Beating video slot machines
5:49 AM
The CBC this morning is reporting how a "math whiz" in Nova Scotia discovered a software flaw in video lottery terminal slot machines to predict when jackpots were coming. By analyzing the number patterns he was able to win $250,000.
This looks like yet another result of a flawed random number generator. As I mentioned previously, it’s not uncommon for flawed random number generators to lead to vulnerabilities in cryptography (e.g. predictable key generation). Gambling industries also get hit once in a while.
Here in Canada the most famous example of this was in 1994 at the Montreal Casino. One person observed a pattern in the number sequence on the automated Keno board. After careful analysis he was able to eventually walk away with $600,000. The problem was traced to the casino not investing in an optional real-time clock chip to seed the game’s random number generator. Without it the system used the same see each time, leading to predictable number sequences.
In the Montreal case, the person kept his winnings because no crime had been committed and there was no collusion with Casino staff. In this latest case with the video lottery terminals, police tried charge the person with of "improper use of a computer", though to me that seems like a bit of a stretch.
