Classification of Slot Machines in Ontario

Providing Relevant Information to Players

Dr. Kevin Harrigan, University of WaterlooMelissa Sleightholm, Ontario Lottery & GamingDr. Dan Brown, University of Waterloo

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Agenda

• Introduction & Motivation• The end “product”• Design process• Research study• Discussion of collaborative “research” projects

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Introduction & Motivation

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COLLABORATIVE PROJECT

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MOTIVATION

• Responsible Gambling initiative• This is a knowledge Translation and Exchange Initiative• Inform players about slot machine structural

characteristics• With knowledge, players can make more informed

choices

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FOCUS GROUPS: HOW DO YOU CHOOSE A SLOT MACHINE?

“I have no strategy. I choose the cute ones, flashing lights, shiny like Wheel of

Fortune - it is so big. I play Sex in the City too. I play 5 cents to $1. Usually there are a lot of people, oh maybe that is good…

these people probably know what they are doing so just going to follow the herd. ”

“The mini games, with bonuses, I go to those, they will give you 10 spins for free, you are not hitting it, but you can still play…I am not

there to gamble, I am there to entertain myself. ”

“Either price or intuition, I will look at a machine and have a good feeling about, that good feeling in your gut. I will give it a shot. Sometimes I will end up at

slot machines I don’t even know the name of but I am just there because I had a feeling.”

“If it is high, $500, I will cash out and put back $100 back

to trick the machine, and pretend like I am a new

person, and I win. ”

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ROLES

• uWaterloo – Conduct research study• OPGRC/GREO – Provided funding• OLG – Support/lead project in-situ• FCB – Design and create all materials

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The end “product”

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Three Structural Characteristics

• Play Experience – Frequency and size of payouts (volatility)

• Bonus Round Frequency – how likely to trigger a bonus round

• Hold Percentage – the percentage of wagers that goes to the operator

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Three sample labels: Specific to each machine

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EMPLOYEE TRAINING MATERIALS

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EMPLOYEE CHEAT SHEET

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SUPPORTING COMMUNICATIONS

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ON-SITE POSTERS

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DIGITAL SIGNAGE

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DIGITAL SIGNAGE

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GENERATE PLAYER AWARENESS AND INTEREST

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CAN YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCES

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IN PROGRESS

• Playsmart.ca• Social Media (Facebook & Twitter)• Email to Winner’s Circle members• Winner’s Circle home page• Winner’s Circle Newsletter

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Design process

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THE PROCESS

Initial player focus groups tested six structural characteristics:• Odds of winning• Payback percentage• Play experience• Slot cycle• Number of top awards per slot cycle• Bonus round hit frequency

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THE PROCESS

Based on findings, second round of focus groups tested five characteristics:• Odds of winning• Payback percentage• Hold percentage• Play experience• Bonus round hit frequency

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THE PROCESS

Stakeholder Consultations• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)• Responsible Gambling Council (RGC)• GREO• OLG Gaming Operations• Ontario problem gambling counsellors

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LABEL TESTING

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“Love it. Every machine everywhere should have it. People should be aware of the pay percentages and this label is very detailed to allow a person to make an informative decision on what machine they want to play”

“I think it is a great idea, it would definitely help me decide if I wanted to play or not”

“I like the concept. It will help me find the right game for my needs at the time”

“Loved it! Would be very helpful in choosing games that suit the way I want to play”

“Far too much information. Overwhelming cluster of text and charts”

“Add some colour”

“Too much to read on label”

“A lot of information in one place, a little much”

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More Testing

• We chose Grand River Slots in Elora as our pilot site:• Testing with Winners Circle members at Elora• Testing with Staff at Elora

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BIGGEST DESIGN CHALLENGE FOR RESEARCHERS

• Payback Percentage vs The Hold• Most important for researchers• It is what makes this a RG research study • Players confused by it• Staff confused by it• Changed throughout our design process• Finally used The Hold as it speaks to losses

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OTHER CHALLENGES

• Subjectivity of classification between vendors

• Play experience varies based on number of lines bet

• Multi-themed slots – multiple play experiences, holds, and bonus rounds

• Placement on slot machine

• Do players understand the information?

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Research Study

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Pre and Post assessment• Pre: Before labels are installed• Post: 6 weeks after labels are installed• 80 Participants each assessment• Across Winners Circle membership levels

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Pre and post questionnaires• Demographics• Problem Gambling Severity Index• Random events knowledge test• Resistance to change• Content – label concepts• Beliefs about OLG• Approaches to gambling

• Total of 115 questions

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Player and Machine data• Three months pre- and post-• Provided by OLG

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Player data (not finalized)• Date played• Game• Game theme• Coin in• Coin out• Average bet

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

• Machine data• Machine• Classification• Theme• Hold• Utilization• Average Bet• Coin In

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MEASURES OF SUCCESS

• For Research Study• Players understand the three structural characteristics

of slot machines• For OLG

• Players make informed choices

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Discussion of collaborative “research” projects

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Timeframe

Initial start date: March 15, 2014

Initial end date: Oct 15, 2014

Current end date: June 30, 2017

Collaboration takes time!

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Reflections on Collaboration

• Difficult for us to run research study over 3 years• Teaching terms

• Original study dates were over the summer• Sabbatical• Our semesters don’t always align well with a 3-year study

• Complications with OPGRC becoming GREO• Requests for extensions• Requests for budget adjustments

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Reflections on Collaboration

• Researchers have lack of control vs a lab study• Researchers attended by did not conduct focus groups• Researchers did not attend testing with Winner’s

Circle members in Elora• Researchers did not attend testing with staff at Elora

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IT’S HAPPENING NOW! STAY TUNED

• Pre-test this week (Feb 20 start)• Labels and material installed next weekend• Post-test the week of April 10