Machines disabled to save $$ ??

[razuberii]

Yesterday,  I went to my local casino in So Cali.  I was shocked to find most (60%+) of the (VP & slots) machines set to 'disabled'.  The slot tech said that attendance is soooooooooo low that they ONLY 'enable' them during weekend hours to avoid having to pay a daily fee (royalties??).  She said she didn't know what the fees are for or who they go to.

 
Is this what's happening in all areas? or just at this casino?
 
And to whom are the local rez casinos paying fees?? State? Feds? Game mfgers?
 

[BillyJoe]

Must be a Calif thing. I thought the casinos pay according to a "footprint" of a machine. The only time that I have seen machines shut down is when they are "capped" by patrons who want to play a particular machine when they return, or when there is a legitimate maintenance issue.

[prseveranc]

I too have been noticing many slot and video Carousels disabled over a year ago. One of the Pit Bosses told me it has to do with the agreements negotiated between the tribes and the State of California.  The number of machines dictates the tax rate they have to pay to the State.  More machines...higher tax bracket.  I think the tax rate jumps at every thousand machines.  Since business is so slow they want to pay as little as possible to the state so they disable the machines.  A sign of the sucky economy.