manufacturers would be the first to voice their opposition!

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