The success or failure of a casino game is a conjugation of several factors for FBM® or any other casino game provider, and Game Mathematics is one of them! Numbers never lie and dictate a significant part of the game feeling for players. In this article created within the scope of International Day of Mathematics, we will explore in depth the role, creation process and impact of Game Mathematics in casino games with the help of an expert from FBM’s Game Math team.

With over 20 years of growth and successful operation in a multi-market context within the competitive casino industry, FBM focuses its land-based casino operation offer on a diverse portfolio of innovative, reliable, and performant video bingos and slots. Now, it’s time to discover what mathematics and game mathematicians have to do with this successful trajectory on the global gaming landscape with the help of our expert in Game Math:

1. What's the role of game mathematics in the casino industry?

Well, there is the obvious responsibility of taking a given game and being able to calculate overall frequencies and the Return to Player (RTP). You take the set of parameters and rules of a game, and you need to be able to understand its behaviour and calculate whatever metrics one might be interested in.

But more than that, game mathematics and, naturally, game mathematicians have the responsibility to define, shape and control features, pays and their respective frequencies, which are part of those parameters and rules of the game. As such, more than pure math, we also need to take into consideration the impact of modifications of these levers on gameplay, as well as the target player base and the general feel of the game.

This essentially means that more than a vessel for pure calculations, game mathematics is a part of the core design of any game, with each game having its respective configurations and sets of probabilities that need to be adjusted and work with the rest of the game.

Finally, as a counterbalance, this control over pay and RTP also means that game mathematics has the ultimate responsibility of ensuring these parameters make a game not just interesting to play but also profitable from an operational point of view. This means ensuring the game has the correct RTP, calculating maximum exposure, handling Jackpot values and frequencies, etc.

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2. How important is game mathematics to the product’s performance?

A good game must have good math. However, math alone is not enough to make a good game.

Whenever a game is installed, or when players first see it, it is obviously not the game mathematics that will attract them to play it, or even to invest into another session or two if the first one was not successful. But after that, it is the math, in conjunction with the other components of the game, that takes over the job of player retention.

The very same frequencies and parameters that are defined in a game's mathematics and that dictate the game behaviour moneywise are precisely the same traits that define the behaviour of a player's session and ultimately if he will continue to play or not.

Take, for example, a very simple game, where you pay 1$ to play, and the game does a fancy animation and always gives you back a 0.95$. The game meets its 95% RTP requirement. However, no matter how pretty the game is, it can have top-tier animations, graphics, and sounds, but in the end, no one will end up playing it simply because no mechanism or trait will make players feel that they can win. Consequently, the game won't be profitable on the casino floor.

On the other hand, you can make a game that has 20 different features always popping up because it's fun, but then unless those features are purely visual, the math has to restrict their value. This circles back to the game not being interesting for players since they won't have that psychological feeling that they can win something.

Because of this, there needs to be a balance between gameplay and money retention. The game, and thus the math, needs to convey to the players that they can win and then deliver on that promise, even if it's rare, and then provide an appropriate "ride" depending on the target audience/volatility. In doing so, it will ensure that players will continue playing, which then translates into financial wins for the house once the law of large numbers takes effect.

On top of that, the game needs to be in sync with the math to convey the proper impression to the player. It all comes down to following logic: more plays, more coin-in, more net win (for fixed RTP<100%). So, the game providers and casino operators must convince clients to play more, and the game will be more performant.

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3. What characteristics make a good game mathematician?

Logical thinking and math skills are a must. However, nowadays, as games grow more complex, game mathematicians now need to at least have some programming skills for simulations, behaviour analysis, and sometimes to draft or implement logic specific to certain behaviours in the game.

Apart from that, game mathematicians need to be curious and have the will to learn since the market is ever-evolving. But above these less technical skills, there is one trait I personally think we need to have: we need to be able to enjoy the games, not just the ones we make, but others as well. Without that critical component, we won't be able to understand player behaviour or how we should move our levers to make a new game meet performance expectations.

It's easy to change a number or two on a spreadsheet, but it's hard to know when and how those numbers should change.

4. Can you summarize the process of creating game mathematics for casino games at FBM?

Creating a game math goes hand in hand with creating a game. It's going to depend on features, target player base, intended behaviour, volatility and time on the device.

More generally, you take a game/concept and deconstruct it into its components and base parameters. Then, we find algorithms to calculate RTP, frequencies and other metrics from a given set of parameters.

Having that done, now the work is in reverse: we work to define parameters that match the intended metrics for that game. Plug that into a simulator to see if everything checks out, and then have it playable in the game to see how it feels. From there, we iterate and make changes as needed.

The critical part here is defining target metrics, which depend on objectives, target player/market, and other aspects. After that, playing and iterating the game is about 80% of the work.

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5. Besides the specific game functionalities, what are the key differences in creating mathematics for different casino game types?

Different types of games mean different player bases. The general approach is similar, but the levers are different.

Certain game categories, such as bingo or table games like blackjack, have their core behaviour immediately determined by their prize table and base rules. The adjustments come from extra factors that are conditional on player action.

​Slots usually do not have such limitations: prize table significance can be worked around with choices of symbols on the reels, and often there are no player options other than executing the play and/or changing bet.

The implication of this is that game design choices in slots directly impact player, gameplay, and profitability, both in a positive and negative way. In games such as bingo, this is partial and dependent on the game (and the math) to convince the player to act.

Time to enjoy FBM’s game mathematics in compelling bingos and slots

Better than speaking or reading about the importance of game mathematics in casino games performance is having the game experience. From thrilling slots to captivating video bingos, FBM presents a diverse portfolio of land-based casino games for players to enjoy in several European, American, and Asian markets. Let’s talk about your needs and how FBM can elevate your casino operation with engaging games and cabinets!