Game Certifier

Hello Lindens!
I think SL could use someone that could certify that scripts in games/casinos are not rigged. The person would have to be a neutral party (perferably a linden) so people can trust the person with having access to the script. The person who created the script would have to submit it, that way if someone did not want their scripts to be verified then they would not be without their knowledge.

Second Life CPA firms?

To be quite honest, though, randomizers of this nature are very, very hard to develop a standardized "rule" on, as far as what values one should be using. Furthermore, what's preventing someone from "cleaning up" for the scrutiny much like things happen in reality? It's impossibly easy to do with SL.

So, nice try, but no cookie.

that's a good idea.

What might make this idea more useful is if a script generated a unique fingerprint from its source as a public property.

For instance, if I scripted gambling devices for a living, that would make it possible for an independent safe-gaming certifier to examine my code and to issue a certificate for hanging in a casino, displaying the certified fingerprints which he obtained by independently compiling the scripts. Anyone inspecting my game table would be able to retrieve the corresponding fingerprints, thereby at least verifying that the currently-running code was identical to the certified source.

Otherwise, it seems to me, there's always a leap of trust on a closed-source sale, as to what's been shown around versus what actually got compiled.

-- jj

Yes, this is clearly possible, though the device would have to incorporate a non-modifiable open source script capable of monitoring another to check it was unchanged from the approved version.
This looks difficult - maybe the simplest way would be via the permissions system. The device and its script would have to be deeded to, and belong to, the certifying authority.

The Australians have implemented a system like this for computerised voting machines. I believe the software is in triplicate, from independent suppliers , working by majority vote and reporting disagreements (as in spacecraft).

The software is open source, government certified, and government certified hardware checks every time t is used that it has not been altered.

This is all done and working,

How odd that the US government ignored it, and has approved voting machines for the US elections with none of these protections. I understand the software could easily be changed on the fly any time, via a few simple trapdoors, and open source is the last thing it is.

If this is correct, I wonder if any reader can work out a reason why?

If we worry about this for an SL gambling machine handling a few dollars, shouldn't we be hugely concerned that possible corruption of our voting system is being openly invited, deliberately ignoring the secure and readily available Australian solution?

The idea of having a no mod script after it has been verified is a good idea. I was thinking of the certifier randomly checking the games that had the script so that the person would no change them, and if he/she did, we would all know about it. I like the idea of the no mod though.

I've discussed this before on the forums... this is really something that some entrepeneuring casinos are going to have to step forward and say, "we're banding together as good, honest businesses to assure the quality of our products and guarantee it with refunds on failure".

The same goes with businesses in SL... it came close, once. I suppose that SL is small enough where reputations get around fast, so it's not an imperitive like it would be in a more anonymous setting.

I'd love to see groups of businesses, whether gambling or other, come together to provide quality guarantees.

as im am for makeing people be responseble and be honest in their work i ask you what is so better about sl casinos that make people wast so much time there. id rather go to a real casinothe argument just something to do isnt really good enought because i could amke something popular and set it in a vendor and make more money than i would at a casino.

i guess standing around and talking is ok but after that what is left

I guess it's fast and quick entertainment for people with a chance to gain money.

The thing is, the games at my friend and I's casino are very fair and we will openly tell you the payout of any game if you would ask. Someone did an excel spread sheet of you BJ tables and they are saying the dealer had a 7% chance of having the upper hand (even though someone won 25k off of them once). I guess nothing we can do could convince him that we use the randomizer and do not mess with the chances.

This was proposed back in November, and a group was to be formed. I guess it never materialized. Here's the thread:
/120/70/27507/1.html

I have to say, I am utterly astonished by this gambling thing.
I keep an eye on the "last ten things sold in game" list on the website. and most of the time at least half the items are gambling-related. Often more.

Bizarre. At least to me.

Actually, "Last 10 things bought or given in-world." is a misnomer. I find that if someone makes a bet (not buy) on one of my games, it will appear in that list.

So every $5L bet will register as a an item "bought or sold," when it in fact is being *paid*. Which is probably why we see a lot of "tringo scoreboards" in that list.

Yeah, I saw someone testing one of their slot machines and kept paying every 5-10 seconds, I went to look on the forums for something and his slot machine was all over the last 10 things.

So Lindens, this type of service would be very valuable to people who own casino's and are accused of having rigged games, what do you think of it?

actually there is a very popular gambling game that is hmm rigged...

*A*????

It annoys me when people claim games are rigged after they havev a losing streak, yet sometime before/after them someone gets a winning streak. You should not claim a game is rigged unless you have proof because it could damage the casino's/person's reputation even if that claim is false.

I wonder how good the pseudo-random number generator in LSL is ?
Before anyone gets into any serious gambling I think they might be wise to find out.
There could be biasses and exploits all over the shop.